Hotline On Call

Lisa Madigan is at risk of falling into the parent trap -- or at least that's the message one of her would-be rivals is trying to push.

After narrowly prevailing in the face of a national GOP wave in 2010, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy begins his reelection campaign as a slight underdog against the Republican he defeated three years ago, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

The Hispanic and African-American populations in Florida are booming and Democrats are reaping most of the benefits, according to some fascinating statistics compiled by Democratic strategist Steve Schale on his blog last week. The data is just another example of the Republican Party's struggle to reach out to minority voters, even as party leaders like Sen. Marco Rubio, push for the GOP to broaden its scope.

After the social wars of the 1990s and the "war on women" last year, you might be forgiven for thinking the abortion debate was moving out of electoral politics. But that's not the case; expect a big debate over abortion rights in Pennsylvania next year.

Americans continued to abandon their landline telephones in 2012, according to a new report that underscores the importance of sufficient cell-phone interviews for political polls and raises questions about the bias of those surveys that eschew cell phones entirely, like the interactive voice response polls pervading politics today.

The Alaska lieutenant governor's entry into the race gives Republicans a potentially strong candidate in a deeply red state.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is in a better position to be reelected today than he was just three months ago, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday morning. The survey shows him with his highest-ever approval and favorability ratings and making gains on his highest-profile potential opponent -- though Scott remains net-negative on all three measures.

The primary in New Jersey's Senate special election will be the first to pit President Obama's campaign veterans against more established Democrats.

The headlines have not been kind toward Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., over the past two weeks, and they could get uglier later this month with a viable Republican challenger looking more likely to get into the race.

Rep. Mike Rogers will not run for an open Senate seat next year, he will announce later today. Michigan Republican pollster Steve Mitchell confirmed in an email that Rogers will take a pass.

In a new Quinnipiac University poll filled with bad trends for Gov. John Hickenlooper, poor ratings for President Obama, and lackluster early numbers for 2016 Democratic presidential contenders, Sen. Mark Udall's, D-Colo., approval ratings stand out as a possible bright spot for his party.

Tyler Olson -- who announced his resignation this week as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party -- is preparing to run for office, but he won't say whether that campaign will be for governor or the House seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley. Olson said in an interview that he's still weighing the best opportunity to serve, but he seems to be drawing distinctions between himself and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad.

Former South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds says he plans to raise $9 million for his Senate bid -- a massive number to float, given the low cost of advertising in South Dakota and the fact that he currently lacks a top-tier GOP primary or general election challenger and looks unlikely to get one.

Before Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is the subject of any more 2016 presidential speculation, he has a little business to take care of at home. The first-term Democrat's approval ratings have fallen sharply this year, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll which also shows Hickenlooper tied -- with dangerously low support -- in 2014 reelection matchups against two Republicans.

West Virginia state Sen. Bill Cole has decided not to challenge Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.V., next year, robbing national Republicans of one of their early recruits for a seat that tops their list this cycle.