PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS PROTECTIONS “IN GREATER DANGER THAN EVER.” Coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions and other health care benefits are “imperiled” and “in greater danger than ever” as anti-health care Senate Republicans rush to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Oral arguments on the Republican lawsuit to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act and its pre-existing conditions protections are scheduled for November 10, just one week after Election Day. Republican incumbents and candidates support or refuse to oppose this lawsuit, and they are on the record in favor of gutting these core health care protections. Read more about how the fate of health care for tens of millions hangs in the balance:
GARDNER AND JAMES SILENT ON SUPREME COURT VOTE BEFORE ELECTION. Republican senators and candidates have fallen in line with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump’s plans to rush to fill a lifetime appointment before voters have the chance to be heard, but two notable silences? Endangered Senator Cory Gardner in Colorado and failed politician John James in Michigan. Gardner is ducking questions and refusing to admit to voters where he stands, and James issued a lengthy statement but refused to say whether he’d support confirming Trump’s nominee before the election or in a lame duck session. But these two Republicans are still clearly taking marching orders from McConnell, who urged his caucus “to be cautious and keep your powder dry” — and even Trump knows their loyalty to party means they’ll be sure to fall in line.
MCSALLY CALLED “TRUMP’S POCKET PAL” FOR IMMEDIATE CALL TO FILL VACANCY AFTER JUSTICE GINSBURG’S PASSING. Unelected Senator Martha McSally is already under fire for her quick calls for a Supreme Court vote. After the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday night, McSally tweeted her condolences for the Ginsburg family and no less than 15 minutes later tweeted that the new vacancy should be filled by this Senate and president, before voters have had their say. Arizona Republic columnist EJ Montini called McSally’s lack of respect for the trailblazing justice “pathetic,” while columnist Laurie Roberts eviscerated the vulnerable incumbent for being “Donald Trump’s pocket pal” as she “continued her political death spiral.”
NEW POLL: GREENFIELD LEADS ERNST IN IOWA. The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released this weekend showed businesswoman Theresa Greenfield leading vulnerable Senator Joni Ernst, 45%-42%. The poll is “largely unchanged since June, when Greenfield led Ernst 46% to 43%.” And Pollster J. Ann Selzer says that the latest numbers confirm that Theresa is “holding her own” and “says something about Joni Ernst’s vulnerability.” Theresa continues to build momentum among a broad coalition of voters — including a plurality of independent voters and women of all ages, as well as 10% of those who voted for Donald Trump in 2016.
RATINGS CHANGE: CRYSTAL BALL MOVES #MESEN AND #SCSEN IN DEMOCRATS’ FAVOR. Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted two races in Democrats’ favor today, reflecting the growing momentum behind Democrats in the battle for control of the Senate. The nonpartisan race rater shifted the Maine Senate race from “Toss-Up” to “Leans Democrat,” reflecting Collins’ “increasingly perilous position” as polling shows Mainers souring on the vulnerable incumbent. Crystal Ball also shifted the South Carolina Senate race in Democrats’ favor as “Graham has been locked in a tightening contest with a well-financed Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison.” The South Carolina race has only continued to get more competitive as polling shows a dead heat and Harrison has dominated Graham in fundraising. Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Rating Changes: Maine Senate Moves to Leans Democratic
KC STAR EDITORIAL BOARD DECLARES BOLLIER WINNER IN #KSSEN DEBATE. Dr. Barbara Bollier and Congressman Roger Marshall met on the debate stage for the first time on Saturday, and Dr. Bollier walked away the clear victor, delivering a strong performance focused on delivering bipartisan results for Kansans across the state. The Kansas City Star Editorial Board called the debate for Bollier, concluding that “Bollier would at least try to reach bipartisan solutions on important issues, while Marshall’s commitment to hyper-divisive politics remains obvious.” Bollier is widely recognized as a “strong candidate” who has built a reputation as an independent voice focused on finding common sense solutions. She’s built a juggernaut campaign and recent polls show that the Kansas Senate race is a dead heat. Kansas City Star Editorial: Barbara Bollier and Roger Marshall claim to represent Kansas values. Only one does
