An early poll on the Massachusetts Senate race shows Democrat Ed Markey with a 6 percentage point lead over Republican Gabriel Gomez, 42-36 percent.

They are vying to fille the seat vacated by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who earlier this year became Secretary of State.

Markey, a veteran Democratic congressman, is seen as the favorite in a state long considered friendly to Democrats. But Felix Chen, society president, said in a statement Gomez was enjoying a post-primary bounce.

"While the race is currently very close, it may only be a honeymoon period for the Republican who was a virtual unknown just a few months ago," he said in a press release.

Other findings:

Despite the recent furor over the impact of automatic spending cuts, or sequestration, on the nation's air traffic system, "the public remains just as unsure now as it was in early March about the effect of sequestration," according to a Gallup survey released Wednesday.

"These perceptions could change if sequestration dramatically affects Americans' daily lives in the months ahead. But even the high-profile air traffic controller dilemma did little to shift opinions," it found. "Americans' lack of outrage or discomfort may reveal that the threat of sequestration in the future will not prove to be an effective tool to motivate legislators to reach a budget compromise."

Siince early March, when the sequester went into effect, Gallup has been asking about its impact. Every time, about half of Americans were uncertain.

"Americans have become slightly more likely to feel unclear about the impact of sequestration on themselves personally, with 62% who say so now, up from 55% the first time Gallup asked about it in early March," Gallup found.

To read more: Gallhttp://www.gallup.com/poll/162128/majority-still-not-concerned-sequestration.aspx

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Could Democrats break the six-year jinx?

Often the party of the incumbent president in his sixth year suffer losses in the midterm congressional elections. But a new Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday found that by a slight margin, voters say they're more likely to vote Democratic next year.

If the elections were held today, Quinnipiac found, 41 percent of voters said they'd pick the Democrat, while 37 percent would choose the Republican.

And, the survey found, "By small margins, voters trust Democrats on Capitol Hill more than Republicans to handle health care, while they prefer the Republicans on the budget deficit and
gun policy, and they see the two about the same on the economy and immigration."

Democrats now control 55 of the Senate's 100 seats. Thirty-five seats are up next year, including 21 now controlled by Democrats and 14 held by Republicans. The eight seats considered most vulnerable by independent anaylsts are held by Democrats.

Republicans control the House of Representatives, but by a 48-43 percent margin, voters said they'd prefer one party to control both Houses.

Leaders of the Senate Homeland Security Committee from both political parties joined Tuesday to pledge cooperation in looking into federal authorities' handling of the April 15 Boston bombing.

Here's the joint statement from Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and top Republican Tom Coburn, R-Okla.:'

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in Boston and around the world who have been affected by this tragedy.  As part of the Committee’s responsibility to oversee the Department of Homeland Security and interagency coordination in protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, we need to understand more fully how the federal government carried out its responsibilities before and after the Boston bombings.

Not many clues from top senators Monday as they reacted to the nomination of Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and transportation secretary.

The Senate Commerce Committee will review the nomination. Here's the statement of Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.:

"Our country faces daunting transportation challenges. We must make critical investments in our transportation network to remain economically competitive in the 21st Century. Mayor Anthony Foxx has established himself as a strong transportation advocate and shown the ability to move transportation infrastructure projects in Charlotte.

"He can be a driving force in the federal effort to take advantage of transportation opportunities. I look forward to meeting Mayor Foxx and discussing his vision for the Department and our transportation needs. I will move his nomination in the Commerce Committee as soon as possible."

And here's the statement from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., top Republican on the Commerce Committee:

"I want to thank Secretary LaHood for his years of service at both the Department of Transportation and before that in Congress. He is a dedicated public servant and I wish Ray and Kathy the best.

"I look forward to reviewing Mayor Foxx's record and working with Chairman Rockefeller to ensure the confirmation process is fair and thorough. Without question, our nation faces a number of transportation challenges that will require strong leadership and effective communication with Congress to keep our nation moving."

Looks like new members of Congress figured they better get to know the Capitol fast.

LegiStorm, a research site that studies Congress, reported Monday that of 100 freshmen members, "Prior tenure as a chief or in another staff role was the most common thread. 55 of 85 House chiefs and 12 of 15 Senate chiefs have Capitol Hill experience. 26 chiefs in the House and Senate combined held positions on a congressional staff immediately prior to their current post."

It also found "Campaign ties were another strong predictor of new chiefs.  22 House chiefs and 6 Senate chiefs either ran or worked on the campaigns of their future boss. 6 chiefs worked on other campaigns during the fall."

Legistorm reported that income in such positoins must be listed in the financial disclosures of any House or Senate staffer whose paid more than $120,000 annually

"Every Senate chief who worked on a campaign reported earnings of over $100,000, with several individuals posting combined income from all sources closer to a quarter million dollars. Where reported, House campaign salaries were on average less lucrative than Senate salaries, but still pushed up against low six-figure, upper five-figure earnings," the group found. 

To read more:http://www.legistorm.com/blog/freshmen-chiefs-largely-hill-vets-and-campaign-gurus-survey-reveals.html

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, doesn't like the idea of cutting overseas contingency operations funding to help restore automatic spending cuts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, is pushing the plan, but no resolution is expected this week.

Inhofe was not pleased with Reid's idea.

"Sen. Reid’s amendment to cut future Overseas Contingency Operation funding in order to offset current sequestration cuts is an irresponsible budget gimmick that undermines our national security and sends a terrible message to allies and adversaries alike at a time when we face the greatest array of threats in generations,” Inhofe said.

Here's the rest of his statement:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Wednesday pushed his plan to stop the automatic federal spending cuts that went into effect last month. But it was uncertain, and increasingly unlikely, the Senate will act until next month.

Reid made his case in his opening remarks to the Senate.

"We have seen the devastating impacts of these arbitrary budget cuts. Now it’s time to stop them," he said.  "Last night I introduced legislation that would roll back the sequester for the rest of the year. This bill would give Democrats and Republicans time to sit down at the negotiating table and work out an agreement to reduce the deficit in a balanced way."

Reid would pay for the restoration of funding with savings from the windown of the wars Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Before Republicans dismiss these savings, they should recall that 235 House Republicans voted to use these funds to pay for the Ryan Republican budget. They didn’t consider it a gimmick when it served their own purposes," Reid, D-Nevada, said.

The gun control group founded by former congresswoman Gabby Gifford and her husband, Mark Kelly, launched ads in the states of two senators who against expanded background checks for firearms sales last week.

Americans for Responsible Solutions is targeting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. with radio ads.

The ads accuse the senators' of favoring the powerful gun lobby instead of supporting popular expanded background checks.

"As Gabby said last week, if we can’t keep our communities safer with the congress we have, we will work to change Congress," said Pia Carusone, the group's executive director. "Senator McConnell and Senator Ayotte turned their backs on their constituents at home in order to do the bidding in Washington of the corporate gun lobby. We’re going to make sure their constituents know that, effective immediately.”

Additional advertising targets – including some thanking senators who their vote – will be released later in the week.