Saturday, November 10, 2012

Khalil s Picks (9 November 2012)

Hurricane Sandy is in the news but for this weeks? picks, I opted to not concentrate on bad news exclusively. So in addition to Sandy and gloomy climate science, space science is also featured!

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Douglas Main writes about an important topic in OurAmazingPlanet.com: not only is sea level rising but the rise is accelerating for the US East Coast. Even more troubling than potentially getting submerged is that North Carolina now prevents its researchers from reporting estimates? which essentially is lying to constituents.

Sea Level Rise Accelerating For US East Coast
This summer the North Carolina Senate passed a bill banning researchers from reporting predicted increases in the rate of sea level rise. But the ocean, unbound by legislation, is rising anyway ? and in North Carolina this rise is accelerating, researchers reported here yesterday (Nov. 6) at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. On the coast of North Carolina and at other so-called ?hotspots? along the U.S. East Coast, sea levels are rising about three times more quickly on average than they are globally, researchers reported during a session devoted to sea level rise. That?s the fastest rise in the world.

In a recent speech, President Obama unexpectedly mentioned climate change and his government?s determination to reduce carbon pollution because ?climate change is not a hoax.? But by linking climate change and hoax though, did he inadvertently do more harm than good? Joss Fong looks at the psychology in Scienceline.

How not to talk about climate change
President Obama doesn?t often speak publicly about global climate change, so environmentalists celebrated when he declared at September?s Democratic convention: ?My plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet because climate change is not a hoax.? It may have sounded like an unambiguous message, but recent psychology research suggests that by using a negation ? ?not a hoax? ? to frame the issue, the president may have inadvertently strengthened the very claim he intended to discredit.

Hurricane Sandy was obviously very much in the news this week, including the science sections. Susan Matthews writes about the important money problems Hurricane Sandy caused to laboratories in New York City and how it might be a challenge to get insurance companies to cover the damage. In Nature Medicine?s blog, A Spoonful of Medicine.

Insurance challenges may lie ahead for New York labs hit by hurricane
At the end of turbulent week, the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy on biomedical research in the Northeast remains unclear, particularly at New York University?s Smilow Research Center, which flooded during the storm. The most devastating loss at the labs there may be the death of thousands of genetically modified mice and rats, and these animals represent the culmination of many years of research and thousands of dollars in funding. Although the cages the rodents lived in may be insured, it?s likely impossible to recoup the money and time spent to engineer the animals themselves. Biomedical scientists may not think about the insurance needs for their labs on a daily basis, and as some Nature Medicine spoke with, it?s not always easy to get experiments up and running even when insurance is in place.

Nadia Drake writes that Saturn once had some giant satellites orbiting around it in Science News. And when those giant satellites collided, the violence sprout gave birth to some of its present satellites, like Titan. Who said the Solar System was a peaceful place?

Violent birth proposed for Saturn?s moon mishmash
Saturn?s skies sparkle with the faces of its many moons ? some frosted and bright, others darker, honeycombed, or hiding beneath haze. How nature built these worlds from the same set of materials is a conundrum that has eluded scientists for years. Now, a team suggests that violence early in the solar system?s history produced the many strange moons that rise over Saturn?s ringed horizons.

Because Curiosity?s landing was a bit too much fun, NASA now intends to land its next capsule like a helicopter. Amy Shira Teitel tells all on Discovery News.

NASA?s next capsule to land like a helicopter
It looks like NASA is getting a little more creative with its landing systems. A team of researchers recently tested a new rotor landing system in the 550 foot fall Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA?s Kennedy Space Center. The idea is for spinning blades to take the place of parachutes to enable soft and controlled landings on land instead of the ocean.