NEW POLLING SHOWS WARNOCK SURGING. New internal polling released today shows Democratic candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock poised to consolidate Georgians and defeat Senator Kelly Loeffler for Georgia’s special Senate seat. The poll found that Warnock gained a larger share of voters than any other candidate over the last few weeks, setting him up to be the top vote getter in November. Other notable findings? The GOP candidates are regularly combining for less than 50 percent of the vote, leaving a growing and winning electorate up for grabs by Warnock.The new poll is just the latest sign of Warnock’s growing momentum––the first-time candidate has been leading the field in fundraising and secured several major endorsements. Read the full polling memo here. AJC: Warnock rises in polls as allies urge other Democrats to quit Senate race
GARDNER’S PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS BILL AGAIN PROVEN TO BE ELECTION YEAR SCAM. Senator Cory Gardner’s stunt bill claiming to protect people with pre-existing conditions (which has already been called “horse excrement”) continues to get dunked on. The bill was touted by Gardner as something “to guarantee coverage to people with pre-existing conditions — no matter what happens to Obamacare,” a claim that PolitiFact rated as “False.” Cory Gardner continues to embarrass himself with these shoddy attempts to undo his toxic record of repeated efforts to dismantle essential protections for Coloradans with pre-existing conditions. PolitiFact: Gardner’s bill has as much to do with politics as preexisting conditions
DSCC OUTRAISES NRSC, STARTS SEPTEMBER WITH $27 MILLION CASH ON HAND ADVANTAGE. The DSCC outraised the NRSC by nearly $8 million in August, starting September with a $27+ million cash on hand advantage. The DSCC’s record-breaking August fundraising haul was fueled by small-dollar donors who gave an average online donation of $35. Democratic candidates are also leading the way after outraising vulnerable Republicans in 13 GOP-held seats in Q2 and continuing to announce eye-popping and record-breaking fundraising hauls in July and August. It couldn’t be clearer that grassroots supporters are fired up to elect Democrats across the map. Read more about the DSCC’s eye-popping August fundraising here.
DEM AD WATCH
AK – Dr. Al Gross released a new ad called “Bear Doctor,” a music video dedicated to his independent voice that’s ready to represent Alaskans in the U.S. Senate. Watch.
AZ – The DSCC released a new TV ad in Arizona’s Senate race, highlighting Senator Martha McSally’s dishonest record of saying one thing to Arizonans but doing another thing in Washington. Watch.
CO – In his latest ad, John Hickenlooper shares a memory of his late father, sympathizing with families today who can’t be together during COVID-19, and promises to protect their health care unlike Senator Gardner. Watch.
IA – Theresa Greenfield released two new ads: in the first, Theresa highlights how she’s ready to work across the aisle to stop gridlock in Washington and get Iowans the help they need. The second ad highlights Theresa’s personal commitment to protecting Social Security. Watch here and here.
NM – Congressman Ben Ray Luján’s latest ad spotlights his work to get New Mexico’s businesses the help they needed when the coronavirus pandemic hit and his commitment to never stop fighting for them. Watch.
IN THE STATES
AZ – Tucson Sentinel (Opinion): McSally nose-dives into Supreme Court hypocrisy
CO – Colorado Politics: ENDORSEMENT WATCH | Hickenlooper wins support from farm workers, service employees unions
CO – CBS Denver: Health Care In The Spotlight In Colorado’s U.S. Senate Race
GA – Emory Wheel: In Town Hall, Ossoff Stresses Need for Voter Turnout, Apolitical CDC
IA – Iowa Starting Line: Joni Ernst Fundraises Off SCOTUS Immediately After RBG’s Death
IA – Fort Dodge Messenger: ‘I got into this race to put Iowa first’
MI – Crain’s Detroit Business: Detroit Regional Chamber backs Peters over James for US Senate
MS – Mississippi Today: “Espy breaks single-day fundraising record”
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