A Rosetta Stone poll in Georgia finds David Perdue (R) leading the GOP pack for Senate with 23%, followed by Karen Handel (R) at 21%, Jack Kingston (R) at 15%, Paul Broun (R) at 9% and Phil Gingrey (R) at 9%.
Quote of the Day
“Everybody’s gone completely crazy on this voter ID thing. I think it’s wrong for Republicans to go too crazy on this issue because it’s offending people.”
— Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), quoted by the New York Times.
Republicans Tighten Grip on Debates
The RNC “moved Friday to seize control of the presidential primary debates in 2016, another step in a coordinated effort by the party establishment to reshape the nominating process,” the New York Times reports.
“Committee members overwhelmingly passed a measure that would penalize any presidential candidate who participated in a debate not sanctioned by the national party, by limiting their participation in subsequent committee-sanctioned forums. The move represents the party’s effort to reduce the number of debates and assert control over how they are staged.”
Republicans Reconsider Rand Paul
Politico: “Not that long ago, most Republican leaders saw Rand Paul as the head of an important faction who, like his father, ultimately had no shot at becoming the party’s presidential nominee. Now the question is no longer whether Paul can win the nomination, but whether he can win a general election.”
“The shift follows a year in which the Kentucky senator has barnstormed the country, trying to expand the party’s base beyond older, white voters and attract a following beyond than the libertarian devotees of his father, Ron Paul. Although the job is far from complete, Paul has made undeniable progress, judging from interviews with more than 30 Republican National Committee members meeting here this week.”
Cruz’s Reckless Accusations
In his latest “McCarthyesque flourish,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) declared he had a list of “76 instances of lawlessness and other abuses of power” of President Obama, Dana Millbank writes.
“To his credit, Cruz made his list public. But perhaps he shouldn’t have. An examination of the accusations reveals less about the lawlessness of the accused than about the recklessness of the accuser.”
Arkansas Judges Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban
Saying Arkansas had “no rational reason” to prevent gay couples from marrying, state judge Chris Piazza struck down a 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, The Week reports.
Said Piazza: “This is an unconstitutional attempt to narrow the definition of equality. The exclusion of a minority for no rational reason is a dangerous precedent.”
GOP Split Appears on Minimum Wage
“Several leading Republicans have called for raising the federal minimum wage and others are speaking more forcefully about the party’s failure to connect with low-income Americans — stances that are causing a growing rift within the party over how best to address the gulf between the rich and poor,” the Washington Post reports.
“The growing party division, pitting GOP officials fearful of losing the support of workers against staunch conservatives who believe an increase would harm the economy, reflects Republican nervousness about the depth of their support ahead of the midterm elections, even though polls show them poised to retain their House majority and potentially take control of the Senate.”
Obama Fatigue Bigger Challenge for Clinton
Brendan Nyhan: “The latest investigation into the Benghazi attack reminds us that the issue isn’t going away any time soon. Pundits are already speculating about potential damage to Hillary Clinton’s presidential prospects, but don’t believe the hype: Scandals rarely matter much in presidential election campaigns.”
“A far more significant threat to her potential candidacy is Americans’ desire for new leadership after eight years of the Obama administration.”
Republicans Put IRS Probe on the Backburner
“A year after it began, the IRS targeting controversy has been overtaken by the Benghazi attacks on the oversight agenda of House Republicans,” The Hill reports.
“While Republicans are convinced that the Obama administration is stonewalling them on both matters, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and the House GOP have only set up a special committee for Benghazi. On the IRS, House Republicans have instead pushed the Justice Department to more aggressively pursue its investigation, and this week pushed Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor.”
Really Close in North Carolina
A new Rasmussen poll in North Carolina finds Thom Tillis (R) edging Sen. Kay Hagan (D) in the race for U.S. Senate, 45% to 44%.
Voters Can Still Limit Influence of Super PACs
Walter Shapiro: “The truth is that politics is the great leveler. Karl Rove’s operation at Crossroads was a political juggernaut until it ran into the national Democratic tide in the 2012 elections. In crusading for gun control, Bloomberg will likely be defeated by a libertarian streak deep in the American psyche that irrationally equates firearms with freedom. Steyer’s efforts to change the political climate on global warming runs up against the political interests of coal-producing states and the comforting appeal of delay and denial.”
“A political world dominated by billionaires is, of course, an affront to democracy. But in their arrogance, the super rich do resemble King Canute ordering the tides to recede. And that foolishness may be the only salvation in a Super PAC era.”
Hey Podcast Listeners…
Take our quick listener survey and get a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Democrats Are Competitive in Georgia
Jim Galloway teases an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll out Saturday that finds Democrats in an especially close race for Georgia’s top offices in November.
The poll shows Gov. Nathan Deal (R) just three points ahead of Jason Carter (D) in the race for governor.
In the Senate race, Michelle Nunn (D) “has sizable leads against each of the five top GOP Senate contenders in a potential November matchup, though her lead against businessman David Perdue is particularly narrow.”
In Defense of Horse Trading
Ray LaRaja: “Like much in life, pushing people to the table means offering them rewards and punishments. Otherwise we get stalemate. In the Herald article, a legislator complains about ‘arm twisting.’ Cry me a river. He has a choice: ignore the leadership and vote his conscience or go with the majority. Voters will ultimately decide if his principled stand was worth the price of ignoring the arm-twist.”
Many Think Next President Doesn’t Matter
A new Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll finds the majority of Americans believe that “an increase in community activism would have a more significant impact on daily life than the candidate they elect as president.”
Key finding: “56% of respondents told pollsters that more volunteering in their community would have ‘a more positive impact on [their] day-to-day life’ than electing a president who agrees with them on important issues. Just 39% said that the election of a particular president would have a greater impact.”
Huge Divide on Climate Science
Wonk Wire shows that Republicans are really out-of-step with most of the word on climate change.
Quote of the Day
“I think we ought to raise it, because frankly, our party is all about more jobs and better pay, and I think communicating that is important to us.”
— Mitt Romney, quoted by the Washington Post, urging Republicans to increase the minimum wage.
Democrats Infiltrated Tillis Celebration
Democrats crashed the victory party for Thom Tillis (R) and filmed footage for an effective new ad.