And don?t miss out:

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A lot of links today. But you can find more writings from early-career science writers by following this Twitter list. Enjoy your weekend weekend.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=78c546b4fa4b674d73757bd5ff48d46b

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Sony ships Xperia advance to the US, offers unlocked ruggedness for $300 or less

Sony ships Xperia advance to the US, offers unlocked ruggedness for $300

Americans who likes the Sony Xperia go's approach to lifeproof smartphone design won't have to live vicariously through their overseas friends anymore. Keeping up its recent habit of selling unlocked versions of niche devices, Sony is selling the toughened smartphone in the US as the Xperia advance. The 3.5-inch handset won't initially be a surprise to those who've had a peek at an international version, right through to the out-of-the-box Android 2.3 installation -- you'll be sitting in line for a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean like everyone else. For most, the advantage will rest in a dust- and water-resistant phone that can wield its 3G on AT&T or Straight Talk while being free to use at least basic GSM calling abroad. Be sure to shop around before committing to an Xperia advance, though. While Newegg's $250 price makes a reasonable case, the $300 official cost has our minds wandering to the much more powerful (if more fragile) Nexus 4.

Continue reading Sony ships Xperia advance to the US, offers unlocked ruggedness for $300 or less

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UN Designates Malala Day, Honoring Pakistani School Girl (Voice Of America)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/261982303?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Friday, November 9, 2012

The PS All-Stars Battle Royale Opening Sequence: Does it Stand ...

The European PlayStation blog has just updated with a video of the opening cinematic of upcoming Sony brawler,?PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.?Check out the video below to see Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Nathan Drake, Sly Cooper, Fat Princess, Cole McGrath, Sir Dan, Helghast, Sackboy, Big Daddy, Dante, Raiden and others ?duke it out.

YouTube Preview Image

In-keeping with the wavy, minimalistic style that is now associated with the PlayStation brand, the video sees the characters fighting in a dark blue background. Its pretty enough, but it would have been nice to see them fight across different environments like in Nintendo?s?SSBB. Still, seeing the different characters clash and fight with their own combat styles is very entertaining.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale?releases on PS3 and PS Vita on November 20 in the US and the day after in Europe. It will hit Australia on the 22nd, and UK on the 23rd, and it is out now in Japan.


Article from Gamersyndrome.com

Related posts:

  1. Playstation All Stars: Battle Royale new trailer
  2. Wreck-It Ralph Stars in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Trailer
  3. PaRappa?s All-Stars Portrayal Disappoints Designer
  4. Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes Action Point Battle System Gameplay
  5. Naruto Shippen: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3

About the Author

avatar My name is Reece, and I'm an aspiring writer from England. I've been into gaming since I was about 4 years old, playing the Game Boy, PSOne and Sega Mega Drive (Genesis to you Americans!). Having these systems around during my youth lead to the greatest and most-anticipated Christmas ever - the year I got my N64! Open to any system and genre, I remain completely unbiased as a proud owner of a Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and 3DS. Come on Vita, give me more reasons to buy you too!My favourite games are Resident Evil 2, Zelda: The Wind Waker, Streets of Rage 2, Left 4 Dead, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Yoshi's Island. I also write news for Explosion.com. You can catch me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReeceH92

Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2012/video-games/the-ps-all-stars-battle-royale-opening-sequence-does-it-stand-up-brawls/

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Adidas profit rises 14 percent in third quarter

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? Adidas AG, the German sportswear maker, has reported a 14 percent rise in third quarter earnings but lowered its full year revenue forecast due to declines of its Reebok brand and the National Hockey League lockout in North America.

The company, which previously forecast a full year rise of around 10 percent, says revenues will instead increase by high single digits.

Net profit in the third quarter was ?344 million ($438.5 million), up from ?303 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues rose 11 percent to ?4.17 billion. Stripping out currency effects, revenues grew 4 percent, the company said. Sales were up strongly in most emerging markets, grew by 1 percent in Europe, and fell 5 percent in North America.

