The open Senate race in Arizona may be turning into a surprisingly competitive contest. The seat was left open when Republican Jon Kyl decided to retire, but most viewed it as a likely hold for Republicans given the leanings of the state. But a new PPP poll of likely voters for the League of Conservation Voters finds that the race is effectively tied.

State-level fracking chemical disclosure bills have been called a key piece of reform in the push to hold the unconventional gas industry accountable for its actions. The tale of hows a Texas bill became a national model exemplifies the stranglehold polluter power and corporations like have over both the federal government and statehouses nationwide. But ALEC wasn’t the only trojan horse behind the loophole-filled bill.

Even before the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, oil has been an issue in the race between Democrat Robin Carnahan and Republican Roy Blunt to replace the retiring Kit Bond in the US Senate. With the spill, things have gotten so bad for Blunt that he’s having to turn on his old pals in Big Oil. Awwwwww . . .