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April 24, 2014
One of the Best Political Ads of the Year
Personal testimonials don't get much better than this one for Monica Wehby (R) in a new ad for her U.S. Senate campaign in Oregon.See more...
Cards Against Humanity
The Cards Against Humanity game has really extraordinary reviews on Amazon.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
"It's not a legal question. The Moreland Commission was my commission. It's my commission. My subpoena power, my Moreland Commission. I can appoint it, I can disband it. I appoint you, I can un-appoint you tomorrow. So, interference? It's my commission. I can't 'interfere' with it, because it is mine. It is controlled by me."-- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), quoted by Crain's New York, explaining why there will be no investigation in the recently disbanded commission.
Crist Leads in Florida
A new Rasmussen survey in Florida finds Charlie Crist (D) leading Gov. Rich Scott in the race for governor, 45% to 39%.
How Campaigns Coordinate with Super PACs
Washington Post: "Welcome to the super PAC era, in which coordination between well-heeled outside groups and congressional candidates is forbidden. But Democrats and Republicans on both sides have found creative workarounds. Candidates post clip reels on YouTube that can be pulled by anyone who wants to run a positive commercial for them. Campaign committees post opposition research that anyone who wants to make an attack ad would find handy. Outside groups in turn have shown they are not shy about taking cues on timing and subject matter.""It's all legal, too. And while neither side will say this is what they are up to, there are some clear examples of the give-and-take that's been going on, regardless of intent."
Lawmaker Says Men Work Harder Than Women
New Hampshire state Rep. Will Infantine (R) "said that women are paid less than men because they don't work as hard or as often, insisting throughout his speech that his argument was legitimate, despite objections from his fellow lawmakers," TPM reports.Said Infantine: "Men, by and large, make more because of some of the things they do. Their jobs are, by and large, riskier. They don't mind working nights and weekends. They don't mind working overtime or outdoors."
He added: "Women make half of what men do because of flexibility of work, men are more motivated by money than women are."
Ex-Gingrich Aide Sentenced to Prison
"A young Republican activist from New York was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison Wednesday for stalking and extortion after hacking into online accounts of 15 women and finding nude photos of them," the AP reports."U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani agreed that Adam Savader, 22, suffers from mental health problems and was devastated after working on the unsuccessful 2012 presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich."
Has the NRA Become Too Partisan?
First Read: "Tomorrow, the National Rifle Association's annual gathering takes place in Indianapolis, and the confirmed speakers include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sens. Marco Rubio and Dan Coats, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum. What do these folks all have in common? They're all Republicans. That fact might not be surprising given the recent politics of gun control. But it is striking when you consider the NRA's past bipartisan support (there was a time, after all, when the NRA handed out A-ratings to Democrats).""But there is a downside to being viewed as a partisan (and not bipartisan) organization: Political power comes and goes, and when an organization has fewer and fewer friends in one political party, there's usually payback when that party has sole control over the government. Just ask organized labor. For years, labor made an effort to endorse Republicans, seek Republican support for their own initiatives and for a time it paid off. Labor had real substantial long term power. Now? After going more all in with Democrats than ever before, they are viewed as an influential with a smaller ad smaller constituency inside one party."
Young's Widow No Longer Supports Jolly
The widow of Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R) says she no longer supports Rep. David Jolly (R). "the man who campaigned as a 'Bill Young Republican' and was elected to her husband's seat in the House of Representatives," WFLA reports.Said Beverly Young: "No, I won't support him."
"It's quite a switch for Young, who appeared in a Jolly commercial and with him at the rally to announce his candidacy for Congress. But Young is disappointed and upset that Jolly did not hire more of her husband's staff to carry on what they started under the 22-term congressman, who died in October."
Why Landrieu Has a Chance to Win
Wall Street Journal: "The political arms of large corporations have given nearly five times as much money to Sen. Mary Landrieu as to her Republican opponent, Rep. Bill Cassidy... Industry groups have run television advertisements supporting her re-election. And several big Washington trade associations that normally back Republicans, led by energy groups, are throwing their support behind the incumbent."Morning Line: "Of all the Democrats running, Landrieu's race may be the most important. In many ways, she's a keystone. It's hard to see Democrats holding the Senate if she loses, but it's also hard to see them losing the Senate if she wins."