Profit margins improved as the company raised prices.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/adidas-profit-rises-14-percent-third-quarter-071000065--finance.html

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Tooling Around With Windows 8

My first impression of the bargain-basement $39.99 Windows OS upgrade: To all outward appearances, Windows 8 is a vivid, visual, deeply rewarding and aesthetically pleasing skin to the 2009-released Windows 7 PC desktop OS. Big deal, you might say. However, digging in a bit, I found that this rather beautiful desktop isn't just a revamp of Windows 95 and later incarnations.


Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/255f321f/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C765750Bhtml/story01.htm

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sheldon Whitehouse Election Results: Democrat Wins Reelection In Rhode Island Senate Race

  • Arizona

    Last February, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) announced that he would not be seeking a fourth term in 2012. Rep. <strong>Jeff Flake</strong> (R-Ariz.), who emerged from a bruising, expensive Republican primary in August, will face <strong>Richard Carmona</strong> (D), a former surgeon general under President George W. Bush, in the general election. Flake and Carmona are deadlocked in the polls but many voters are still undecided, since the candidates were largely unknown to the broader Arizona electorate. Flake has faced criticism for his past <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/13/past-lobbying-becomes-issue-in-arizona-senate-race/?>tenure as a lobbyist</a> for Namibian mining interests with ties to the Iranian government. Carmona, who has been distancing himself from President Barack Obama, is relying on heavy Latino turnout and his centrist political profile to offset the Republican Party?s registration advantage in the state. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee bought airtime in the state for the week of October 2-8.

  • California

    Sen. <strong>Dianne Feinstein</strong> (D-Calif.), who has served in the Senate since 1992, is heavily favored to defeat her challenger, Autism activist and former congressional candidate <strong>Elizabeth Emken</strong> (R).

  • Connecticut

    Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) announced in 2011 that he would be retiring from the Senate, creating an open seat in the Nutmeg State. Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO <strong>Linda McMahon</strong> (R), who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2010 despite spending $40 million of her own money, is again the Republican nominee in 2012, and has run a much stronger campaign this time. Her opponent, Rep. <strong>Chris Murphy</strong> (D-Conn.), started off as the frontrunner after the primary despite his low name recognition, but the race has been deadlocked since August. Both campaigns have been launching prolonged negative ad offensives, and the DSCC has unexpectedly been forced to intervene on Murphy?s behalf. McMahon has been trying to distance herself from the national Republican Party and position herself as a job-creating moderate.

  • Delaware

    Two-term Sen. <strong>Tom Carper</strong> (D-Del.) is expected to soundly defeat challenger <strong>Kevin Wade</strong> (R) in November.

  • Florida

    Despite middling job approval ratings, Sen. <strong>Bill Nelson</strong> (D-Fla.) is in a relatively strong position to win reelection. His opponent, Rep. <strong>Connie Mack IV</strong> (R-Fla.), was initially seen as a weak candidate due to his <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/connie-macks-past-altercations-again-a-campaign-issue/1219639?>questionable past</a> and <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_155/Rep-Connie-Mack-IV-Still-Has-Uphill-Battle-for-Senate-Seat-215550-1.html?>lackluster fundraising</a>, despite his family?s fame in the state. Though polls pointed a close race over the summer, Mack has fallen behind Nelson in most polls since then. Several pro-Republican groups, such as the <a href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2012/05/u-s-chamber-of-commerce-targets-sen-bill-nelson-alan-grayson-in-new-tv-ads.html?>U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S2fTu4UHsdI?>Crossroads GPS</a> have aired ads attacking Nelson in an attempt to shrink his lead. However, time is running out and Nelson?s lead may now be insurmountable.

  • Hawaii

    Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) announced he was stepping down in 2012, creating a rare open seat opportunity in the Aloha State. Though Republicans landed a strong recruit in former Gov. <strong>Linda Lingle</strong> (R), she remains the underdog in the general election against Rep. <strong>Mazie Hirono</strong> (D-Hawaii), especially with native son President Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. However, Lingle narrowly defeated Hirono in the 2002 governor?s race and has raised more money than her opponent this year. This race has been sparsely polled so far, but Hirono has led by varying margins. Throughout the campaign, Lingle has been highlighting her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6VdLrpmGANk?>bipartisan credentials</a> as governor -- she even posted a picture of herself and President Obama on Facebook. Lingle must continue to campaign to the center to close the gap in this deeply Democratic state.

