Reacting to an avalanche of criticism over his perceived views of the Civil Rights Act, Rand Paul's campaign issues this statement today:

“I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person.  I have clearly stated in prior interviews that I abhor racial discrimination and would have worked to end segregation.  Even though this matter was settled when I was 2, and no serious people are seeking to revisit it except to score cheap political points, I unequivocally state that I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
 
“Let me be clear: I support the Civil Rights Act because I overwhelmingly agree with the intent of the legislation, which was to stop discrimination in the public sphere and halt the abhorrent practice of segregation and Jim Crow laws.”
 
“As I have said in previous statements, sections of the Civil Rights Act were debated on Constitutional grounds when the legislation was passed. Those issues have been settled by federal courts in the intervening years.”
 
“My opponent's statement on MSNBC Wednesday that I favor repeal of the Civil Rights Act was irresponsible and knowingly false. I hope he will correct the record and retract his claims.”
 
“The issue of civil rights is one with a tortured history in this country. We have made great strides, but there is still work to be done to ensure the great promise of Liberty is granted to all Americans.”
 
“This much is clear:  The federal government has far overreached in its power grabs.  Just look at the recent national healthcare schemes, which my opponent supports.   The federal government, for the first time ever, is mandating that individuals purchase a product.   The federal government is out of control, and those who love liberty and value individual and state's rights must stand up to it.”
 
“These attacks prove one thing for certain:  the liberal establishment is desperate to keep leaders like me out of office, and we are sure to hear more wild, dishonest smears during this campaign."

On RCP, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) outlines the problems with the financial reform bill, and Jeremy Lott writes about Rand and Ron Paul's political futures. Also, Kyle Trygstad reports on the challenges facing incumbents in 2010.

On RCM, John Tamny writes that we're not anywhere near deflationary territory. Diana Furchtgott-Roth argues that with cars becoming more fuel-efficient, America should consider adopting charges for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) instead of fuel taxes to fund maintenance of the country's roads.

Daniel McGroarty writes about the current confusing and contradictory nature of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and offers ways to improve it on RCW.

And finally, on RCS, Jeff Neuman chronicles the history of baseball games that were replayed after a protest was upheld.

Just months ago, it seemed that Gov. Jan Brewer (R) wouldn't even make it out of the Republican primary in her bid to retain the office she inherited when Janet Napolitano joined the Obama Cabinet last January. Now, it seems her prominent role at the center of the debate over the state's immigration law has solidified her standing politically, a Rasmussen poll (541 LVs, 5/17, MoE +/- 4%) finds.

Primary Election Matchup
Brewer 45 (+19 vs. last poll, 4/13)
Martin 18 (+6)
Mills 18 (unch)
Munger 3 (-11)
Und 13 (-11)

Among all voters, Brewer has enjoyed a spectacular rise in approval as well. A Rasmussen poll from March put her job rating at 41 percent approve, 55 percent disapprove. This month, 64 percent approve while 35 percent disapprove. That's a net swing of 43 points in two months.

Kentucky Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul has jumped out of the gate to a 25-point lead over Democrat Jack Conway, a new Rasmussen survey finds (May 19, 500 LV, MoE +/- 4.5%).

Paul easily won Tuesday's GOP primary over Trey Grayson, while Conway pulled out a narrow victory over Daniel Mongiardo.

Paul 59
Conway 34
Und 3

Paul's victory was one of the major storylines coming out of Tuesday's elections. This morning, most of the news about Paul is centering on his position on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Paul does not support discrimination of any kind, he says, but he questions the constitutionality of certain parts of the bill.

RCP currently rates this open seat race Lean Republican.

Rasmussen has a new poll (931 LVs, 5/17, MoE +/- 3%) testing the competitive Republican primary for governor in South Carolina, one of the big races ahead on Super Tuesday.

State Sen. Nikki Haley, endorsed last week by former Gov. Sarah Palin, leads the other three major candidates by double digits in the survey, with the rest tightly bunched in the teens.

Primary Election Matchup
Haley 30
McMaster 19
Barrett 17
Bauer 12
Und 18

RCP classifies the general election race here as Likely Republican.

A new Public Policy Institute of California poll finds Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) has regained statistically significant leads over her two closest potential Republican opponents, Tom Campbell and Carly Fiorina, and increased her lead over Chuck DeVore.

