Public Policy Polling

Senate Democrats are betting on family dynasties to win red states National Journal
Same-sex marriage: the debate Miami Herald

Beware of the coming Senate race storm Sioux Falls (SD) Argus Leader
Haley, Sheheen laying groundwork for a rematch Greenville (SC) News

Mary Landrieu's 2014 playbook is her own Politico
Rhode Island marijuana decriminalization law going into effect Huffington Post

Curtis Bostic hits Mark Sanford on personal life Politico
Allyson Schwartz plans to run for Pennsylvania governor Politico
If the US held a referendum today, gay marriage would win The Guardian (UK)
Polls show Pa. shift to backing same-sex marriage Philadelphia Inquirer
What the public really thinks about guns Tucson Sentinel
Mitch McConnell targeted in March Madness-themed DSCC ad Huffington Post

The politics of guns and the influence of advertising NPR
Lonely list: Holdout Democrats on gay marriage Politico
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan declares her support for gay marriage News & Observer
A lot has changed since Wisconsin banned same-sex marriage in 2006 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

McCaskill's gay marriage conversion defines a trend St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Poll: Colbert-Busch in dead heat with Sanford in SC congressional race The State
Poll: Sanford, Colbert Busch neck and neck Politico
With Tim Johnson retiring, Democrats face new challenge Politico
Republicans, Democrats both see opportunity in Johnson retirement U.S. News & World Report
Politics of gay marriage: How close is GOP to changing its stand? Christian Science Monitor
Poll: Colbert’s sister leads Mark Sanford in likely House matchup The Hill
Colbert Busch, Sanford in close race for Congress: poll Huffington Post
60 Florida counties that don't recognize domestic partnerships Huffington Post
Poll: Dead heat in SC1 matchup of Colbert Busch-Sanford WIS 10
Poll: District 1 a toss-up; Colbert Busch holds small lead over Sanford WCIV 4
Sanford, Colbert Busch polling neck-and-neck Talk Radio News Service

South Carolina special election looks like a toss-up

Raleigh, N.C. – PPP's first look at the special election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District finds a toss up race. Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch leads Republican Mark Sanford 47-45 and ties Curtis Bostic at 43.

This is a Republican leaning district and Barack Obama's approval rating in it is only 41% with 57% of voters disapproving of him. But Democrats are far more unified than the Republicans are. Busch is winning 87-89% of the Democratic vote while Sanford (76%) and Busch (72%) are both earning less than 80% of the GOP vote. Busch is also up by 16-18 points with independent voters.

Sanford remains a strong favorite for the Republican nomination heading into next week's runoff. He leads Bostic 53/40. The horse race numbers closely mirror his favorability with GOP voters- 55% see him positively to 40% with a negative opinion.

South Carolina special a toss up

PPP's first look at the special election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District finds a toss up race. Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch leads Republican Mark Sanford 47-45 and ties Curtis Bostic at 43.

This is a Republican leaning district and Barack Obama's approval rating in it is only 41% with 57% of voters disapproving of him. But Democrats are far more unified than the Republicans are. Busch is winning 87-89% of the Democratic vote while Sanford (76%) and Bostic (72%) are both earning less than 80% of the GOP vote. Busch is also up by 16-18 points with independent voters.

Sanford remains a strong favorite for the Republican nomination heading into next week's runoff. He leads Bostic 53/40. The horse race numbers closely mirror his favorability with GOP voters- 55% see him positively to 40% with a negative opinion. If there's a silver lining for Bostic it's that he still has a name recognition deficit- 77% of voters have heard of him to 95% for Sanford- and among voters who are familiar with him he trails Sanford only 49/46. That suggests some possibility of closing as voters focus in on the choice between the two in the final weeks, but Bostic may just not have enough time.

Polls, trends point to tough re-election fight for Sen. Ron Johnson Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The death penalty distraction Winston-Salem Journal
Tim Johnson expected to announce retirement Tuesday (Mitchell, SD) Daily Republic

Charlie Crist: The luckiest pol in America Politico
South Dakota powerhouse Mike Rounds seeks Senate seat Sioux City Journal