Byron York: “That’s what scares some Republican strategists. Back in 1998, there was an intense internal debate among Republicans over how much to make the midterms about President Bill Clinton. The strategists who favored attacking the president won the day, but in the end their strategy didn’t work out. Now, there is an intense internal debate among Republicans over how much to make the 2014 midterms about President Barack Obama.”
Democrats Keep Up Impeachment Chatter
Politico: “Something very strange is happening on Capitol Hill. Democrats can’t talk enough about impeaching a president of their own party. And Republicans keep saying that there isn’t a chance they’ll give it a try.”
“With just three days left until Congress recesses for the month of August, Democrats have successfully kept alive the idea that Speaker John Boehner is mulling impeaching President Obama — an option the Ohio Republican insists he isn’t pursuing.”
Most Money Paid to Fundraisers
Fox Detroit has a report on campaign fundraising that includes this interesting nugget:
“Since 2010, the Conservative Strikeforce has raised nearly $10 million. More than $9 million of the loot was paid to the fundraisers. That means candidates got less than 8 percent of the money donors sent in.”
Brownback Took Loan from Running Mate
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) “relied on a loan from his lieutenant governor to raise slightly more money this year than his Democratic challenger,” the Kansas City Star reports.
“Brownback reported taking in $1.2 million for the reporting period ending July 24. That included a $500,000 loan from Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, a plastic surgeon. Subtract the loan, and challenger Paul Davis (D) would have raised about $378,000 more than Brownback between Jan. 1 and July 24, records show.”
Alexander Internal Poll Shows Him With Huge Lead
Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R-TN) internal polling shows him with a 30-percentage point lead over tea-party challenger Joe Carr in Tennessee’s Republican Senate primary, 53% to 21%, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Conversation with John Dean
Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean joined us on the Political Wire podcast for a discussion about his fascinating new book, The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It.
Listen here:
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Kerry Under Fire from All Sides
“Anyone who has made even a passing glance at the Israeli media in the past few days will have noticed the incredible chorus of criticism being directed at John Kerry right now. The secretary of state has been lambasted by all sides for his apparent failure in attempts to negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas,” the Washington Post reports.
Daily Beast: “The resumption of violence was the latest example of just how disconnected Kerry’s whirlwind diplomatic efforts have been from the combatants he’s trying to get to stop fighting. The Israeli government has been particularly vocal in its criticism of Kerry’s peacemaker attempts. But in the Palestinian camps, there has been public discontent, too.”
Strip Club Endorses Pastor for Congress
“A Phoenix strip club has endorsed a Democratic pastor for Congress. And the candidate, Rev. Jarrett Maupin, says he welcomes the The Great Alaskan Bush Company’s support,” the Arizona Republic reports.
Said Maupin: “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“We’re not gonna impeach the president of the United States. There just aren’t the votes there even if we believed that it was warranted.”
— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), in an interview with KFYI.
Obama Mulls Massive Move on Immigration
“Even as they grapple with an immigration crisis at the border, White House officials are making plans to act before November’s mid-term elections to grant work permits to potentially millions of immigrants who are in this country illegally, allowing them to stay in the United States without threat of deportation, according to advocates and lawmakers in touch with the administration,” the AP reports.
“Such a large-scale move on immigration could scramble election-year politics and lead some conservative Republicans to push for impeachment proceedings against President Barack Obama, a prospect White House officials have openly discussed.”
Still Very Close in Kentucky
A new Survey USA poll in Kentucky finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) just ahead of challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 45%.
Quote of the Day
“Well, I think there will probably be many candidates. I mean, I’m somebody who believes anybody can run.”
— Hillary Clinton, in an interview with Fusion, on the 2016 presidential field.
Dead Heat in Connecticut
A new Anazlone Liszt Grove Research (D) poll in Connecticut finds Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) in a dead heat with challenger Tom Foley (R) in the race for governor, 46% to 46%.
U.S. Says Russia Violated Arms Treaty
“The United States has concluded that Russia violated a landmark arms control treaty by testing a prohibited ground-launched cruise missile, according to senior American officials, a finding that was conveyed by President Obama to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in a letter on Monday,” the New York Times reports.
“It is the most serious allegation of an arms control treaty violation that the Obama administration has leveled against Russia and adds another dispute to a relationship already burdened by tensions over the Kremlin’s support for separatists in Ukraine and its decision to grant asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor.”
Carter Has Edge in Georgia
A new Rasmussen survey in Georgia finds Jason Carter (D) just ahead of Gov. Nathan Deal (R) in the race for governor, 45% to 44%.
The McDonnell Trial Activity Book
With former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) and his wife Maureen about to go on trial, here are some games and puzzles to guide your through the courtroom drama.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I’ve been approached by various people to get involved. I’m keeping an open mind about running for office in the future.”
— Radio talk show host Laura Ingraham, in an interview with Real Clear Politics.
Campaigns May Soon Be Run Entirely By Super PACs
Phillip Bump: “We’re obviously a few miles down the road from the days when candidates for elected office stood on wooden platforms. But we are perhaps further than you might think. In fact, there is nothing in federal law that would prevent a super PAC or group of PACs from picking out a candidate and taking care of his or her entire campaign. And we’re starting to get a glimpse of what such a campaign might look like…”
“So if you’re a candidate, what is the absolute minimum that you need in order to run for office, the thing that only you can provide? The answer is this: The candidate. And in a world where that candidate is restricted in fundraising and spending but those PACs aren’t, why not let the PACs handle the TV ads and radio and the online marketing and the field and all of that? For years, candidates have been happy to have outside groups run negative ads against opponents. Why not let them do more? The candidate is just himself, and the PACs do everything else.”
