Wall Street Journal: “Jeb Bush rounded up donations in the first 15 days of his presidential campaign from at least 136 top-tier donors to his brother, former President George W. Bush, signaling that the family’s vaunted fundraising network is quickly mobilizing to push a third Bush presidency.”
Which Campaign Has the Worst Logo?
Politico: “The candidates’ campaign logos offer a rare glimpse into just what the would-be presidents are hoping to convey to voters: Is Jeb’s exclamation point a warm, inviting gesture meant to tone down harsher aspects of the candidate? Did Bernie pick his font for a particular reason? And where, oh where, is Hillary’s arrow pointing? Then, there are those logos dismissed as simply unappealing. Kasich’s attempt—with simplistic font and a suspiciously bacon-like red flag—has already drawn biting remarks on the Internet.”
Five of Blagojevich’s Convictions Thrown Out
An appeals court vacated five convictions and threw out the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), WLS-TV reports. The rest of Blagojevich’s convictions were affirmed by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
“If Blagojevich chooses to appeal, he must tell the court within the next two weeks. But with five counts thrown out, the former governor will at some point be re-sentenced, and his attorneys will argue that his 14 years be dramatically reduced.”
Chuck Schumer Gets Media Shy?
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) “raised his hand to stop questions Tuesday when a Post reporter asked for his position on the Iran nuclear deal,” the New York Post reports.
“Approached in the basement of the Senate, New York’s senior senator — who is almost always available to the press — refused to answer where he stands on the agreement.”
GOP Tries to Limit Damage from Trump
“Republican insiders are reconciling themselves to the idea that Donald Trump won’t be exiting the stage anytime soon — and their main concern now is limiting his damage to their party,” The Hill reports.
“The GOP establishment is almost universally hostile to Trump, who has soared in the 2016 polls on the back of his celebrity, his outspoken statements on immigration and trade deals, and media coverage of his antics.”
Politico: “Just 35 days since the brash real-estate mogul launched his presidential campaign with all the subtlety of a rhinoceros, Republican candidates have been gasping for air, choked off from media access and desperate to break out beyond an egomaniacal celebrity who is polling better than most of the field.”
Brown Guides Walker Around New Hampshire
Gov. Scott Walker toured New Hampshire with former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The relationship stands to be beneficial for both men: Mr. Walker has access to a well-known surrogate who represents the moderate wing of New Hampshire Republicans; Mr. Brown gets to be seen as a player in presidential politics – he introduced Mr. Walker during his first campaign stop in New Hampshire last week.”
What Trump Might Say
The Onion runs a fake op-ed from Donald Trump:
“You know what you have to do to make me go away. Just quit paying attention. Stop reading this right now.”
“That’s right, I didn’t think so. I have the power to make the next 16 months one of the most incredible times in our nation’s history, and not a single one of you can say you’re not at least a little bit curious to see how this wild ride shakes out. So just keep clicking every link that mentions my name and hitting play on every clip of my public appearances, and I promise you will not be disappointed.”
Trump Has the GOP Establishment in a Bind
Joe Scarborough: “Trump will always be Trump, and there is no need for anyone in the Republican establishment to think otherwise. The best they can do is ride this wave of dissatisfaction and learn a lesson or two from it… But anyone looking for salvation from party leaders or major money players are looking in the wrong place. The burden of dethroning the Donald falls on GOP politicians like Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and others who have politely played by the old rules of an outdated political system that is no longer relevant to most Americans.”
“The longer Trump’s opponents play it safe, the longer Trump will continue his political ascent. If anyone in the field plans on showing the type of courage that doesn’t spill out of a focus group or benchmark poll, the DC Establishment had better hope they find it soon. Because there is at least a small chance that Mr. Trump will stop making unforced errors soon. And if that happens, there is no telling where this crazy race goes next.”
The Latest on Wonk Wire
Here’s what’s trending on Wonk Wire today:
Bonus Trump Quote on the Day
“He doesn’t seem like a very bright guy. He actually probably seems to me not as bright as Rick Perry. I think Rick Perry probably is smarter than Lindsey Graham.”
