NEW REPORT: U.S. FACES WAVE OF SMALL BUSINESS FAILURES AS SENATE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO BLOCK NEEDED RELIEF. A new report in the New York Times reveals that the U.S. will face “a wave of small-business failures this fall if the federal government does not provide a new round of financial assistance,” a prospect that experts warn could “prolong the recession, slow the recovery and perhaps enduringly reshape the American business landscape.” Meanwhile, Senate Republicans wasted weeks bickering among themselves instead of passing additional relief and now are on their third week of vacation. “Millions of jobs are at stake” — but Senate Republicans decided to take a month off and are refusing to return to Washington to work on urgently needed relief. New York Times: Small-Business Failures Loom as Federal Aid Dries Up
NOT SURPRISING: REPUBLICANS STAY SILENT AS TRUMP SAYS SOME REALLY STRANGE THINGS. A New York Times deep dive calls out the familiar pattern of President Trump “saying something incendiary while his fellow Republicans say nothing.” The most recent example? After a Fox News interview Monday night where Trump “said some startling things,” Senate Republicans had hardly “anything to say about it” — and not a single GOP senator except for Mitt Romney responded to a New York Times request for comment. Their silence is not surprising: vulnerable Republican incumbents have been mum all summer as Trump tear-gassed peaceful protestors for a publicity stunt, undercut voting rights, threatened to cut federal funding from schools, and so much more. While Republicans try and feign ignorance, voters have taken note of their refusal to hold the president accountable. New York Times: Trump Says Some Really Strange Things. Republicans Say No Comment, Again.
DEM SENATE CANDIDATES RAMP UP GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING. Following a monster Q2 where 13 Democratic Senate challengers outraised their vulnerable Republican opponents, Democratic candidates are continuing to announce impressive fundraising numbers fueled by small-dollar donors:
MCCONNELL ALLIES, BACKED BY REPUBLICAN MEGA-DONORS, FORCED TO POUR ANOTHER $41 MILLION INTO RESCUING INCUMBENTS. Nine weeks out from the election, a “cadre of groups run by allies of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell” announced yesterday they were adding another $41 million in defensive spending into five seats held by increasingly vulnerable incumbents: Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, and North Carolina. It’s the latest signal that Mitch McConnell’s super PAC network and Republican billionaires are scrambling to avoid losing their majority in the Senate.
Worth noting: The Senate Leadership Fund and its affiliated super PACs as well as the NRSC IE are spending every single dollar on defense through the fall. All five of these vulnerable GOP incumbents in states where Republicans are increasing their investment – McSally, Perdue, Ernst, Collins, and Tillis – were outraised by millions of dollars in Q2, have been trailing in recent polls, and had their re-election chances downgraded by nonpartisan analysts. And conspicuously missing from this latest round of Super PAC investment from Republicans: soon-to-be former Senator Cory Gardner in Colorado.
JONI ERNST PEDDLES CONSPIRACY THEORY, SAYS SHE’S “SO SKEPTICAL” OF COVID DEATH NUMBERS. Senator Joni Ernst irresponsibly amplified debunked conspiracy theories this week when she said she was “so skeptical” of the COVID-19 death count and then suggested doctors, nurses, and health care professionals were falsifying coronavirus cases to collect a higher reimbursement. The facts are clear: “Ernst’s comments echo conspiracy theories pushed by QAnon followers that have been debunked by doctors and public health experts.” Dr. Anthony Fauci has forcefully dismissed the claim, saying “The numbers you’ve been hearing — there are 180,000-plus deaths — are real deaths from covid-19. Let [there] not be any confusion about that.” This reckless comment is not the first time Senator Ernst has mishandled the public health crisis: she has previously downplayed the virus, spread misinformation, and was recently caught attending crowded events without wearing a mask.
REPORT: FORMER CORNYN STAFFERS LOBBIED FOR PHARMA GIANT ACCUSED OF PRICE-GOUGING COVID DRUGS. A new Salon report reveals Senator John Cornyn’s close “political and lobbying ties to a pharmaceutical giant behind COVID treatment remdesivir” as Republican senators “ended up undercutting anti-price gouging language” in relief legislation earlier this year. Multiple former Cornyn aides lobbied on behalf of the pharmaceutical company and were successful in giving leeway to companies “to set prices that put COVID drugs such as remdesivir out of reach of many Americans likely to need them.” Cornyn himself has promoted remdesivir on his personal Twitter page multiple times as his campaign received thousands of dollars from the company and the drug industry. Salon: GOP Sen. John Cornyn’s ex-staffers lobbied for pharma giant accused of price-gouging COVID drugs
MIKE ESPY LAUNCHES NEW AD IN #MSSEN. Democratic challenger Mike Espy released his first TV ad of the cycle, calling out Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her offensive comments that hurt Mississippi’s ability to recruit new businesses and jobs. The six-figure ad buy follows an internal poll showing a tightening five-point race in Mississippi and finding that Hyde-Smith is remarkably weak for an incumbent, while Espy leads with independents, is tied with young white voters, and has a significantly more positive favorability rating overall. Espy reported raising nearly three times what Senator Hyde-Smith raised in Q2. Watch Espy’s new ad here about moving his state forward — NBC News: Espy launches new ad ahead of Mississippi Senate rematch with Hyde-Smith
DEM AD WATCH
AZ – Mark Kelly released a new ad that calls out Washington politicians for the bad decisions made throughout this pandemic, including attempts to roll back protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Watch.
IA – Theresa Greenfield’s latest ad features former Republican State Representative Walt Tomenga, who voted for Senator Joni Ernst in 2014 but is now supporting Theresa, citing her ability to work across the aisle to get our economy back on track. Watch.
MI – Senator Gary Peters’ newest ad highlights his bipartisan work to address the crisis of PFAS contaminated water. Watch.
SC – Jaime Harrison released a new ad that touts an endorsement from former Lindsey Graham supporter Dick Wilkerson and Harrison’s work to help create jobs in South Carolina. Watch.
IN THE STATES
CO – Colorado Sun: Cory Gardner wants to get rid of Obamacare. But it’s not clear what he plans to replace it with.
CO – Denver Post (Opinion): Guest commentary: Hickenlooper has proven he is effective leader for affordable health care
IA – Iowa Feminist: Greenfield calls for immediate action on postal service as Ernst campaigns around Iowa
KS – WIBW: Facebook removes Roger Marshall COVID-19 post
KS – Hays Post: Bollier pushes health care reform, support for ag during stop in Hays
ME – Bangor Daily News (Opinion): The lesson Susan Collins taught Donald Trump
MS – Mississippi Today: ‘By God, Mississippi is a battleground state’: Stacey Abrams handicaps 2020 Senate race
NC – Fayetteville Observer (Opinion): Democratic candidates: Postal Service delays hurt veterans; Tillis, Hudson sitting it out
SC – The Hill: Harrison says he’s running against a different Lindsey Graham than in the past
SC – Charleston City Paper: Our View: Elect Harrison to Senate
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