VA-GOV

McAuliffe Defends Himself, Says Deeds Can Still Win

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 6:59PM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe (center)

In his interview with TPMDC this afternoon, Terry McAuliffe pushed back on the national media's coverage of him in recent weeks, and media reports that Creigh Deeds is limping toward the finish line in the Virginia Governor's race.

In recent days, several articles have suggested McAuliffe and his supporters have strong opinions about how Deeds has run the race against Bob McDonnell (R). But McAuliffe rejected the idea that it was time to count Deeds out.

"I think a lot of journalists are going to look foolish when Creigh Deeds wins this election," he said.

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Terry McAuliffe

McAuliffe On Public Option's Chances: 'Probably Not, No'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 4:43PM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe

In an exclusive interview with TPMDC this afternoon, former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe said that from his vantage point, the public option is likely dead in the health care debate.

In the past, McAuliffe has said he any bill without a public option would be a failure. Today, though, he said he'd support a compromise bill because "we've got to pass something."

McAuliffe spoke with TPMDC before he heads out on the campaign trail next week for fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds, who defeated McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial primary. McAuliffe touched on a number of subjects, including the Virginia race (more on that in a later post.)

Asked about the chances for a public option now that health care reform bills have reached the floor in both houses of Congress, McAuliffe -- an ardent supporter of expanding government-run care as part of health care reform -- said he he wouldn't bet on one being part of a final bill.

"Probably not, no," he said. "I wish we could have a public option, but I'm also a realist."

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DSCC

DSCC Outraises NRSC For The Third Time In Row

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 3:01PM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

The national campaign arm for Senate Democrats outraised its GOP counterpart for the third straight quarter, according to figures released by the DSCC today.

The Democratic group raised $10.2 million in the latest quarter. During the same time, the NRSC raised $8.6 million. And at the quarter's end, the DSCC had $10.3 million cash on hand to the NRSC's $5.2 million.

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VA-GOV

Deeds/McAuliffe/Clinton Rally Coming Next Week

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 12:16PM

VA-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds, Former President Bill Clinton, Former DNC Chair Terry MacAuliffe

This morning, we reported Terry McAuliffe would be returning to the campaign trail in Virginia to stump for Creigh Deeds starting Sunday. Now TPMDC has learned McAuliffe will be bringing one of his friends with him. A Deeds spokesperson told us McAuliffe and Deeds will appear with Bill Clinton at a Northern Virginia event on Tuesday.

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John Ensign

Ensign's Fundraising Pool Dries Up

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 11:37AM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) says he plans to run for reelection in 2012, despite being dogged by a sex-and-cover-up scandal since June.

Recent fundraising reports show that Ensign might be the only one who thinks running again is a good idea. In the third fundraising quarter, Ensign banked just $33,000 -- a low number for any incumbent senator and a huge drop compared to his normally gold-plated FEC filings.

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VA-GOV

McAuliffe Back On The Scene In Virginia

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 10:05AM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe

Terry McAuliffe is returning to the campaign trail in the Virginia gubernatorial race this weekend. The former DNC chair has kept a low-profile in the race since June 30, when Creigh Deeds defeated him and Brian Moran in the three-way Democratic primary.

But now, with less than 20 days to go in a race that looks more and more like McDonnell's to lose, McAuliffe is back. A campaign spokesperson tells TPMDC that McAuliffe will kick off a canvassing drive in his adopted hometown of McLean. Deeds campaign manager Joe Abbey will join him at the event.

We'll post more details as they come in.

VA-GOV

GOP Mocks Deeds Over Gore Visit

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 9:55AM

Former Vice President Al Gore, Va-Gov candidate Creigh Deeds

Al Gore is dropping in on Creigh Deeds this afternoon to provide the Democratic gubernatorial nominee with a much-needed fundraising boost. Gore is set to headline a fundraiser for Deeds in the the D.C. suburb of McLean later today.

The pairing is a likely one for both men. Deeds has received the endorsement of most major VA environmental advocacy groups in his race against GOP nominee Bob McDonnell. Last night, the GOP suggested another connection between Gore and Deeds -- support for cap-and-trade, which the party calls "cap-and-tax."

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FL-SEN

Meek Trails GOP Candidates In Fundraising

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 8:48AM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) raised less in the third quarter than both of his potential GOP opponents in the Florida Senate race. Meek raised just over $750,000 in the period, according to his FEC filing, and entered the fall quarter with about $2.7 million on hand.

