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Wednesday's Campaign Round-Up, 2.25.15

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
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:
 
* A new Quinnipiac poll in Iowa shows Scott Walker with a surprisingly big lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, enjoying 25% support among the state's GOP voters. The next closest competitor is Rand Paul with 13%, followed by Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee tied at 11%. Jeb Bush is fifth with 10%. Chris Christie is seventh in the poll and has the lowest favorability numbers of any major candidate.
 
* At the national level, PPP also shows Scott Walker out in front with 25% support, followed by Ben Carson at 18% and Jeb Bush at 17%. Mike Huckabee, with 10% support, is the only other candidate above 5% in the poll.
 
* Hillary Clinton appeared at the Watermark Silicon Valley Conference for Women yesterday, sounding very much like a presidential candidate. In a preview of her likely 2016 message, Clinton emphasized wage growth in the economy.
 
* In Kentucky, Sen. Rand Paul (R) is eager to change his party's presidential nominating system, and this week, his efforts received a high-profile endorsement: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) is now on board with Paul's plan.
 
* As expected, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) announced this morning that he's running for the U.S. Senate this cycle. If he gets his party's nod, Strickland will face incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R) next year.
 
* In a bit of a surprise, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) announced yesterday that he will not be a U.S. Senate candidate in 2016. The news boosts state Attorney General Kamala Harris' (D) odds as she works to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer (D).
 
* In Chicago, incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel failed to get 50% of the vote yesterday, forcing him into an April runoff against challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. It's the first time in city history that a mayor has faced a runoff election.
 
* And in Mississippi, voters in the 1st congressional district will vote in a May 12 special election, filling the vacancy created when Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R) died a few weeks ago. Republicans are expected to keep the seat.