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 Iowa, a new poll from KBUR-AM and Monmouth College shows Scott Walker continuing to look strong in the first caucus state, leading the GOP field with 18% support, followed by Jeb Bush at 12%. Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee, with 10% each, were the only other candidates to reach double digits. Donald Trump was in seventh place.
* On a related note, the same poll showed Hillary Clinton faring very well among Iowa Democrats, leading Bernie Sanders by a 3-to-1 margin, 63% to 20%.
* As Rachel noted on the show last night, Donald Trump's polling surge hasn't necessarily ended just yet. The latest PPP poll in North Carolina shows him leading the Republican presidential field with 16% support, followed by Jeb Bush and Scott Walker at 12%. Mike Huckabee, at 11%, was fourth.
* The same poll found Hillary Clinton leading among North Carolina Democrats, topping Bernie Sanders by 35 points, 55% to 20%.
* Marco Rubio's super PAC raised $16 million in the first half of 2015. Conservative Solutions PAC, of course, is not to be confused with the Conservative Solutions non-profit, which also raised $15.8 million in support of Rubio this year. The latter's donors are hidden from the public.
* Donald Trump was asked yesterday whether he'd run as an independent if he falls short in the GOP primaries. "My sole focus is to run as a Republican. I'm a conservative Republican," he replied. Trump added soon after, however, "It's something I'm not thinking about right now."
* On a related note, Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) announced yesterday that he's donating a campaign contribution he received from Trump to charity.
* The Republican Governors Association this week launched its first attack ad of the 2015 cycle, putting this new spot on Kentucky's airwaves, hoping to link state Attorney General Jack Conway to President Obama.
* And Republican presidential hopeful Lindsey Graham yesterday delivered his first major foreign policy speech since launching his national campaign. "If you're war weary, don't vote for me," the South Carolina senator said.