Chris Riback's Conversations

John Della Volpe, Harvard Institute of Politics

With key Senate battles in multiple states, and both parties looking to build 2016 momentum, for Midterms this year, the old line is true: Every vote will count.So here’s some bad news for candidates who might be depending on young voters  for victory: Don’t count on it.A prediction of low voter turnout is just one finding from the always revealing Millennials Poll from Harvard’s Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. Why might Millennials stay away? What’s their view of Obama? And who’s more enthusiastic – young Republicans or Democrats?The results might surprise you, which is why John Della Volpe is here to help us understand. John is the Institute of Politics’ Director of Polling, and he oversaw the Millennials survey. He’s also Founder and CEO of  Social Sphere, where he helps direct polling for Politico among other duties, and finally he’s an Eisenhower Fellow and father of 3 Millennials, so we know he knows what he’s talking about.

Susan Demas, Inside Michigan Politics

It’s been more than a year since Michigan’s six-term U.S. Senator Carl Levin announced he was calling it quits. Like other Democrats, Levin made his decision early – giving his party the chance to choose its best candidate and build a big lead.While they might have their candidate, Michigan Democrats don’t have a big lead – if any lead at all.As the battle for U.S. Senate shapes up as the Midterm 2014 big prize, we travel to Michigan. With the country’s largest municipal bankruptcy and new and lower tax revenue projections, voters there are likely more focused on a balanced budget than a balanced Congress. Combined with a compelling governor’s race, an unbelievable blunder by a 25-term U.S. Congressman, and the retirement of a 29-term U.S. Congressman, Michigan becomes a key place to visit.And if you want to go inside Michigan, you go to Inside Michigan Politics, the must-read report that analyzes the Wolverine state’s politics and policy. Susan Demas is publisher and editor.

Wayne Slater, Dallas Morning News

As we continue our state by state deep dives, whaddya say we mess with Texas?In a place known for big personalities – big everything, really – this year is no exception.Of course, this year the eyes of Texas – and eyes in many other parts of the country – are on the Governor’s race. That’s where Democrats – with filibustering state senator Wendy Davis thought they had their best chance in 20 years to win back the Austin mansion. But with rising biography questions and lower-than-hoped-for poll numbers, can that chance become reality?Elsewhere, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is the state’s most popular politician; the state might give us two Republican Presidential candidates; and wouldn’t you know it, a Bush Republican is running for statewide office.But with immigration fights and Tea Party battles, could state Republicans overreach? And what can and should Democrats do to mount a Texas-sized comeback?Few follow Texas politics more closely than Wayne Slater, Senior political writer for The Dallas Morning News who has covered Texas and national politics for 20 years. He is co-author of two books on Texas political guru Karl Rove: One is “Bush's Brain” and the other is “The Architect”….

Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa

If there’s one state where politics never turns off, it’s Iowa. And while preparations for the next Iowa Caucus seem to start the day the current Caucus ends, there is, perhaps, a more interesting new development on the Iowa horizon – for the first time since 1984, the state is about to elect a new Senator.With Sen. Tom Harkin’s decision not to run for a sixth term, Iowa is suddenly another key player in the biggest theme of Midterm 2014 – the battle for U.S. Senate control. How is the state leaning? Could the seat actually be up for grabs? And who will represent Republicans: A pig-castrating, gun-range visiting state senator or a former Fortune 500 CEO who has returned to his home state to try and steal a victory?Few follow Iowa politics more closely than Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson, who, as her bio points out, was born on Election Day.

Adam Smith, Tampa Bay Times

As we continue our deep dives into Midterm 2014 key states, we visit a place where the focus is not on the Senate, but on the Governor’s mansion. It’s also been at the center of every Presidential race since 2000, and 2016 is no different. In fact, the state may offer up not one, but two potential major candidates.Of course, we’re traveling to Florida, where the upcoming governor’s battle not only will set the state’s political tone, but also party momentum for a place certain to play a central role in 2016. Will Jeb run? Will Marco? And could either of them beat Hillary?Helping us understand the players and the politics – Adam Smith, Tampa Bay Times political editor. He’s been named the best political writer in Florida by washingtonpost.com and one of the country's Top 10 political reporters by the Columbia Journalism Review.

