Patty Murray

Patty Murray: The One Percent Aren't 'Job Creators'

Brian Beutler | December 7, 2011, 10:33AM

Super Committee Members John Kerry and Patty Murray

Former Super Committee co-chair and head of Senate Democrats' 2012 campaign effort Patty Murray will take on the GOP myth that the wealthiest Americans are "job creators" -- and therefore must be protected from higher marginal tax rates.

In prepared floor remarks sent my way, Murray will argue that the GOP has this exactly backwards, and that middle class workers need more money in their pockets -- not the highest earners.

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Social Security

GOP Rep Proposes Financing Payroll Tax Cut -- By Workers Agreeing To Cut Their Social Security

Eric Kleefeld | December 6, 2011, 1:36PM

Shutterstock/ Gunnar Pippel

Freshman Rep. Jeff Landry (R-LA) has come up with an interesting solution to the political debate over the pending expiration of the payroll tax cut: Have workers voluntarily choose whether to continue the cut for themselves -- with the tradeoff that for every calendar year they claim the tax cut, they would also cut their own Social Security, delaying the start of benefits by one month.

The Hill reports that Landry is pitching the bill as an addition to the debate over payroll tax cut's expiration, which has hinged on the fact that the payroll tax is used to finance Social Security. (Republicans have refused Democratic efforts to pay for the tax cut by raising other taxes on the wealthy.)

Many workers would likely see their taxes go up -- but that would be because they declined to cut their future Social Security benefits.

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Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Eric: Democrats See Opening In Cantor's Disaster Aid Offset Talk

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 2, 2011, 6:26AM

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA)

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's requirement that new disaster relief spending be funded with spending cuts has left members of his party open to attack, Democrats say, and they don't plan to waste the opportunity.

This week, the DCCC called on 25 East Coast Republican members to either stand with Cantor's call for offset disaster spending or publicly oppose it. In areas still drying out from Hurricane Irene and repairing the damage from the East Coast earthquake that preceded it, Democrats think the suggestion that federal aid should be used as another budget cut bargaining chip will not sit well with voters.

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2012

Dem Senator Says Economy 'Strong' Same Day DSCC Attacks GOPer Over Similar Quote

Benjy Sarlin | August 11, 2011, 11:04AM

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

The second highest ranking Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin (D-IL) told a local TV station on Wednesday that the economy is "strong" despite the S&P downgrade. While largely in line with the White House's views on the downgrade, his comments came the same day that Democrats attacked Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) over a near identical quote.

"I still think the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are sound," Durbin told FOX Chicago News. "I don't care what S&P says."

In a press release yesterday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee condemned Lugar as "out of touch" for telling a local TV station: "The American economy is still strong, that we're making progress although it's very slow in terms of job creation, and that we still have a dollar that is the world currency and we are still selling bonds to everybody all over the world despite the S&P downgrade."

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2012

Dems Outraged With Dick Lugar For Saying The Economy Isn't That Bad

Benjy Sarlin | August 10, 2011, 12:14PM

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)

In a highly unusual move, Democrats are going after Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) for suggesting that the American economy might be in better shape than the recent S&P downgrade indicates -- a key White House talking point.

In an interview with a local TV station criticizing the ratings agency's decision, Lugar told an interviewer: "The American economy is still strong, that we're making progress although it's very slow in terms of job creation, and that we still have a dollar that is the world currency and we are still selling bonds to everybody all over the world despite the S&P downgrade."

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Shripal Shah said in a statement that Lugar's quote was "out of touch with the struggles that so many Hoosier are facing right now."

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Harry Reid

Reid Picks Murray, Kerry, Baucus For Super Committee -- Here's The Upshot

Brian Beutler | August 9, 2011, 6:15PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced that Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Max Baucus (D-MT) will serve a new deficit Super Committee. Murray will be the Democrats' top member.

