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Monday's campaign round-up

<p>Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to

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:

* A new survey from Public Policy Polling shows Mitt Romney struggling to gain ground in Florida, where he still narrowly trails President Obama, 48% to 47%. The margin has not changed over the last month.

* In North Carolina, PPP found Obama and Romney tied at 48% each, but a new Elon University/Charlotte Observer Poll shows Romney with a four-point lead in the state, 47% to 43%.

* The Obama campaign unveiled a new ad this morning hitting Romney on tax policy, relying on independent analyses to argue the Republican plan raises taxes on the middle class. The ad is set to air in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia.

* The Republican National Convention unveiled a new video last night, showing a highlight reel of the most notable moments from the Tampa convention. Clint Eastwood is not featured in the clip.

* Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had a candid assessment of his party's demographic challenges in the near future: "We're not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term."

* Rep. David McKinley (R) of West Virginia continues to distance himself from Paul Ryan's budget plan, distributing a new flier saying the Ryan agenda "would privatize Medicare for future retirees, raise the retirement age and keep in place the Medicare cuts included in last year's health care bill." The flier added, "The Congressional Budget Office determined the plan would nearly double out-of-pocket health care costs for future retirees."

* Speaking of West Virginia, incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D) leads John Raese (R) by nearly 40 points in a new poll. It will be Raese's sixth failed attempt at statewide office.

* And in Arizona, Democratic Senate candidate Richard Carmona has picked up the support of several members of conservative icon Barry Goldwater's family.