Thursday Open Thread [8.21.14]

So the U.S. Supreme Court indicated this week that it will decide marriage equality for the entire country next year. A new Marist Poll shows that a “majority of Americans favor legalizing same-sex marriage, but there is little consensus about whether the decision should be made on the federal or state level.”

“Supporters of legalizing same-sex marriage think the issue should be decided for the entire country by a federal law. Half of those who oppose it believe it should be determined by the states. And, while Americans’ position on legalizing same sex marriage is a driving factor in the debate, political party affiliation matters, too. Democrats are more likely to turn to the federal level, and Republicans look more to the states. Independents are closer to the Democrats on whether to seek federal or state action.”

And here is a host of new polls from the last week:

KANSAS–SENATOR–Public Policy Polling: Sen. Pat Roberts (R) 32, Chad Taylor (D) 25%, Greg Orman (I) 23, Randall Batson (L) 3.

“As weak as a 32% standing is for an incumbent, that still gives him a pretty clear lead due to his opponents pretty much splitting the anti-Roberts vote evenly. But if one of them was to pull out Roberts would really be in trouble.”

KANSAS–GOVERNOR–Public Policy Polling: Paul Davis (D) 39, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 37, Keen Umbehr (L) 9.

NEW YORK–GOVERNOR–Quinnipiac: Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) 56, Rob Astorino (R) 28.

IOWA–SENATOR–Rasmussen: Joni Ernst (R) 43, Bruce Braley (D) 43.

RHODE ISLAND–GOVERNOR–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY–WPRI 12/Providence Journal: Gina Raimondo (D) 32, Angel Taveras (D) 27 and Clay Pell (D) 26.

GEORGIA–SENATOR–InsiderAdvantage: David Perdue (R) 47, Michelle Nunn (D) 40.

GEORGIA–SENATOR–A new SurveyUSA: David Perdue (R) 50, Michelle Nunn (D) 41.

GEORGIA–GOVERNOR–InsiderAdvantage: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 48, Jason Carter (D), 39.

GEORGIA–GOVERNOR–A new SurveyUSA: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 43, Jason Carter (D) 39.

Looks like Georgia remembered that Carter and Nunn are Democrats, or that they are supposed to hate Democrats, or something.

MASSACHUSETTS–GOVERNOR–Boston Globe: Martha Coakley (D) 40, Charlie Baker (R) 32.

WISCONSIN–GOVERNOR–Rasmussen: Gov. Scott Walker (R) 48, Mary Burke (D) 47.

NEW MEXICO–GOVERNOR–Albuquerque Journal: Gov. Susana Martinez (R) 50, Gary King (D) 41.

FLORIDA–GOVERNOR–Cherry Communications (R): Gov. Rick Scott (R) 44, Charlie Crist (D) 41.

NORTH CAROLINA–SENATOR–Public Policy Polling: Sen. Kay Hagan (D) 42, Thom Tillis (R) 38