REPUBLICANS RELYING ON PAID STAFF, PARTY OPERATIVES IN CAMPAIGN ADS. Senators Susan Collins, Martha McSally and David Perdue have a lot in common: they’re all on the ballot, all vulnerable and all caught using paid staff and party operatives in their campaign ads without disclosing those ties to voters. The tactic isn’t just misleading, it’s an ominous sign that the three incumbents can’t find regular constituents to validate their work.
REPUBLICAN RECRUITMENT BUST IN KANSAS LEADS TO PRIMARY PANIC. When Republicans failed to recruit Mike Pompeo into the Kansas Senate race, they knew they’d be in for a long summer – and the panic has set in as they face tomorrow’s primary with “dread.” The weak, fractured field has stumbled to the finish line – with “no one” meeting the Kansas City Star editorial board’s endorsement standard, divisive and expensive campaign ads, and the realization that even if establishment-backed Congressman Roger Marshall emerges from the primary, he could still lose the general election. Meanwhile, Dr. Barbara Bollier has built a “strong” campaign, has outraised the entire field and is in a dead heat with all of the GOP candidates according to a recent poll. Here are the pre-primary highlights:
NEW CNN ANALYSIS: DEMS STRONGER FAVORITES IN RACE FOR SENATE CONTROL. A new analysis from CNN this weekend found that Democrats’ chances of flipping the Senate have “increased over the last few months,” making them “clearer favorites to take back Congress’ upper chamber.” Strong Democratic candidates have expanded the map, making seats that previously favored Republicans competitive and broadened paths to the majority. The CNN analysis finding Democrats have “a real shot at a majority” follows Cook Political Report moving five different Senate race ratings in Democrats’ direction and Inside Elections moving eight Senate races in Democrats’ favor in July. CNN: Democrats are stronger favorites in tight race for Senate control
MCCONNELL SIGNALS TO DESPERATE REPUBLICANS “DISTANCE FROM TRUMP IF NECESSARY” — GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. Washington Republicans are increasingly concerned about what they “fear could be a devastating election for their party.” Senate Majority Leader McConnell has become so worried that he has signaled to vulnerable incumbents that they should distance themselves from the president if necessary. But it’s too late: Senate Republicans have repeatedly praised President Trump for his disastrous coronavirus response and bragged they’ve worked “hand in glove with the Trump administration.” The only thing more laughable than Senate Republicans suddenly trying to distance themselves from Trump less than 100 days before the election is that McConnell is giving them a permission slip to do it.
CORY GARDNER AND GOP SENATE “EMBRACE” TRUMP ON ONE OF HIS “DARKEST DAYS.” Vulnerable Senator Cory Gardner was skewered in a local column this weekend for embracing Trump despite the president’s “insult to John Lewis’ legacy” with his suggestion to delay the election. Gardner’s cowardly response did not mention Trump. Colorado Sun columnist Mike Littwin also eviscerated Gardner for supporting gutting “life-saving” emergency unemployment benefits and then taking a long weekend off, “leaving millions to wonder how to pay the rent, how to pay for groceries, how to get by.” Read the brutal column on Gardner’s cowardice here: Colorado Sun: Littwin: Imagine being a GOP senator watching Obama speak at John Lewis’ funeral and then going home to defend Trump
CBS NEWS BATTLEGROUND TRACKER POLL FINDS DEMS LEAD IN #NCSEN, WITHIN MARGIN OF ERROR IN #GASEN. A new CBS News Battleground Tracker poll from this weekend shows Democrats leading in North Carolina, a key battleground state, and within the margin of error in the highly competitive race between Jon Ossoff and Senator Perdue in Georgia. Read more.
THOM TILLIS CAUGHT PLAGIARIZING OBAMACARE DESPITE LONG HISTORY OF VOTING TO GUT IT. A Daily Beast report this weekend called out vulnerable incumbent Senator Thom Tillis for “bragging that a health-care bill he wrote ‘literally’ cribs language from Obamacare” despite Tillis’ “dogged efforts to kill the Affordable Care Act.” Tillis built his political career “on unequivocal, single-minded resistance to Obamacare,” once even calling the popular law a “cancer.” Now the increasingly vulnerable Senator is trying to change his tune before the election, but voters will see right through Tillis’ attempts to whitewash his toxic record. Tillis and every other Republican Senator voted for the GOP tax bill that set the lawsuit that would strike down the entire Affordable Care Act in motion — and even now, amid a public health crisis, Tillis supports the GOP’s lawsuit against the ACA. The Daily Beast: Thom Tillis Wanted to Kill Obamacare. Now He’s Plagiarizing It.
NEW REPORT: DAINES TOOK DONATIONS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WHO BENEFITED FROM HIS VACCINE BILLS. A new Salon report reveals that vulnerable incumbent Steve Daines received thousands of dollars from drug companies while he pushed Congress to fast track funding for vaccine development. Daines’ “marquee contribution” to the CARES Act awarded contracts to the very companies that donated thousands of dollars to Daines’ increasingly tough re-election campaign. The lack of transparency surrounding the awards for vaccine contracts sparked concerns from Congressional oversight bodies and watchdogs. Salon: GOP senator took donations from drug companies who benefited from his vaccine bills
GOP SILENT ON SMALL BUSINESS BAILOUT MONEY FLOWING TO CHINESE-OWNED COMPANIES. The New York Times reports that millions of dollars intended to bail out American small businesses flowed to Chinese-owned companies, with a new analysis finding that “a substantial chunk of the money went to America’s biggest economic rival.” In April, the NRSC sent a 57-page leaked memo to GOP Senate candidates filled with talking points urging them to try and shift blame from Trump’s bungled coronavirus response and instead “attack China” — something vulnerable incumbent Republicans have done repeatedly in interviews and TV ads this year. This new report is just the latest example of how “politically endangered” Senate Republicans have followed that Washington playbook but haven’t lived up to that tough talk.
SENATE REPUBLICANS FAIL TO DELIVER ON PROMISE FOR HEALTH CARE PLAN BUT SUPPORT LAWSUIT TO ELIMINATE PROTECTIONS FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. A new report from the Washington Post this weekend spotlights Washington Republicans’ failure to deliver (again) on their repeated pledge to put forward an alternative to replace the Affordable Care Act. It’s not surprising from the caucus that has repeatedly promised (and failed) to replace the popular health care law, while plowing forward with a lawsuit to overturn the ACA and end protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Republicans still have no real replacement for the ACA, and “no plan” to help the millions of Americans who have lost health coverage during a pandemic-fueled recession.
DEM AD WATCH
NH – Senator Jeanne Shaheen released a new ad highlighting her work on behalf of Granite Staters who served our nation, from boosting health care options to passing tax credits to help businesses hire veterans. Watch.
IN THE STATES
GA – Forbes: The Richest Politician On Capitol Hill Is Likely Georgia’s Recently Appointed, Controversial Senator Kelly Loeffler
IA – Iowa Starting Line: How Ernst’s COVID Messaging Has Echoed Trump’s
ME – Portland Press Herald: Council that represents Bath Iron Works unions endorses Gideon
MT – Missoulian (Letter): Bullock protects families. Daines does not
NC – Charlotte Observer (Opinion): Honor John Lewis by restoring the Voting Rights Act
NC – WCNC: New NBC News poll shows a possible blue wave in North Carolina
###
Next Post