"I have great faith in Senator Murray as the co-chair of the committee," Reid said in a statement. "Her years of experience on the Senate Budget and Appropriations committees have given her a depth of knowledge on budget issues, and demonstrated her ability to work across party lines. Senators Baucus and Kerry are two of the Senate's most respected and experienced legislators. Their legislative accomplishments are matched only by their records of forging strong bonds with their Republican colleagues."

Entitlement defenders were hoping for a more progressive bunch than this. But the key on the Democratic side of the new committee isn't so much whether members will agree in principle to some entitlement cuts -- most say they will -- it's whether they'll require as a concession that Republicans agree to increase tax revenues.

And through that prism, there's some reason for optimism.

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Debt ceiling

Democrats Fundraising Off Cantor's Leaked Obama Quote

Benjy Sarlin | July 14, 2011, 3:41PM

Senate Democrats are embracing Eric Cantor's account of a testy President Obama challenging the Majority Leader in a meeting, using the Republican's version of events in a fundraising e-mail.

According to Cantor, Obama ended their Wednesday debt ceiling negotiations with a stern warning before abruptly leaving. "He said to me, 'Eric, don't call my bluff. I'm going to the American people with this,'" Cantor told reporters on Wednesday. "I was somewhat taken aback."

The White House disputed his claim that Obama ditched the talks, which they said were already concluding, But the line that Cantor recounted to the press is catching on with Democrats. In a message titled "Bluff," DSCC executive director Guy Cecil asked supporters on Thursday to help back up Obama's challenge with some extra cash. The e-mail is below:

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2012 elections

Koch Bros. Aide: DSCC Chair Patty Murray Asked Me For Contribution!

Eric Kleefeld | July 8, 2011, 12:19PM

David and Charles Koch

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee might want to double-check their fundraising database.

Koch Facts, the Web site set up by the conservative financier Koch Brothers to counter liberal publicity campaigns against them, has posted a letter penned by public affairs president Philip Ellender, claiming that he received a voicemail from DSCC chair Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), asking him for a large donation in order to attend a retreat in Kiawah Island, South Carolina:

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Medicare

Three Most Common Mistakes Made By So-Called Fact Checkers When Assessing GOP's Medicare Plan

Brian Beutler | June 14, 2011, 3:01PM

President Barack Obama talks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office.

Self-appointed independent fact checkers continue to miss the boat on the GOP's Medicare plan. And not just small misses, but big belly flop misses.

The immediate result has been fact-check assessments that ding Democrats for overstating how radical the GOP plan is and give political ammunition to Republicans to use against Democrats. But at a deeper level the misguided fact-checking -- almost always the result of insufficient expertise on Medicare specifically, and health insurance more broadly -- threatens to skew the public policy debate in ways that obscure the truth and complicates the effort to provide the public with a clear assessment of the GOP's plan on the merits.

The list of fact-checker errors and thin analysis is steadily growing but they fit broadly within three general categories. We take them one by one and have the experts weigh in:

MISTAKE #1: The GOP Plan Doesn't End Medicare

This is the single biggest bone of contentions for fact checkers, and it's based on a category error: Specifically, that if you replace one health insurance scheme with a different health insurance scheme, but call both of them "Medicare," then you haven't really "ended" anything.

A widely cited Monday piece by Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler takes Democrats to the mattresses for three different claims they made about the plan in a recent web petition -- the biggest being that Republicans want to scrap the current Medicare program. "[T]he DSCC essentially says: The House Republican budget plan would eliminate Medicare."

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Fundraising

Democratic Committee Narrowly Outraises GOP In Senate Fundraising

Benjy Sarlin | April 20, 2011, 12:41PM

Senate Democrats eked out a slightly better fundraising quarter than their counterparts on the other side of the aisle, announcing today a $11.6 million haul for their campaign committee versus $11.2 million for the GOP.

Democrats touted the numbers, which included $5.6 million raised in March, as evidence their new strategy of tying Republicans to Rep. Paul Ryan's budget was exciting donors. "The Republican move to end Medicare and give more tax breaks to the very rich has fueled support from our base," Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

Republicans raised $5 million in March, which they noted was their highest one-month total in a non-election year. Rob Jesmer, the National Republican Senatorial Committee's executive director, noted in a statement that "we're still up against a Senate Democrat majority and the Fundraiser-In-Chief in the White House" but said they were on track to meet their goals.