Both Republicans in the race, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, both raised far more than Meek did last quarter. But that pair is locked in a tough primary. So far, Meek's main competitor for the Democratic nomination is former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who only recently declared and has not yet announced his fundraising numbers.

Late Update: Todd Wilder of the Ferre campaign called in after we posted. He tells TPMDC that since Ferre declared his candidacy after the end of the last fundraising quarter, the campaign will not be releasing any numbers until the end of the year.

CO-SEN

Norton Comes Out Swinging, Still Lags Bennet

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 6:35PM

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R) raised just over half a million dollars in her first two weeks or so as a Senate candidate in Colorado. Republicans in the state consider her to be a strong contender in the race, and since she entered the race on 9/15, they've ponied up to support her bid. According to her FEC filing, she's kept most of what's she's raised and entered the fall with a little more than $491,000 on hand.

Those totals lag behind the man she hopes to unseat, however. Sen. Michael Bennet (D) raised just north of $1 million in the same period, and has reported a war chest of more than $2.85 million.

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PA-SEN

Specter Leads Money Fight, Sestak Raises Money With Anita Hill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 6:05PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak announced he raised $758,000 in third quarter today -- and immediately began his quest to raise more by questioning the commitment of his opponent, Sen. Arlen Specter, to women's rights.

Sestak's fundraising total was dwarfed by Specter's. The long-time incumbent and short-time Democrat Specter raised $1.8 million, thanks in no small part, according to the Lehigh Valley Morning Call, to a September fundraiser for Specter hosted by President Obama. Specter announced his fundraising totals on Wednesday.

But today, Sestak made it clear he's going to keep hitting Specter hard, despite the fundraising mismatch.

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VA-GOV

McDonnell Outraises Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 5:53PM

VA-Gov. Candidates Bob McDonnell (R) and Creigh Deeds (D)

More bad news for Creigh Deeds (D) came this afternoon as the gubernatorial candidates in Virginia released their fundraising totals. Deeds has been trailing in polls to Bob McDonnell (R) all summer and as the campaign enters its final 20 days, fundraising totals show Deeds raised less, and has less to spend in the sprint to the finish line.

Deeds raised $3.5 million in the last fundraising quarter, and has just over $2.7 million on hand to spend between now and Nov. 3. McDonnell leads him on both scores. The Republican raised $3.8 million in the quarter and McDonnell campaign bragged about the $4.5 million that remains in its war chest.

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KY-SEN

Rand Paul Dominates Fundraising Race

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 4:02PM

Senate candidate Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul, son of congressman Ron Paul, has picked up a strong head of steam in his bid for Kentucky's open Senate seat. As FEC reports come in, Paul is leading the fundraising race by a considerable margin.

This afternoon, the Paul campaign announced it has raised just over $1 million in the third quarter. The haul is $400,000 more than his chief rival for the GOP nomination, Secretary of State Trey Grayson -- and more than double the fundraising total claimed by the leading Democrat, Lieutenant Gov. Dan Mongiardo.

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GOP

Former Steele Tech Adviser On New Homepage: 'Give It 30 Days'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 2:33PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A former rival of RNC chair Michael Steele and one of the men behind the GOP's new media revolution said it will be a month before the party's new website is ready for prime time.

Saul Anuzis, the former chair of the Michigan GOP, challenged Steele for the RNC chairmanship last year. A central plank of his campaign platform was a new focus on social media and Internet outreach. After he lost the chairmanship, Anuzis became a transition adviser to Steele on transition issues.

"Overall, I think the roll out has been a success," Anuzis said of the relaunch of GOP.com, which has led to days of criticism of Steele from the left. "As with any massive project like this, there were some technical glitches, which is to be expected."

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Health Care

Wyden Calls Baucus Bill Exchanges 'Unacceptable'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 12:42PM

Speaking with ABC's Rick Klein just now on the Baucus health care reform bill he voted for Tuesday, Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) took aim at conservatives and said there is "more do do" before the bill is complete.

Wyden said he voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Finance Committee because he "felt it was important to move the issue forward." He said Democrats had to push the bill past "far right" senators who "want to prevent any health care reform" from passing this year.

