Masslive.com – Commentary: Gateway Cities Innovation Institute hopes to tap synergy of collaboration to bring about deep and meaningful change
Last week, MassINC announced plans to redouble its effort to bring focus and attention to Gateway Cities like Holyoke and Springfield with the launch of a new Gateway Cities Innovation Institute.

Eagle-Tribune – Brown confident about prospects in Merrimack Valley

Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown expressed confidence yesterday in his prospects in the Merrimack Valley, an area key to his securing a full term in November.

Recent polls have shown Warren with a slight lead, including a new poll released yesterday by WBUR and MassINC that showed Warren with a 48-43 percent lead, with 7 percent undecided.

GoLocal Worcester – NEW: Warren Leads by 5 in Latest Poll

Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren leads incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown by 5 points, 48 percent to 43 percent, in the highly-contested Massachusetts Senate race, according to a WBUR and MassINC Polling Group survey released Wednesday.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette – Looking deep inside political polls

Buried deep within the guts of today’s complex, detailed and ubiquitous political polls, astute poll readers can find “crosstabs,” lesser categories of polling information that nonetheless provide important insight into voters’ preferences at more granular levels such as geography, age, educational background, and so on.

Let’s take a look at the Massachusetts poll of the day, for example, the WBUR poll of 516 likely voters in the Scott Brown-Elizabeth Warren U.S. Senate race and the President Obama-Mit Romney presidential race, conducted by the non-partisan MassINC Polling Group Oct. 21-22.

Boston Globe – Elizabeth Warren leads Scott Brown by 5 points in latest US Senate race poll

Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren leads Republican incumbent Scott Brown in the latest poll of their US Senate race.

A WBUR survey released today had Warren at 48 percent and Brown at 43 percent, a 5 percent gap that exceeds the poll’s 4.4 percentage-point margin of error.

It was a reversal of a similar survey earlier this month, which found Brown ahead by 4 percentage points.

“The last poll that we did happened to coincide with would have to be described as the worst week of the entire campaign for Democrats,” pollster Steve Koczela told the radio station. “It was right after the first presidential debate, where President Obama gave what would have to be described as a pretty lackluster performance.”

Eagle-Tribune – A female focus

Candidates stress women’s issues in Senate race home stretch

In two polls released earlier this month conducted by WBUR and MassINC, Warren led Brown among women by 51 percent to 40 percent, similar to the margin in a University of Massachusetts-Amherst poll. A poll released Oct. 11 by Public Policy Polling showed Warren with a greater lead among women, 58-38.

Huffington Post – Elizabeth Warren Maintains Momentum in Massachusetts, Poll Shows

Elizabeth Warren has a 5-point lead over Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) according to a MassINC/WBUR poll released Wednesday.

The results show Warren recovering from the down-ballot effects of President Barack Obama’s poor performance in the first presidential debate, as well as benefiting from her own debate performance, MassINC pollster Steve Koczela said. MassINC’s last poll, taken from Oct. 5-7, showed Brown ahead by 3 points — the only survey since September to show him with a lead.

Peabody Patch – Warren Up in Polls, Herald Endorses Brown: Who’s Winning?

Democrat Elizabeth Warren is up by five points over incumbent Republican Scott Brown in the latest WBUR/MassINC poll of the Massachusetts senate race.

RTT News – Warren Jumps Back Into Lead In Massachusetts Senate Race

Democrat Elizabeth Warren has jumped back into the lead in the volatile Massachusetts Senate race against Republican Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., according to a WBUR poll.

The poll, conducted for WBUR by the MassINC Polling Group, showed Warren with a 48 percent to 43 percent lead over Brown among likely Massachusetts voters.

WBUR – Pollster: Warren Cutting Into Brown’s Lead Among Independent Voters

A new WBUR poll shows Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren back out in front of Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in the race for the U.S. Senate.

According to the poll, conducted by MassINC Polling Group on Oct. 21-22, Warren leads brown by five points, 48 to 43 percent.

WBUR Poll: Warren Leads Brown By 5

A WBUR poll of 516 likely Massachusetts voters (PDFs — topline, crosstabs) finds Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren leading Republican U.S. Sen Scott Brown, 48 percent to 43 percent.

