Joe Biden said he will announce his running mate “in the first week in August.”
For members: Who Will Joe Biden Pick as His Running Mate?
Gideon Leads Collins In Maine
A new Colby College/Social Sphere poll in Maine finds Sara Gideon (D) leading Sen. Susan Collins (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 44% to 39%.
In the presidential race, Joe Biden leads Donald Trump statewide, 50% to 38%.
Biden leads 55% to 35% in the state’s first congressional district and 45% to 41% in the second congressional district.
Jayapal Hammers Barr Over Treatment of Protesters
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) slammed Attorney General William Barr over his apparent willingness to intervene when protesters are opposed to President Trump’s policies but not when those protesters are supportive of the president.
Said Jayapal: “When White men with swastikas storm a government building with guns, there is no need for the president to activate you, because they’re getting the president’s personal agenda done.”
Who Will Joe Biden Pick as His Running Mate?
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McConnell Opposed to FBI Building Funds In Relief Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he does not support money for a new FBI building inserted by the White House into the latest coronavirus relief bill, Politico reports.
Hogan May Still Vote for Trump
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), a frequent critic of President Trump, said that while he was unsure whether he would vote for the president in November, he would not rule it out, The Hill reports.
Barr Sees ‘No Reason to Think’ Election Will Be Rigged
Attorney General Bill Barr told the House Judiciary Committee that he has “no reason to think” the 2020 presidential election will be rigged, Axios reports.
Barr also said that he would vacate his position if Trump lost his re-election bid and refused to leave office after a clear defeat.
However, he declined to comment on whether Trump would leave office.
Nadler Chides GOP Lawmakers for Not Wearing Masks
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) called on three Republican committee members to wear face coverings during a hearing with Attorney General William Barr, The Hill reports.
Said Nadler: “I would remind Mr. Jordan, Mr. Biggs and Mr. Johnson to stop violating the rules of the committee, to stop violating the safety of the members of the committee, to stop holding themselves out as not caring by refusing to wear their masks.”
Exchange of the Day
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) questioned Attorney General William Barr at the House Judiciary committee oversight hearing.
SWALWELL: You don’t read the president’s tweets?
BARR: No.
SWALWELL: Well, there’s a lot of evidence in the president’s tweets, Mr. Attorney General. I think you should start reading them.
GOP Bill Restores Funds Trump Diverted for Wall
“The GOP Senate’s new $1 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill restores hundreds of millions of dollars in Pentagon spending that the Trump administration redirected to help pay for President Trump’s border wall,” the Washington Post reports.
Biden Flipping Georgia More Likely Than Texas
A Joe Biden adviser tells the Washington Post that they have a better chance to expand the electoral map to Georgia than in Texas.
Said the adviser: “Texas is 22 fucking media markets. That is never going to happen. It’s just not going to happen. Everyone knows that. I don’t know why people are still even talking about it.”
The adviser added: “Georgia is real and that’s a decision this campaign will have to eventually make but not until we feel really comfortable about the six core states — and we are going up in Nevada tomorrow just to make sure since it’s a state that gets squirrelly in a recession.”
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Georgia finds Biden just ahead of Trump, 46% to 45%.
Cuomo Offers MLB Teams Home In New York
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is offering every Major League Baseball team a temporary home in New York, Politico reports.
Said Cuomo: “New York state could host any Major League Baseball game that any teams want to play and they could play those games in our stadiums. New York state has one of the lowest infection rates in the United States. New York state has a full Department of Health protocol system in place. We have a testing system in place. I offer to Major League Baseball, if you’re having problems playing in other states, come play here.”
Alabama Lawmaker Celebrates KKK Founder
Alabama state Rep. Will Dismukes (R) posted a photo of himself to Facebook celebrating KKK founder Nathan Beford Forrest’s birthday in Selma at the same time the late Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a civil rights legend, was being honored in the town following his death, the Birmingham News reports.
The post has since been deleted.
Teacher’s Union Authorizes Strikes Over School Safety
“The second-largest teachers’ union in the United States announced on Tuesday that it would support its 1.7 million members if they choose to strike in districts and states that move to reopen classrooms without adequate health and safety measures,” the New York Times reports.
Said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten: “If authorities don’t protect the safety and health of those we represent and those we serve, as our executive council voted last week, nothing is off the table.”
Six Things That Could Change the Presidential Race
From First Read:
- Biden’s running mate pick: Not since LBJ has a VP pick truly helped win a presidential race, but bad picks have backfired (see: Palin, Sarah).
- The virtual conventions: Given the increased polarization in the country, the days of big post-convention bounces are probably over, and that’s probably especially true during a pandemic.
- Will the economic and coronavirus numbers get better, worse, or stay the same? These might be the most important statistics to watch over the next three months.
- The debates: Or will they even take place?
- Another October surprise: James Comey’s letter in the last two weeks of the 2016 election is proof that events at the end of a presidential race can move numbers.
- How the 2020 vote gets counted: This might be the most important storyline of all, especially amid a deadly pandemic.
Barr Testifies Before House Judiciary
Attorney General William Barr is delivering his long-awaited testimony to the House Judiciary committee. It promises to be explosive.
Leave your reactions in the comments.
Biden Turns Down Interview with Chris Wallace
Joe Biden has turned down an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, WLS reports.
Where’s Bloomberg’s Money?
“When former Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped out of the presidential race in March, he was expected to continue pouring huge sums of money into the effort to defeat President Trump,” NY1 reports.
“Almost five months later, he’s done little to support Joe Biden.”
