To:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]
From: Morning Score
Sent: Thur 6/8/2017 2:06:09 PM
Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Score: Georgia special election becomes a turnout battle -- Strange
opponents build campaigns ahead of SLF ads -- Northam sends cease-and-desist to outside group
backing him
By Daniel Strauss | 06/08/2017 10:00 AM EDT
With Kevin Robillard
The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - andfor a more comprehensive aggregation ofthe day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today.
(http://www\p()liticopro.com/pr(^
IT'S ALL COMING DOWN TO ... - "Georgia special election becomes turnout battle," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider in Dunwoody, Ga.: "Democrats and Republicans alike are
spending the final days of Georgia's special House election on a desperate block-by-block chase to turn out additional voters, believing they hold the key to a close race that has drawn outsized national attention. Publicly, Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel are still hewing tightly to themes of cutting spending and being independent voices for Georgia, both in TV ads and during Tuesday's debate. But it's not clear that true, undecided swing voters even exist anymore in the Atlanta suburbs, after months of endless TV ads, mailbox-clogging fliers and heavy local news coverage...Already, over 12,000 people who didn't vote in round one have cast early ballots for the runoff between Ossoff and Handel, according to data from the Georgia secretary of state's office. Republicans have spent the two months since the April all-party primary chasing after thousands of known GOP primary voters in the past who didn't vote in the first round, when Ossoff came just over 3,600 votes short of winning the district without a runoff." Read more.
ROLLING TIDE - "Strange opponents try to coalesce anti-establishment forces," by Campaign Pro's Daniel Strauss: "The top Republican primary opponents to Sen. Luther
Strange aren't trying to outspend him - his campaign and allies could give as much as $10 million to reelect him. And they're not bothering to try flanking Strange, the former Alabama attorney general, on law and order. Rather, Rep. Mo Brooks and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore - Strange's most dangerous primary rivals - are looking to build campaigns strong enough to attract help against Strange and his big backing from Senate Republicans, which is coming through next week in the form of outside-group TV ads ... On Tuesday, Moore named former state GOP chairman Bill Armistead, who has strong ties across the wings of the Republican Party in Alabama, as his campaign chairman. Brooks, meanwhile, nailed down talk radio endorsements from Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin as he tries to expand his footprint beyond his district." Read more.
- "Senate Leadership Fund starting pro-Strange ads next week," by Daniel Strauss: "Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation, the twin outside groups aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have moved forward TV ad reservations backing Sen. Luther Strange in
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Alabama's special Senate election, with SLF due to start airing ads next week." Read more.
Days until the 2017 election: 151.
Days until the 2018 election: 515.
Thanks for joining us. You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com and dstrauss@politico.com.
You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4.
OL' VIRGINNY - Northam sends cease-and-desist to outside group: Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam's campaign sent a letter Wednesday night to the treasurer of a PAC, "Virginians For A Better Future," that has indicated it plans to attack former Rep. Tom Perriello. The race has avoided negative advertising so far. "I would like to continue this positive campaign in the fashion both I and Mr. Perriello have been conducting it: fair, open and from the candidate. This promotes needed transparency and accountability," Northam wrote in the letter, which was copied to the Perriello campaign and members of the media. "Any negative campaigning against my opponent will draw an immediate denouncement from my campaign. Therefore I am asking your committee to halt any and all spending that would constitute an attack on my opponent's record."
- Perriello loaned his campaign $150,000, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
- POLL POSITION - "Perriello internal poll claims tied Virginia Democratic primary," by
Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "An internal poll conducted for former Rep. Tom Perriello's campaign and obtained by POLITICO shows Perriello essentially tied with Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial primary. A HaystaqDNA survey, conducted from June 1-6, shows Perriello earning 37 percent of the vote to Northam's 36 percent, with 27 percent of voters still undecided. A polling memo says Perriello has rapidly closed the gap with Northam. In an early May poll, Northam led 38 percent to 24 percent, with 37 percent undecided." Full memo here.
