A new Gravis Marketing survey in Wisconsin finds Gov. Scott Walker (R) leading challenger Mary Burke (D) in the race for governor, 49% to 44%.
Urban-Rural Divide Grows Wider
Wall Street Journal: “The urban-rural divide has also grown in presidential contests. In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton beat Republican George Bush in the 50 densest counties–the most urban in the country–by 25 percentage points. By 2012, Democrat Barack Obama’s advantage in those urban counties had shot up to 38 points.”
“The shift in rural areas has been even more dramatic. In 1992, Mr. Bush won the 50 least-dense counties–the most rural in the country–by 18 points. In 2012, Mr. Romney’s advantage there had roughly tripled, to 53 points.”
Obama Says Democrats ‘Get Clobbered’ in Midterms
President Obama complained at a fundraiser that Democrats “get clobbered” in midterm elections, The Hill reports, noting that that “young, female, black and Hispanic voters were more likely to vote in elections with a presidential contest.”
Said Obama: “Suddenly a more representative cross section of America gets out there, and we do pretty well in presidential elections. But in midterms, we get clobbered, either because we don’t think it’s important or because we get so discouraged about what’s happening in Washington that we think it’s not worth our while. And the reason today is so important, and the reason that I’m so appreciative for all of you being here is because we’re going to have to get over that. This is a top priority.”
Quote of the Day
“I think the Koch brothers are two of the most patriotic Americans in the history of the Earth.”
— Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), quoted by the Huffington Post.
The Clinton Shield
Politico: “The claim has hardened into accepted fact among many Democratic operatives: Hillary Clinton is freezing the Democratic 2016 field as she waits until possibly late this year to decide on another presidential run. It’s virtually impossible for anyone other than Clinton to raise money or build a campaign infrastructure, the thinking goes, with Clinton hovering overhead.”
“Yet Clinton’s allies believe it’s not true — and increasingly they are saying so. In fact, they argue the opposite: that the former first lady is shielding other prospective Democratic contenders from months of attacks and scrutiny they’d probably face without her in the picture. There’s simply no need for Clinton to start a campaign this early, they say.”
Obama Library Gets Started
Associated Press: “The foundation that will develop and choose the site for Obama’s future library asked interested parties Thursday to submit their initial proposals. The ‘request for qualifications’ offers the most detailed look to date at what the president and first lady Michelle Obama are seeking for what will be the permanent monument to their White House legacy.”
“Illinois, New York and Hawaii are all expected to compete for Obama’s library, which is anticipated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, attract a flurry of visitors and drive economic development in the surrounding community. Chicago and Honolulu have been working on their own proposals for years.”
End of an Era in Politics
New York Times: “When Robert S. Strauss headed the Democratic Party in the early 1970s, he was a man of unusual sway. A phone call could change a presidential campaign, or at times, even the presidency itself. He held the exalted status of wise man in the capital, a kingmaker who helped bring Jimmy Carter to power and Ronald Reagan to recognize the damage from Iran-contra, a man with such inside knowledge of power, politics and relationships that he could make all manner of problems go away.”
“His death on Wednesday, and the memories it evoked — with praise from voices ranging from President Obama to Nancy Reagan — signaled another marker in the long road to decline of the authority of the nation’s two political parties.”
Conversation with Nicco Mele
Nicco Mele, social media guru, Harvard lecturer and author of The End of Big: How The Internet Makes David The New Goliath, joins us on the Political Wire podcast for a discussion on the disruptive and even dangerous power of the Internet in our public life.
Listen here:
Subscribe via iTunes or RSS to get episodes automatically downloaded.
Perdue Leads GOP Pack in Georgia
A new SurveyUSA poll in Georgia finds David Perdue (R) leading the race for the Republican Senate nomination with 29%, followed by Rep. Jack Kingston (R) at 19%, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R) a 12%, Rep. Paul Broun (R) at 11% and Karen Handel (R) at 10%.
“Perdue and Kingston are viewed as more solid general election candidates than Gingrey and Broun by establishment Republicans, who would be relieved to see both make a primary runoff.”
Daines Leads Walsh for Senate
A new Rasmussen poll in Montana finds Steve Daines (R) has a double-digit lead over Sen. John Walsh (D) in the race for U.S. Senate, 51% to 37%.
Gutiérrez Faces Ethics Review
The House Ethics Committee launched a review of potential misconduct by Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and his longtime employment of a Chicago lobbyist in his congressional office, USA Today reports.
Off the Sidelines
Out this fall: Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Big Comeback for Obamacare
Wonk Wire: New forecast shows Obamacare beating its enrollment goal
Hutchinson Walks Back Holder Endorsement
Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson (R) told KATV that his endorsement of Attorney General Eric Holder in 2008 was “one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made.”
Hutchinson added Holder has done an “atrocious job” of enforcing the law.
Tillis Inflated College Credentials
North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis (R), who’s running in the GOP primary to face Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), says he’s a graduate of the University of Maryland but he actually went to the independent online school University of Maryland University College, TPM reports.
Brown Awkwardly Finds Some Like Obamacare
Huffington Post: “As former Sen. Scott Brown barnstorms through New Hampshire in a likely prelude to another Senate run, he has dusted off a familiar playbook. Condemnation of Obamacare has been front and center of his pitch, much like it was in 2010 when he unexpectedly won a race to take over the late Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. But times are different now. The law is no longer some theoretical set of reforms, but is being implemented with varying degrees of success and failure.”
“Brown found that out on Saturday, when he stopped by the home of Herb Richardson, a Republican state representative. Sitting in Richardson’s home, Brown called Obamacare a ‘monstrosity’ that members of Congress didn’t even bother to read before they passed. At that point, Richardson chimed in to explain that the law had been a ‘financial lifesaver’ for him and his wife.”
Wonk Wire: Forecast shows Obamacare beating enrollment goal
Spending Smart on Politics
Matt Bai: “I’ve never met David and Charles Koch, the conservative billionaires who have apparently set out to acquire our democracy, much as you or I might hope to purchase a timeshare. When I think of them, which isn’t all that often, I tend to picture Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow, who played industrialists called the ‘Motch’ brothers in a recent comedy called The Campaign, and whose main goal in the film was to relocate a Chinese sweatshop to North Carolina.”
“But after taking a closer look at how they’re spending this small part of their fortune, here’s what I do know about the infamous Koch brothers: They are very, very smart when it comes to political investing. And the real problem for irate liberals is that their most avid contributors aren’t.”
Could Obama Be a Pro-Basketball Player?
Asked if President Obama could make the roster of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant said almost immediately, “yes, he could, actually,” Sports Illustrated reports.
Said Bryant: “That’s not a diss to the current roster that we have, its more of a sign of respect of the skill that the president possesses.”