The DSCC used the cash to pay off $3.75 million in debt, leaving them on the hook for another $4.89 million with $5.5 million cash on hand. The NRSC has $2.75 million in debt and $1.48 million cash on hand.

Patty Murray

Lieberman Mulls A Run As A Dem, Will Meet With DSCC Chair Murray

Brian Beutler | December 23, 2010, 8:54AM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) says he will meet with freshly-minted DSCC chair Patty Murray, likely early next year, about his re-election options for 2012.

No discussions have taken place yet, but he said that some Senate Democrats are rooting for him.

"Some of my colleagues in the Democratic caucus have been very gracious and kind saying they hope I run as a Democrat," he told TPM in an interview Wednesday. "Patty and I said we'd talk sometime early in the New Year."

Don't expect any imminent announcements. Lieberman says for now he's just flattered that "people are raising the question."

DSCC

Patty Murray Accepts DSCC Chairmanship

Jillian Rayfield | November 30, 2010, 12:43PM

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has accepted the chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, two sources have confirmed to TPM.

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Steve Israel

Blue Dogged: Meet Steve Israel, The Incoming Chair Of The DCCC

Brian Beutler | November 23, 2010, 9:23AM

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)

Long Island Democrat Steve Israel, the incoming DCCC chairman isn't a typical Nancy Pelosi ally. Among other things, he's a former Blue Dog who voted for the Iraq war and the 2001 Bush tax cuts. But last week, after urging his fellow Democrats to support Pelosi's continued leadership of their party, Pelosi nominated him to head the election committee over the perceived favorite, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Wasserman-Schultz and Pelosi have clashed in the past, but the former's fundraising acumen is unquestioned and, in a challenging environment for Democrats, she was seen as a natural choice.

But Israel didn't come out of nowhere.

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AK-SEN

DSCC Ad: 'Lisa Murkowski Has Gone Washington' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2010, 2:37PM

Ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "Turned Her Back"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Alaska Senate race attacking Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the GOPer tries to win re-election in a nearly unprecedented write-in campaign.

The ad casts Murkowski as a Washington insider who no longer represents the state: "Maybe it was the fancy cocktail parties. Or all those pretty monuments. Whatever the reason - Lisa Murkowski has gone Washington."

The announcer then attacks Murkowski for having voted for deficit-raising budgets in 2003 and 2005, and for supporting Social Security privatization -- and for voting for the TARP Wall Street bailout. TARP, of course, was actively supported by the Democratic leadership and then-Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), alongside then-President George W. Bush and the Republican leadership.

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WV-SEN

DSCC Ad: 'Would John Raese Represent West Virginia -- Or Florida?' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2010, 3:56PM

Ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "Florida"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the West Virginia Senate race, casting Republican nominee John Raese as an out-of-touch businessman -- who they say really lives in Florida.

"Would John Raese represent West Virginia -- or Florida?" the announcer says. "The Raeses have a mansion in Palm Beach, and signed an official form calling Florida their home. His wife even registered to vote there.

"So maybe he should be Florida's Senator, because John Raese just doesn't get us. Opposing the minimum wage, and siding with China on steel. That might be okay with the CEOs at the club in Florida. But around here, it's just out of touch."

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin a narrow lead of 47.3%-46.4%.

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NV-SEN

DSCC Ad In Nevada: 'You Want To Send A Message To Washington -- But Sharron Angle?' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2010, 11:59AM

Ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "Two Candidates"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Nevada Senate race, making an odd sell in the effort to save Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The ad briefly re-employs the motif from their previous spot, using the metaphor of the frustrated voter as a woman boxing against a punching bag. "It's frustrating," the announcer says. "You want to send a message to Washington -- but Sharron Angle?

