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:
* In a provocative choice of words, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee blasted Kentucky Senate hopeful Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) this week as an "empty dress" who "babbles incoherently."
* On a related note, Democrats pounced after the NRSC comments. "How ironic that Mitch McConnell talks about the importance of women voters to his campaign, and a few days later, his spokesman uses a sexist smear against a strong, smart and capable woman," Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said. "I don't understand these men in the Republican Party. It seems almost impossible for them to open their mouths without insulting women." The DSCC has begun fundraising on the issue.
* Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, the Republican-turned-Independent-turned Democrat announced yesterday that he will not seek a second term. The unpopular governor, who only joined the Democratic Party in May, was facing primary challengers he appeared unlikely to defeat.
* As Senate Democratic fundraising bests their Republican counterparts, the NRSC replaced its finance director this week.
* Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R), a right-wing reindeer herder and conspiracy theorist, picked up a primary opponent this week after local attorney David Trott launched a congressional bid.
* In Tennessee, Kevin Kookogey, a former Williamson County Republican Party chairman, was poised to run a primary campaign against Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) but announced yesterday that he'd skip the race (thanks to my colleague Will Femia for the heads-up).
* And in Montana, former state Sen. Corey Stapleton (R) announced this week that he's ending his U.S. Senate campaign and will instead run for the U.S. House. Stapleton's decision clears the way for Rep. Steve Daines' (R) widely expected Senate bid.