The poll, conducted Oct. 21-22 by the MassINC Polling Group, has a 4.4 percent margin of error.

Masslive.com – Gateway Cities Innovation Institute: Western Massachusetts residents tapped to contribute to statewide conversation
The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute might sound like just another project at just another think tank, but to the community leaders named as fellows to the Institute this week, it represents a chance to have a voice.

Fall River Herald News – GUEST OPINION: New institute devoted to Gateway City growth and renewal

Last week, MassINC announced plans to redouble its effort to bring focus and attention to Gateway Cities like Fall River with the launch of a new Gateway Cities Innovation Institute. Working together with many partners, MassINC has taken “Gateway Cities” from a simple term in a 2007 research study to a collaborative movement with the potential to bring about deep and meaningful change.

PBS Newshour – Gwen’s Take: Why Binders and Big Bird Don’t Matter

It’s all personal. Watching the candidates for president circle each other in their town hall cage match this week, I was reminded that this is all that matters in politics.

Steve Koczela, the president of the MassINC Polling Group, said voters he surveys want the answers to just two big questions. “Who’s going to stand up for me when they’re in the Senate?” And “Who agrees with me on key issues?”

Worcester Telegram & Gazette – Business briefs
Gateway innovation
Independent think tank MassINC announced the creation Wednesday of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, a Boston-based institute dedicated to revitalizing former manufacturing centers that it terms Gateway Cities.

Fall River Herald News – New institute to help revitalize Fall River, fellow gateway cities
MassINC, a Boston-based independent think tank, announced Wednesday the creation of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, an entity dedicated to revitalizing former manufacturing “gateway” communities like Fall River and New Bedford.

Masslive.com – Boston-based think tank creates new institute to revitalize struggling mid-size cities like Springfield, Holyoke and Lowell

Boston-based think tank MassINC on Wednesday launched a new center dedicated to revitalizing former manufacturing centers such as Springfield and Lowell, cities struggling to woo new business as they grapple with chronic issues of crime, poverty and unemployment.

The so-called Gateway Cities Innovation Institute is designed to help Springfield and other mid-size cities that shoulder a “disproportionate share of the state’s social and economic challenges” tap into their “enormous potential,” MassINC officials said in a news release.

Lowell Sun – Gateway Cities partnership seen boosting Lowell

Onetime booming manufacturing cities, such as Lowell and Fitchburg, have an official new friend following Wednesday’s launch of a new independent think-tank aimed at bolstering their educational and economic development.

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, created by the nonprofit, MassINC, was introduced to municipal officials, state politicians and the public at a rollout held at the Statehouse.

Sentinel & Enterprise – Gateway Cities initiative holds promise for Fitchburg
Onetime booming manufacturing cities, such as Lowell and Fitchburg, have an official new friend following Wednesday’s launch of a new independent think tank aimed at bolstering their educational and economic development.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette – Worcester, Fitchburg get Gateway Cities designation
Independent think tank MassINC today announced the creation of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, a Boston-based institute dedicated to revitalizing former manufacturing centers that it terms Gateway Cities.

The 11 cities the institute will focus on are Worcester, Fitchburg, Brockton, Fall River, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Pittsfield and Springfield. (The Legislature classifies 24 cities as Gateway cities, and that list includes Leominster.)

WWLP-22News – Gateway Cities Innovation Institute launches

A lot of state investment goes into Boston, but a new political force called the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute will make sure the rest of the state is given due attention.  At an official launching celebration at the State House Wednesday, the new center stated its goal of revitalizing a network of 24 midsize cities across the state, including Springfield, Pittsfield, Holyoke and Chicopee.

Lowell Sun – Gateway Cities Innovation Institute unveiled

The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, a new entity that will use research, polling and policy development for the purpose of revitalizing former manufacturing centers in the state, will be officially launched at the Statehouse at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The institute was formed by MassINC, an independent think tank that publishes Commonwealth magazine, along with sponsors, members, fellows and public officials.