"Sharron Angle says it's not a Senator's job to help create jobs. Sharron Angle says the unemployed are 'spoiled.' She wants to phase out Social Security and Medicare. Two candidates: Harry Reid will fight for Nevada jobs and defend Social Security and Medicare. Sharron Angle will cost us, and hurt our economy. Vote 'No' on Sharron Angle."

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.3%-46.9%.

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WV-SEN

DSCC Ad Hits Raese On Minimum Wage, Trade (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2010, 4:55PM

From a DSCC campaign ad, "Around Here"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the West Virginia Senate race, attacking Republican businessman John Raese as being out of touch with working people.

"John Raese opposes the minimum wage. But around here, we know it's about a second job to help pay bills," the announcer says. "Raese opposes cracking down on China's unfair trade practices. We know it's about fairness, a chance to compete. And Raese signed a pledge that protected tax breaks for corporations sending jobs overseas. We know 'Made in America' should mean something again. And we know, West Virginia can't afford John Raese."

The TPM Poll Average gives Raese a narrow lead of 46.8%-45.6% over Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin.

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IL-SEN

DSCC Ad: 'Mark Kirk Didn't Tell The Truth' About His Military Record (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2010, 4:34PM

DSCC ad, "Honor"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Illinois Senate race, with veterans attacking Republican nominee Mark Kirk for his past false statements about his military record, and his votes against combat bonuses and job training for veterans.

"Honor and integrity," says one veteran. "That's what military service is all about."

"But Mark Kirk didn't tell the truth about his," another says.

After veterans go through Kirk's various votes, one of them concludes: "Mark Kirk serves himself -- not us."

The TPM Poll Average gives Kirk 44.1%, Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias 42.3%, and Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones 3.6%.

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NV-SEN

DSCC Ad In Nevada: 'Work That Anger Out In The Ring,' Don't Vote For Angle (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2010, 2:46PM

From a DSCC campaign ad, "Boxer"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Nevada Senate race, aiming to persuade the state's voters that while times certainly are tough, they would be worse with Sharron Angle -- and it employs an interesting metaphor for the angry voter.

The ad shows a woman training with boxing gloves, punching and kicking against a large punching bag. "You're angry, you're frustrated at Washington," the announcer says. "Think how much angrier you'll be if Sharron Angle has her way and Social Security and Medicare are phased out, and she keeps her promise to not fight for Nevada jobs.

"So work that anger out in the ring, because voting for Sharron Angle is only going to hurt yourself."

The woman then concludes, "I can't vote for Sharron Angle."

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DSCC

Outside Groups Dominate Campaign Ad Spending In 2010 (CHARTS)

Brian Beutler | October 18, 2010, 10:04AM

Karl Rove

Anonymous outside interests have gone from being a relatively minor source of funding for campaign-season television ads to being the dominant player in 2010, according to figures compiled by the Sunlight Foundation.

A new (and effective) Democratic messaging strategy -- criticizing Republicans and their conservative backers for letting outside, anonymously funded groups run ads attacking candidates -- isn't an example of a party desperately looking for a new bogeyman. It's backed up by data, freely available from the Federal Elections Committee.

The sea change is largely the result of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, overturning a ban preventing pressure groups and corporations from running so-called independent expenditure ads for or against a candidate (these are distinct from issue ads, which only mention candidates vis-a-vis their policy positions). As a result of that shift, the official party committees and candidates face direct contribution limits and must disclose their funders. PACs have a bit more leeway -- they still face disclosure rules, but no donation limits and can make unlimited independent expenditures. Groups organized as non-profits, though, are unencumbered: they can take in as much money as they want, without having to disclose any of their donors.

The result has been extraordinary.

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CT-SEN

DSCC Ad Blasts Linda McMahon For Dead Wrestlers (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2010, 2:16PM

From a DSCC campaign ad, "Contracts."

