The Pew Charitable Trusts

A backlash over illegal immigration is seeping into state races even hundreds of miles from the Mexican border this election. But in two of the hottest flashpoints in the immigration debate -- Arizona and Colorado -- Republican state and congressional candidates taking the hard line on immigration aren't necessarily prevailing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Democrats are likely to make gains in state legislative races this year, but it's a toss-up whether the seats they win will be enough to overtake control of a handful of narrowly divided statehouses, a panel of election experts said at the  National Conference of State Legislatures annual conference here.

DENVER - Colorado's election this year features a hot contest for control of the Legislature, an open governor's seat and litmus-test votes on gay marriage, illegal immigration and spending caps. Not only is it one of the most fascinating state elections of the year, but it will shed light on Colorado's emerging status as an important swing state.

More than a dozen political nonprofit groups, so-called 527s, are using their special federal tax status to circumvent Colorado's tight limits on campaign contributions. And they aren't alone. More than 300 527s are based in at least 45 states, raking in unlimited contributions and sometimes wresting control of the political landscape even from the parties and candidates they seek to promote.