- How all over the place has the polling been in the Democratic primary? Perriello's polling in early May had him down 14 percentage points, according to this memo. A second poll, from May 17 to 23, found him down eight percentage points. In between those two polls, the Washington Post-George Mason University poll found Perriello up two points. In other words: "\_(???)_r
THE SOCIAL NETWORK - "Facebook rolls out features for elected officials," by
POLITICO'S Steven Overly: "Facebook debuted three new features today aimed at helping elected officials, political candidates and their staffs sort through the deluge of content on the social network to find the comments and news stories connected directly to their home districts. Facebook users can now use a feature called Constituent Badges to identify themselves as living in a representative's district by privately inputting their home address. ... Another feature called
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Constituent Insights allows politicians to track news stories and other content going viral among users in their district. ... Finally, politicians can now adjust their page settings so that messages or Facebook Live feeds are only broadcast to individuals living in their districts." Read more.
REDISTRICTING WATCH - "Cooper says he'll call special session on redistricting," by the Raleigh News and Observer's Anne Blythe: "Gov. Roy Cooper, trying to put pressure on lawmakers to redraw state House and Senate election maps within the next two weeks, said he would call for a 14-day special session of the legislature. The session Cooper plans to call would run simultaneously with the ongoing regular session, which is due to end some time this summer. He said such a concurrent session is rare but not unprecedented. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday affirmed a lower court ruling that found 28 legislative districts to be illegal racial gerrymanders that diluted the overall influence of black voters." Full story.
WEST COAST OFFENSE - "Republican political operatives want to sell the dark arts of opposition research to tech companies," by Recode's Tony Romm: "A team of veteran
Republican operatives is taking its talent for under-the-radar political muckraking to an unlikely place: The liberal-leaning, Democratic-donating, Donald Trump-hating tech epicenter of Silicon Valley. The newest startup setting up shop in the Bay Area is Defmers Public Affairs, a Washington, D.C.-based outfit that seeks to apply the dark science of political opposition research to the business world. Their mission: To arm companies with ammunition to attack their corporate rivals, sway their government overseers and shape the public's opinion on controversial issues ... the firm's new Oakland-based operative - Tim Miller, who previously served as communications director to GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush - plans to do it with a decidedly Republican bent." Read more.
ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ - "5 things to watch in Comey's testimony on Trump
and Russia," by POLITICO'S Kyle Cheney: "Fired FBI Director James Comey comes before Congress on Thursday with the power to plunge Donald Trump's presidency even deeper into crisis. Trump ousted Comey on May 9, amid an investigation into whether the president's associates aided a Russian effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. And on Wednesday, Comey described for the first time a series of uncomfortable interactions - in the months before his firing - in which Trump nudged Comey to publicly absolve him of any connection to the Russia probe. According to Comey's prepared testimony, the president also demanded loyalty and asked Trump to go easy on Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, who is under FBI investigation." Read more.
CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Notwithstanding anyone's statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you. I am sorry for what I did and the unwanted notoriety this has created for you. I take full responsibility." - Rep.elect Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), in an apology letter to The Guardian's Ben Jacobs, via POLITICO.
To view online'. http://www.politico.eom/tipsheets/morning-score/2017/06/08/georgia-special-election-becomesa-turnout-battle-220728
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To:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]
From: Morning Score
Sent: Mon 9/18/2017 2:04:21 PM
Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Score: Alabama special on verge of making big trouble for McConnell --
Progressive scientists PAC endorses House candidates -- Trump's team gunning for potential 2020 rivals
By Elena Schneider | 09/18/2017 10:00 AM EDT
With Kevin Robillard
The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - andfor a more comprehensive aggregation ofthe day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today. (httpC/www^politicopro.com/proin^^
COMING ATTRACTIONS - "McConnell's mortal enemy might soon be in his caucus," by POLITICO'S Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim: "Three words are striking fear in Senate Republicans these days: 'Senator Roy Moore.' The bomb-throwing former Alabama Supreme
Court justice has vaulted to a hefty lead in Alabama's special Senate special election, lambasting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell every step of the way. A Moore victory promises to make McConnell's tenuous 52-seat majority even more precarious, allies of the majority leader warn, potentially imperiling tax reform, raising the risk of default on the nation's debt or even derailing routine Senate business. Moore faces interim Sen. Luther Strange - whom a McConnellaligned outside group has spent millions to elect - in a Sept. 26 Republican runoff. Strange is a team player, according to interviews with more than a dozen Republican senators, while Moore is viewed as unpredictable - a clash-in-waiting with McConnell's low-key leadership style." Full story.
