Afternoon Fix: Partisan divide on Trayvon Martin coverage

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Wednesday, April 4, 2012 EARLIER ON THE FIX Scott Walker and the most polarized state in the country Wisconsin predictions contest: We have a winner! Nikki Haley's succession problem Why the GOP presidential race is effectively over, Part 278 Paul Ryan's rapidly-improving vice presidential prospects What Obama meant by 'social Darwinism' The 5 things you need to know in the Wisconsin exit polls Romney takes big delegate prize from Wisconsin, Maryland and D.C. Romney finally puts it all together WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED * A new Pew Research Center poll finds that interest in the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin falls along partisan and racial lines. Fifty-six Republicans say there has been too much coverage of Martin's death, compared to only 25 percent of Democrats. Forty-three percent of white people say there has been too much coverage, compared to 16 percent of African-Americans. Overall, opinions are about tied — 37 percent say there has been too much coverage, 40 percent say it's about right. * Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney focused his speech to the American Society of News Editors on President Obama's "hot mic" moment and said the administration's entire economic approach was, "We don't have a solution. All we know is we don't like yours." * Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) raised $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2012, her best fundraising quarter ever, and has approximately $7 million on hand. The campaign says Stabenow got a cash boost when her challenger, former Republican Rep. Pete Hoesktra, released a Super Bowl ad criticized as insensitive to Chinese people. * Businessman John Delaney beat out state Sen. Rob Garagiola in the Democratic primary for Maryland's 6th congressional district last night, and the establishment is not thrilled. Just check out this endorsement from state Senate President Mike Miller (D), which includes the words "unfortunately" and "negative." * She hasn't released her full first quarter numbers yet, but Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Warren told supporters today that she raised $2.5 million from Massachusetts residents alone in the first three months of the year for her race against Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.). Brown has not yet released his numbers. * President Obama's campaign has put out a web video juxtaposing Romney's victory speech in Wisconsin with the address Obama gave yesterday to ASNE, making the case that Romney distorted Obama's views. WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS * Four former Democratic National Committee chairs are calling for a "freedom to marry plank"to be added to the party platform ratified at the national convention, putting more pressure on President Obama to endorse gay marriage before the election. * St. Johns County School Board Chairman Bev Slough (R) has joined the crowded GOP primary for Florida's new 6th congressional district.  Jacksonville City Councilman Richard Clark, lawyer Ron DeSantis, and former Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller are all in the race, but Slough points out in her announcement that she's the only one to hold elected office in the district. * Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani will endorse Romney immenintly, according to Romney campaign New York state director Guy Molinari: "He wants to do it for the sake of the country. So he is willing to put his own feelings aside." New York Republicans are looking forward to having a rare, meaningful role in the primary vote. * The grassroots advocacy firm Direct Impact (a subsidary of PR giant Burson-Marsteller) has acquired Crowdverb, a digital mobilization startup founded by a group of Seattle-area Republican strategists. The acquisition should help Direct Impact better target people online. * A new Rasmussen Reports poll finds not much has changed in the New Mexico Senate race. Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) leads former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) 46 to 42 percent, but that's just inside the poll's margin of error. Wilson is tied with state Auditor Hector Balderas (D). *  The National Republican Congressional Committee is coming out with an ad tying Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) to President Obama. The ad features Obama playing golf and will, appropriately, air in Augusta during the Masters tournament this week. It's a $36,000 buy. Barrow is in a far more Republican seat thanks to redistricting. THE FIX MIX My shoes are filled with electrolytes. With Rachel Weiner and Aaron Blake. Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 © 2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy