Cleveland Plain Dealer: “He could be hailed as farsighted, a serious leader who opened his party’s doors for all people and generations. Rob Portman could be the Republican Party’s first post-gay-marriage presidential candidate.”

“Social conservatives say a Portman presidency, let alone candidacy, cannot happen for that very reason – that Republicans will vote in primaries to reject someone who flipped on gay marriage. Social conservatives see the issue as fundamental to their values.”

“Yet several forces, political as well as demographic, may converge to render a presidential candidacy by Portman, the Ohio Republican U.S. senator, as at least nominally viable. Key to this is the fact that a Portman candidacy could align with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would end the legal and constitutional fight over same-sex marriage. Such a ruling could come by next summer, well before the Republican voters go to the first 2016 caucuses and primaries.”

“The politics of terrorism have returned with a vengeance for the midterm elections,” The Hill reports.

“National security dominated the first election cycles after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with Democrats fearful of being labeled unpatriotic if they criticized then-President George W. Bush. The Republican advantage eroded years later as public opinion soured against the Iraq War. By the time President Obama sought reelection in 2012, he was able to tout the killing of Osama bin Laden to portray Democrats as the party of strength in foreign policy.”

“But now, with the 13th anniversary of 9/11 just days away, Obama and the Democrats are back on the defensive.”

The AP lists five ways the GOP can win control of the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections.

Mitt Romney said there’s “no question” he would’ve been a better president than President Obama, The Hill reports.

Said Romney: “I think the president is really out of touch with reality with what’s going on in the world.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) hinted in an interview that “growing instability around the world could help convince him to run for president in 2016,” Politico reports.

Said Cruz: “It increases my interest in doing everything I can to change the direction we’re on. The American people in 2014 and also November 2016 are going to be looking for leaders who want to work to restore America’s leadership in the world.”

Nate Silver: “Pollsters are picking up the pace after a slow start in this midterm election season… The bottom line is not much has changed. The FiveThirtyEight forecast model gives Republicans a 65.1% chance of winning the Senate with the new polling added, similar to the 63.5% chance that our previous forecast gave them on Friday.”

“But the path to a Republican majority is becoming a little clearer — and the problem for Democrats is that it runs through six deeply red states.”

Meanwhile, The Upshot gives Republicans a 61% chance of taking the Senate.

“My time has come and gone.”

— Mitt Romney, in an interview on Fox News, insisting he’s not running for president again.

A new NBC/Marist poll in Kentucky finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) has opened up an eight point lead over challenger Alison Grimes (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 39%.

A new NBC/Marist poll in Arkansas finds Tom Cotton (R) leads Mark Pryor (D) by five points in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 40%.