FIRST IN SCORE - "Progressive scientists PAC endorses Senate, House candidates," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "314 Action, a new progressive group dedicated to electing
scientists and STEM professionals at all levels of government, is rolling out a new round of endorsements in races across the country, as small-dollar donors continue to pump money into new organizations for the 2018 elections. A dozen candidates from city council to the U.S. Senate have gotten 314 Action's seal of approval, including Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who is running for governor; Nevada Rep. Jacky Rosen , who's challenging GOP Sen. Dean Heller; and a handful of House challengers and incumbents."
- House challengers who got the nod: "314 Action is adding four Republican-leaning districts to its roster of endorsed challengers, including Mai-Khanh Tran, a pediatrician who's running against GOP Rep. Ed Royce in southern California; Joseph Kopser, an aerospace engineer who's running to challenge Texas Rep. Lamar Smith; RD Huffstetler, a veteran running against Virginia Rep. Tom Garrett; and Kathie Allen, a physician who's running to replace former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz in a special election. 314 Action also added two incumbents to its endorsement list: California Rep. Ami Bera and Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton. Earlier this year, the group backed Hans Keirstead, a stem cell researcher who's running in a crowded primary to challenge Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in California, and Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force engineer who's running against Republican Rep. Ryan Costello in
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Pennsylvania." i oil shtn.
2018 WATCH - Club for Growth poll shows Heitkamp behind Schmidt: A new poll from the Club for Growth has North Dakota Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in a tight race with GOP state Treasurer Kelly Schmidt, who hasn't been extensively mentioned as a candidate so far. Schmidt earns 48 percent of the vote to Heitkamp's 44 percent, with 9 percent undecided. Only 42 percent of likely voters in the state say Heitkamp deserves reelection, while 44 percent said someone else deserves a chance. The poll also finds Heitkamp's support for Obamacare is hurting her: 60 percent says her Obamacare stance makes her less likely to earn their support, while just 23 percent said it makes it more likely. WPA Intelligence conducted the poll of 406 likely voters, with a plus or minus 4.9 percentage point margin of error. Full result here.
FRIENDS LIKE THESE - "As McCaskill touts record on seniors, donor and family friend runs troubled homes," via The Kansas Cit Star's Lindsay Wise and Steve Vockrodt: "...The lakefront vacation property in Missouri where McCaskill goes to escape the partisan chaos of
Capitol Hill is owned by her husband, Joseph Shepard, and Rick DeStefane - a close family friend, a regular campaign donor and a nursing home executive with a track record of serious safety problems in an industry the senator has vowed to clean up. The allegations against DeStefane range from health and safety lapses linked to gruesome deaths at his nursing homes to a federal investigation into Medicare fraud, an investigation by The Kansas City Star has found. Meanwhile, DeStefane has entered into multiple financial relationships with McCaskill's husband while sending checks to underwrite McCaskill's political career." Full story.
ICYMI - "Establishment gears up for Steve Bannon's war on the GOP leadership," via The Washington Post's Michael Scherer and Matea Gold: "If'war' against the Republican
establishment is what former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon wants, then war is what he will get. Deep-pocketed supporters of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other GOP leaders have resolved to fight a protracted battle over the next year for the soul of the party in congressional primaries." Full story.
Days until the 2017 election: 50.
Days until the 2018 election: 414.
Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com, dstrauss@politico.com and msevems@politico.com.
You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggiesevems.
2020 WATCH - "Trump's team gunning for potential 2020 reelection rivals," by POLITICO'S Gabriel Debenedetti: "Allies of Donald Trump have begun plotting to take down or weaken potential Democratic challengers in 2020, including several who will be on the ballot
in next year's midterms. The 2018-focused work ranges from a major donor-funded super PAC designed to blemish Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's image, to a full-scale effort to defeat
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Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown outright before he gets the chance to take on Trump. Beyond that,
after months of monitoring dozens of potential challengers, Trump allies are building research
files and crafting lines of attack on Democrats seen as most threatening to Trump and who will
be on the ballot next November. The patchwork push is less organized than past efforts
orchestrated by presidential reelection campaigns. But it's beginning to resemble Republicans'
successful attempt to drag down Hillary Clinton before she announced her 2016 run." F
.
