Subject: POLITICO's Morning Score: DGA slams Walker, taunts govs - Santorum plans New England swing - CNN: Bachmann's serious - Priebus convenes 2012 camps - Fla.'s Thrasher backs Romney - Giffords to shuttle launch
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:30:55 -0500 (EST)

By Alexander Burns (@aburnspolitico, [email-masked] ) 

FIRST IN SCORE - DEMS PUNCH BACK - Wisconsin Democrats are still regrouping after their shock defeats in the state legislature this week, but the Democratic Governors Association is already seeking to go back on offense. The DGA will release a video this morning slamming Republican Gov. Scott Walker for having "ignored the will of the people of Wisconsin by ramming through his union-busting, power-grabbing agenda that will do nothing to balance the budget or create jobs." And the Democratic committee will challenge other Republican state executives to take a firm stance on the issue, pointing out that a number of prominent conservative governors declined to endorse Walker's position on collective bargaining last month. "Republican governors didn't 'Stand with Scott' the first time," the video says. "What will they do now?" http://bit.ly/eMOsFl  

CAMEOS INCLUDE - Florida Gov. Rick Scott, declaring: "Collective bargaining's fine" ... New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, confessing: "I love collective bargaining" ... Watch the full video here: http://bit.ly/eMOsFl  

MEANWHILE, IN MADISON - "Assembly passes union measure 53-42 after bitter debate" - The Journal Sentinel: "The body voted ... in favor of the budget-repair proposal, sending the bill to the Republican governor after an epic month of struggle unlike anything in living memory in Wisconsin politics. But even with the battle won by Republicans, a wider war remains for both sides. It will likely be fought in the courts and through recall efforts against 14 senators ... Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said that the governor would sign the bill 'as soon as possible' but not on Thursday." http://bit.ly/hjMLUk  

THE 2012 SCORE - SANTORUM SNEAK PEEK - Fresh off a swing through the early presidential primary states, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will give a series of speeches in New England next week before returning to his home state. On Monday, Santorum's first stop is in Newton, Mass., where he'll speak to a benefit luncheon for the organization Catholic Citizenship. Later in the day, Santorum heads to Lewiston, Maine, to address the Young America's Foundation at Bates College. On Tuesday, Santorum will be in New Hampshire, meeting with business leaders in Manchester, attending a St. Patrick's Day lunch in Concord and appearing on the Charlie Sherman Show on WGIR. He heads back to Pennsylvania on Thursday to keynote the Fayette County GOP's Lincoln Day Dinner. 

As Mike Huckabee makes the charts, Meg Whitman lands on her feet and Mitch Daniels comes back to Sunday morning, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign. 

FRIDAY STANDINGS - BETTER OFF NOW? Over the last week, we saw the presidential hiring wars begin in earnest. We saw the first multi-candidate forum of the 2012 cycle take place in Iowa. For the first time in a while, we saw other states competing with Wisconsin for national headlines. Here's Morning Score's take on how some of the top pols and operatives should answer the question: Are you better off now than you were seven days ago? 

BETTER OFF: (1) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose political challenges are far from over, but who can at least rest easier in knowing he avoided a potential disaster in the state Senate, where his anti-collective bargaining law had been stalled for weeks; (2) West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who picked a high-profile fight with the White House over the federal budget and then refused to say who he'd support for president in 2012 - exactly the kind of attention a Mountain State Democrat needs; (3) Ralph Reed, the former Christian Coalition executive director and founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, who returned to the center of the political stage when his organization hosted Monday's 2012 kickoff forum in Iowa, a major coup for the new group. 

WORSE OFF: (1) Indiana Democrats, whose state legislators have been on a Wisconsin-style out-of-state jaunt of their own, which probably just got harder to sustain thanks to the way things ended in Madison Wednesday night; (2) Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, whose polling numbers were stuck in the mid-40s in a PPP survey released this week even before news broke that she spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on private jet flights, including some political travel; (3) Nevada Sen. John Ensign's donors - whoever they may be - who actually held their noses and gave money to the scandal-scarred, politically doomed incumbent, only to be rewarded with the news that Ensign won't even run again. Any guesses where that money ends up? 