Nelson Says He's 'Tempted' to Run for Florida Governor
"Despite assurances that he's not planning to run for governor, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson told a group of local business leaders Wednesday he's tempted to run because he doesn't like where Florida is headed," the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports."Speculation has mounted that Nelson might enter the governor's race if Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist stumbles in challenging Scott."
Will Brown's Run Hurt Massachusetts Republicans?
"Scott Brown's entrance into New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race has created a political and media firestorm that some analysts believe will damage critical underpinnings of Charlie Baker's gubernatorial candidacy in Massachusetts," the Boston Globe reports."Many of the state and national Republican resources that would have been showered on Baker's race for governor -- in terms of fund-raising, strategists, and manpower -- will now be directed at Brown's challenge to Senator Jeanne Shaheen."
Bonus Quote of the Day
"No one in either party today brings the level of missionary zeal to the task that Rand Paul does.... Spend five minutes with Paul and it's clear he doesn't care what you look like or where you're from. He's beating the bushes for anyone who prizes liberty.... He's having fun too. And that's contagious."-- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), writing for Time magazine.
McCain Predicts Big Campaign Finance Scandal
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) says there will be "a major scandal" as a result of the Supreme Court's recent decisions to relax campaign finance laws, The Hill reports.Said McCain: "We're at the height of corruption thanks to the United States Supreme Court. I predict there will be a major scandal because there is too much money washing around."
Quote of the Day
"Would you call and tell my mom?"-- Jeb Bush, quoted by Politico, in a reference to his mother Barbara Bush's comments that there have been enough Bushes in the White House.
Tight Race in Colorado
A new Quinnipiac poll in Colorado finds Sen. Mark Udall (D) barely edging challenger Cory Gardner (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 44%.Colorado voters are divided 42% to 42% in their approval of the job Udall is doing as a U.S. Senator and say by 46% to 40% he does not deserve to be reelected.
Thune Won't Make White House Bid
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) "has ruled out a bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2016," the Huffington Post reports.Said Thune: "I am not running for president. But I know a lot of my colleagues are and I think that you probably have to, if you're going to get serious about it, get going pretty quickly."
Networks Fight For Clinton Interview
"Hillary Clinton's forthcoming book is setting up a battle of the network stars," the Washington Post reports."With Clinton's memoir, Hard Choices, a likely bestseller and possible curtain-raiser on her 2016 presidential ambitions, the television networks have begun jockeying to be the first to interview the former first lady and secretary of state when her publicity campaign begins in a few weeks."
April 23, 2014
Conversation with Rob Christensen
Rob Christensen, often called "the dean of North Carolina political reporters," joins us on the Political Wire podcast for a deep dive into Tar Heel politics and a U.S. Senate race that may be the bellwether for the midterm elections.Listen here:
Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or RSS to get episodes automatically downloaded.
Special thanks to Harry's for sponsoring the show. I use their razors every day and they're awesome. Use promo code POLITICALWIRE for $5 off your first order.
How to Use the Internet to Win in 2014
A must-read: How to Use the Internet to Win in 2014 by Colin Delany.
Georgia Now Allows Guns Almost Anywhere
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed legislation "that would vastly expand where Georgians can legally carry firearms," the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.The bill, "which passed in the final hours of this year's legislative session, allows Georgians to legally carry firearms in a wide range of new places, including schools, bars, churches and government buildings. A recent analysis also said it could let felons use the state's 'stand your ground' rules to claim self-defense if they feel threatened."
Intoxicated Girl Rushed from Prime Minister's Home
A severely intoxicated 18-year-old girl was taken to the hospital last weekend from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's residence, the National Post reports.
Conservatives Don't Want Bush to Run
A new Economist/YouGov poll finds just 18% of self-identified conservatives want Jeb Bush to run for president in 2016.Other findings: "26% of Republicans want Bush to run. That puts him behind Paul, at 36%, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 30%. Some 35% of Republicans do not want Bush to run."
Meanwhile, Fox News reports Bush confirmed he's "thinking about running for president," in his most direct statement yet about a possible 2016 run.
Why Government Fails So Often
A fascinating new book: Why Government Fails So Often: And How It Can Do Better by Peter Schuck.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
"We can't be against everything. We've got to have a forward-looking program, whether it's immigration, or foreign policy, or education."-- Bob Dole, in an interview with Politico, on the Republican party.
