On Politics

A poll released Thursday by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling touts Gina Raimondo's gubernatorial prospects for 2014, while casting doubt on the re-election hopes of Governor Lincoln Chafee.

The Rhode Islanders United for Marriage coalition is pointing to support for same-sex marriage in a new poll by Public Policy Polling:

The Rhode Islanders United for Marriage coalition is pointing to support for same-sex marriage in a new poll by Public Policy Polling:

A potential Massachusetts Senate race between Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Ed Markey is a virtual tie. That’s the result of a Public Policy Polling survey that shows Brown with 48 percent and Markey with 45 percent.

The poll also showed Markey, of Malden,  as a big favorite over primary challenger Stephen Lynch, of Boston, by a 52-19 margin.

The special election slated for June is to fill the seat vacated by John Kerry, who has been confirmed as President Obama’s new secretary of state.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras' latest State of the City speech celebrates the value of overcoming complex problems through collaboration -- a not-so-subtle contrast with the state pension overhaul championed in 2011 by the mayor's prospective Democratic gubernatorial rival  in 2014, state Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

In comments Tuesday evening to the City Council, Taveras notes the contrast to February 2012 when "Providence was running out of cash, and running out of time. In the months that followed, there were some who said Providence could not avoid filing for bankruptcy."