The Obama drag: Republicans have a great advantage heading into the 2014 midterm elections, according to another poll. But this poll, conducted by the PEW Research Center and USA Today, suggests their advantage could be starker than it was even in 2010, when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.
In a generic question about whether a voter supports the Democrat or the Republican in their own district, Republicans got 47% and Democrats got 43%. That’s a switch from October, when Democrats held an advantage in a PEW poll.
More troubling, perhaps, for Democrats is that President Obama is not a draw for their voters. Just 31% of Democrats think of their vote as “for” the President. Four years ago, 47% of Democrats felt that way.
Numbers like these could have implications for Democrats in 2014, for sure. But they could also influence how Democrats run for president. Sixty-five percent of the people in the poll said they hope the next president has policies that are not similar to Obama’s.
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Biden heckled on immigration: Happy Cinco de Mayo! Vice President Joe Biden was heckled over immigration in Miami this weekend. Twice. Both he and President Obama have Cinco de Mayo events in Washington today.
The heckler said, “Stop the deportations!” Biden said, “We’ll do that too, kid. But first let me finish my speech.”
Was that a moment of truth?
Prospects for an immigration reform bill have ranged from on life support to critical condition in recent weeks. If Congress fails to act, there has been speculation that Obama could work unilaterally within his authority as president to change policies.
Related: Dems to Obama: Stop Deportations
Paul’s Kentucky Derby date and his North Carolina gamble: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul surprised many by bringing media baron Rupert Murdoch, who owns Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, as his date to the Kentucky Derby.
The two allowed New York Times access to their day. The resulting story is worth reading. But Paul’s courting of Murdoch and Murdoch’s willingness to be courted confounded the notion that Paul is a fringe Republican.
Paul will reaffirm is tea party support Monday, however, when he heads to North Carolina to lend support to a tea party-favored candidate there.
Related: GOP establishment looks nervously at North Carolina primary.
Christie’s punchline: Chris Christie joined a room full of Washington bigwigs and laughed at himself during the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night. It’s the night when politicians and Hollywood comedians - this year Joel McHale of NBC’s “Community” and E!’s “The Soup” - roast politics. Christie found himself the main target of McHale’s sharp tongue. And he didn’t seem to take it personally. The two took a photo together later that night.
Related: Obama gets last laugh at White House Correspondents Dinner
Reading list:
Opinion by John Boehner on CNN: Don't repeat Iraq mistakes in Afghanistan
The Washington Post has an in-depth look at President Obama’s personal attachment to the climate change issue. He talks about it with his daughters, according to the story. His personal commitment to enact new regulations runs at crosscurrents with Democrats’ electoral priorities. Climate change will continue to be a key issue and will jump to the fore in June, when the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce new emissions regulations for power plants.
Business Insider: An anti-gay marriage candidate explains his past as a drag queen.
USA Today: Health care spending surges in the first quarter.
Sports Illustrated: Source: Craig Robinson fired by Oregon State
WSJ: GOP poised to control more state legislatures