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 South Carolina's congressional special election, Elizabeth Colbert Busch has launched her first general-election TV ad. It makes no mention of her Democratic Party affiliation, instead saying, "As a single mom raising three young children, I had to be independent and do what's right for them. Now, I'm going to take that lesson to Congress."
* Speaking of congressional special elections, Robin Kelly (D) is expected to crush Republican Paul McKinley in Chicago tonight. McKinley, you'll recall, is a convicted felon who spent nearly two decades behind bars for burglaries, armed robberies, and aggravated battery. The polls will close at 8:00 p.m. eastern.
* As Rachel noted on the show last night, Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D) has kicked off her gubernatorial campaign in Pennsylvania, hoping to take on Gov. Tom Corbett (R) in 2014. It's unclear if or when Schwartz, who will probably face two primary challengers, will step down from Congress to focus entirely on her statewide bid.
* In Iowa, the AP noted that the state Republican Party is in "disarray," and faces intra-party divisions in advance of the 2014 cycle. Nevertheless, Rep. Steve King (R) says he "can see a path to victory" in next year's open U.S. Senate race.
* Though it appears Gov. Chris Christie (R) is cruising to an easy re-election win in New Jersey, his opponents aren't giving in. A group called One New Jersey has invested over $500,000 for two weeks of television airtime, presumably for some critical ads.
* Former Rep. Jeff Landry (R) of Louisiana has launched a new super PAC, called Restore Our Republic, intended to help right-wing candidates who lack support from the Republican establishment.
* And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will speak tomorrow at Howard University in Washington, D.C., a historically-black school, where he will reportedly "discuss the history of the African-American community's roots in the Republican Party and current issues, such as school choice and civil liberties."