"The battle for the House lies in suburban districts currently controlled by Republicans. Passing smart improvements will favor the Democrats."
"Suburban women will especially be thinking that it could be their child in that school."
Republicans
"It is frightening to think how many gun nuts will redirect their kids' lunch money to the NRA to fund Republican candidates."
"Dems are moving to drive away the moderate base that just came back."
About equal
"Neither side has a coherent message about gun violence."
"Republicans could solidify suburban districts with reasonable compromises, although they seem unlikely to do so. Democratic gains would come from solidifying their base and their losses are limited, as there are few rural members left."
"Both sides are simply talking to their base, not each other."
"Whoever sounds more reasonable will win, which means probably a draw."
Who has the most to gain politically from the gun-control debate?
REPUBLICANS (97 VOTES)
Democrats: 44%
Republicans: 35%
About equal: 21%
Democrats
"If Democrats can be successful in pushing serious gun-control efforts, it will be their first victory in two decades on that issue and poke the NRA right in the eye."
"Centrist voters are OK with moderate restrictions, and the GOP position has been, "˜Don't give an inch.' "
"Once again, the Democrats engage in a false debate and propose solutions that won't actually make anyone safer. But, hey, it's good politics, so they don't care."
"Nothing that means anything will be passed, but Democrats are in a better position to demagogue the issue."
"MVPs are always the ones playing offense not defense!"
Republicans
"Democrats risk overplaying their hand here."
"The Democrats' base isn't as interested in legislating safety as much as they are interested in demolishing the Second Amendment culture. That always leads to a political overreach on this issue."
"Obama will have every gun owner and their family members voting Republican in the midterm election."
"The president is overreaching and will only energize the Republican base, putting Democratic Senate seats at risk."
"Democrats will find themselves in the same place they were after their gun-control splurge in the 1990s."
About equal
"Both sides can alienate some of their own voters, if not careful. In the end, not much will happen."
"America is divided along partisan lines."
"The president has been AWOL on this issue for five years, so any progress will help him. If Republicans are smart, they will go along with enhanced background checks and banning 30-bullet clips so
that they are not simple shills for the NRA."
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