GIDEON, GREENFIELD, BULLOCK CLEAR WINNERS IN LAST NIGHT’S #MESEN, #IASEN, #MTSEN DEBATES. It was a Senate debate marathon last night as Sara Gideon, Theresa Greenfield, and Governor Steve Bullock all emerged as the clear winner from their respective debates over increasingly vulnerable Republican incumbents. The key takeaways? Health care is still a major liability for the GOP –– all three Republicans struggled to defend their toxic records of voting to rip away coverage protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. And as all three vulnerable incumbent Senators faced real scrutiny for the first time, it couldn’t be clearer that strong Democratic challengers have forced Republicans on defense in states they never anticipated being competitive at the beginning of this cycle.
Take a look at some of the coverage from last night’s debates:
REPUBLICAN SENATORS ATTEMPT TO MISLEAD VOTERS THAT THEIR SCOTUS RUSH WON’T LEAD TO “POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR OUTCOMES.” Another theme from last night’s debates? Vulnerable Republican incumbents misleading voters about the intended consequences of their rush to fill a lifetime appointment with a nominee hostile to the Affordable Care Act and a woman’s right to choose. In Iowa’s Senate debate, incumbent Joni Ernst claimed there is a “very minimal” chance that the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade – despite the fact that Ernst herself “signed a brief urging the court to do so earlier this year.” And less than an hour later in Montana’s Senate debate, Senator Steve Daines argued that “it was unlikely the court would strike down the Affordable Care Act because of a lawsuit he has long supported.” It’s clear that Republicans can’t even defend their own positions and have resorted to trying to deceive voters in an attempt to paper over their toxic records. HuffPost: GOP Sen. Joni Ernst Says There’s A ‘Very Minimal’ Chance Roe v. Wade Will Be Overturned
IOWA DEMS UNVEIL “WASHINGTON WILBUR” TO REMIND VOTERS OF ERNST’S BROKEN PROMISE TO ‘MAKE WASHINGTON SQUEAL.’ The Iowa Democratic Party unveiled Washington Wilbur, a giant inflatable pig embodying Senator Joni Ernst’s broken promise to “make ’em squeal” in Washington. Senator Ernst promised she would make Washington squeal when she got to the Senate. But after six years, Washington is as broken as ever and Joni Ernst has changed — forgetting Iowa and selling out to the corporate special interests who fund her campaign. Quad-City Times: Democrats unveil pink pig aimed at Ernst’s senate campaign
BIG BANKS RUSH TO PROP UP COLLINS’ FLAILING CAMPAIGN. New reporting from the Maine Beacon highlights Senator Susan Collins’ cozy relationship with Wall Street as the largest lobbying group for the banking industry has increased their spending to boost her flailing campaign. Collins has consistently backed banking deregulation, including casting a deciding vote in 2017 to block a rule allowing consumers to sue banks and credit card companies. Now, the banking industry is returning the favor by spending hundreds of thousands on Maine’s airwaves and donating to Senator Collins’ campaign. Maine Beacon: After PPP windfall, big banks back Collins with new ads
NEW POLL: DR. AL GROSS RUNNING NECK AND NECK IN #AKSEN. A new poll from Harstad Strategic Research found that the Alaska Senate race is a dead heat with challenger Dr. Al Gross running just one point behind vulnerable incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. Alaska’s Senate race is shaping up to be among “the toughest fights that incumbent Alaska Republicans have seen since 2008.”
FORMER PRESIDENT AND GEORGIA GOV JIMMY CARTER BACKS WARNOCK. Former President and Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter announced their endorsement of Reverend Raphael Warnock today. The announcement follows endorsements from former President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder. In his endorsement, President Carter cited Warnock’s history of fighting for economic opportunity for all Georgians. AJC: Jimmy Carter backs Warnock in crowded US Senate race in Georgia
MICHIGAN DEMS LAUNCH NEW PAGE HOLDING JAMES ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIDING HIS TOXIC POSITIONS. The Michigan Democratic Party launched a new section on JohnJamesRevealed.com holding failed politician John James accountable for hiding the truth about his toxic positions that are out of touch with Michigan. While James himself has refused to answer basic questions and be honest with Michiganders about where he stands, the newly launched John James Revealed issues page will tell voters about his rigid agenda. Take a look: JohnJamesRevealed.com
HYDE-SMITH CAUGHT USING FOREIGN STOCK FOOTAGE IN NEW AD. Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith was caught featuring Canadian, Russian, South African and Ukrainian models but no Mississippians in her first 2020 campaign ad. The Mississippi Free Press found that “the ad uses stock footage from foreign production companies as the senator talks about the work she has done to bring jobs and economic growth to Mississippians.” Hyde-Smith has not held any public town halls with her constituents since being elected in 2018. Mississippi Free Press: ‘To Represent All Mississippians’: Hyde-Smith Ad Uses Russian, Canadian Footage
DEM AD WATCH
CO – Former Governor John Hickenlooper released a new ad calling out Senator Cory Gardner for his attempts to deceive Coloradans about his record of siding with President Trump “100%” in Washington. Watch.
MT – Governor Steve Bullock’s latest ad highlights the stories of Montanans with pre-existing conditions who saw Senator Steve Daines vote against protecting their insurance coverage. Watch.
NM – Congressman Ben Ray Luján released a new ad spotlighting how Republican candidate Mark Ronchetti “stands with Trump” at the expense of New Mexicans. Watch.
IN THE STATES
CO – Colorado Politics: Hickenlooper campaigns in Grand Junction on rural issues
IA – Raccoon Valley Radio: Senate Candidate Greenfield Makes Campaign Stops In Greene County
IA – Washington Post: Opinion | Joni Ernst is now in trouble. Trump is a huge part of her problem.
KS – Salina Journal: Bollier stops in Salina for lawn chair chat
LA – AP: Edwards supports Adrian Perkins in Louisiana US Senate race
ME – Bangor Daily News (Opinion): Sara Gideon can be the new leader Maine needs
NC – News & Observer (Opinion): Tillis looked him in the eye and said: No court nominee in an election year. So much for that.
NC – News & Observer: Fact check: Cunningham didn’t ‘defund the police’ in legislature, despite Tillis claim
NH – Union Leader: More than 100 Republicans back Shaheen
NM – AP: Biden endorses Luján for U.S. Senate bid in New Mexico
SC – Essence: Newly Released Senate Race Poll Shows Harrison Ahead Of Graham
TX – Newsweek: John Cornyn’s Democrat Challenger Raises $300,000 in 10 Hours in Bid to Turn Texas Blue
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