Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Politico had a good report on some of President Joe Biden’s closest advisers presenting him with polling evidence that “showed his path to victory in November was gone.” The incumbent’s decision to stand down soon followed.
* Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas died late last week. A Texas Tribune report noted, “The possibility and timing of a special election to fill Jackson Lee’s seat for the remainder of the current term, which concludes in January, remain uncertain.”
* Although there was some reporting over the weekend about Sen. Joe Manchin possibly rejoining the Democratic Party and running for president, the independent West Virginian told CBS News that he would not be a candidate.
* For reasons that I do not understand, Donald Trump continued to rail against Biden Sunday night and Monday morning, including fresh allegations from the former president that the Democrat “never had Covid.” (If you’re confused about why the Republican keeps pushing this, you’re not alone.)
* In a bit of a surprise, businessman Sandy Pensler ended his Republican U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan and agreed to back his primary rival, former Rep. Mike Rogers.
* The Associated Press reported over the weekend, “An initiative to ask voters if they want to protect the right to a pre-viability abortion in Montana’s constitution has enough signatures to appear on the November ballot, supporters said Friday.”
* Earlier this year, then-Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley declared, “The first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate is going to be the party that wins this election.” The on-camera quote has suddenly taken on greater meaning.
* And if you’re wondering about Vice President Kamala Harris and the coconut tree meme, NPR apparently has you covered.
