Campaign update: Troubling polls for Dems, Steele gaffes

Poll roundup:

-Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is hardly bulletproof, but who will run against her?
-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) trails two little-known Republicans, including by double-digits to a two-time loser.
-Neighboring Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) could both have big primary problems.
-A GOP poll shows former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) cruising past current Gov. Chet Culver (D) by 19 points. Now, we’ll find out whether Branstad seeks a 5th term in that office.

Other items:

-There is a libertarian running for Senate in New Hampshire and he has some name ID. Ken Blevens, who has carried his party’s banner in several races over the years, could steal some votes, but polling at about 3 percent means he likely won’t cause any serious shifts in the race.

-RNC Chairman Michael Steele steps in it (the crapper?) as a conservative talk show host eviscerates the GOP’s likely Senate nominee in Missouri. Not good for Steele, not good for Rep. Roy Blunt and maybe even worse for their party.

-Marco Rubio (R) fills out his revamped campaign team for his Senate primary against Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, adding political director Brandon Patty.

-Crist’s list of potential appointees to fill out Sen. Mel Martinez’s (R-Fla.) term grows to include former Reps. Mike Bilirakis, Clay Shaw and Lou Frey. It sounds like a decision could come in the next week or so. I know I said I would abstain from handicapping, but Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.) just seems like a logical choice here. No, he doesn’t help Crist with valuable Hispanic voters, but he is a long-serving congressman who could go out on top, serving a year in the upper chamber to complement his nearly 40 years in the House. Young also has a potentially tough challenge on his hands this year, and this would give him a graceful way to avoid that without looking like he’s slighting his party.

-Could there really be a fifth straight Baron Hill-Mike Sodrel matchup? The answer: for better or worse, yes. Former Rep. Sodrel (R-Ind.) says he’ll decide on the race this fall, after he finishes writing a book. Hill (D) is now 3-1 in their four matchups, but if the environment swings in the GOP’s favor, Sodrel’s personal wealth has to be attractive to the national GOP.