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New polls have clarified the status of some of the nation's most competitive races for governor, with Republican Gov. Scott Walker apparently gaining ground in Wisconsin and another prominent conservative Republican, Gov. Sam Brownback, receiving more bad news in Kansas.

The battle for control of the U.S. Senate has received the lion's share of attention in this election year, but races for governor will also provide clues about the national political mood as well as pointers for the coming presidential election.

A loss by Brownback, for example, would be widely interpreted as an indication that he tried to move the state too far to the right, even for deeply Republican Kansas. A win by Walker, however, would indicate that his policies have gained support in a state that leans to the Democrats-- at least in presidential years -- and would bolster his hopes of running for the Republican presidential nomination.

The latest Wisconsin survey by Marquette Law School, the state's leading poll, found Walker ahead of his Democratic opponent, Mary Burke, 50% to 45% among likely voters. Last month, the poll found Walker leading by 3 percentage points among likely voters, and Burke led during the summer.

The two candidates were virtually tied among all registered voters. The gap reflects the big challenge Democrats face in many states: persuading their voters to show up in a non-presidential election.

Walker leads in the survey even though voters disagree with him on several major issues, in some cases by large margins. The poll showed that a majority in the state supports raising the minimum wage, for example, and expanding the state's Medicaid program as allowed under President Obama's healthcare law. Walker opposes both moves.

But voters by nearly 2 to 1 see Walker as a decisive leader, the poll found, and, by 54% to 43%, say the state is on the right track.

The Marquette poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points in either direction.

In Kansas, a poll for USA Today by Suffolk University found Brownback trailing his Democratic opponent Paul Davis, 46% to 42%. That's in line with several other recent polls that have shown Davis with a small lead.

Forty-four percent of those polled said they felt the state's economy had gotten worse in two years, 35% said it had stayed about the same, and only 19% said it had improved. Democrats have alleged that cuts in taxes and state services pushed by Brownback went too far and have harmed the state.

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Republican Walker gains in Wisconsin, Brownback struggles in Kansas

Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets the lunch crowd at the Varsity, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Atlanta. AP

ATLANTA -- Almost two years after his 2012 Election Day drubbing, Mitt Romney is the Republican man in demand.

The twice-defeated White House contender is in the midst of a busy midterm campaign schedule, covering seven states and nearly 6,000 miles in five days to raise money and energy for Republican midterm candidates from Georgia to Colorado.

Romney has repeatedly said he's not running for president again, and his closest aides laugh off a possible 2016 bid. But top GOP strategists and donors suggest his continued high profile in Republican politics highlights the party's murky future and a crowded 2016 field that is both flawed and without a clear front-runner.

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CBS News elections director Anthony Salvanto talks with Real Clear Politics national political reporter Scott Conroy about the top Republican can...

"There's a vacuum," said John Jordan, a major Republican donor based in California. "When there's 10 people in a possible presidential field, it's difficult for anyone to look presidential. None of these figures is overly compelling."

And even Romney's denials have been just short of absolute. As he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in August, he's not interested in another presidential bid - but "circumstances can change."

Just a month before the unofficial beginning of the next presidential primary season, Democrats have already begun to rally behind prospective candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The race for the Republican nomination, meanwhile, is as wide open as most political veterans can remember.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had begun to assume a party leadership role before the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal tainted his brand. Major questions persist about former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's commitment to the 2016 contest, though his brother, former President George W. Bush, told Fox News on Thursday that he believes his brother "wants to be president." And the rest of the potential field features conservatives, such as Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who have passionate supporters among the Republican base but have yet to demonstrate more widespread appeal.

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Mitt Romney: Republican man in demand

A Republican state Senate candidate from Annapolis has admitted he falsely claimed to hold a college degree, saying he hasn't yet graduated.

Don Quinn, who is running against longtime Democratic Sen. John C. Astle, said he's been taking online courses from Washington State University for about four years, but is 12 credits shy of earning his degree.

Quinn's LinkedIn profile and an online biography he submitted to The Baltimore Sun claim he holds a degree from Washington State. His campaign website does not mention academic achievements.

"I'll take the heat for that one, because I wasn't paying attention," Quinn said Wednesday.

Quinn said he expected to finish his degree in political science this year, but campaigning, work and family commitments led him to decide to stop taking classes.

"I fully plan to finish it within a quarter or two of the election being over," said Quinn, who runs an online marketing company with his wife.

After speaking with The Sun on Wednesday, Quinn changed his LinkedIn profile to say his degree is "expected" in 2015. Underneath, he notes the item was changed "to reflect my new degree year which is still pending due to taking time off to run."

Washington State confirmed Quinn has been a student there but has not earned a degree.

Quinn's lack of a degree has been circulating among activists and was first reported on the Quinton Report blog.

Astle said the false claim of a degree raises "a big issue of integrity." Astle also has disputed some of Quinn's campaign literature, which claims the incumbent senator owns more than 400 guns, goes on annual African safari hunting trips and has a reserved booth at a restaurant.

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Republican state senate candidate acknowledges claim of college degree was inaccurate

Pagan Prayer At Public Meeting Ticks Off Republican
On May 5th, 2014, SCOTUS ruled to allow the practice of sectarian prayer before government meetings to continue. The United States moved a step closer to full blown Scalia Law that day. Teavangelic.

By: Secular Talk

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Pagan Prayer At Public Meeting Ticks Off Republican - Video

Republican Tells Secret Service Director About ADT
A Florida Republican brought a prop to illustrate his point during Tuesday #39;s hearing on the Sept. 19 security breach at the White House. After asking about broken glass following a 2011 shooting...

By: Roll Call

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Republican Tells Secret Service Director About ADT - Video