AFTER REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE, REPUBLICANS’ “SCALED-BACK” RELIEF BILL COMES UP SHORT. New reports detail Senate Republicans’ plans to introduce a further “scaled-back stimulus bill” that would gut the emergency unemployment relief that has been a lifeline for millions of Americans. The reality is that Senate Republicans created “an urgent crisis” last month after wasting weeks bickering among themselves and insisting they didn’t see “a big need” to extend the critical emergency unemployment relief for millions. And despite warnings from Federal Reserve officials, economists, governors and mayors that “the risk to the economy grows every day that goes by without a deal,” Mitch McConnell and his caucus refused to negotiate and then left Washington for a month-long vacation. Are Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans still blocking urgently needed relief? Yes.
GARDNER’S SHAM HEALTH CARE BILL “LOOKS LIKE A POLITICAL MANEUVER.” Senator Cory Gardner has taken a page out of the vulnerable incumbent Republican playbook and is trying to rewrite his toxic record of voting to take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions as he faces an increasingly difficult re-election. The latest attempt is a new sham bill that experts are calling “a political stunt,” saying it is “motivated more by politics than substance.” The reality is that Gardner’s bill would allow insurance companies “to deny insurance entirely to people who are sick” and “‘doesn’t actually protect people with pre-existing conditions’.” Cory Gardner and Senate Republicans have “spent the last few years trying to take away pre-existing condition protections” in Washington and are still plowing forward with their lawsuit to overturn the health care law and end protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. They still have no replacement plan that matches the ACA’s protections, and they can’t erase their records just because it’s an election year. Colorado Times Recorder: Gardner Proposal On Pre-Existing Conditions Looks Like a Political Maneuver, Say Experts
NEW #LASEN POLL SHOWS “BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED” POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS, SENATOR BILL CASSIDY IS A WEAK INCUMBENT . New polling released by Shreveport mayor and Army veteran Adrian Perkins’ campaign shows that Senator Bill Cassidy is a weak, undefined incumbent who is well below the 50% threshold needed in November to avoid a run-off election. Cassidy sports an unimpressive 39% favorability rating, while 30% can’t rate him at all. The polling also shows a more favorable political environment for Louisiana Democrats and that Perkins is already in second place before any paid advertising from his campaign. Read the full polling memo from ALG Research here.
NEW POLLS SHOW DEMS IN STRONG POSITION IN #GASEN, #IASEN, AND #MESEN. New PPP polling shows Democratic challengers Theresa Greenfield and Sara Gideon leading vulnerable Republican incumbents in Iowa and Maine and a tied race in Georgia between Jon Ossoff and Senator David Perdue. The poll is just another example of how strong Democratic challengers have expanded the map, putting Republicans on defense in more states they never expected to be this competitive.
ANOTHER POLL SHOWS #GASEN IS HEATING UP. A new internal poll released by Jon Ossoff’s campaign today shows the Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff with a slight edge over vulnerable incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue. The poll just confirms what Perdue warned Republicans about this spring: “the state of Georgia is in play.” Jon joined MSNBC’s Craig Melvin to discuss the latest poll and his growing momentum. WATCH:
VOX: ALASKA’S SENATE RACE POISED TO BE COMPETITIVE. A new Vox analysis highlights the latest example of how Democrats have expanded the Senate map to include Alaska. The Senate race is shaping up to be among “the toughest fights that incumbent Alaska Republicans have seen since 2008” and nonpartisan election analysts are saying they “wouldn’t sleep on the Senate race.” Dr. Al Gross “has steadily outraised” Senator Dan Sullivan this year and nearly doubled the incumbent’s fundraising haul in the pre-primary filing. Gross has emphasized “his longtime roots in the state” and focused on ensuring Alaskans have access to high quality affordable health care, and his strong campaign is one reason why “Alaska is looking more competitive this year.” Vox: Why Alaska’s Senate and House races look competitive in 2020
NEW PROFILE: VOTERS WANT LINDSEY GRAHAM RETIRED, JAIME HARRISON IS “THE MAN TO DO IT.” A new profile of Jaime Harrison in Esquire highlights how the South Carolina Democratic challenger has “emerged as a genuine threat” to send Senator Lindsey Graham into retirement. Jaime has shattered fundraising records thanks to his small-dollar grassroots army, outraising Graham in the past two quarters as recent polls show Harrison and Graham virtually tied. Read more about Harrison’s story, his remarkable campaign, and his growing momentum. Esquire: A Lot of People Want Lindsey Graham Retired. Jaime Harrison Thinks He’s the Man to Do It.
IN HEAT OF TOUGH CAMPAIGN, CORNYN SUSPENDS WEEKLY CALL WITH REPORTERS. As the Texas Senate race heats up, vulnerable Senator John Cornyn has taken a two-month hiatus from holding regular press calls so he can avoid answering tough questions from local reporters. It’s just the latest sign that the Republican “nonentity” is nervous about facing an increasingly competitive campaign. Recent polling found that Texas is a dead heat: Democratic challenger MJ Hegar is down only one point to Senator John Cornyn, a weak three-term incumbent who is well under 50% support and getting mixed reviews from voters. Dallas Morning News: Is Cornyn too busy for weekly calls with Texas media, or just cautious in heat of campaign?
#TXSEN CANDIDATE MJ HEGAR ON MSNBC: “WE’RE NOT LETTING THIS PANDEMIC BE AN EXCUSE TO SLOW US DOWN.” MJ Hegar joined MSNBC’s Craig Melvin where she discussed her campaign to unseat Senator John Cornyn and how she’s continuing to gain momentum. WATCH – MSNBC: TX Sen. candidate MJ Hegar: ‘We’re not letting this pandemic be an excuse to slow us down.’
FOX NEWS: “THE SENATE RACE…BETWEEN MARK KELLY AND MARTHA MCSALLY…I CAN’T EVEN SAY THAT IT’S TIGHT.” It’s a bad sign for unelected Senator Martha McSally when Fox News hosts can’t even pretend that the Arizona Senate race is going well for Republicans. Following a new AP report this week that highlighted McSally’s fears about “the defection” of GOP voters to her opponent, Dana Perino had this to say about McSally’s struggling campaign: “the Senate race…between Mark Kelly and Martha McSally…I can’t even say that it’s tight.” That’s probably not what McSally wanted to hear as her challenges continue to pile up in this race.
DEM AD WATCH
AZ – Mark Kelly released a new ad spotlighting his commitment to fighting for protections for Arizonans with pre-existing conditions. Watch.
GA – Reverend Raphael Warnock’s first TV ad details his humble upbringing in Savannah, Georgia and commitment to fighting to expand access to affordable, quality health care, protecting the dignity of workers and ensuring the right to vote. Watch.
IA – Theresa Greenfield’s latest ad highlights her pledge to be a Senator who works for Iowans, not the corporate special interests. Watch.
IN THE STATES
CO – Colorado Sun: Hickenlooper: Our plan to fight for a healthier future for all Coloradans
ME – NewsCenterMaine: Gideon, Maine postal workers call on Postmaster General to resign
MI – Detroit Free Press: Peters, UAW official announce Michigan vote, praise Biden’s support for auto industry
MT – Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Letter): Bullock’s policies will benefit working Montanans
SC – Charleston Post & Courier: Democratic Senate candidate Jamie Harrison pledges SC delegates during DNC roll call vote
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