In Nev. Senate Race, A Dead Heat Between Reid, Angle

We're checking in this week on a number of election races around the country. Today, we focus on the dead heat between U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid -- Democrat from Nevada -- and his Republican challenger, Sharron Angle. Angle is a former Nevada assemblywoman and a Christian conservative who has been backed by the Tea Party. Reid is a longtime incumbent who became the Democratic leader in the Senate after Tom Daschle lost his re-election bid in South Dakota in 2004. NPR's David Greene talks to Anjeanette Damon, who covers politics for the Las Vegas Sun.

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The New Republic: Value Voters And The Tea Party

In 2004 the social agenda of the Value Voters pushed Republican candidates to the top. Now the Tea Party, with its focus on jobs and the economy, is the driving conservative force. Tiffany Stanley of The New Republic argues that although the groups have tried to align, the social issues are falling by the wayside.

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Marine general opposes repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'

Washington (CNN) -- Gen. James Amos, who is poised to become the new Marine Corps commandant, opposes repealing the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars openly gay and lesbian soldiers from the military.

The Senate Armed Services Committee, which held a hearing Tuesday on the nomination of Amos to become commandant, released 37 pages of policy questions the general answered in advance.

"In my personal view the current law and associated policy have supported the unique requirements of the Marine Corps and thus I do not recommend its repeal," Amos wrote.

"My primary concern with proposed repeal is the potential disruption to cohesion that may be caused by significant change during a period of expended combat operations," Amos said in his answer to the committee's advance questions.

A Defense Department review of the policy that is under way "should tell us a lot whether such a change will be disruptive to unit cohesion ... (and) provide insights into how, if Congress approves of a change in law and the president signs it, the (Defense Department) should develop policy for its implementation."

At the hearing, Amos told the committee that he believes responses from Marines on repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy have been mostly negative so far.

Amos said he had heard that at Marine bases and in Marines' responses to an online survey, the feeling "is predominantly negative." He added: "But I don't know that as a fact."

However, Amos made clear that he and the Marine Corps would accept the new policy if and when the law gets changed and the president, defense secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman certify that it would not impede military effectiveness and readiness.

"The Marine Corps is probably one of the most faithful services you have in our country," Amos said. "And if the law is changed by Congress and signed by the president of the United States , the Marine Corps will get in step and do it smartly."

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