A new CNN/ORC International poll in Arkansas finds Tom Cotton (R) leading Sen. Mark Pryor (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 47%.
Bush Sends Signals About 2016 Presidential Run
“Republican strategists and fundraisers say Jeb Bush’s closest advisers have been quietly spreading the word that they should avoid committing to other possible presidential candidates until he decides on his own course after the November election,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The message from Mr. Bush’s inner circle during the past few months is in part an effort to bat down speculation that the former Florida governor has ruled out a 2016 run, say GOP donors and strategists who have spoken with the Bush camp.”
Cassidy Has Edge in Louisiana
A new Rasmussen poll in Louisiana finds Bill Cassidy (R) leading Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) in the U.S. Senate, 44% to 41%.
Rauner Maintains Lead in Illinois
A new We Ask America poll in Illinois finds Bruce Rauner (R) topping Gov. Pat Quinn (D) in the race for governor, 46% to 37%, with Libertarian Chad Grimm at 7%.
Brown Way Ahead in California
A new Field poll in California finds Gov. Jerry Brown (D) crushing challenger Neel Kashkari (R) in the race for governor, 50% to 34%.
Burke Leads in Wisconsin
A new We Ask America poll in Wisconsin finds Mary Burke (D) leading Gov. Scott Walker (R) in the race for governor, 48% to 44%.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“All I can say is my trust belongs in the Lord.”
— Former Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), quoted by the Washington Post, leaving the courthouse after being convicted on 11 corruption charges.
Taylor Will Remain on Ballot in Kansas
Chad Taylor (D), who attempted to withdraw his U.S. Senate bid in Kansas yesterday, will remain on the general election ballot, Secretary of State Kris Kobach ruled, the Kansas City Star reports.
Taylor did not properly declare that he was incapable of fulfilling his duties if elected as state law requires.
This will almost certainly end up in court.
McDonnell Found Guilty of Corruption
Bob McDonnell (R) is the first Virginia governor convicted of a felony, the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.
A federal jury convicted the former governor on 11 of 13 counts and his wife, Maureen, on nine of 13 counts. Both “sobbed openly, but quietly as the verdicts were read.”
The Washington Post notes both McDonnells face “decades in federal prison, though their actual sentence will probably fall well short of that.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January 6.
Gay Marriage Bans Overturned in Wisconsin, Indiana
“The gay marriage bans in Wisconsin and Indiana are both unconstitutional, a federal appeals court in Chicago unanimously ruled, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
“The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld lower court decisions in Madison and Indiana and helps set up an eventual ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the historic question.”
GOP Takes Over Roberts Senate Campaign
National Republicans “moved to take control of the campaign” of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), “a day after his hopes for re-election and those of his party for taking control of the Senate were threatened by the sudden withdrawal of the Democrat in the race,” the New York Times reports.
The NRSC “is sending a longtime party strategist to Kansas to advise Mr. Roberts and will seek to hire a local lawyer to challenge the move by the Democrat, Chad Taylor, to get off the ballot on the last day candidates were allowed to do so.”
Markell Apologizes for Sexy Model Photo
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) “is creating a stir on Twitter this morning after a suggestive photo was included in a tweet from his account,” the Wilmington News Journal reports.
“Markell apologized via twitter, saying his staff was attempting to determine how the photo of a scantily clad adult female was included in a tweet promoting an education initiative to assist the state’s most disadvantaged students.”
Democrat Could Remain on Ballot in Kansas
Despite filing papers with the Kansas secretary of State to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race, Chad Taylor (D) could be stuck on the ballot this fall, The Hill reports.
“Two election law statutes have raised questions about whether Taylor gave sufficient cause to remove himself from the ballot, and, if so, whether Democrats must ultimately choose a candidate to replace him.”
Rick Hasen: “This could well end up in court, and I don’t have a good sense for how the courts would rule on this question.”
Paul Says He’s Not an Isolationist
Rand Paul: “Some pundits are surprised that I support destroying the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) militarily. They shouldn’t be. I’ve said since I began public life that I am not an isolationist, nor am I an interventionist. I look at the world, and consider war, realistically and constitutionally.”
“I still see war as the last resort. But I agree with Reagan’s idea that no country should mistake U.S. reluctance for war for a lack of resolve.”
Judge Orders Expanded Early Voting in Ohio
“A federal judge has blocked an Ohio law trimming early voting and ordered the swing state’s elections chief to set an expanded voting schedule,” the AP reports.
Rick Hasen: “This is a significant case, which could potentially make it to the Supreme Court. It expands voting rights in a broad way, and makes it difficult for a state like Ohio to cut back on any expansions of voting rights that it puts in place. The big question is where the stopping point is in a decision like this, and how to justify calling it unconstitutional for a state like Ohio to make a modest cutback in early voting while allowing many other states to offer no early voting at all.”
Roberts Stopped Campaigning After Primary
The Rothenberg Political Report says that Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) “has not been actively campaigning for about a month now.”
“The lack of a strong campaign infrastructure is one of the fundamental reasons why Roberts is in severe danger. He can’t count on the the traditionally red hue of Kansas in federal races to bail him out. Senate Minority Mitch McConnell is a long-time incumbent with deep negatives, but the sheer past performance of Kentucky would not be enough to pull him to victory in this environment. He has been running one of the most aggressive campaigns in the country for years. The same cannot be said for Roberts.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“They should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice. Because hell is where they will reside. Hell is where they will reside.”
— Vice President Biden, quoted by CNN, on ISIS.
Court to Revisit Ruling on Obamacare Subsidies
“The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to revisit a ruling that struck down the ObamaCare subsidies issued through the federal exchange,” The Hill reports.
“The announcement of the second hearing is a victory for the Obama administration, which suffered a defeat in late July when a three-judge panel threw out the subsidies, ruling they were not legitimate under the Affordable Care Act.”
