Topic: Public Policy Polling

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Gay marriage battlegrounds: 12 states to watch

In the states, the battle over gay marriage is far from over. As many as 10 could move to legalize same-sex marriage over the next three years. One may be moving toward a stronger defense of traditional marriage. Here's the state-by-state rundown.

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Decoder Wire Rick Perry 2016: Did he just announce for president?

Rick Perry announced Monday that he will not run for reelection as governor of Texas in 2014, and said nothing about running for president in 2016. But he dropped plenty of hints.
Gay marriage battlegrounds: 12 states to watch

In the states, the battle over gay marriage is far from over. As many as 10 could move to legalize same-sex marriage over the next three years. One may be moving toward a stronger defense of traditional marriage. Here's the state-by-state rundown.
Why US Senate race in Massachusetts is Ed Markey's to lose

Ed Markey is a Democrat with high name recognition running in a blue state, and polls show him leading the GOP's Gabriel Gomez. But another US Senate race, in 2010, showed that Massachusetts voters can mete out some surprises.
Why Obama agenda group faces pushback from some Democrats

Organizing for Action, an issue-advocacy group that spun off from President Obama's reelection campaign, is going after some Democrats and competing for fundraising dollars.
Decoder Wire Gun control forces take fight to New Hampshire, Sen. Kelly Ayotte

Gun control advocates are taking their message to the states, through ads, town hall meetings, and shaming campaigns. They poked Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) of New Hampshire on Tuesday.
Appalachian Trail not forgotten: Women voters still wary of Mark Sanford

Monday's debate in the South Carolina congressional race between former Gov. Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch underscored Sanford's problems with women voters.
Gun vote backlash: Five senators who said 'no' see ratings plunge

Approval ratings have plummeted for five senators who voted against expanded background checks for gun buyers, says a PPP survey. But only one is up for reelection in 2014. Will it still matter in 2016 or 2018?
The Vote Chris Christie praises Obama (again): Is he digging himself in deeper? (+video)

Six months after his famous – some say costly – hug of the president on the Jersey Shore, Gov. Chris Christie says Obama 'kept every promise that he made' on hurricane Sandy disaster relief.
Veteran dealmaker Max Baucus announces Senate retirement

A centrist Democrat in a conservative state, Max Baucus has taken many tough votes over his six terms in the Senate, but battles over guns and health care loomed large in his reelection bid.
McConnell secret tape: Liberal group blamed, but Ashley Judd still an issue

A Democratic official blames two men from Progress Kentucky for recording a McConnell campaign strategy session. But mockery of Ashley Judd's mental health past is still fodder for Democrats.
Why South Carolina special election is no big deal

With a quirky cast of characters, the special election in South Carolina for a seat in the US House is more idiosyncratic than most – but it's still likely to go Republican.
Decoder Wire Jeb Bush sounding more like a presidential candidate

In an interview, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he 'won't' rule out a run in 2016 and seemed to be positioning himself in a way that would appeal to Republican primary voters.
Eight open US Senate seats in 2014

Here are eight senators who have opted out of a reelection bid in 2014, giving hopefuls in both parties a rare shot at a US Senate seat – and, moreover, one that could flip control of the Senate.
Scott Brown won't seek open Senate seat, a blow to Republican hopes (+video)

Republican Scott Brown won't vie for US Senate seat vacated by John Kerry of Massachusetts, he said Friday. His decision increases the likelihood the seat will stay in Democratic hands.
Police in schools 'not the answer,' coalition says, urging broader strategy

Civil rights groups, educators, and law enforcement representatives say police in schools, 'while well-intentioned,' can end up causing other problems for students the police are there to protect.
Decoder Wire Why is Sen. Lindsey Graham now Obama's antagonist in chief?

Not long ago, the Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was seen as a 'maverick' Republican willing to work across the aisle. But there appears to be a clear reason for his rightward shift.
Decoder Wire Congress more unpopular than Donald Trump, head lice

A new poll shows just how deeply, eye-poppingly unpopular Congress has become. But are voters partly to blame for lawmakers' failures?
Should Michigan GOP brace for reprisal over 'right to work' law?

When Republicans in Wisconsin and Ohio took on Big Labor, unions fought back ferociously. But Michigan's GOP lawmakers, calculating the political risks of pushing a 'right to work' law, may have looked to Indiana as a better precedent.
Rand Paul as kingmaker in US Senate race in Montana?

Sen. Rand Paul (R) – heir to his father's libertarian political dynasty – on Sunday endorsed Republican Denny Rehberg, who is running in a tight three-man race. A GOP concern is that the Constitution Party candidate could siphon votes from Rehberg.
Latest polls: Romney's uphill fight not as steep

Public opinion polls are moving things in Mitt Romney's direction, with one expert suggesting that Romney 'has peeled off some of Mr. Obama’s softer support in addition to gaining ground among undecided voters.'
One presidential debate over, and still undecided in Ohio

The Monitor watched Wednesday's presidential debate with undecided voter Maggie O'Toole in Ohio – an important battleground state. Why she is still not ready to commit to either President Obama or Mitt Romney.
Why Obama is pulling ahead in the battleground state of Wisconsin

This summer, Mitt Romney and President Obama appeared to be neck and neck in Wisconsin. But now in polls, the president seems to be gaining independents at his opponent’s expense.
Decoder Wire Elizabeth Warren speech: Stirring, or a stretch of the facts? (+video)

Elizabeth Warren, who is running for the US Senate from Massachusetts, got the Democratic convention crowd excited Wednesday. But fact checkers found some points to dispute.
Decoder Wire Could Todd Akin still win? (+video)

Todd Akin has not dropped out of the US Senate race in Missouri after his 'legitimate rape' comment. Missouri's rightward tilt gives him hope this fall, but not too much, experts say.
What's keeping Todd Akin in Senate race? (+video)

Republican Senate contender Todd Akin expressed a determination to stay in the race, even amidst advice from others in his party to step down. He says his comments relating to rape boil down to 'one word in one sentence on one day.'