Wyden also jabbed White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs for saying so often the president wants a final bill with choice and competition. Wyden says the exchanges found in the Baucus bill will exclude 90% of people from participating within seven years. He favors exchanges for all like the ones available to members of Congress, who can switch among providers and plans when they wish. In the interview with Klein, Wyden called the Baucus exchanges "unacceptable" and said the White House claim that exchanges do provide choice and competition is "not going to pass the smell test."

A spokesperson told TPMDC later Wyden will vote against the Baucus bill if it includes the exchanges as written.

Late Update: Wyden appeared on ABCNews' TopLine webcast (video not available yet).

VA-GOV

Obama Grassroots Step Up For Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 11:53AM

Va-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds (D), President Barack Obama

The Obama campaign organization is flexing its considerable muscle in the Virgina gubernatorial race. This morning, Organizing For America -- the post-election name for Obama's 2008 campaign organization -- sent an email to its Virginia list calling on Obama grassroots activists to sign on with Creigh Deeds.

The email is good news for Deeds, whose trailing in polls and needs a boost among the core Democratic demographics OFA leveraged last year when it turned Virginia blue for the first time since 1964.

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FL-SEN

Meek Claims White House Support For Senate Bid

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 6:55PM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) told a group of national political reporters this morning he knows his bid for Florida's open U.S. seat wasn't the vision some Democrats had for the race.

"Look, I'm a walk on candidate," he said. "No one said 'let's go recruit Meek to run for the Senate.'" But the four-term Miami Rep. said he's proven he's the right man for Democrats in 2010.

To prove his point, Meek suggested he's got the support of the most powerful Democrat there is -- President Obama. "I'm pleased with what Obama has done with me early on," Meek said, claiming that he's been "in discussions" with the White House about a more formal role for the President down the road.

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CT-SEN

Simmons Raises $1 Million. Now What?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 5:58PM

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT)

The race to find a challenger for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) is going to be an expensive one. Yesterday, former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) announced he raised nearly $1 million in the fundraising quarter ending tomorrow. The same day, Linda McMahon, one of his challengers in the GOP primary, told reporters she's pumped $3 million of her own money into the race -- and spent $2M of it on ads that are already running.

Running in the Nutmeg State is always a pricey prospect -- eventually, candidates have to run TV ads in the ultra-expensive New York City television market. But with McMahon spending so much so early, Simmons will likely need to start putting his own money where is mouth is before he planned. His fundraising total means suggests he's serious about challenging the self-funding McMahon and has the base of support to make a go of it. So look for big spending by him sooner rather than later.

By the time either of these candidates gets to Dodd in the general next year -- a race national Republicans think they can win and so will probably spend party money on -- the Senate race will have already become a serious cash cow for consultants and media buyers.

NJ-GOV

Inside The Christie Travel Records: 'Fancy' In The Eye Of The Beholder

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 4:05PM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie

In the hard-fought New Jersey governors race, Democrats are pushing hard on the AP report yesterday that Republican candidate Chris Christie went over the government lodging allowance on 14 of the 16 trips he took last year while he was U.S. attorney,

But an examination by TPMDC of Christie travel recrods from 2004-2008 paints a more nuanced picture than the one of a extravagant federal prosecutor that Democrats are trying to paint.

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GOP

GOP.com Changes The Game On 'What Up?'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 9:21AM

Overnight, it seems the RNC started tweaking the new GOP.com, which emerged yesterday as something of a fail for Michael Steele.

This morning, Steele's much-derided "What Up?" blog has undergone a name change, one of several changes at the site we'll be tracking throughout the day. Steele's posts can now be found at a chairman's blog called "Change The Game."

The RNC did not respond to questions about the changes this morning.

Late Update: Politco covers yesterday's GOP.com controversy, and catches up with Steele. "Betas are about learning, and I promise that we are learning today," he said. "We never meant for the site to ever be complete. It will never be complete."

AHIP

Secret AHIP Talking Points: Mandates Good, Public Option Bad

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 5:35PM

A health insurance agent and TPM reader sends along this set of health care reform talking points the agent says AHIP is distributing to local insurance offices across the country. Our agent got the talking points from the password-protected agent-only website of a major insurer.

"I was surprised to see AHIP is against any kind of public option at any time," the source told TPMDC when asked why he was forwarding the information our way.

The AHIP talking points offer several arguments against what the documents call a "government-run plan." Chief among them is that passing a public plan amounts to "turning back the clock on quality, care coordination and disease management." The AHIP memo also says that under a public plan "patients' choices and access to health care will suffer."