  • Indiana

    State Treasurer <strong>Richard Mourdock</strong> (R) handily defeated incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) in the May Republican primary by running far to his right, turning a safe Republican seat into a potential Democratic pick-up opportunity. Mourdock has a known disdain for compromise, and previously <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_eMZj_kW-4?>questioned the constitutionality of Social Security and Medicare</a>, which he has since distanced himself from. Rep. <strong>Joe Donnelly</strong> (D-Ind.), the Democratic nominee, has sought to paint Mourdock as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t0Svy9ll0pI?>too extreme for Indiana</a> while touting his own centrist record, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHORcUsJD2o&feature=player_embedded?>Democratic Majority PAC</a> has hit Mourock over his opposition to the auto bailout. Mourdock, meanwhile, has been <a href="http://thehill.com/video/campaign/245227-mourdock-attacks-obama-joe-donnelly-in-indiana?>trying to tie Donnelly to President Barack Obama</a>, citing his vote in favor of Obamacare. Though Mourdock started off as the favorite, the handful of public and private polling that has been conducted so far has shown it to be a very close race. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have both moved resources into the state in recent months.

  • Maine

    Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), one of the most moderate Republican senators, abruptly announced her retirement in February. <strong>Angus King</strong>, an independent former governor who <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/58_7/In-Maine-Its-Good-to-Be-King-216226-1.html?>left office with high approval ratings</a> in 2002, emerged as the early favorite to replace her. He has typically led his two opponents, Secretary of State <strong>Charlie Summers</strong> (R) and state Sen. <strong>Cynthia Dill</strong> (D), by double-digit margins in most recent polls. Though King has not revealed which party he would caucus with if elected, his views seem to be more in line with Democrats, <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2012_ME_Senate_Angus_King.htm?>especially on social issues</a>. The DSCC <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/blogs/open_season/163097836.html?>has ignored Dill?s request for an endorsement</a>, fearing a split in the Democratic vote, which may allow Summers to eke out a victory. The NRSC started <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GayrVVcwrM?>airing an ad</a> in September targeting both King and Dill, while the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4a3blFhcDo&feature=player_embedded?>U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a> has only run ads against King.

  • Maryland

    Freshman Sen. <strong>Ben Cardin</strong> (D-Md.), who defeated former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele in 2006, is strongly favored to beat former Secret Service agent <strong>Dan Bongino</strong> (R) in the general election this year. However, an independent candidate named <strong>Rob Sobhani</strong> <a href="http://atr.rollcall.com/maryland-independent-raises-eyebrows-in-senate-bid/?>launched</a> a $700,000 ad buy seemingly out of the blue in September, which raised some eyebrows in local Democratic circles.

  • Massachusetts

    In the marquee Senate race of the cycle, Sen. <strong>Scott Brown</strong> (R-Mass.), who unexpectedly won Ted Kennedy?s old Senate seat in a 2010 special election, is facing a much stronger candidate this time in <strong>Elizabeth Warren</strong> (D), a Harvard Law professor and special advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Polls have consistently shown an extremely tight race, while President Obama has consistently led Mitt Romney by double digits, which speaks to Brown?s popularity in the state. Brown has largely been campaigning as an independent with bipartisan credentials, while Warren describes herself as a champion for the middle class, highlighting her efforts to make Wall Street and big banks more accountable to consumers. Warren got a big boost in September when <a href="http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/09/21/thomas-menino-declares-has-elizabeth-warren-back-senate-endorsement/ziuW74M94Vii5llaDKfWOJ/story.html?>Boston Mayor Thomas Menino endorsed her</a>, and vowed to put his entire political organization behind her campaign. The race had largely been positive until Warren <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Lp66KISa4&feature=player_embedded?>launched an ad</a> in September going directly after Brown for supporting tax cuts for millionaires. The gloves have finally come off, and Brown once again <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0xWBRNrDfw?>accused</a> Warren of having used her Native American heritage to advance her career.

