“All of the female Democratic senators signed a secret letter to Hillary Rodham Clinton early this year encouraging her to run for president in 2016 – a letter that includes the signature of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and other senators who are mentioned as potential candidates,” ABC News reports.
McAuliffe’s Lead Shrinks in Virginia
A new Rasmussen survey in Virginia finds Terry McAuliffe (D) leading Ken Cuccinelli (R) by seven points in the race for governor, 43% to 36%, with Libertarian Robert Sarvis at 12%.
A Rasmussen survey last week had McAuliffe ahead by 17 points.
Seniors Could Be the Swing Vote in 2014
Democracy Corps: “Seniors broke heavily for Republicans in 2010, and they are a disproportionate voice in off-year elections. In the Republican battleground, the vote is tied among seniors and the Democratic candidate has gained 5 points among this group since June. In the Democratic battleground, Democratic incumbents lead by 14 points (51% to 37%) among seniors. This trend has also emerged in the last three national Democracy Corps surveys – which is a sea change.”
Passing the Buck
Joe Klein: “I expected more from Obama… And I certainly expected more from the Affordable Care Act, since it is the most significant piece of social welfare legislation since the 1960s, and an absolutely crucial piece of a social safety net going forward. It is early days for the ACA and we should reserve judgment about whether this legislation was just too big and complicated a mess to implement. But, surely, SOMEONE — maybe many people — should be fired for these opening pratfalls.”
“Otherwise, there is a danger that the Obama Administration will be remembered as not even good enough for government work.”
Texas Candidates Will Need Affadavit to Vote
Both Wendy Davis (D) and Greg Abbot (R) will have to attest to their identities in order to vote in next year’s gubernatorial race, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
That’s because both candidates have a different name on their drivers license than that on the voter rolls. Although Davis opposed the law, an amendment she sponsored is what actually allows both to vote since their recorded names only differ slightly.
Said a Davis spokesman: “If it weren’t for Wendy Davis’ leadership, Greg Abbott might have nearly disenfranchised himself.”
PAC Spends $332K Against McConnell
A conservative super PAC started by former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) has already spent $332,000 on independent expenditure against Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in his 2014 re-election race, Political Moneyline reports.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“In politics, nobody does something for nothing.”
— Connecticut Democratic Party Chairwoman Nany DiNardo, quoted by the Connecticut Post.
A Tactic Rarely Used
The Week: Why don’t more politicians apologize?
More Donors to be Ambassadors
President Obama “is nominating two supporters who raised hefty sums for his re-election campaign to be U.S. ambassadors,” the AP reports.
“The White House said Tuesday that Robert Barber is Obama’s pick for Iceland. Obama has also tapped Mark Gilbert, a former Chicago White Sox player, to be his envoy to New Zealand. Both were members of the Obama for America national finance team, and both raised more than $500,000 for Obama’s campaign.”
All Politics is Not Local for Wisconsin Candidate
Amardeep Kaleka (D) is running for a congressional seat in Wisconsin but bases his campaign in Los Angeles, the Madison Capital Times reports.
Explains Kaleka: “The way our business works, we’ve been in and out of California for four years now. We pay taxes in Wisconsin as well as here. Our home has always technically been (in Wisconsin).”
He adds: “I don’t know if (where you live) corresponds to whether you’re going to do a good job in Congress. I would rather elect somebody who has a lot of national leadership experience and international experience.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“Republicans need to ask what’s wrong with our business model here. This should have been a slam dunk. Virginia almost always votes against the president’s party … All we needed was a mammal up there.”
— Former Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), quoted by National Journal, on the Virginia governor’s race.
Will Democrats Make Boehner the Face of the Republican Party?
National Journal: “In 2010, Republicans made unpopular Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the face of their massive advertising campaign to take back the House of Representatives. Three years later, the Democratic leader has company in America’s doghouse. Current Speaker John Boehner’s poll numbers are as bad as Pelosi’s were when the GOP turned her into a TV villain, possibly heralding another midterm election with the speaker splashed across the country’s airwaves — but this time with the roles in reverse.”
Taking Down CNN
Jon Stewart highlights all that is wrong with CNN in a devastating piece.
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Graham Very Unpopular But Safe for Now
A new Winthrop poll in South Carolina shows Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has seen his approval rating drop from 72% in February to just 45% today among Republicans and those independents who lean toward the GOP.
Among all registered voters, his approval rating is just 37%.
A new Harper Polling survey confirms Graham’s 37% overall approval rating but finds he still holds a commanding lead in a GOP primary, with 51% of the vote, just above the threshold he’d need to avoid a runoff against the second-place finisher. His closest competition is Lee Bright (R), who pulls in just 15%.
Quote of the Day
“I think he has absolutely been abusing his power. And when you have a president who says ‘Regardless of whether Congress acts, I’m going to force my agenda on the American people,’ that’s wrong.”
— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in an interview on Fusion, about President Obama.
McAuliffe’s Lead Narrows in Virginia
A new Quinnipiac poll in Virginia shows Terry McAuliffe (D) with just a four point lead over Ken Cuccinelli (R), 45% to 41%, with Libertarian Robert Sarvis at 9%.
Said pollster Peter Brown: “Cuccinelli is nipping at McAuliffe’s heels as the race to be Virginia’s next governor enters the final week of the campaign. It goes without saying that turnout is the key to this race and the harshly negative tone of the campaign is the kind that often turns off voters.”
Meanwhile, a new Newsmax/Zogby poll finds McAuliffe ahead 36% to 30%, with Sarvis at 9%.
Walker Slightly Ahead of Possible Challengers
A new Marquette Law School poll in Wisconsin shows Gov. Scott Walker with small leads over three Democratic challengers.
Walker leads Mary Burke (D), 47% to 45%, tops Kathleen Vinehout (D), 47% to 44%, and beats Peter Barca (D), 48% to 42%.
