VOTERS BLAME SENATE REPUBLICANS FOR COLLAPSE OF PANDEMIC RELIEF NEGOTIATIONS. With less than one week until the election, a new Morning Consult poll found that “voters are putting the blame on Republicans and the president for the stalled talks” and “tended to say that GOP legislators shoulder the blame” for Congress’ failure to deliver additional coronavirus relief. Since emergency unemployment aid expired three months ago, Senate Republicans refused to negotiate on a serious relief effort that could pass Congress and help Americans, took a month-long vacation, turned their backs on the millions of Americans who desperately need help, and pushed stunt bills that were nothing more than political cover for their vulnerable incumbents. The facts are clear: Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans were more focused on ramming through a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court who will tear down the Affordable Care Act than passing an urgently needed coronavirus relief package. Morning Consult: Going Into Election Day, Voters Narrowly Place Blame for Collapse of Stimulus Talks on GOP, Trump
MCCONNELL ADMITS STRONG DEM CANDIDATES HAVE EXPANDED THE MAP. In a revealing interview with the Washington Post, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell admitted that Republicans have been forced on defense across an expanded map because of strong Democratic candidates, confessing, “we always knew we were going to have spirited races in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Iowa, North Carolina and Maine. They’ve been able to make it competitive in Kansas, Georgia, South Carolina and Alaska.” Because of strong Democratic challengers shattering fundraising records across an expanded map, Republicans have been “reliant on unlimited multimillion-dollar donations from a few big contributors to McConnell’s friendly super PAC” in a last minute desperate attempt to try and save their endangered Senate majority.
AND MCCONNELL’S SUPER PAC IS POURING MONEY INTO MORE LAST MINUTE DEFENSE. As Republicans panicked over Democratic candidates’ record-shattering Q3 hauls fueled by grassroots donors, a handful of GOP mega-donors wrote multi-million dollar checks to Mitch McConnell’s super PAC, which is now dumping millions of dollars again into Senate races in Iowa, Georgia, Colorado, and Kansas. It’s clear Republicans in Washington are worried about their weak and struggling incumbents, and it’s no surprise that the billionaires who have benefited from GOP control of the Senate have stepped in to try to rescue their flailing campaigns.
TILLIS GETS A “FULL FLOP” FOR FLIPPING HIS SCOTUS POSITION. PolitiFact found that Senator Thom Tillis has “done a ‘Full Flop’” on his position on filling a Supreme Court vacancy during an election year. The vulnerable incumbent “completely changed his position on whether voters should have a say in Supreme Court vacancies that occur during an election year.” It’s just another example of Tillis being spineless and caving to his party leaders when it’s politically expedient. WRAL/PolitiFact: Fact check: Did Tillis flip-flop on Supreme Court appointments?
FACT CHECK: ERNST “VERY CLEARLY SUPPORTED THE EFFORT THAT INCLUDES REPEALING PROTECTIONS FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.” A KCRG fact check on an ad highlighting Senator Joni Ernst’s toxic health care record found it’s “mostly true” that Ernst voted to repeal coverage protections for pre-existing conditions. Despite Ernst’s insistence that “no American should ever be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition,” the facts are that “she very clearly supported the effort that includes repealing protections for pre-existing conditions” and her “votes for the AHCA would effectively eliminate coverage for pre-existing conditions.” This is just another reason why, in the final stretch, Ernst is still “on the defense when talking about protections for individuals with pre-existing health conditions.” KCRG: i9 Fact Checker: Democratic ad’s attacks on Joni Ernst’s stance on pre-existing conditions are mostly true
GRAHAM AND TILLIS CAUGHT “IN AN APPARENT PAY-TO-PLAY SCHEME.” A bombshell Salon report reveals that Senators Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham “coordinated in an apparent pay-to-play scheme that rolled out for several years” as they “changed their views” on a controversial casino “after taking big bucks from casino interests and lobbyists.” Graham and Tillis both originally opposed the project, but after an aggressive lobbying effort that involved “tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from industry lobbyists and the casino developer,” the vulnerable incumbents changed their positions. Salon: Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis pushed for controversial casino after donations from gambling mogul
