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Gubernatorial Report Shorts (May 28, 2014) Georgia, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania

May 28, 2014 · 4:54 PM EDT

Georgia Governor. Gov. Nathan Deal (R) had no problem disposing of two challengers. He won renomination last week with 72 percent in the Republican primary. State Sen. Jason Carter was unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Deal in general election. Democrats are banking heavily on the…

Can an Endorsement Hurt the Endorsed Candidate?

by Stuart Rothenberg May 23, 2014 · 9:30 AM EDT

Longtime readers of my column know I have often been skeptical about endorsements in highly visible contests, whether for the White House or the Senate. But what about an endorsement in a U.S. House race or a House primary? And could an endorsement actually hurt the candidate endorsed?

We may…

The Long Lost Tale of Phil Maloof

by Stuart Rothenberg May 22, 2014 · 9:38 AM EDT

Most readers know that Nathan Gonzales and I, along with our friends from Roll Call, interview at least 150 candidates for Congress every election cycle. I have been doing it for many years.

Not every hopeful passes through our offices, of course, and many candidates have won elections without…

Ben Sasse, Mystery Man

by Stuart Rothenberg May 19, 2014 · 9:02 AM EDT

I am not at all certain who or what Ben Sasse is. I interviewed him in February, and heard him speak to a large, sympathetic group not long after that. And, of course, I’ve seen him interviewed by others. But I still don’t have a handle on what kind of senator he will be.

In that regard, at…

Democrats Wield Abortion Rights as Campaign Weapon in Primaries, Too

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 16, 2014 · 9:00 AM EDT

One party is using abortion as wedge issue in races all across the country — and it’s not the Republicans.

Abortion rights is a critical part of Democrats’ pitch to women in swing districts and states in general elections. But now some Democratic candidates from Maine to Hawaii are using choice…

The New World of Election Coverage and Analysis: A Case Study

by Stuart Rothenberg May 15, 2014 · 10:35 AM EDT

My new statistical model of the open Wisconsin Senate seat suggests that Democrats now have only a 54.496 percent chance of holding the seat. That’s a dramatic change from just three weeks ago, when my model showed them with a 55.501 percent chance.

The change results from three main…

The Most Influential Losing Congressional Candidate in the Country

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 14, 2014 · 9:53 AM EDT

University of Illinois professor George Gollin forced one of Democrats’ top recruits to spend a few hundred thousand dollars to win the primary. Now Gollin is popping up in other House races hundreds of miles away and potentially causing problems for more top recruits.

Earlier this year, Gollin…

Democrats Won’t Have a Candidate in Competitive Florida District, Race moves to Safe

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 13, 2014 · 1:52 PM EDT

Apparently Democrats are determined to challenge the old political axiom, “You can’t beat somebody with nobody.” in Florida’s 13th District.

Just a couple weeks ago, Democratic strategists tried to pull off some ballot jiu jitsu by keeping the Democratic field clear until after the filing…