  • Michigan

    Former Rep. <strong>Pete Hoekstra</strong> (R-Mich.) started off his campaign against incumbent Sen. <strong>Debbie Stabenow</strong> (D-Mich.) by running a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f69VmIgmhOk&feature=related?>controversial statewide ad</a> during the Super Bowl. It featured a giddy Chinese woman riding her bike through a rice paddy, speaking broken English and thanking Sen. ?Debbie Spend-It-Now? for causing the United States to borrow more money from China. The ad was <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120206/NEWS15/120206008/Pete-Hoekstra-Super-Bowl-ad?>panned by Democrats, Republicans and Asian-American groups alike</a> for being racially insensitive, and Hoekstra subsequently saw his poll numbers drop. Stabenow has routinely led Hoesktra by double-digits in the polls since September and is poised for a convincing victory. The NRSC and outside Republican groups have not shown any interest in investing in this race.

  • Minnesota

    Riding the Ron Paul wave at the Minnesota Republican Convention, <strong>Kurt Bills</strong> (R), a first-term state representative and high school economics teacher, won the Republican nomination to take on Sen. <strong>Amy Klobuchar</strong> (D-Minn.). Klobuchar, one of the most popular incumbents in the country, has posted double-digit leads over Bills in the polls and is expected to coast to reelection.

  • Mississippi

    Sen. <strong>Roger Wicker</strong> (R-Miss.) should have no trouble with his reelection bid against Democratic nominee Albert N. Gore Jr. (D) -- and no, it?s not <em>that</em> <strong>Al Gore</strong> -- this November.

  • Missouri

    Up until August, it looked as though incumbent Sen. <strong>Claire McCaskill</strong> (D-Mo.), a strong proponent of President Obama?s agenda from a Republican-leaning state, was on pace to be a one-term senator. Democrats saw conservative Rep. <strong>Todd Akin</strong> (R-Mo.) as the weakest potential general election candidate and <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-spent-1.5-mil-to-help-akin-win-gop-primary/article/2505373#.UEZUimM9m5I?>spent $1.5 million on ads</a> calling him the ?true conservative? in the race right before the Republican primary, hoping to boost his chances at winning the nomination. They got their wish when Akin won the primary in August, and a few weeks into the general election Akin <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKa5CY-KOHc?>infamously said</a> that in cases of ?legitimate rape,? women can't get pregnant, causing a national uproar. Republicans of all stripes <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/21/politics/akin-controversy/index.html?>urged Akin to drop out</a> of the race, but he stubbornly resisted and his name will appear on the ballot. The NRSC and American Crossroads have <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/08/20/republicans-pull-money-from-missouri/?>pulled all funding</a> from the state, but Akin has started to go back on the offensive. While Akin now trails McCaskill in most polls, victory is not completely out of his grasp despite his <a href="http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/todd-akin-favorability-mo?>abysmal favorability rating</a>, which speaks to McCaskill?s unpopularity among Missouri voters.

  • Montana

    Freshman Sen. <strong>Jon Tester</strong> (D-Mont.) is facing a tough challenge in 2012 from Rep. <strong>Denny Rehberg</strong> (R-Mont.), a top-tier Republican candidate who has represented the entire state since 2001. Unlike most Republicans running in red states, Rehberg has <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heGSNJu51X8&feature=player_embedded?>highlighted his opposition</a> to Rep. Paul Ryan?s (R-Wis.) budget proposal, which would overhaul Medicare. Both campaigns and a bevy of outside groups have run ads on behalf of their preferred candidate. Rehberg and Tester have been running neck-and-neck in the polls for nearly two years now, and this race remains a pure toss-up.

