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:
* At an event last night, Gov. Scott Walker (R) told supporters that, "unlike some," he didn't "inherit fame and fortune" from his family. It's a message Republicans will likely be hearing more of in the coming months.
* Hugh Hewitt, a prominent far-right radio host, has been invited to ask questions at a September debate for Republican presidential candidates. This is in keeping with RNC plans to have party allies in the media play this role during the race for the 2016 nomination. The debate will be hosted by CNN.
* In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie (R) is apparently so excited about his budget address that his team put together an unintentionally funny teaser trailer to promote the upcoming speech (thanks to my colleague Tricia McKinney for the heads-up).
* Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) won't officially announce his 2016 plans until April, but has begun "quietly telling donors" that he'll give up his Senate seat and seek the presidency.
* A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll was released yesterday and found Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) narrowly leading Scott Walker in the Republican presidential field among GOP voters in the Lone Star State, 20% to 19%. Jeb Bush and Ben Carson tied for third in the poll with 9% each. Multi-term Texas Gov. Rick Perry was fifth in his home state with 8%.
* In North Carolina, an Elon Poll released this morning found Hillary Clinton leading Jeb Bush in a hypothetical 2016 match-up, 46% to 40%. President Obama narrowly won North Carolina in 2008, but Mitt Romney narrowly won it in 2012.
* Is former Sen. Russ Feingold (D) eyeing a rematch against Sen. Ron Johnson (R) in Wisconsin next year? It sure looks like it.
* West Virginia's Joe Manchin and North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp will clearly be in demand for the next several months: the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is leaning on them to run for re-election to the Senate, while the Democratic Governors Association pressures them to run for governor in 2016.
* And it's Election Day in Chicago. Keep an eye on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's results. Polls suggest he may be forced into a runoff election.