Elizabeth Wilner, Kantar Media Ad Intelligence

There are two sporting events where the advertisements are watched as closely as the game itself – and we’re not talking today about the Super Bowl.We’re talking politics, and if you think it’s too early in the Midterm 2014 season to pay attention to the advertising, well then, you haven’t been paying attention.With key battles in multiple states, Senate control in question, and a flood of outside money already in the system, have we gone too far too quickly? At what point do voters tune out the noise? And what trends – placement, tone, frequency – might we expect to see from campaigns going forward?Few analyze, think or write about the political ad space more clearly than Elizabeth Wilner. She’s Senior Vice President of Kantar Media Ad Intelligence with oversight of its Campaign Media Analysis Group; Contributing Editor of The Cook Political Report; and former Political Director of NBC News.

John Maginnis, LAPolitics.com

On our next stop of deep dives into key states for Midterm 2014 – Louisiana. To put it mildly, there’s always something colorful going on there.At the moment, highlights include a kissing Congressman stepping down, a former imprisoned Governor stepping up, and, of course, one of the most closely watched races in the battle for Senate control. Throw in key issues like Energy, the Coastal Cleanup, Health Care, and more, and Louisiana becomes an incredibly important and obvious place for us to visit.Our host on the Bayou – John Maginnis, longtime political reporter and author. Currently he’s Publisher of the must-read LAPolitics.com.

Geoff Garin, Democratic pollster at Hart Research

Geoff Garin has served as one of the most prominent Democratic pollsters of our generation. As President of Hart Research Associates, Garin has led research for nearly every leading policy, health care, education group in the world, including the United Nations and my alma mater, the University of California. He’s also polled for candidates at virtually every level of government – including serving as Chief Strategist for Hillary Clinton in 2008. Today, Midterms are heating up. New polls show the fight for Senate control is close to a toss-up; the South remains up for grabs; and if most Democrats are waiting to hear whether Hillary will run in 2016, new questions around whether that’s the right strategy.Few know more about designing and executing political strategy than Geoff Garin.

Rob Christensen, Raleigh News and Observer

As everyone outside North Carolina knows, a big senate race is brewing in the Tar Heel state. The primary season isn’t over, and already millions of dollars in outside money have flooded the state. Negative ads fill the airwaves – covering Obamacare hypocrisy, romantic affairs with lobbyists, alleged payouts and more. National polls track who’s up and down. And we still have more than 6 months until Election Day. This is what happens when control of the U.S. Senate is at stake.But what about inside the state? I just returned from a three-day visit, trying to learn the answer. Where is the focus? What issues matter? And in other races there, could North Carolina really elect a U.S. Representative who’s better known for singing on American Idol?No one can tell us better what’s happening on the North Carolina ground than Rob Christensen, often called “the Dean of North Carolina reporters.” Rob is a columnist and reporter at the Raleigh News and Observer, covering NC politics for nearly 40 years. He’s also author of “The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics.”

Skip Rutherford, Clinton School of Public Service

Think Arkansas and politics, and obviously one family name jumps to mind.But there's another family name in Arkansas politics that reigns supreme, too – this one for more than 50 years. It's also central to the biggest topic for the 2014 misterm elections: The battle for US Senate.Can sitting democratic senator Mark Pryor keep his seat -- despite serving a state where the President and his health care plan remain unpopular? And, by going deep into Arkansas, is there anything we can learn in the “will-she-won't-she” debate around Hillary Clinton.One person who knows both families well and perhaps Arkansas politics even better: Skip Rutherford, Dean of Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. Previously he oversaw the building of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park. He served as Founding President of the William J. Clinton Foundation. He’s also a former administrative assistant to then-Senator David Pryor.