Campaigns

BOSTON - The running mate of an independent candidate for Massachusetts governor says he quit the race after learning the candidate was coordinating with the campaign of Democratic incumbent Deval Patrick.

CHICAGO - Last week, Afghanistan. This week, parents protesting the proposed demolition of a park field house.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A sign near the toilet said: "Text FLUSH to Robin." Above the restroom sink was another suggestion: "Text WASH to Robin." Was this some sort of potty-room prank? Or high-tech graffiti? Neither, actually.

INDIANAPOLIS - A Republican congressional candidate in Indianapolis says his volunteer campaign manager has resigned after making disparaging comments about gays, Muslims and others on a social networking site.

WICHITA, Kan. - Republican congressional candidate Mike Pompeo apologized Thursday after his campaign posted on its Twitter feed and Facebook page a link to a blog that uses a racial slur to refer to his Democratic opponent and calls President Barack Obama an "evil muslim communist USURPER." Pompeo, who is running for Kansas' 4th Congressional District, said a staffer, who he declined to identify other than saying it was the campaign's communications director, posted the link to the wrong Google alert on Wednesday before the campaign realized the mistake and removed it an hour later.