Boston Globe – New Bedford dares to dream

Bobbing along the Acushnet River on a sparkling morning, you get the sense this storied and long-pummeled city might be on the brink of something great.

A couple of recently derelict mill buildings boast handsome, shiny new windows, and tenants with water views. Workers are transforming another hulking, long-vacant shell into lofts. City economic development chief Matt Morrissey points to the 22-acre Riverside Park and traces the path of the newly funded Riverwalk, which will reconnect residents with the waterfront.

According to think tank MassINC, a huge 12 percent of New Bedford residents are unemployed; 44 percent are poor; only 14 percent have a bachelor’s degree; 55 percent of kids are already behind by third grade; and an anemic 54 percent graduate high school in four years.

South Coast Today – New Gateway Cities institute to launch Wednesday

The push by Gateway Cities to gain statewide clout is becoming institutionalized — literally — with the launch of a new policy institute.

Mass Inc., the think tank that first coined the “Gateway Cities” term in 2007 with a policy paper calling on the state to reinvest in its depressed industrialized urban centers, will launch the new Gateway Cities Innovation Institute on Wednesday with a reception that is already at capacity.

“We planned it as a low-key event but there’s been an incredible amount of buzz,” said Benjamin Forman, the new executive director of the institute, who said about 150 people have signed up for the 2 p.m. Statehouse reception so far.

Hamilton-Wenham Patch – Third-Party Congressional Candidate Calls Foul on WCVB

For a recent Fox 25 debate, U.S. Rep. John Tierney chose not to attend. But now, another local news station is asking another candidate to do the same.

In addition to the 10-minute long debate on Fox 25, Fishman has already in two other debates – one sponsored by MassINC in Lynn and another this week at Danvers High School sponsored by the Salem News and Jewish Journal.

MassLive.com – Point / Counterpoint: Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno write dueling casino commentaries in CommonWealth Magazine
In commentaries posted to the website of CommonWealth Magazine today, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno take opposite views of the potential impacts a casino can bring to a community.

Boston Herald – Joe Kennedy III, Sean Bielat trade jabs

Democrat Joseph P. Kennedy III and Republican Sean Bielat traded barbs on campaign finance yesterday, with Kennedy saying his opponent turned down an offer to keep super PAC money out of the race while Bielat painted his challenger as a deep-pocketed youngster simply interested in a political career.

During an hourlong debate in Fall River, Kennedy and Bielat began to draw lines in their fight to replace U.S. Rep. Barney Frank in the 4th Congressional District.

Boston Globe – Kennedy and Bielat clash on jobs, campaign laws in debate

Republican Sean Bielat and Democrat Joseph P. ­Kennedy III faced off in their second debate Wednesday in the race for the congressional seat being ­vacated by US Representative ­Barney Frank, and though the liberal stalwart was not in attendance, his presence was still felt.

The debate was cosponsored by UMass Dartmouth and MassINC, a nonpartisan think tank. During a “lightning round” segment, Kennedy said he would support a constitutional amendment to mitigate effects of the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court ruling that lifted restrictions on campaign contributions from corporations and unions. Bielat said such an amendment would have to include a more comprehensive reform plan.

Fox News – Newest Kennedy candidate drawn into debate in closing weeks of bid for Frank’s seat

The newest member of the Kennedy family to enter politics appears well positioned to win a congressional seat for Democrats in Massachusetts, but not before at least one TV debate in which his Republican opponent will try to expose his inexperience.

Joe Kennedy III entered the race with nearly every advantage over Republican Sean Bielat, an ex-Marine and businessman who like Kennedy has an Ivy League education.

Foxborough Patch – 2 New Polls Show Mixed Results in Warren/Brown Race
Two new polls released Tuesday show a race that has yet to have a clear leader in the campaign to represent Massachusetts in the Senate.

A new poll from WBUR and MassINC of 501 likely voters conducted between Oct. 5-7 shows Senator Scott Brown leading Elizabeth Warren, 48 to 45 percent, but a recent UMASS-Amherst/YouGov America poll of 500 registered voters conducted between Oct. 2-8 gives Warren a 48 percent to 46 percent lead.