News From The Campaign Trail ...

There are more developments in the presidential campaign today.

* Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback apparently will end his presidential campaign on Friday.

Sam who?

Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of him. Brownback hardly made a ripple in the polls, remaining in single digits throughout his ill-advised venture into presidential politics. In the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, conducted last weekend, Brownback had the support of 1% of respondents.

And his campaign warchest reportedly has less than $100,000.

You don't win presidential campaigns with that kind of support and that kind of financial backing.

Nevertheless, Brownback was one of the few, unabashedly genuine social conservatives running on the Republican side. With a social moderate like Giuliani one of the leaders in the race, it begs the question -- Who will win the social conservative vote?

* Jeb Bush Jr., nephew of the president and the son of the former Florida governor, endorsed Rudy Giuliani in his quest for the Republican nomination.

“I know that Rudy has the leadership qualities and unmatched experience to be the next president of the United States,” Bush said. “I’m honored to join his campaign and look forward to working with the many young professionals throughout Florida supporting the mayor.”

Bush will be the chairman of Florida Young Professionals.

It remains to be seen how much positive influence an endorsement from a Bush will have in the race. But Jeb Bush Jr. becomes the second well-known person to join Giuliani's campaign lately. Texas Gov. Rick Perry took a national co-chairmanship in Giuliani's campaign yesterday.

* If Barack Obama expected to unite black registered Democrats behind his bid for the presidential nomination, the latest CNN poll shows he is failing in that effort. The CNN survey reports that Hillary Clinton is the choice of 57% of black registered Democrats, and Obama is favored by 33%.

Clinton's lead over Obama among black Democrats seems to be fueled by support from black women, who pick Clinton over Obama by 68% to 25%. Apparently, black women's allegiance to their gender is more significant than their allegiance to their race.

Among white Democrats, Clinton has 49% support, while Obama is at 18% and former Sen. John Edwards has 17%.

You can read more about the survey here.

* While we're on the subject of polls, the latest CBS News poll shows Giuliani leading among Republicans with 29%.

His nearest competitors are former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson with 21% and Arizona Sen. John McCain with 18%. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has 12% and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was included in the poll for the first time, has 4%.

* It looks like we won't have to get too far into the new year before people will start voting in the presidential race.

Iowa is scheduled to hold its caucuses on January 3. That's 11 weeks from now.

New Hampshire still hasn't decided when to hold its first-in-the-nation primary, but to retain its status, New Hampshire will have to hold its vote at least before January 15, which is the date voters in Michigan go to the polls in that state's presidential primary.

To be first overall, New Hampshire will have to schedule its vote for January 1 or 2 -- or take the unprecedented step of holding its primary in the calendar year before the general election is to be held.

Anyone for a little post-Christmas politics? 'Tis the season ...