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Connecticut Senate race, going after her for an issue that has sometimes dogged her during this race: The deaths of current and former World Wrestling Entertainment actors.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon's Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]

"Linda McMahon brags about her business experience," the announcer says. "The real story? Her company violated safety standards; was criticized for tolerating steroid and drug use; inserted death clauses in workers' contracts, in order to avoid responsibility for their deaths.

"The record? Seventeen of her former workers under age 50 have died. Linda McMahon: A bad CEO -- a worse Senator."

A fun phrase, this "death clauses" stuff. It's a lot like "death panels" -- but not totally fictional.

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal a lead of 51.6%-43.3%.

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WV-SEN

DSCC Ad Attacks Raese On Jobs, Minimum Wage In WV-SEN Race (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2010, 10:46AM

From a DSCC campaign ad, "Spreadsheet."

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the West Virginia Senate race, employing a populist touch to attack Republican nominee John Raese as an out-of-touch big businessman.

"Around here, jobs are more than where you work. They're food on the table, and a better quality of life," the announcer says. "John Raese doesn't get that. How could he not pay worker's comp? Eliminate the minimum wage? Or sign a pledge that protected tax breaks for corporations sending jobs overseas?

"John Raese's job is CEO. So for him, maybe jobs are just another line on a spreadsheet. But around here, we know better."

The TPM Poll Average gives Raese a lead of 48.4%-45.4% over Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin.

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CT-SEN

Dem Ads Hammer McMahon As 'Bad CEO' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 4, 2010, 11:35AM

From a DSCC ad, "Bad."

Democrats have unloaded some new attack ads against Linda McMahon in the Connecticut Senate race, which has been getting close in recent weeks.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon's Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]

A spot from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

"The kind of CEO Linda McMahon was, is the kind of Senator she'd be. As CEO, McMahon laid off workers, yet took millions in bonuses. No wonder she opposes Wall Street reform. McMahon spent thousands on lobbyists to get millions in tax breaks for herself. Of course she's supporting more corporate tax breaks as Senator. Linda McMahon -- a bad CEO -- a worse Senator."

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DE-SEN

DSCC Ad: O'Donnell Spends Campaign Money On Herself (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2010, 6:35PM

DSCC "About" ad attacking Christine O'Donnell

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new attack ad out in the Delaware Senate race, further hammering Republican nominee Christine O'Donnell. Like their previous ad, the DSCC stays away from O'Donnell's numerous controversial statements and right-wing positions, and instead focuses on her personal finances -- and her campaign finances, and how the two seem to be mixed together.

"Christine O'Donnell spends money like she's already in Washington," the announcer says. "She put her mother on her campaign payroll. She spent campaign money on personal expenses -- including dinners, travel, even paying half her rent.

"So Christine O'Donnell spent money on herself, but she didn't pay her own employees. Christine O'Donnell. She thinks it's all about her. When we need someone who's all about us."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 55.0%-39.6%. So it seems quite interesting that the Dems are dropping money here. Then again, O'Donnell has been raising money hand over fist online, so that probably does need to be countered.

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WV-SEN

DSCC Ad Attacks GOPer Raese In WV-SEN (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2010, 10:50AM

Ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "Opposes"

In a sign of national Democratic concern about the West Virginia Senate race, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new TV ad attacking the Republican nominee, businessman John Raese, for his right-wing stances on economic issues in this blue-collar state.

"John Raese. He wants to eliminate the minimum wage. Failed to pay workers compensation for on-the-job injuries," the announcer says. "But one thing John Raese does support: A pledge that protected tax breaks for corporations who ship our jobs overseas. It's true. Protecting tax breaks that reward corporations for sending our jobs overseas.

"West Virginia working families, we can do better -- and we have to."

This ad comes on the heels of recent polls that have shown Raese narrowly leading Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin in the race thanks to the state's high disapproval of President Obama. For example, a Public Policy Polling (D) survey last week put Raese ahead by 46%-43%, and a Rasmussen poll released this morning puts him ahead by 48%-46%. Republican advertising has aggressively tied Manchin to Obama, so the Dems are firing back by going after Raese's background in big business.