  • Nebraska

    When moderate Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced his retirement, Republicans saw it as a relatively easy opportunity to flip this seat in 2012. Democrats recruited former Sen. <strong>Bob Kerrey</strong> (D-Neb.)</a> to run in Nelson's place. On the Republican side, state Sen. <strong>Deb Fischer</strong> (R) came from behind to defeat two better-known and better-financed opponents in the primary, helped by a <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/05/17/sarah-palin-s-latest-triumph-deb-fischer-wins-nebraska-gop-primary.html?>last-minute endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R)</a>. She has consistently held double-digit leads over Kerrey, who is also a former Nebraska governor, in the polls. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70DRGfIEDMQ?>American Crossroads</a> has run ads tying Kerrey to President Obama and portraying him as an out-of-touch carpetbagger, having spent the last decade living in New York City serving as president of The New School. Barring unforeseen events, Fischer seems to be well on her way to victory, moving the Republican Party one seat closer to a Senate majority.

  • Nevada

    Amidst an ethics investigation, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/us-usa-politics-ensign-idUSTRE73K8GU20110421?>announced his resignation</a> from the Senate in April 2011. Then-Rep. <strong>Dean Heller</strong> (R-Nev.) was appointed to take his place and is now running as an incumbent senator in 2012. His opponent is Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-07-09/berkley-ethics-probe/56117736/1?>who is being investigated</a> by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly using the powers of her office to aid her husband?s medical practice. Expecting a close race, the NRSC and DSCC have been flooding the airwaves with ads on behalf of their party's candidate. Most polls have shown Heller with a narrow edge over Berkley, but if Berkley can drive up Latino turnout and pull off the upset it would all but ensure that Democrats maintain a majority in the Senate.

  • New Jersey

    Despite low name recognition, Sen. <strong>Bob Menendez</strong> (D-N.J.) is likely to win a second full term this November. He is running in a Democratic state and has a <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/jul/13/menendez-kyrillos-raise-more-1m-nj-senate-race/?>significant cash-on-hand advantage</a> over his opponent, state Sen. <strong>Joe Kyrillos</strong> (R), who is even more unknown to New Jersey voters. Kyrillos, a former state GOP chairman, is close to Mitt Romney and Gov. Chris Christie (R), who recruited him to the race. Menendez, who was appointed by former Gov. Jon Corzine (D) in 2006, faced a tough challenge later that year from state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R). Though Menendez has just recently reached 50 percent in the polls, he has held a comfortable double-digit lead over Kyrillos since the beginning of the year.

  • New Mexico

    After Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) announced his retirement last February, Republicans were bullish on their chances to take over this seat. However, the Land of Enchantment has become much more Democratic over the last decade, and Rep. <strong>Martin Heinrich</strong> (D-N.M.), the Democratic nominee, has held a sturdy single-digit lead over former Rep. <strong>Heather Wilson</strong> (R-N.M.) in the polls. The NRSC tellingly <a href="http://www.nmtelegram.com/2012/08/28/nrsc-cancels-ads-in-new-mexico/?>canceled its ads</a> in the state, though other Republican-aligned outside groups, such as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KH_yxDXpre8?>Crossroads GPS</a> and the <a href="http://nm.whosaidyousaid.com/video/u-s-chamber-martin-heinrichs-job-killing-voting-record-hurts-families/?>U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a>, have still been airing ads against Heinrich, particularly on energy issues. A coalition of environmentalist and conservationist groups have been <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MgRBcADM-Pk?>airing a barrage of negative ads</a> against Wilson. The shifting demographics of New Mexico may be too much for Wilson to overcome to pull off the upset.

  • New York

    Sen. <strong>Kirsten Gillibrand</strong> (D-N.Y.), who was appointed to replace Hillary Clinton in 2009, has been leading challenger <strong>Wendy Long</strong> (R) by huge margins in the polls, and is heavily favored to win in November.

