DSCC QUICK TAKES: GOP INCUMBENTS SLAMMED FOR SCOTUS HYPOCRISY—GARDNER CAVES—REPUBLICAN REFUSAL TO WORK ON COVID RELIEF COULD “IMPEDE ECONOMIC GROWTH”

VULNERABLE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS GET SLAMMED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS FOR HYPOCRISY OVER SCOTUS SEAT. Vulnerable Republican incumbent Senators across the map are coming under fire in their local newspapers for “playing party politics” by supporting Mitch McConnell’s push to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court nominee as early voting has already begun in some states — a stunning reversal from their positions in 2016. Take a look at what local opinion-makers are saying about these Senate Republicans abandoning their own standard:

• #AZSEN – Arizona Republic’s Laurie Roberts: “McSally continued her political death spiral on Friday…McSally was among the first senators to endorse rushing ahead to make this lifetime appointment before voters get their say…a Donald Trump pocket pal.”

• #COSEN – The Denver Post Editorial Board: “Cory Gardner flip-flopped on voters in four years…Gardner and McConnell’s unabashed willingness to so quickly dispense with their ‘voters-should-decide’ insistence is astounding.” 

• #IASEN – The Des Moines Register Editorial Board: “Profiles in hypocrisy: Grassley, Ernst sidestep previous positions on Supreme Court nominees… Sen. Joni Ernst has recently changed her tune, in a July 2018 meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board, she said it would be ‘absolutely fair’ to expect Trump in 2020 to go through an election cycle before making a new court appointment.” 

• #IASEN – The Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Board: “And we ask our senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, to oppose this action — and should the president force through a nominee before the election, to vote against that person, no matter who it is….Ernst promised Iowans she’d fight corruption in Washington. Instead, she’s enabled it, by always being a party line voter for a president who, through inaction and dangerous denialism, has sat by as 200,000 Americans have died.” 

• #NCSEN – The News & Observer’s Ned Barnett: “North Carolina’s junior senator is clinging to Trump’s coattails in a desperate hope that his blind subservience to the president can get him re-elected to an office that is supposed to be about independent judgment and leadership…Now that is a profile in compliance. Not only does Tillis endorse the Senate considering Trump’s nominee late in an election year, he’s committed to voting yes before the nominee is vetted or testifies…a rubber stamp.”

WHAT’S AT STAKE: REPUBLICANS RUSH TO FILL SCOTUS SEAT, ENDANGERING COVERAGE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. The New York Times took a look at what will happen if the Supreme Court struck down the Affordable Care Act –– an increasing possibility as Senate Republicans plan to rush through an election-year lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Here’s what they found:

• As many as 133 million Americans have a pre-existing condition that could disqualify them “from buying a health insurance policy or cause them to pay significantly higher premiums.” 
• 21 million Americans “are at serious risk of becoming uninsured.”
• 12 million American adults “who have gained Medicaid coverage through the law’s expansion of the program could lose it.” 
• 165 million Americans would face caps on expensive treatments for conditions like cancer and hemophilia.
• 60 million Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay more for preventive care and prescription drugs.

Read more here → New York Times: If the Supreme Court Ends Obamacare, Here’s What It Would Mean

GARDNER CAVES TO TRUMP AND MCCONNELL. After ducking questions and refusing to admit to voters where he stands, vulnerable incumbent Senator Cory Gardner caved to the pressure of President Trump and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and broke his own 2016 commitment that the “the president who is elected in November should be the one who makes this decision” on the next Supreme Court Justice. It’s hardly surprising –– even Trump knew Gardner’s loyalty to the party left no doubt he’d ultimately fall in line.

SENATE REPUBLICANS’ REFUSAL TO NEGOTIATE ON BIPARTISAN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF “COULD IMPEDE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MONTHS TO COME.” A new Axios report looks at the effects of Senate Republicans’ refusal to work on bipartisan coronavirus relief, finding that it “could impede economic growth for months to come” and “create widespread damage across America” and leave “many Americans without jobs or homes.” The initial economic stimulus was only designed to last through the summer, but Senate Republicans refused to work on passing additional bipartisan aid and instead took a month-long vacation, leaving millions of Americans without relief. They continued to fail Americans by pushing a stunt bill that even President Trump said didn’t meet Americans’ needs. McConnell and his caucus are still refusing to work on negotiating a bipartisan deal for additional coronavirus relief and the “anger” of millions of Americans is directed at Senate Republicans for failing them in this crisis. Axios: Elected officials are failing us on delivering much-needed economic stimulus