DROPPING TODAY - "Ryan Rudominer joins New Partners as part of communications team" - From the announcement: "Rudominer most recently served as National Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. His four year tenure at the DCCC also included a position as the DCCC's Midwest Regional Press Secretary where he developed and executed strategic communications plans for 25 highly targeted congressional campaigns that netted six Democratic congressional seats. 'We are thrilled that Ryan has joined our communications team here at New Partners,' said Cara Morris Stern, Partner. 'Ryan's background and experience in the political communications realm will allow us to enhance and expand the services we provide to our growing roster of clients.'" 

2012 TALKER - MICHELE BACHMANN LEANS IN - The Minnesota congresswoman is "increasingly serious" about running for the White House next year, according to CNN. Peter Hamby reports that "a growing number of conservative activists, legislators and political operatives in key states stand ready to help her if she does ... A Bachmann-headlined fundraiser Saturday for the New Hampshire GOP was re-located to a larger venue because of 'a very strong initial interest in this event,' according to a state party official. Bachmann has already met with prominent interest groups and well-placed officials in early caucus and primary states of Iowa and South Carolina ... 'She is leaning more toward doing it,' one Republican close to Bachmann told CNN. 'The people she's meeting on the ground, they love her. She is definitely more encouraged when she makes these trips.'" http://bit.ly/eaLcJ3  

UNITER, NOT A DIVIDER: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels again defended his proposal for a "truce" on social issues, calling it a "tactical suggestion" aimed at unifying the country around a program of fiscal austerity. "If you don't believe that the American public is mortally threatened, as I do, by this one overriding problem we have built for ourselves, then of course I'm wrong," Daniels told the Hoover Institution's Peter Robinson. "But if that is the case, then all I was really saying was, I don't want to lose one person ... to make the kind of changes that will restore America's greatness. All I was saying was, we're going to need to unify all kinds of people and freedom is going to need every friend it can get." http://bit.ly/fNZd1E  

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY - Daniels is the headliner on NBC's "Meet the Press," the network announced: "As the budget battle heats up in Washington, states across the country like Indiana are tightening their belts ... Also, some say he's the right man for the White House in 2012. What are his thoughts about getting into the race?" http://on.msnbc.com/dorRDw  

POPPING ON 2012 LIVE - "RNC chair holds meeting with 2012ers' representatives" - POLITICO's Jonathan Martin: "RNC Chairman Reince Priebus convened a meeting Monday with representatives from nearly every potential Republican presidential candidate to discuss efforts to rebuild the committee, the primary calendar and the debate schedule ... Officials from candidates all-but-declared like Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney were there but so were aides to Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin ... Notably not there: anyone representing Mitch Daniels (a Daniels adviser indicated that they were focused on the increasingly messy Indiana legislative session) ... The hottest topic of discussion, according to sources in the room, was over the looming debates ... Priebus has tapped Indiana GOP committeeman James Bopp, an outspoken conservative on the committee, to lead an effort examining if the RNC could play a role in sifting through some of the debate proposals." http://politi.co/fgxcUl  

IT'S WORKING - HE'S NO. 2 - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's book, "A Simple Government," will debut in second place on the New York Times bestseller list. Right behind him in third place: "Revolt!" by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann. http://nyti.ms/hzP8oW  

SUNSHINE STATE MITT - THRASHER SIGNS ON - Florida state Sen. John Thrasher, a former state House speaker and Republican Party of Florida chairman, told the Times-Union that he'll throw his considerable political weight behind Mitt Romney in 2012. Pledged Thrasher: "If Governor Romney decides to run for President in 2012, I will absolutely be supporting him and helping him in Florida." http://bit.ly/gu9d7p  

MOVEMENT AT LCV - The League of Conservation voters has tapped Navin Nayak, the head of LCV's global warming campaign, to take over the role of senior vice president for campaigns. LCV president Gene Karpinski: "At this critical moment, in which we are confronted with unprecedented assaults on our environmental and public health protections, Navin's leadership, experience and creativity are the right mix for the tremendous challenges we face." 