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CO-SEN

Bennet, DSCC Ads Hit Ken Buck's 'Extreme' Views (VIDEOS)

Eric Lach | September 21, 2010, 1:02PM

Ken Buck

Last week, we reported how Republican Colorado Senate nominee Ken Buck and groups backing him were going after Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet with a number of ads knocking the incumbent on spending. Now, Bennet and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are countering with ads attacking Buck on social issues.

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IL-SEN

Dem Ad Quotes Mark Kirk: 'I Have A Very High-Income District' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 21, 2010, 10:59AM

Ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "Problems"

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Illinois Senate race, attacking Republican Congressman Mark Kirk for being out of touch on unemployment.

"We've heard a lot about Mark Kirk's problems lately," the announcer says, referring to Kirk's past misstatements about his military record. "But Kirk doesn't know much about ours.

"On unemployment, Kirk said, 'I've heard very little...I have a very high-income district.' And he voted six times against extending benefits for laid-off workers, and five times to block increasing the minimum wage -- while voting to raise his own pay six times."

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2010 elections

National Dem Committees Raising More Money Than GOP

Eric Kleefeld | September 20, 2010, 6:57PM

Clockwise: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The national Democratic Congressional campaign arms are headed into the home stretch of the campaign bringing in more money than their GOP counterparts -- numbers that could potentially make the difference in key races.

On the House side, the DCCC out-raised the NRCC in August, by a margin of $8.32 million for the Dems to $6.64 million for House Republicans. The DCCC remains way ahead in cash on hand, with $39 million to the NRCC's $25.6 million.

For the Senate, the DSCC edged the NRSC in August, with $7.42 million for the Dems to $6.05 million for the GOP. However, the NRSC has slightly more money on hand, with $24.5 million against the DSCC's $22.92 million.

DE-SEN

DSCC Ad: O'Donnell Is 'Financially Completely Irresponsible' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 20, 2010, 9:33AM

DSCC campaign ad against Christine O'Donnell (R-DE), 'Fit'

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is up with its first ad against Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware Senate race. And interestingly, the DSCC avoids such hot-button issues as masturbation and witchcraft, instead focusing on O'Donnell's financial habits.

Another notable thing about the ad is that it shows the incumbent party casting O'Donnell, who has pitched herself as an outsider, as instead representing everything already wrong with Washington spending. "We don't know a lot about Christine O'Donnell," the announcer says. "But here's what we do know. She'll fit right in, in Washington.

"O'Donnell spends money she doesn't have. Hired employees she didn't pay. Stiffed businesses. Didn't pay her taxes. One of Christine O'Donnell's former employees summed it up: 'We were constantly trying to hold her back from spending. She was financially completely irresponsible.'"

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 52.2%-38.8%.

Read more »

NC-SEN

GOPer Burr Brings Back Old Men From 2008 Dem Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 9, 2010, 12:38PM

Ad from Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), "Front Porch"

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) has an incredible new ad out -- rehiring the actors who appeared in a popular Democratic ad from 2008, with their characters talking about how they bungled it last time.

Back in 2008, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ran ads featuring two down-home old men on a porch, talking about how ineffectual and pro-Bush Sen. Elizabeth Dole was. The ad picked up a lot of attention. When election day finally rolled around, Dole lost to Democrat Kay Hagan by a 53%-44% landslide, and Barack Obama carried the state against John McCain by a margin of less than one percent -- the first Dem to carry the state for president since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Now Burr's campaign has headhunted those two old men actors, snatching them away from the Dems for the incumbent's new spot, clearly aimed at voters who might have buyer's remorse. "Boy we sure got it wrong last election," the first man says.

Read more »

Fundraising

Obama Sends $4.5 Million To Dem Committees

Eric Kleefeld | September 9, 2010, 12:00PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama has spread some more campaign wealth around the Democratic Party -- using $4.5 million that was left over from his mega-successful 2008 campaign operation to infuse the party's national campaign arms.