Helping the three-term senator are independents, who have shifted back her way. She's still polling just under 50% against Campbell and Fiorina, however, which is not a good place to be for any incumbent. Still, Boxer is moving in the right direction at this point.

In the primary, there was little movement among Fiorina and Campbell, who continue to run within a couple points of eachother, with Fiorina holding a 2-point lead this month. The news here was DeVore, who doubled his support since March from 8% to 16%, putting him just 7 points back of Campbell.

Senate - General
Boxer 46 (+3 vs. last poll, March 16)
Campbell 40 (-4)

Boxer 48 (+4)
Fiorina 39 (-4)

Boxer 50 (+4)
DeVore 39 (-1)

Senate - Primary
Fiorina 25 (+1 vs. last poll, March 16)
Campbell 23 (nc)
DeVore 16 (+8)

RCP currently rates the general election race a Toss Up.

In the governor's race, Meg Whitman's support has dropped 23 points in two months, as she now finds her lead in the Republican primary down to the single digits over Steve Poizner.

In the general election, Jerry Brown (D) has regained the lead against Whitman, and continues to hold a stronger lead over Poizner.

Governor - Primary
Whitman 38 (-23 vs. last poll, March 16)
Poizner 29 (+18)
Und 31 (+6)

Governor - General
Brown 42 (+3)
Whitman 37 (-7)
Und 21 (+4)

Brown 45 (-1)
Poizner 32 (+1)
Und 23 (nc)

The May 9-16 survey was taken of 1,168 likely voters with a MoE of +/- 3%.

Former New York Rep. Vito Fossella was nominated by the Staten Island Republican Party on Wednesday to run for his old 13th district seat. It was perhaps a surprise to some, as he wasn't even there for the vote and it's unclear whether he will even accept the nomination.

From the New York Post:

By a vote of 23-4, the GOP selected Fossella over candidates Michael Allegretti, a businessman, and Michael Grimm, a former US Marshal, to challenge Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon in November.

Fossella, who served five terms in Congress, decided not to run for reelection in 2008 after he was arrested for drunken driving in Virginia - and admitted he was there to see his mistress, a retired Air Force colonel, and their love child.

Of course, there is still an actual primary Fossella would have to get through first. It doesn't appear he'll be able to use this nomination as ammunition to clear the field.

As the New York Daily News reports:

Staten Island Republican icon, the former Borough President Guy Molinari, slammed the vote and warned Celeste Katz: “We will be bringing out everything this man has done. It's going to be a nasty campaign. We'll take on Fossella, and we'll beat him… There's a lack of morality that's going to be an issue in this campaign, [and] people are fed up with this kind of crap.”

Molinari backs Grimm.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Michael McMahon, who won easily over an underfunded opponent in 2008. John McCain won this district with 51%, after George W. Bush won it with 55% in 2004.

“This new data shows the Medicare system is beginning to implode. If Congress doesn't fix Medicare soon, there'll be more and more doctors dropping out and Congress' promise to provide medical care to seniors will be broken.” - Dr. Susan Bailey, president of the Texas Medical Association, noting the fact that more than 300 doctors have dropped out of the Texas Medicare system in the past two years, including 50 in the first three months of this year.

Somebody get Michelle Obama on the line to deal with this.

Following up on yesterday's primary numbers, Public Policy Polling (D) today releases the latest general election head-to-heads in the Colorado Senate race (1060 RVs, 5/14-16, MoE +/- 3%). Appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (D) now has a slight lead over former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R).

General Election Matchup
Bennet 44 (+1 vs. last poll, 3/5-8)
Norton 41 (-2)
Und 14 (unch)

In other matchups featuring Bennet, there are no major shifts since the March survey. But the other potential Democratic candidate, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, appears to be losing some ground.

Bennet 45 (-1) -- Buck 39 (-1) -- Und 16 (+2)
Bennet 44 (-1) -- Wiens 36 (-1) -- Und 20 (+2)

Romanoff 43 (-1) -- Norton 41 (+2) -- Und 16 (-1)
Romanoff 41 (-3) -- Buck 38 (+2) -- Und 21 (+1)
Romanoff 41 (-4) -- Wiens 37 (+3) -- Und 22 (+1)

Bennet's net approval rating has improved slightly since March, but is still in negative territory. Thirty-four percent of Coloradans approve of his job performance, while 44 percent disapprove. President Obama is also in negative territory -- 45 percent approve while 50 percent disapprove.

RCP currently classifies this race as a Toss Up, one of seven such races nationwide.