— Donald Trump, in a South Carolina speech, on Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). He later read out Graham’s private cell phone number to the audience.
McConnell Will Hold Fundraiser for Former Rival
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Matt Bevin (R) “are trying to put last year’s ugly Senate primary behind them,” Politico reports.
“McConnell, the Senate majority leader, will hold a fundraiser for Bevin, the GOP nominee in this November’s Kentucky gubernatorial race.”
Trump Quote of the Day
“As one of the most liberal newspapers in the United States, the poll results were just too much for them to bear.”
— Donald Trump, quoted by Politico, on the blistering Des Moines Register editorial calling for him to quit the presidential race.
Democrats Show Weakness in State and Local Races
Wall Street Journal: “A tepid economy and President Obama’s sinking approval ratings contributed to some of the Democratic losses last fall. The setbacks also revealed a withering of the campaign machinery built by Mr. Obama’s team more than seven years ago. While Democrats held the White House, Republicans have strengthened their hand in statehouses across the U.S.”
“Democrats maintain a significant electoral college advantage as shifting U.S. demographics tilt their way. This spring, a Pew Research Center analysis found that 48% of Americans either identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, compared with 39% who identify with Republicans or lean Republican. But many Democrats worry that GOP success capturing state and local offices will erode that advantage before they have a chance to rebuild.”
Who Will Make the Debate Cut?
First Read calculates the polling averages from the last five national polls to see who will get to participate in the first GOP presidential debate on August 6:
- Trump – 16.8%
- Bush – 14.8%
- Walker – 9.8%
- Rubio – 6.2%
- Huckabee – 6.2%
- Paul – 6.2%
- Carson – 5.8%
- Cruz – 5.2%
- Christie – 2.8%
- Perry – 2.4%
Not making the cut:
- Santorum – 1.8%
- Kasich – 1.6%
- Jindal – 1.4%
- Fiorina – 0.8%
- Graham – 0.2%
The Upshot also has a good look at who could make the first debate when you consider the polling sampling errors.
Can John Kasich Break Through?
First Read: “If the two-term governor of all-important Ohio — with a 60% approval rating in his state — announces a presidential bid and no one hears it, did it really happen? That’s John Kasich’s challenge as he makes his White House run official today at 11:00 am ET amid all of the Donald Trump headlines… It’s the Summer of Donald, and it’s become hard for the other GOP presidential hopefuls to break through. Remember that Scott Walker officially announced his presidential bid last week, and he barely broke through all the Trump news, at least nationally.”
Is That a Donald Trump Quote?
Jimmy Kimmel quizzes people on whether Donald Trump quotes are true or not:
Maine’s Top Court to Resolve Veto Dispute
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court announced that it will expedite Gov. Paul LePage’s (R) request to determine whether he can still veto 65 bills that legislative officers already have written into law, the Portland Press Herald reports.
“The stakes are high for the governor, who faces the prospect of losing a battle that could cost him politically. Among the newly chaptered laws are proposals that the governor and his supporters vehemently oppose, including General Assistance for asylum seekers, expanded use of a medication to treat drug overdoses and birth control for MaineCare recipients. If the court rules against LePage, or declines to intervene, those bills will remain law because the governor and his staff either misinterpreted the Maine Constitution or gambled and lost in pursuit of the goal of keeping lawmakers at the State House through the summer.”
Jeb Bush Is Meaner Than He Looks
Larry Sabato: “Most presidential candidates have a streak of ruthlessness in them—even the nice guys. Make that especially the nice guys. They’re mild-mannered and courteous in public, so someone else has to do the dirty work of winning for them.”
“Jeb Bush will prove this again. It’s an easy prediction that he’ll follow his brother and father in bushwhacking any opponent standing between him and the presidency. With the Bushes, do not take too seriously their assertions of personal sweetness.”