THE TRUMP NOD - "President Trump tweets to support Bill Schuette for governor; spells his name wrong," by The Detroit Free Press' Lori Higgins: "President Donald Trump
tweeted his support tonight for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, who formally announced this week that he's running for governor. ...Schuette, in announcing his run for governor on Wednesday, promised that if elected, he would cut state income taxes, push Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and bring the state more and better-paying jobs." Full story.
GUESS WHO'S BACK - Sources tell NY1 that Michael Grimm is planning a run for his old seat: "NY 1 has learned that former New York congressman Michael Grimm will run for his old seat, less than 16 months after he was released from federal prison. Sources said Grimm will hold a rally Oct. 1 in New Dorp, where he is expected to announce his candidacy for next year's Republican primary against current Rep. Dan Donovan, who represents Staten Island and parts of south Brooklyn." Full story.
AIR WAR - "Guadagno vows tax cuts, attacks Murphy in new TV ads," by NJ.com's Brent
Johnson: "Kim Guadagno, the Republican nominee running to become the next New Jersey governor, has unveiled the first two television advertisements of the general election a one promising to cut taxes and the other attacking Democratic opponent Phil Murphy." Full story.
THIS IS ODD - "Top aide urges county employees to attend 'very important' announcement about Kevin Kamenetz's political future," by The Washington Post's Josh Hicks: "A top Baltimore County government official has urged his staffs 'full participation' on Monday in a "very important announcement" by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (D), who is expected to launch a run for governor this week. ...The email could violate state ethics rules that prohibit officials from using government time and resources to support political activity or using their positions to benefit individuals involved in political campaigns." Full story.
WEST COAST, BEST COAST - "Democrats' road to winning back the House goes
through California, and it won't be as easy as it seems," via The Los Angeles Times' Christine Mai-Duc: "...But it might be a mistake to assume that strategy will be a panacea in California. Republican turnout in midterm elections often dwarfs Democratic turnout, and the
rise of multiple viable candidates in many of the targeted districts threatens to mire them all in costly, divisive primary fights. A sampling of the outcomes for other races suggest Clinton's victories there are at risk of being overplayed. Meanwhile, fighting within the California Democratic Party between left-leaning activists and the more centrist stalwarts who have traditionally had more success in swing districts could further damage Democrats' chances." Full story.
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RETIREMENT WATCH - Feinstein noncommittal on reelection: The Associated Press reported that California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said, when asked if she was "up for another six years," she answered: "Well, we will see, won't we." Feinstein is 84. Full story here.
- Hatch's health to determine reelection: Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, 83, told The Salt Lake Tribune that he'll decide this fall if he plans to seek an eighth term, adding that his health will weigh heavily on his decision. Hatch is the third oldest member of the Senate. Full story here.
CASH RACE - Northam outraises Gillespie, has cash edge in Virginia: "Virginia Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam raised $7.2 million in the months of July and August, establishing a cash-on-hand lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in the state's gubernatorial contest. Gillespie raised $3.7 million in the same time period and has $2.6 million on hand after beginning television advertising well before Northam did. Northam has $5.6 million on hand, according to campaign finance records. After the primary, Gillespie had a solid cash advantage he had $3.2 million in the bank to Northam's $1.75 million." Full story.
WEB WARS - FIRST IN SCORE - Missouri Democratic Party attacks Hawley over public corruption unit: This Missouri Democratic Party is out with a web ad attacking Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley, a likely opponent for Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, for
failing to quickly establish a public corruption unit after promising to do so. "That's Josh Hawley. Saying one thing to get elected, doing the opposite when in office," a narrator concludes. Watch the ad here.
NEW FIRM ALERT - Walker advisor Keith Gilkes launches Platform Communications: Keith Gilkes, a long-time advisor to Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker, is launching Platform
Communications, "a public affairs, community advocacy and communications strategy firm" based in Madison, Wis. Brian Reisinger, a former spokesman for Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, will serve as vice president, with Nathan Conrad as director of corporate communications, Lauren Clarke as director of public affairs and Kathryn Kotowski as director of operations.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period." Sean Spicer at the Emmy's last night, POLITICO reported.
To view online'. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-score/2017/09/18/alabama-special-on-verge-ofmaking-big-trouble-for-mcconnell-222334
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