  • North Dakota

    When Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) announced his retirement last year, most political observers expected this race to be an easy pickup for Republicans. Freshman Rep. <strong>Rick Berg</strong> (R-N.D.) announced he was running for the open seat and started off as the strong favorite to replace Conrad. However, Democrats recruited former state Attorney General <strong>Heidi Heitkamp</strong> (D) to run, and she is giving Berg a run for his money. All indications point toward a tight race: Heitkamp has been running neck-and-neck with Berg in the few polls that have been conducted and the NRSC <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/08/nrsc-shuffles-senate-map-reinforcing-north-dakota-133581.html?>pulled money from two other races</a> and moved it to North Dakota. Republican-aligned outside groups <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RGwqQJt9I0M?>have run ads</a> attacking Heitkamp for supporting Obamacare, while Heitkamp has been running to the center, especially on energy issues. Although Heitkamp has proven to be a strong candidate, she must still outperform President Obama by a significant margin to prevail in North Dakota.

  • Ohio

    Many Republican-aligned outside groups have turned their attention to Ohio, where they have spent millions of dollars on ads in an attempt to sully the image of first-term Sen. <strong>Sherrod Brown</strong> (D-Ohio). While some polls have found that Brown?s lead has shrunk since the ad barrage, his numbers have largely held up against his opponent, state Treasurer <strong>Josh Mandel</strong> (R), a 34-year-old Iraq war veteran and fundraising magnet with a <a href="http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/national-govt-politics/treasurer-mandel-under-scrutiny-for-hiring-practic/nMzd7/?>spotty ethical track record</a>. The auto bailout has been a big point of contention in the race. Brown voted for it while Mandel remains strongly against it -- he even called Brown ?<a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/08/25/mandel-brown-take-off-gloves.html?>un-American</a>? for supporting it -- arguing that it hurt the pensions of non-union employees. Even if Mitt Romney wins Ohio, it may not be enough to put Mandel over the top, given his <a href="http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/josh-mandel-favorability-oh?>low favorability rating</a> in the state.

  • Pennsylvania

    Republicans failed to recruit a top-tier candidate to run against freshman Sen. <strong>Bob Casey</strong> (D-Pa.) in 2012, despite his mediocre approval ratings. Former coal company executive <strong>Tom Smith</strong> (R) emerged from the April Republican primary after spending <a href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-04-25/news/31399471_1_republican-candidates-bob-casey-fall-campaign?>$4 million of his own money</a> on television advertising. Smith also made an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tom-smith-rape-gaffe-out-of-wedlock-republican-senate-todd-akin-legitimate-2012-8?>unforced error</a> in the wake of the Todd Akin controversy, saying that having a child out of wedlock is ?similar? to rape. However, Smith began to start closing in on Casey in the polls in September and October after loaning his campaign $10 million, and has cut Casey's lead to the mid-single digits.

  • Rhode Island

    Sen. <strong>Sheldon Whitehouse</strong> (D-R.I.) should easily be reelected to a second term in this Democratic stronghold, where he faces software entrepreneur <strong>Barry Hinckley</strong> (R).

  • Tennessee

    It is not as though Tennessee is known for having a strong Democratic bench, but the state was thoroughly embarrassed when <strong>Mark Clayton</strong> (D), the vice president of Public Advocate USA -- a conservative advocacy organization which has been labeled as a ?hate group? by the Southern Poverty Law Center -- won the Democratic nomination. The state Democratic Party has <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/mark-clayton-tennessee-senate-bob-corker-hate-group/1#.UE9QTWM9m5I?>disavowed his candidacy</a> and plans on launching a write-in campaign. Regardless, Sen. <strong>Bob Corker</strong> (R-Tenn.) is beyond safe this election cycle.

  • Texas

    After suffering a damaging loss to Gov. Rick Perry (R) in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) announced that she would retire from the Senate at the end of her term. Most of the action in the race to replace her took place in the Republican primary, when former state Solicitor General <strong>Ted Cruz</strong> (R) defeated establishment favorite Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) in the July runoff with the help of the Tea Party. Cruz, who is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party, is a strong favorite against former state Rep. <strong>Paul Sadler</strong> (D) in the general election.