Politico reports that the money has come from funds that had been set aside for legal expenses to shut down the campaign: "As soon as it was determined that these funds were no longer needed for the shutdown of the campaign, the president directed that $1.5 million be transferred to each of the following committees: DCCC, DSCC and DNC. Obama for America earlier in the cycle had transferred $8 million, which was split between the DCCC and the DSCC."

CO-SEN

DSCC Ad Slams Ken Buck On Social Security -- And Direct Election Of Senators (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 7, 2010, 4:55PM

DSCC Ad against Senate candidate Ken Buck (R-CO)

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has a new ad in the Colorado Senate race, going after Republican nominee Ken Buck on the perennial issue of Social Security -- and a more peculiar issue from the Tea Party movement, his past support for repealing the direct election of Senators. The ad is a clear sign that Dems will try to hang GOP candidates on the statements they made during the primaries, when they were busy appealing to the Tea Partier primary voter base.

"Listen to Ken Buck on Social Security," the announcer says, followed by video of Buck at a Tea Party candidates forum back in March: "It is fundamentally against what I believe."

"Listen to Buck on whether he'd rewrite the Constitution and end our right to vote for our own Senators," the announcer also says, again followed by Buck footage from June: "The short answer is yes."

Buck has since disavowed that statement on the direct election of Senators, and says he doesn't propose changing that Constitutional Amendment.

The TPM Poll Average gives Buck a lead of 46.0%-42.8% over incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

Read more »

Fundraising

Dem Senate Campaign Committee Outraises GOP

Eric Kleefeld | August 20, 2010, 1:18PM

Sens Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The Democratic Senatorial Committee is maintaining its financial advantage over the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- but only a narrow one -- with more money raised in July and more cash on hand.

The DSCCC raised $4.4 million in July, spent $3.5 million, and has $22.46 million on hand.

The NRSC raised $4.16 million in July, spent $2.6 million, and has $21.1 million on hand.

As the Hotline says: "The numbers show that while the Dems face an uphill battle this year, they have been successful at raising money. The DSCC has outraised the NRSC in 4 of the past 5 months."

2010 elections

Dems Call On GOPers To Renounce Phyllis Schlafly Over Remarks About 'Unmarried Women' (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 29, 2010, 4:28PM

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly took aim at "unmarried women" at a recent fundraiser and in an interview with TPM, saying that they overwhelmingly support President Obama and are all on welfare. Democrats aim to exploit the comments to pressure the more than 60 Republican candidates who have earned Schlafly's endorsement.

"Unmarried women, 70% of unmarried women, voted for Obama, and this is because when you kick your husband out, you've got to have big brother government to be your provider," said Schlafly, president of Eagle Forum and infamous for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment.

A liberal organization recorded the Schlafly comments at a Troy, Michigan fundraiser Saturday for a Republican congressional candidate, the Detroit Free Press reported. In an interview with TPM this afternoon Schlafly stood by her comments and said Obama is trying to boost welfare rolls to help with his reelection and to help Democrats.

Read more »

Fundraising

Dem Campaign Organizations Have More Cash Than GOP Counterparts

Eric Kleefeld | July 21, 2010, 10:59AM

Clockwise: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The conventional wisdom may well be that the Republicans are poised to make some big gains against the Democrats in the House and Senate this fall. But for now, the Dems' campaign arms remain way ahead in cash on hand that could potentially make a difference in tight races.

The National Republican Congressional Committee just narrowly out-raised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in June, taking in $9.15 million against the DCCC's $9.02 million. However, the DCCC has a whopping $33.78 million cash on hand, almost double the $17.04 million for the NRCC.

On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee took in $7.1 million in June, more than the $4.03 million for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in June. The DSCC has $21 million on hand, slightly surpassing the $19.7 million on hand for the NRSC.

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | July 16, 2010, 3:22PM

Vice President Joe Biden

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Vice President Joe Biden.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

• Fox News Sunday: House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), House Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-IN).

• NBC, Meet The Press: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), National Republican Congressman Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-IN), Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).