A new Public Policy Polling survey in New Hampshire finds Scott Walker leading the GOP presidential field with 24%, followed by Ted Cruz at 14%, Rand Paul at 12%, Jeb Bush at 10%, Chris Christie at 8%, Marco Rubio at 8%, Ben Carson at 7% and Mike Huckabee at 7%.
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Secretive Right Wing Group Vets Candidates
“A secretive group that serves as the umbrella operation for leaders and activists within the conservative movement will host two meetings in the coming months, National Journal has learned, the first to vet Republican presidential candidates and the second to discuss coalescing behind one of them.”
“The Council for National Policy, a shadowy organization of several hundred dues-paying members, typically meets three times a year in various locations around the country. But with the 2016 cycle accelerating, and many conservative leaders intent on rallying behind a single candidate, CNP’s leadership is taking extraordinary measures — scheduling two top-priority meetings outside of Washington — and inviting a large number of nonmembers to both.”
Most Want Menendez to Quit
A new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey voters finds that most voters want Sen. Robert Menenedez to resign over corruption charges, 52% to 39%.
Oklahoma Attorney General Defends Bible Distribution
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) sent a letter to public school superintendents across the state vowing to defend religious freedom amid “veiled legal threats” over the distribution of Bibles on campus, Tulsa World reports.
Said Pruitt: “It is a challenging time in our country for those who believe in religious liberty. Our religious freedoms are under constant attack from a variety of groups who seek to undermine our constitutional rights and threaten our founding principles.”
Prosecutors Mull Charges Against NY Majority Leader
Federal prosecutors have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury considering a case against New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) and his son, the New York Times reports.
“Investigators have served a number of subpoenas in recent weeks, including several to state senators on Long Island, and federal prosecutors have interviewed people who have had dealings with Adam Skelos, the Republican senator’s son… Prosecutors and the F.B.I. have focused on at least two areas in their investigation, zeroing in on Adam Skelos’s business dealings, according to several people with knowledge of the matter.”
Clinton Heeds Lessons of 2008
Wall Street Journal: “Nearly every move Mrs. Clinton has made since launching her second presidential bid Sunday is a corrective to what her advisers view as strategic mistakes that tripped her up in the earlier race.”
Bush Will Speak at Liberty University
Jeb Bush is the latest GOP presidential candidate to book a major speaking engagement at Liberty University, CNN reports.
“The former Florida governor will deliver the school’s May 9 commencement, handing him the same audience of students at the university founded by Southern Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas had when he launched his presidential campaign in March.”
Clinton Foundation Will Keep Foreign Donors
“The board of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation has decided to continue accepting donations from foreign governments, primarily from six countries, even though Hillary Clinton is running for president,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The rules would permit donations from Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the U.K.—countries that support or have supported Clinton Foundation programs on health, poverty and climate change, according to the summary.”
Christie Is a Dead Man Walking in New Hampshire
Politico: “Dogged by six months of scandals, anemic polling numbers and his home state’s fiscal problems, the New Jersey governor is barreling into New Hampshire this week, unfazed that his 2016 obituary has already been written.”
“Just as with Sen. John McCain before him, New Hampshire represents Christie’s best chance at getting back in the game, a stylistic match, the governor’s advisers believe, for another authentic, straight-talking candidate. But no amount of plain talk and authenticity can gloss over the predicament the New Jersey governor finds himself in. Catching fire in New Hampshire won’t be easy — he’s currently polling behind seven other Republican candidates there.”
Tweet of the Day
150 years ago today, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. America is forever indebted. pic.twitter.com/vhIE1k20e7
— Senate Republicans (@Senate_GOPs) April 15, 2015
Clinton Way Ahead in Invisible Primary
The Hill reports that 87 Democratic lawmakers have endorsed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 run for president.
“Sixty House lawmakers, just under one-third of the 188 Democrats in the chamber, and 27 senators, nearly 60 percent of the upper chamber’s 46 Democrats, are in the former secretary of State’s camp. The early tally nearly equals the 93 endorsements she picked up in her 2008 presidential bid.”
Rand Paul’s Wife Changed His Name
Kelley Paul told CNN that she “has so much influence over her husband, she even changed his name. When they started dating, he was called Randy — and had been his whole life — until she changed it to Rand.”
Said Mrs. Paul: “I remember thinking, your name just does not fit you. You don’t seem like a Randy. And I started calling him Rand and he liked it.”
New on the Job Board
Some new listings on Political Job Hunt:
- Editorial Assistant at Good Guys Media Ventures
- Editorial Assistant at Political Wire
- Finance Director at California Republican Party (Sacramento, California)
- Project One America Director at Human Rights Campaign (Washington, DC)
Post your job opening and get 20% off with discount code “congress”
Where’s Hillary Clinton’s Message?
First Read: “There was always a risk to Hillary Clinton’s go-small approach to her early campaign — and that was lacking a real message. That lack of a message was on display at her Iowa event yesterday. Yes, she listed her four fights — 1) building an economy for tomorrow, 2) strengthening families and communities, 3) fixing America’s political system by getting rid of ‘unaccountable’ money, and 4) protecting the country. And, yes, she struck a more populist tone… But those statements weren’t any different than what you hear from 90% of Democratic candidates running for downballot office.”
“Bottom line: She didn’t say anything unique, which was always going to be the shortcoming of a rollout emphasizing theater over substance/message. We totally get why Clinton decided to go small: She wants to make a new impression and avoid giving any room on the left. Clinton doesn’t want to come across as entitled, presidential, and the same as last time… The lack of message is all the more striking because one imagines she has thought about that moment for at least four years, if not eight. And the best she could come up with standard Democratic press release talking points.”
Clinton’s Fate Is Likely Tied to Obama
Harry Enten: “Clinton’s favorable rating has fallen into line with Obama’s. The latest local regression estimate puts Clinton’s favorable rating at 48.9 percent and Obama’s at 48.5 percent. And that understates the relationship.”
“Even when Clinton’s favorable rating was stronger than Obama’s, the two generally fell and rose at the same time. The correlation between the two has been 0.79. Now the relationship is even stronger.”
Rand Paul Has a Comic Book
Louisville Courier Journal: “He’s only been an official candidate for president for a week, and now Republican Rand Paul is getting the comic book treatment. The Kentucky senator is among several comic books already out or planned on the lives and political views of the 2016 White House hopefuls.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“You can win a primary in a deeply disaffected country by scraping the bark off of anyone who gets in your way, but that’s not the way to get to the main event and get a chance of winning there”.
— Jeb Bush, quoted by the Washington Post.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I think they have to be ready. Everybody knows it’s not beanbag.”
— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Politico, with a warning to potential tea party challengers as he gears up for his re-election race.
