MSNBC’S CHRIS HAYES: REPUBLICANS POISED TO PAY STEEP PRICE IN SCOTUS FIGHT. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes took a closer look at the risk facing millions of Americans who have pre-existing conditions, are covered by Medicaid expansion, or rely on other protections through the Affordable Care Act as Senate Republicans rush to confirm President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee before he or she is even announced. Hayes offered a clear solution as GOP incumbents move forward: hold them accountable at the ballot box by winning Senate races. Hayes noted recent polls that show Democratic challengers in a strong position to flip Senate seats in battlegrounds across the country. Watch here.
JAMES *STILL* HIDING ON SUPREME COURT VACANCY. Failed politician John James was caught on tape yesterday refusing to answer whether he supports Mitch McConnell and President Trump’s plans to rush to fill a lifetime appointment before Michigan voters have a chance to make their voices heard. James is the only high profile Republican Senate candidate who hasn’t taken a position on filling the SCOTUS vacancy, issuing a lengthy statement that conveniently didn’t say whether he’d support confirming Trump’s nominee before the election or in a lame duck session –– following McConnell’s order to be cautious and “keep your powder dry.” James can try to run away from the basic questions, but his true positions are clear: James said in June that he supports Trump “2,000%” in putting “textualist Supreme Court justices on the bench.”
COLLINS SPENT THREE DAYS DODGING QUESTIONS ON SCOTUS POSITION ONLY TO TAKE HALL PASS FROM MCCONNELL. Senator Susan Collins spent the last three days dodging reporters and refusing to clarify whether or not she would vote to confirm a nominee put forward by Donald Trump on the Senate floor. After initially issuing an intentionally vague and carefully worded statement that gave her room to play both sides, Collins finally clarified her stance –– but only after McConnell had the votes without her support. Collins may have received another hall pass to claim she’s independent from her party, but the reality is the vulnerable incumbent has been a key player in Trump and McConell’s efforts to take over the federal judiciary, voting to confirm 178 Trump judges. Collins continues to make it crystal clear that after 24 years in Washington, she’ll say anything to stay there.
SCOTUS VACANCY SHARPENS FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. Roll Call took a look at how the push by Senate Republicans to fill the Supreme Court vacancy “is sharpening the focus on the 2010 health care law on the campaign trail before a high-stakes oral arguments hearing to determine the law’s future.” Senate Republican incumbents and candidates either support or refuse to oppose this lawsuit, and they are on the record in favor of gutting these core health care protections. Health care was already “a top issue for voters” and the Republicans’ rush to fill the vacancy has only “crystallize[d] risks to coverage of preexisting conditions.” Roll Call: Supreme Court fight underscores campaign trail focus on health care
ARIZONANS NERVOUS ABOUT FUTURE OF ACA AND SCOTUS. An AZ Family report looked at how Arizonans who rely on the ACA for health coverage are worried about its future as protections for people with pre-existing conditions and other health care benefits are “in greater danger than ever” as anti-health care Senate Republicans rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Notably, Senator Martha McSally has repeatedly voted to gut pre-existing conditions protections and insisted it is “not [her] role” to oppose the GOP lawsuit that would strike down the entire Affordable Care Act, gutting protections for the more than 1 million Arizonans with a pre-existing condition. It’s just another reminder that health care is on the ballot in November. AZFamily: Affordable Care Act recipients nervous about Supreme Court nomination fight
CUNNINGHAM DECLARED VICTOR IN #NCSEN DEBATE. Army veteran Cal Cunningham and incumbent Senator Thom Tillis met for the second time on the debate stage last night, and Cal walked away the clear winner. While Cal laid out his clear vision and showed that he’s ready to be the kind of leader North Carolina needs, Senator Tillis spent the entire debate on defense. Tillis was unable to explain his stunning SCOTUS hypocrisy, provided no solutions on health care, and couldn’t answer for his votes to give tax breaks to major corporations and big donors while growing the national debt. Two political analysts who watched the debate “believed Cunningham won,” saying Cunningham gave “more substance to a lot of his answers.” And if that wasn’t enough evidence that Cal was the clear winner Tuesday night, undecided voters “said they viewed Tillis less favorably” after watching. WNCN: Analysts break down why NC Senate debate may have swayed undecided voters toward Cunningham
RATINGS CHANGE: COOK POLITICAL REPORT SHIFTS #COSEN IN DEMOCRATS’ FAVOR. Non partisan race analyst Cook Political Report shifted their Colorado Senate race rating in Gov. John Hickenlooper’s favor this morning from “Toss-Up” to “Leans Democrat.” Cook cites Gardners’ position as “one of the most endangered incumbents” combined with his recent flip-flop on SCOTUS as two reasons for the ratings change, noting that even Republicans monitoring Colorado “seriously doubt” Gardner can win. With the Colorado Senate race moving into Cook’s “Leans Democrat” column, the battle for control of the Senate remains in play, although Cook notes there are several more states “in danger for the GOP that continues to imperil their slim majority.” The Cook Political Report: Colorado Senate Moves From Toss Up to Lean Democrat
OUCH: CINDY MCCAIN DECLINES TO ENDORSE MCSALLY. Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain, declined to endorse unelected Senator Martha McSally for her late husband’s Senate seat on Tuesday, flatly saying: “I have no interest in it.”
IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES “SCOFF” AT CORNYN’S LATEST AD. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn’s latest Spanish-language ad may claim that “he strongly supports the legalization of Dreamers,” but immigrant advocates say the ad is “cynically misleading, citing a raft of votes the three-term Republican cast against versions of the Dream Act.” A deep dive by the Dallas Morning News into Cornyn’s record on immigration confirmed immigrant advocates’ claims, finding that the vulnerable incumbent’s record on DREAMers is “mixed” as he’s been “among the senators who helped to block a standalone version of the Dream Act.” Dallas Morning News: In Spanish, Cornyn ad says he ‘strongly supports legalization of Dreamers,’ but immigrant advocates scoff
DEM AD WATCH
ME – In Sara Gideon’s new ad, a voter shares concern about the judiciary and Sara discusses how Susan Collins has been a rubber stamp for judicial nominations brought by the president. Watch.
MT – Governor Steve Bullock released a new ad highlighting his work expanding health care access, a contrast with Senator Steve Daines who voted to allow insurance companies to deny people with preexisting conditions coverage. Watch.
NC – Cal Cunningham’s latest ad shares his story about growing up in Lexington, NC and how Thom Tillis continues to betray the working people back home. Watch.
IN THE STATES
AZ – ABC News: Democrats in Arizona appealing to moderates as state’s demographics continue to change
CO – Colorado Sun: Cory Gardner has voted to confirm 98% of Trump’s judicial nominees as decision on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat looms
GA – Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Analysis: Why Georgia’s twin Senate races are up for grabs
GA – Atlanta Voice: #Election2020: Warnock rises in latest polls
IA – Iowa Starting Line (Opinion): Evans: ‘Principles’ Shouldn’t Be A Matter Of Convenience
ME – Vox: The Vox Senate interview: Sara Gideon is Susan Collins’s most serious challenger in decades
MT – Bozeman Daily Chronicle (LTE): In Senate, Bullock will put Montana before party
NC – New York Times: What happens in North Carolina has ramifications for control of the White House, Senate and Supreme Court
NC – Capitol Broadcasting Company: Editorial: The election must determine next Supreme Court nominee
TX – Austin American Statesman: Editorial: Cornyn, Cruz should follow 2016 rule for Supreme Court vacancy
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