NO, THE NRSC IS NOT COURTING JOE SCARBOROUGH - A National Republican Senatorial Committee source shot down a story inferring that the NRSC was actively recruiting Joe Scarborough to run against Florida Sen. Bill Nelson. "This is what happens when a publication in this 24-hour media cycle tries to create news and not report the news. The story is not true," the source said. The original report: http://bit.ly/ehFcFU  

ARIZONA UPDATE - GIFFORDS TO GROUND CONTROL: Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords intends to be in Cape Canaveral next month to watch the shuttle Endeavour, commanded by her husband, lift off on its final mission. Reuters: "'The plan is for her to attend,' said C.J. Karamargin, the Arizona Democrat's spokesman, adding that changes in her medical condition and other factors ultimately will determine whether Giffords is present ... Doctors are expected to give an update on Gifford's condition at a Houston news conference on Friday." http://reut.rs/hfMvvp  

MORE ARIZONA - CENSUS READING: Hispanics now make up nearly 30 percent of Arizona's population, thanks to a decade of growth that saw expansion in Phoenix and its surrounding counties. The Republic: "Arizona had nearly 1.9 million Hispanic residents as of April 1 ... The total count of Hispanics rose by nearly 600,000 over the decade. By 2010, Phoenix had added nearly 125,000 residents and had grown to 1.4 million, a 9.4-percent increase from 2000. The growth was smaller than previously estimated ... Solid growth in west Maricopa County and Pinal County means they could be central to a new, ninth congressional district to be created before the 2012 elections. Maricopa County had 3.8 million residents, making it the fourth largest in the nation." http://bit.ly/hk76wt  

THE ENSIGN SEAT - GIVE 'EM HELLER: Republican Rep. Dean Heller is poised to announce his campaign for Nevada's open Senate seat, according to multiple state media reports. The Nevada News Bureau reported yesterday that Heller "is definitely committed to running," while the Review-Journal's Laura Myers wrote that Heller "is telling close confidants that he's planning to announce as soon as next week." Myers: "Heller's move has been widely expected in Republican circles ... Republicans in Nevada and in Washington, D.C., believe Heller's the best candidate to defend the GOP-held seat against an expected all-out attempt by the Democratic Party to win it." http://bit.ly/gA0S0t  and http://bit.ly/g0uzTI  

ONE MORE NAME IN CONNECTICUT: The Chris Murphy-Susan Bysiewicz Senate primary could get a bit more crowded. WFSB's Dennis House floats one more Democrat for the seat: former state Treasurer Frank Borges. House: "[T]he 59 year old Democrat has received a steady stream of callers looking to join his team. Borges also told me he has no deadline or time frame for a decision ... If Borges runs and wins the nomination, he would make Connecticut history by being the first black Democratic Senate nominee. Borges is now the President and CEO of a very successful investment firm in suburban Hartford, Landmark Partners of Simsbury." http://bit.ly/erCnwO  

FACEPALM - CALIFORNIA EDITION: Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman broke campaign records last year when she spent over $140 million of her own money in an unsuccessful bid for governor. Here's the punch line: Her net worth hasn't changed a bit. The Los Angeles Times: "Whitman's wealth is estimated at $1.3 billion, the same amount it was in 2010, 2008 and 2007. (Whitman saw her bank balance dip to $1.1 billion in 2009 because of a decline in the price of EBay stock). Although Whitman's personal fortune remains stable, her ranking among the world's billionaires dropped. She placed 938th, down from 773rd last year, according to Forbes." http://lat.ms/icVqEi  

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Well, the teleprompter went dead." - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, after a very long pause in a speech this week. Story and video here: http://bit.ly/h3UJnE  

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