THOM TILLIS IS “PHARMA’S FAVORITE SENATOR.” STAT News took a close look at Senator Thom Tillis’ toxic “record of industry advocacy and fraternization with drug industry figures.” The vulnerable incumbent is “a leading recipient of drug industry campaign cash” and has consistently aligned with their interests, even opposing “a GOP-backed drug pricing bill.” It’s the latest example in a concerning pattern of Tillis siding with his corporate special interest allies at the expense of North Carolinians struggling to afford life-saving medication. STAT News: In key race, Democrats paint the incumbent as ‘pharma’s favorite senator’
CNN: NEW LOYALTY TO TRUMP COSTS GRAHAM HIS DIGNITY. As CNN’s Brianna Keilar explained in a devastating, must-watch clip: “The loyalty the president demands of Republicans may cost Graham his job. It’s certainly cost him his dignity as he begs for money on television, making his final pitch to voters sound more like an infomercial for the ShamWow than an argument for a fourth term.” Watch the devastating clip for yourself:
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD CALLS OUT COLLINS AND SENATE GOP FOR LEAVING DC WITHOUT PASSING COVID RELIEF. The Portland Press Herald Editorial Board wrote a scathing editorial about Senate Republicans’ misplaced priorities as they left Washington without passing more urgently needed coronavirus relief. The Editorial Board notes that “Democrats are offering substantial aid” while Senator Collins “has been unable to persuade her colleagues to make anything more than a token offer” for a new stimulus package. Portland Press Herald: Our View: U.S. Senate goes home without passing COVID relief
KANSAS CITY STAR ENDORSES DR. BARBARA BOLLIER. The Kansas City Star Editorial Board endorsed Dr. Barbara Bollier for U.S. Senate, writing, “her priorities are clear, and her commonsense approach aligns with Kansas voters’ views.” The Editorial Board unequivocally believes that “Bollier is far better prepared to meet this moment” than Congressman Roger Marshall who is “wrong on coronavirus [and] health care.” Ultimately, the Editorial Board believes that Barbara Bollier is a “strong, pragmatic” candidate that Kansans should send to Washington. Kansas City Star: The Star endorses a Kansas centrist who would make history in the US Senate race
CONWAY DAILY SUN ENDORSES SENATOR SHAHEEN FOR REELECTION. The Conway Daily Sun endorsed Senator Jeanne Shaheen for re-election in New Hampshire, writing that her “influence is not easy to replace and shouldn’t be.” The Editorial Board noted how Senator Shaheen has consistently delivered for New Hampshire through her work “on various committees, and most recently, as a senior member of the Senate Small Business Committee, help[ing to] negotiate the CARES Act, which included programs like the Payroll Protection Program.” The Editorial Board also lambasted Republican candidate Colorado “Corky” Messner, declaring that they have “little tolerance for candidates who are recent arrivals — or put more bluntly, carpetbaggers.” Conway Daily Sun: Sun’s endorsements
THE PREACHER WHO MIGHT FINALLY FLIP GEORGIA IN 2020. An in-depth POLITICO profile of Reverend Raphael Warnock takes a look at his historic campaign that could “finally turn Georgia blue.” Warnock discussed his strategy of “working to turn out new and infrequent voters,” saying, “I’m a pastor so I’m reaching out to everybody.” And while his oppenents are running “on a far-right, pro-Trump platform,” Warnock has been traveling the state, uniting Georgians and “draw[ing] diverse crowds to his events even in the midst of the pandemic.” The excitement about his campaign “is palpable” in Georgia. POLITICO: The preacher who might finally turn Georgia blue
DEM AD WATCH
MI – Senator Gary Peters and his wife Colleen discuss their middle class roots and how the issues of affordable health care and lower drug costs for Michiganders are personal. Watch.
IN THE STATES
GA – Douglas County Sentinel: Warnock ‘revs up the vote’ in Douglasville
IA – Iowa Starting Line: Ernst Leaves DC With No COVID Relief, Heads To Nebraska For Trump
IA – Globe Gazette: Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield in Clear Lake to talk COVID, jobs
KY – Louisville Courier Journal: ‘You know that we need change’: Amy McGrath appeals to voters a week before election
ME – Portland Press Herald (Opinion): Guest column: Taking credit: Collins and the BIW Myth
ME – Portland Press Herald (Opinion): Sagadahoc Sheriff Merry: Gideon a reliable advocate for Maine law enforcement
MI – WDIV: Poll: Gary Peters opens nearly 10-point lead on John James in Michigan US Senate race
MT – Montana Post: Steve Daines Gave His Dad and His Friends $3 Billion in Tax Breaks After They Supported His Bids for Office
NH – Concord Monitor (Opinion): Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: Fighting to protect domestic violence survivors during the pandemic
TX – KLRD: MJ Hegar votes early vows to “keep kicking butts and taking names”
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