  • Utah

    Sen. <strong>Orrin Hatch</strong> (R-Utah) fended off a primary challenge on his right flank from former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist (R), and should have no trouble beating challenger <strong>Scott Howell</strong> (D) in November.

  • Vermont

    First-term Sen. <strong>Bernie Sanders</strong> (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist, is a shoo-in for reelection in 2012. Sanders, who is very popular in deep blue Vermont, caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, and they are not running a candidate against him. He is facing former Massachusetts state Rep. <strong>John MacGovern</strong> (R) in the general election.

  • Virginia

    After narrowly defeating incumbent <strong>George Allen</strong> (R-Va.) in 2006, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) decided not to run for a second term in 2012, setting up a closely contested open seat race in an important swing state. Allen, who seems to have moved on from his 2006 ?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI?>Macaca? moment</a>, is running for his old seat. He is facing former Gov. <strong>Tim Kaine</strong> (D), who served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee under President Obama. The two men have been deadlocked in the polls for over a year and a half, but in September Kaine began to pull slightly ahead. In October, Kaine started to outperform President Obama in Virginia polls. Allen has repeatedly tried to associate Kaine with President Obama but Kaine appears to be embracing his ties to the president, which he expects will play especially well in Northern Virginia, while portraying himself as a centrist. Republicans will most likely have to win this race to have a shot at a majority in the Senate.

  • Washington

    Though the Evergreen State features a competitive gubernatorial election in 2012, its Senate race is relatively low-profile. State Sen. <strong>Michael Baumgartner</strong> (R) has consistently trailed incumbent Sen. <strong>Maria Cantwell</strong> (D-Wash.) in the polls. Cantwell, who was once considered to be potentially vulnerable, should cruise to reelection.

  • West Virginia

    Though West Virginia has become reliably Republican at the presidential level, it remains blue at the state and federal level. That?s probably because the West Virginia Democratic Party looks very different from the national party, and state Democratic officials have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from President Barack Obama and the Democratic leadership. In the 2010 Senate special election, then-Gov. <strong>Joe Manchin</strong> (D) famously <a href="http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/democrat-tim-chesnut-vies-barrasso-s-seat?>aired an ad</a> in which he shot the locally unpopular cap and trade bill, championed by Obama, with a rifle. He went on to defeat businessman <strong>John Raese</strong> (R) by 10 points. Raese is running against Manchin again this year, but has been far behind in the polls and is expected to lose.

  • Wisconsin

    The retirement of four-term Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) turned a sure-fire Democratic hold into a possible pick-up opportunity for Republicans. Emboldened by Gov. Scott Walker?s (R) recall victory in June and Rep. Paul Ryan?s (R-Wis.) presence at the top of the ticket, the GOP thinks that <strong>Tommy Thompson</strong> (R), a former health and human services secretary and four-term governor, has a real shot to flip this seat. Most polls initially showed Thompson leading Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who represents the liberal bastion of Madison, but Baldwin moved into a slight lead in September. Since the primary, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ihWIy1YiSg?>Baldwin?s campaign</a> and several <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bhv3OaHGAM?>Democratic groups</a> have launched an ad blitz against Thompson over his past as a Washington lobbyist, claiming that he is beholden to special interests. Thompson, who survived a bruising, expensive Republican primary, spent that time refilling his campaign coffers and was largely off the airwaves. Baldwin, who has a liberal voting record, is expected to underperform Obama in Wisconsin, which would make the math very difficult for her if Mitt Romney carries or comes close to winning the state.

  • Wyoming

    Sen. <strong>John Barrasso</strong> (R-Wyo.) is heavily favored to defeat Albany County Commissioner <strong>Tim Chesnut</strong> (D) in the general election.

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/sheldon-whitehouse-election-results_n_2049765.html

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