Stem cell research

Moderate GOPers In Tough Spot Over Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 30, 2010, 10:52AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Democrats are sounding increasingly confident they can work out a bipartisan legislative fix to get around a judge's order halting all stem cell research, but in an election year where everything matters, are moderate Republicans really going to go along with the majority party? And might that cost one GOPer his Senate bid?

The two clearest examples are Republican Senate candidates Rep. Mark Kirk (IL) and Rep. Mike Castle (DE), who Democrats told TPM last week they expect to continue to support embryonic stem cell research as they have before.

But Castle is locked in a tough and nasty fight with Christine O'Donnell, a tea party favorite who is looking to become the next conservative insurgent to topple the establishment's pick. With the O'Donnell campaign targeting evangelical voters in advance of a Sept. 14 primary that could have fewer than 50,000 voters, this could be the issue to turn the race.

Read more »

Cordoba House

The Dems Who Have Spoken For Cordoba House

Eric Kleefeld | August 24, 2010, 8:45AM

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

With all the attention we've given to politicians who have attacked the Muslim community center set to be built near Ground Zero in New York, let's take a different look at the story: A list of the Democratic politicians who have stood up in support of it.

Opposition to the project has been brewing for weeks, and the issue came to a head a week and a half ago, when President Obama voiced his support for the right of organizers to build it.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Hundreds Protest Islamic Center In Downtown Manhattan]

Since, some Dems have come out and said that the project should be moved -- most notably Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who nevertheless affirmed the right of Muslims to build it. So let's look at the other side of the equation: Dems who have spoken out on the project's behalf, both before and after Obama's remarks.

Read more »

'Ground Zero Mosque'

Giannoulias Supports Islamic Cultural Center Near Ground Zero

Eric Lach | August 17, 2010, 1:25PM

IL-SEN candidate Alexi Giannoulias

Democratic Illinois Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias has come out in support of the Cordoba House project near Ground Zero in New York City, the Associated Press reports.

Read more »

Alexi Giannoulias

PPP Poll: Giannoulias Leads Kirk By 2 In Illinois Senate Race

Eric Lach | August 17, 2010, 12:57PM

IL Senate candidates Alexi Giannoulias (D) and Mark Kirk (R)

A new PPP poll of the Illinois Senate shows Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias with a two-point lead over Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, 37%-35%. Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones pulls in 9%.

Read more »

IL-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Dem Giannoulias And GOPer Kirk Tied In Illinois Senate Race

Marc Kilstein | August 11, 2010, 10:17AM

IL Senate candidates Alexi Giannoulias (D) and Mark Kirk (R)

A new Rasmussen poll of the Illinois Senate race out this morning has Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Rep. Mark Kirk deadlocked, 40%-40%.

The candidates, vying for Barack Obama's former Senate seat, have been within two points of each other in the last three Rasmussen polls conducted. A July 26 poll had Giannoulias with a slim two-point advantage, 43%-41%, while an earlier July poll gave the Democratic hopeful a one-point lead, 40%-39%.

Read more »

IL-SEN

Giannoulias Ad: Kirk A Liar Who Voted For Bush Policies (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 9, 2010, 11:03AM

A new ad from Sen. candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL), attacking his opponent, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL).

Democratic Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has a new ad in his state's Senate race, combining two key narratives: He's g after Republican Congressman Mark Kirk for being a liar, and for being tied to former President George W. Bush.

The ad begins with news snippets of Kirk's embellished statements about his military record, along with the condemnations that he had received from newspapers. "Now, typical Washington politician Kirk is lying about Alexi Giannoulias in ads denounced as smears," the announcer says. "In D.C. 20 years, Kirk voted for the Bush policies that wrecked the economy, and then said unemployment's not a 'big issue.'"

The TPM Poll Average gives Kirk a very narrow edge of 41.1%-40.6%.

Read more »