MCCONNELL-ALIGNED SUPER PAC ADMITS TO MEDDLING IN NC DEM PRIMARY TO PROP UP WEAK TILLIS. A super PAC aligned with Mitch McConnell finally admitted that it was behind an unprecedented effort to meddle in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary, and that it had poured millions of dollars into a shady outside group attacking decorated veteran Cal Cunningham — the latest sign that Washington Republicans are panicking about Senator Thom Tillis’ struggling campaign. Meanwhile, Cal continues to gain momentum ahead of the state’s March 3 primary, outraising Tillis 2:1 in the pre-primary reporting period and earning the endorsement of the Charlotte Observer/Raleigh News & Observer editorial board.
Read more about Republicans’ unprecedented meddling to prop up Tillis:
NEW ETHICS COMPLAINT REVEALS TILLIS’ SHADY FUNDRAISING TACTICS. Washington Republicans’ meddling isn’t the only ethical headache plaguing Senator Tillis. A new complaint filed by the North Carolina Democratic Party alleges that he used his position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to fundraise for his re-election campaign, and in doing so may have violated federal law and Senate ethics rules. Read more about how Senator Tillis turned to shady tactics amid mounting fundraising struggles:
SENATOR COLLINS FIRST TO GO NEGATIVE AS NEW POLL SHOWS GIDEON TAKING THE LEAD. After decrying negative campaign ads for most of her political career, Senator Susan Collins this week became the first candidate to run negative attack ads in the Maine Senate race. Her desperate about-face comes as new polling shows Speaker of the House Sara Gideon leading and continuing to build momentum in the race to flip this seat. Read more:
REPUBLICAN “BATTLE ROYALE” IN GEORGIA CONTINUES TO ESCALATE. The GOP brawl in Georgia’s special Senate election shows no signs of ending anytime soon, after Trump ally Congressman Doug Collins skewered temporary Senator Kelly Loeffler for releasing an ad that shows her in full hunting gear… despite not having a hunting license. Political mega-donor Loeffler is also getting blowback for buying a private jet that she chartered under a system offering “anonymity.” Despite Washington Republicans’ best efforts to push Collins out of the race, he’s made clear that he’s not going anywhere — ensuring that Republicans’ “proxy war” in Georgia is only going to get messier.
**NEW** CRYSTAL BALL SHIFTS CO-SEN TO DEMS AS TRUMP TOUTS GARDNER’S UNWAVERING “100%” SUPPORT. Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted the Colorado Senate race in Democrats’ direction this week, from “Toss-up” to “Leans Democratic,” as vulnerable Senator Cory Gardner made clear the extent to which he has become a rubber stamp for Trump. At a rally this week, Trump bragged that Gardner had been with him “100%” with “no waver” in his support. Recent polling shows both Gardner and Trump underwater in the state that the president lost in 2016. After refusing to vote for Trump last time around, and even urging Trump to drop out of the presidential race, Gardner — now “the most vulnerable Republican of all this year” — is clinging closer than ever to the president in a desperate effort to consolidate a fractured GOP base in his increasingly tough re-election campaign.
AS TRUMP SWOOPS IN FOR MCSALLY, ANOTHER POLL SHOWS MARK KELLY AHEAD. The president traveled to Arizona this week to prop up unelected Senator Martha McSally, as new polling came out showing Senate candidate Mark Kelly ahead by 6.7 points. As Kelly continues to lead in the polls and lap McSally in fundraising, she’s showing yet again that she “hasn’t learned any lessons” from her failed 2018 campaign.
DSCC REPORTS BEST-EVER ON-YEAR JANUARY FUNDRAISING. The DSCC raised more than $8.5 million in January, its best on-year January to date and strongest fundraising month of the 2020 cycle. More than half of the record-breaking haul came from grassroots donations, with an average contribution of less than $25. Read more:
The Hill: Democratic Senate campaign arm raised more than $8.5 million in January
IN THE STATES
AL – Alabama Reporter: Doug Jones raises $2.4 million in first fundraising period of 2020
AZ – AP: Mark Kelly releases first campaign ad for 2020 senate race
CO – Colorado Politics: Democratic US Senate candidate John Hickenlooper first to submit nominating petitions
CO – Colorado Politics: Pipefitters union throws support behind Hickenlooper in Colorado’s US Senate race
IA – Iowa Starting Line: IA-Sen: Greenfield’s 1st Policy Rollout Targets Corruption
MI – Michigan Advance: Peters outraises James in 2019 for U.S. Senate battle
NC – WNCN: Cal Cunningham says he’s in the best position to take on Sen. Thom Tillis
TX – Texas Tribune: MJ Hegar keeps fundraising lead as Democratic primary to challenge Cornyn reaches end
TX – Austin American-Statesman: Poll: Hegar widens lead in Democratic Senate contest
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Lauren Passalacqua
Stewart Boss
Helen Kalla
Izzi Levy
Regina Anderson
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