A new Quinnipiac poll finds that in “a very hypothetical race” for New York City Mayor, Hillary Clinton, running as an independent, would beat incumbent Bill de Blasio (D) handily, 49% to 30%.
Said pollster Tim Malloy: “New Yorkers aren’t in love with Mayor Bill de Blasio, but they seem to like him better than other possible choices – except Hillary Clinton, who probably is an impossible choice.”
Former Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) is considering a bid for Virginia governor, “a move that would disrupt Democrats’ well-laid plans in perhaps the highest-profile election in the country this year,” the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Perriello, a State Department official who is close to President Obama, has told several Democrats that he is close to deciding whether to run in the party’s June 13 primary, according to two Democratic strategists familiar with the conversations.”
A new Quinnipiac poll in Virginia finds Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) edges former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie (R) in a general election matchup for governor, 38% to 34%, and has wider leads over other Republicans.
Virginia voters approve of the job Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is doing by 52% to 30%.
“I’ll tell you something, somebody’s making a mistake because that would be an active primary.”
— Former New York Gov. David Patterson (D), quoted by the New York Daily News, on the lack of a primary challenger for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D).
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) “could be beatable — if anyone has the guts to run against him” next year, the New York Daily News reports.
“No serious candidates have even signaled their intentions to run. … De Blasio has some serious achievements — universal pre-K, record-low crime, an ambitious affordable-housing plan — but also vulnerabilities, like sky-high homelessness and numerous investigations into his fund-raising.”
“Shell-shocked Democrats looking to recover from 2016 see the large slate of upcoming governor’s races as their most likely path out of the political wilderness — starting in the Midwest,” Politico reports.
“Twenty-seven of the 38 governorships up in 2017 and 2018 are Republican-held, including many seats that will be open after eight years of GOP control. That means widespread opportunities for Democratic gains, as well as a critical chance for new ideas and new blood to emerge as the party seeks to identify its next generation of leaders and dig out from a low point after President-elect Donald Trump’s shocking White House win.”
“The sweeping gubernatorial map takes in virtually every national battleground state and segment of the electorate.”
Kevin Sheekey, a top political adviser to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has told allies he is considering running against Mayor Bill de Blasio next year, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Former Saturday Night Live star Joe Piscopo met with Gov. Chris Christie as he “is feeling out a run for governor next year,” PolitickerNJ reports.
Shaun Donovan, President Obama’s budget director, “wants to run for mayor of New York City—and one of Michael Bloomberg’s top political hands is putting together a preliminary effort to draft him into the 2017 primary race against incumbent Bill de Blasio,” Politico reports.
Ken Cuccinelli (R) said “that he will not run again for governor, scrambling the contest and opening the door for a far-right conservative to vie for the Republican nomination in 2017,” the Washington Post reports.
“Indiana hasn’t cast its ballots for president yet, but Donald Trump is already losing,” Politico reports.
“Republican Party insiders in the state will select 27 delegates to the national convention on Saturday, and Trump is assured to be nearly shut out of support… Indiana GOP insiders are working to engineer slates of delegates — three from each of nine congressional districts — that will turn their backs on Trump at a contested convention in July. Another 27 will be elected at a state committee meeting next week.”
“Donald Trump knows he’s a loser. His insecurities are on parade: petty bullying, attacks on women, cheap racism, flagrant narcissism.”
— Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in a series of tweets designed to get under Trump’s skin.
Wall Street Journal: “The rebuilding effort will start Wednesday when Mr. Rubio heads to South Carolina for a series of campaign stops in the next state on the nominating calendar. He will get a chance to rehabilitate his image at a weekend debate, and he can expect many of the same attacks as those leveled by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in New Hampshire, who pointedly charged that he is overly reliant on talking points and hasn’t accomplished anything meaningful in his five years in the Senate.”
“Money will be a major concern. Like many of his rivals, Mr. Rubio’s campaign was relying on a strong finish in New Hampshire to juice his fundraising. Some of his top donors expected well-heeled supporters of many of his closest rivals, including Mr. Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, to jump ship and support the senator. But those hopes were dashed by Tuesday’s results.”
Nate Silver notes Rubio’s slide in the betting markets halted since last night “maybe based on people realizing other ‘establishment’ candidates are even worse?”
Former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie (R) will run for Virginia governor in 2017, Bearing Drift reports.
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.