* 9 months to the general election, incumbent Democrat Barack Obama defeats possible Republican challenger Ron Paul by 11 points, Mitt Romney by 13 points, Rick Santorum by 19 points and Newt Gingrich by 26 points, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. The North Star State's 10 electoral votes are safely blue, for now.

* Incumbent U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today defeats possible Republican challengers Joe Arwood and Dan Severson 2:1, largely unchanged from a SurveyUSA tracking poll 90 days ago.

* The marriage amendment is supported 5:4, backed by 61% of Republicans, 72% of conservatives. Two previous SurveyUSA polls showed the measure ahead by 11 points in May 2011, ahead by 6 points in November 2011, compared to today, February 2012, ahead by 8 points.

* An amendment that would designate Minnesota as a "right to work" state is supported 2:1, backed by rich and poor, educated and less-educated.

* An amendment to require voters to show a Photo ID is backed 3:1, with majority support among Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

* Governor Mark Dayton's job performance is approved by 50%, disapproved by 33%, giving the Governor a Plus 17 Net Favorability rating.

* By stark contrast, 17% of Minnesotans approve of the state legislature, 65% disapprove, giving the legislature a Minus 48 Net Favorability rating.

* Minnesotans split on whether state senator Amy Koch should resign office. Men say Koch has been treated the same as a male senator would have been treated. Women say Koch has been treated differently than a man would have been treated.

* Minnesotans remain split on the Metrodome. 1/3 say the Vikings should keep playing without renovating the stadium; 1/3 say the Vikings should renovate the Metrodome but keep playing there, and 1/3 say a new stadium should be built. Gambling, as one way to help pay for a new stadium, is supported 5:4. A downtown casino is preferred over other gambling options. If a new stadium is built, it should be built on the same site, a plurality say.

Cell-phone respondents and home-phone respondents included in this research: SurveyUSA interviewed 600 Minnesota adults 01/31/12 through 02/02/12. Of the adults, 542 were registered to vote. This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (78% of registered voters) were interviewed on their home telephone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents unreachable on a home telephone (22% of registered voters) were shown a visual questionnaire on their smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device. In this research, cell-phone and home phone respondents differ on the marriage amendment. Cell-phone respondents are 17 points opposed to an amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Home-phone respondents are 15 points in favor of the amendment. When the two groups are proportionally blended, the amendment is favored 47% to 39%, as reported here. Similarly: Among cell-phone respondents, Ron Paul and Barack Obama tie. Among home phone respondents, Obama leads by 14. When the two groups are proportionally blended, Obama leads by 11. Similarly: cell-phone respondents by 18 points say Amy Koch should resign the state senate. Home-phone respondents by 3 points say Koch should remain in office. When the two groups are proportionally blended, it's 42% resign, 41% stay.