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Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 1.30.15

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
 
* Jeb Bush's burgeoning presidential operation picked up David Kochel yesterday, who ran Mitt Romney's Iowa operations in 2008 and 2012. It suggests the former Florida governor is expected to make a real effort in the Hawkeye State, despite low expectations.
 
* Two Texas Republicans are likely to run for the White House this year -- former Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz -- but the chairman of the Texas Republican Party has joined Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) team. Steve Munisteri is perhaps best known for his role in creating a ridiculously right-wing Texas GOP platform.
 
* Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) hasn't officially announced his 2016 plans, but there doesn't appear to be much doubt about his likely presidential plans. The far-right Floridian skipped the Senate's vote on the Keystone pipeline yesterday in order to travel to California for a PAC fundraiser. Rubio was the only Republican to miss the vote on the top GOP priority.
 
* Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R), a probable presidential candidate, pulled the plug yesterday on the "Just IN" state-run media operation.
 
* Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who managed to rise to the level of Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, kicked off his 2016 re-election bid last night. It's not yet clear which Democrats, if any, intend to take him on next year.
 
* Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's (R) failed presidential campaign is still struggling with deep debts, even now. Three years later, "Newt 2012" is more than $4.6 million in the hole.
 
* And in congressional news, former Rep. Brad Schneider (D) lost a close race in 2014, losing to Rep. Robert Dold (R) by just a couple of points, but Schneider met with party leaders this week about a possible rematch in 2016 -- when Democratic turnout is expected to be much greater.