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GOP

The New GOP.com Crushed Under Weight Of Mockery, Dem Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 2:34PM

The new GOP.com appears to be struggling through its first day online. Reporters found holes in the site's content this morning, and lately visitors have found the site to be down altogether or, at best, extremely slow.

"You know your web program is in trouble when your site can't even handle the traffic bump from people making fun of your web program," Joe Rospars of Blue State Digital told TPMDC.

Rospars helped craft the Obama Internet strategy as director of new media for the campaign.

The RNC did not respond to a request for a comment.

Late Update: Over at LiveWire, Rachel catches Michael Steele's response to the controversy. Steele to critics of GOP.com: "It's not even really a website."

NRCC

NRCC In Hot Water Over Pelosi Criticism...Again

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 1:40PM

From the NRCC's twitter feed (via DCCC)

The NRCC drew fire for an attack on Nancy Pelosi Democrats say goes too far for the second time in a week today. On Oct. 6, Democrats were upset when the GOP group called on Gen. Stanley McChrystal to put Pelosi "in her place." Today, it was the NRCC's seeming comparison of Pelosi to Adolf Hitler that had Democrats up in arms.

"The NRCC's despicable promotion of a video comparing Speaker Pelosi's effort to reform health insurance in America to Adolf Hitler's extermination of millions is a shocking new low that must be condemned," DCCC spokesperson Jennifer Crider said.

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Health Care

Small Biz Leaders Call For Public Option On Day Of Health Care Vote

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 11:56AM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

On the day the Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up its final vote on its version of a health care reform bill, small business leaders are rallying across the country in support of the inclusion of a public option in any reform package passed by the committee.

The Main Street Alliance -- a coalition of small business owners across the country -- is sponsoring today's rallies, which will bring business owners and lawmakers together in 11 states.

The group says the goal of the rallies is to "urge" members of the committee "and leaders in both chambers to include a public option, true affordability measures, and to replace the flawed 'free rider' proposal with fair employer contribution."

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GOP

Dems Say New RNC Website Suggests 'True' Future For GOP

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 11:22AM

GOP.com "Future Leaders" page

The RNC launched a new version of its GOP.com homepage this morning and in a statement, party chair Michael Steele said the homepage was the reflection of his vision for the GOP:

"When I ran for RNC Chairman, I committed to improving the Republican Party's online ability to inform our grassroots supporters and mobilize them behind important issues, while also electing our great candidates. With the new GOP.com that went live today, the RNC will be able to accomplish exactly that."

Just a few hours after the launch, though, Democrats are claiming the site reflects the party's current state more than its future. Flying around Twitter this morning is a link to the new site's "Future GOP leaders" page. Instead of fresh faces, it the page lists "404 Error: This page could not be found."

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AHIP

Senate Finance Committee Slams AHIP Report

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 12, 2009, 9:20AM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

The spokesman for the Democratic majority on the Senate Finance Committee pulled no punches in his response to a new health insurance lobby study that's critical of the reform bill drawn up by the committee.

"This report is untrue, disingenuous and bought and paid for by the same health insurance companies that have been gouging too many consumers for too long as they stand in the way of reform yet again," Scott Mulhauser said. "It's a health insurance company hatchet job, plain and simple."

Read his full comment after the jump.

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FL-SEN

Meek Leads Crist In FL-Sen Race Among Voters Who Know Both -- According To Meek-Commissioned Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 11, 2009, 9:15AM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Among Florida voters who know both men, Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL) leads Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) in a head-to-head matchup for the state's open Senate seat, according to a new poll commissioned my Meek's campaign and set for public release this weekend. Crist's once-vaunted levels of public support have softened considerably, making him appear more vulnerable than most observers had predicted heading into the 2010 race. Crist's personal and job approval ratings are now below those of President Obama's in Florida, and a majority of voters claim Crist is putting his "personal ambitions ahead of the people" by running for Senate during his first term as governor.

The poll, conducted Sept. 23-28, will be the centerpiece of a national press blitz by Meek in the coming week. TPMDC got an exclusive first look at the surprising results.

"These numbers are eye-opening," Meek said in an interview yesterday. "People will start looking at this race in a different way."

Late Update: Neither the Crist campaign or the NRSC have responded to requests for comment on this story. When they do, we'll post.

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