Some Politics Face Better 2014 Prospects Following Gun Vote

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Sen. Mary Landrieu's (D-La.) numbers rose following her vote in favor of background checks. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)


WASHINGTON -- Mary Landrieu should've been the tip-off. The Louisiana Democrat is well known for having a fine-tuned political antenna, but the senator's recent vote in favor of expanding background checks for gun purchasing surprised some observers.

A few weeks later, Landrieu's calculation appears to have been the correct one -- opponents of background checks are tanking in polls, while backers are surging.

A new survey from Public Policy Polling shows that voters are more likely to vote to reelect Landrieu and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), two red-state Democrats up for reelection in 2014. Hagan also voted in favor of expanding background checks. Forty-four percent of likely voters are more likely to vote for Landrieu, while 26 percent are less likely. In North Carolina, 52 percent of voters are more likely to vote for Hagan, while 26 percent are less likely.

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