REPORT: HUGE MAIL SLOWDOWNS AFTER DEJOY TOOK OVER USPS. A new Guardian report reveals that Republican mega-donor and current Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s changes to the USPS led to “a severe decline in the rate of on-time delivery of first-class mail.” Even after DeJoy pledged to put his changes on hold, delivery speed remains “well below normal and far below the postal service’s own targets.” Despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting otherwise, Republican senators have repeatedly denied and downplayed the problems as DeJoy and President Trump have sabotaged the Postal Service. The Guardian: Revealed: evidence shows huge mail slowdowns after Trump ally took over

NEW POLLING FROM #MESEN, #MSSEN, AND #TXSEN SHOWS THE SENATE IS IN PLAY. A slew of new polling from Maine, Mississippi and Texas confirms what we’ve been saying: strong Democratic candidates have forced Republicans to compete in states they never anticipated being competitive. Take a look at some of the recent numbers:

• #MESEN: A new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found Sara Gideon leading Senator Susan Collins 46% – 41%. The survey shows Collins facing “headwinds in overcoming the polling gap,” finding the once popular Senator struggling with women and self-described moderate voters. Boston Globe: Collins trails Gideon in Maine Senate race, according to a new Suffolk/Globe poll 
• #MSSEN: A new poll by the Tyson Group finds a one point race in Mississippi, showing Mike Espy virtually tied with incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith 40% – 41%. WJTV: Tyson Group Poll: One point separates Hyde-Smith, Espy 
• #TXSEN: New polling in Texas shows a tightening race as Air Force veteran MJ Hegar is running neck and neck with incumbent Senator John Cornyn. 

MIKE ESPY RAISES $1 MILLION IN 4 DAYS AS POLL SHOWS TIED MISSISSIPPI SENATE RACE. Mike Espy announced raising over $1 million in just four days over the past week. With over 23,000 first-time donors to the campaign since Friday and an average donation of $23, the impressive haul is five times more than incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith raised during the entire second quarter. It’s just part of the growing momentum for Espy––a new poll shows Espy closed a 26-point gap since March and is now down only one point to Hyde-Smith.

ADRIAN PERKINS ANNOUNCES RAISING OVER $1 MILLION SINCE ENTERING RACE. Yesterday, Perkins for Louisiana announced that it has raised over $1 million for Army veteran and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins’ campaign for United States Senate in Louisiana. The impressive haul is made up of over 20,000 individual donors and is more evidence of the campaign’s growing momentum. Read more from the Perkins campaign here.

GEORGIA DEMS LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE TO SPOTLIGHT COLLINS’ OUT OF TOUCH RECORD. The Democratic Party of Georgia launched DCDoug.com today to uncover Washington politician Congressman Doug Collins’ out of touch record of putting Washington Republicans and right-wing special interests first  — not Georgians. The first issue on Collins’ special interest-backed agenda? Dismantling protections for pre-existing conditions, even in the middle of a pandemic. Visit DCDoug.com and see Collins’ full record of attacking health care here.

DEM AD WATCH

GA – Reverend Raphael Warnock released a new ad contrasting his commitment to ensuring quality affordable health care with his opponents’ records of attempting to repeal the ACA and protections for Georgians with pre-existing conditions. Watch. 

GA – Jon Ossoff’s new ad focuses on how he will work to lower the astronomical cost of prescriptions by allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of medications. Watch.

MI – Senator Gary Peters released a new ad highlighting his commitment to fighting to lower prescription drug costs and getting our health care back to a system of care. Watch. 

IN THE STATES

AL – Vox: The Vox Senate interview: Doug Jones sees a brighter future for Democratic candidates in the South

AZ – Arizona Capitol Times (Opinion): Mark Kelly is worthy of filling John McCain’s Senate seat

GA – WALB: ‘We have two crises here in this state’: Ossoff looking to unseat Perdue in Nov.

MI – Crain’s: Detroit Regional Chamber backs Peters over James for U.S. Senate

NC – WAVY: CBS 17/Emerson College poll shows Cunningham with lead over Tillis

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