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Tuesday'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:

* The final PPP poll out of Michigan shows Rick Santorum edging past Mitt Romney by the narrowest of margins, 38% to 37%. This is, it's worth noting, based on one night's worth of data, and most other recent polls show Romney with a small lead.

* Romney's favorability numbers are down sharply among self-identified conservatives in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.

* Newt Gingrich said yesterday the U.S. should tell Afghan citizens to "figure out how to live your own miserable life." Classy.

* On a related note, thanks to a cash infusion from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, Gingrich's super PAC is making a major new ad buy, airing commercials in Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kansas.

* Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) announced a couple of weeks ago that he will not seek a comeback bid in Nebraska. He reportedly told party officials this week that he's changed his mind.

* In Rhode Island, a new WPRI poll shows incumbent Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) cruising past Republican challenger Barry Hinckley, 50% to 28%.

* In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) has decided to scrap plans to challenge the massive number of recall petitions filed against him.

* And on a related note, the Wisconsin Democratic Party has launched its first television ad of the recall cycle.