Map: South China Sea Claims

Overlapping claims on the South China Sea can be quite confusing. Hopefully this map helps clear things up. Here are the claims by China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Source: Wikipedia

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New Jersey Senate: Booker Leads Bell by 20

Sen. Cory Booker has the early advantage in his bid for reelection, but his lead is tempered by an unsettled electorate. The Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll also found that Pres. Barack Obama’s ratings have slipped in the Garden State, with residents holding negative views on his handling of Iraq and his signature health care policy.

The early line on this year’s New Jersey Senate race has incumbent Cory Booker garnering support from 43% of registered voters and challenger Jeff Bell with 23%. Another 15% say they would vote for another candidate at this early stage of the campaign and 17% are undecided. Booker garners the support of 73% of Democrats and Bell has the backing of 61% of his fellow Republicans. Independents give Booker a 35% to 20% edge. It’s worth noting that 18% of independents, 13% of Republicans, and 12% of Democrats say they would back a third party candidate if the election were today. 

—Monmouth University

Demographic Map of Germany Shows Population Shifts

A quick look at this map shows that the suburbs of major cities like Berlin, Hamburg and Munich have had the most growth, while the biggest losses have come in the rural parts of the former communist East Germany.

Georgia Governor: Nathan Deal Leads Jason Carter by 7

According to Insider Advantage via Real Clear Politics, Nathan Deal has 47% of the vote and Jason Carter gets 40%.

Colorado Senate: Udall Leads Gardner by 1pt

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Colorado Voters shows incumbent Democrat Mark Udall with 43% of the vote to Republican Cory Gardner’s 42%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) are undecided.
—Rasmussen Reports

Mississippi Senate: Cochran Holds 12 pt Lead After Tough Primary

Incumbent Thad Cochran, coming off his narrow win in Tuesday’s testy Republican primary runoff, still holds a double-digit lead over Democratic challenger Travis Childers in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Mississippi Voters finds Cochran with 46% support to Childers’ 34%. Ten percent (10%) prefer some other candidate, while nearly as many (9%) are undecided.

—Rasmussen Reports

Romania: Ethnic Groups by Province

Via Wikipedia

Detailed Map Shows Middle-East Religions

Good for showing where the Sunnis and Shiites are. Plus some of the minority religions.
—gulf2000.columbia.edu

Canadians Believe Northern Gateway Pipeline Will Be Built

The survey shows Canadians are split over whether the decision to allow energy company Enbridge to build an oil pipeline through northern Alberta and BC – provided it meets 209 conditions – was the correct one. Just over one-third (37%) say they think the decision was right. About the same number (34%) say the decision was wrong and nearly one-third (29%) say they aren’t sure.

Asked about those 209 conditions, just over forty per cent (43%) say they are enough to address concerns about the project, while 37 per cent say they’re not enough, and one-fifth (20%) say they aren’t sure.

When asked what factor should take greater priority in shaping this country’s energy policy, the majority of Canadians – 58 per cent – say protecting the environment is the biggest priority, while 42 per cent say the biggest priority is encouraging economic growth.

—Angus Reid