Subject: POLITICO's Morning Score: Laura Bush phones Cheri Daniels - Mitch: 'I haven't decided' - Ron Paul announcing on 'GMA' - Gingrey, Barton back Newt - Bob Perry donates to Pawlenty - PPP previews W.Va. primary
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 05:36:52 -0400 (EDT)

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

BREAKING OVERNIGHT - LAURA PHONES CHERI - Former first lady Laura Bush has spoken with Cheri Daniels to discuss a possible 2012 campaign by Daniels's husband, CBS News reports. The news comes hours after Mitch and Cheri Daniels addressed the state GOP's annual dinner, making little 2012 news in the process. CBS's Jan Crawford: "[A]s a sign of how important his wife is to [Daniels's 2012] decision, sources tell CBS News that even former First Lady Laura Bush has called Cheri Daniels personally to encourage her to support the effort and offer advice on how to define what her role on the campaign--and potentially in the White House--would be." 

MORE FROM CBS - ALL YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE, ALL IN ONE PLACE: "Reflecting what many observers see as weak Republican field, the pressure on Daniels to run has been intense. He has been assured backing from big-money donors who supported George W. Bush, in addition to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, as well as top sitting Republican governors. Sources tell CBS News popular New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has told Daniels he would back him, as would Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker." http://bit.ly/iQufvL  

JMART DOES INDIANA - "Family matters for Daniels" - And that doesn't just mean Cheri: "Talking separately to reporters after a sold-out state GOP dinner here that marked Cheri Daniels's debut on the political stump, each brought up the impact a White House run would have on their 20-something girls and their husbands. 'It's not just me,' Cheri Daniels said. 'I have four daughters and I have three sons-in-law and everybody has a voice.' 'You ought not underestimate the fact that there's not one woman involved - there's five,' Gov. Daniels said a few paces away ... Asked directly if he wants to be president, the governor said: 'I haven't decided yet.'" http://politi.co/mjaxkm  and http://politi.co/l7PXZd  

MADE FOR TV - FROM THE INDIANA GOP: Daniels's home-state Republican Party prepared a two-and-a-half-minute, campaign-style video to introduce him last night, featuring footage of Daniels kissing babies, shaking hands and riding his motorcycle as a list of his accomplishments appear on screen. On that list: "From bankruptcy to balanced budgets ... Sweeping ethics reform ... Expansion of chart schools ... Fewest state employees since 1978... Record breaking job creation ...." And the 2012-friendly kicker: "Courage. Vision. Results. Mitch Daniels." Watch the whole thing here: http://bit.ly/m7kurQ  

As Mike Huckabee stands by his man, the John Ensign saga continues and Jay Carney gazes into his crystal ball, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign. 

THIS MORNING - GO TIME FOR PAUL - POLITICO's Andy Barr: "Ron Paul is set to officially launch his presidential campaign Friday morning ... The Texas congressman will make his announcement from New Hampshire during the 7:00 a.m. hour of ABC's 'Good Morning America.' Paul is then scheduled to speak at 10:00 a.m. in Exeter, part of a two-day swing through New Hampshire following a stop in Iowa. Paul will also be keynoting the Grafton County Republican Memorial dinner on Friday night." http://politi.co/lTf5vw  

POPPING FROM THE NRSC - "Barack Obama: $4 a gallon" - The Senate GOP takes aim at Democratic energy policies in a video hawking "the most readily available natural resource known to man ...Hot air ... Hot air can power Democrats to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." Watch it here: http://bit.ly/jeUqYk  

THE HEADLINE FROM MICHIGAN - "Romney: No apology for state health plan" - The Globe's Glen Johnson: "In his first - and perhaps most significant - policy speech of his budding presidential campaign, [Mitt Romney] gave the strongest defense to date of his signature Massachusetts health care plan. 'A lot of pundits around the nation are saying that I should just stand up and say this whole thing was a mistake, that it was a boneheaded idea and I should just admit it, it was a mistake, and walk away from it,' Romney said. 'And I presume that a lot of folks would conclude that if I did that, that would be good for me politically. But there's only one problem with that: it wouldn't be honest. I, in fact, did what I believed was right for the people of my state.' At the same time, he harshly criticized the current health care plan - spearheaded by Obama and passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress last year - and said he would repeal it and replace it with his own plan." http://bo.st/mNvFAH  

TRUTH BOMB FROM KASIE HUNT: "[T]he former governor labored to draw sharp distinctions between the Massachusetts plan and President Obama's sweeping national overhaul. In talking points distributed to allies on Thursday, the Romney camp noted that, unlike with the federal law, the Massachusetts program 'did not raise taxes or divert resources from seniors.' As for the individual mandate that both plans share-for conservatives, the most noxious part of the president's plan-the campaign [said] the Massachusetts mandate was implemented to advance fiscal conservative principles." http://politi.co/ltMf4e  

T-PAW GETS BOB PERRY - AND FRIENDS -Tim Pawlenty is making some headway with the big-name Republican donor class, according to the Wall Street Journal, giving the former Minnesota governor a shot at competing with his wealthier primary opponents. Patrick O'Connor: "Mr. Pawlenty's backers include Bob Perry, the Texas home builder who gave more money than any GOP donor to conservative groups like American Crossroads, which spent heavily in the 2010 election, and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which was active in the 2004 campaign. In 2008, Mr. Perry supported Mr. Romney ... The Pawlenty campaign held its biggest fund-raiser to date in Dallas on Tuesday at the home of Tom Hicks, the private-equity and sports investor, who once owned the Texas Rangers baseball team ... Pawlenty and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman appear to have emerged as Mr. Romney's top rivals for the set of top GOP fund-raisers known as 'bundlers.'" http://on.wsj.com/mcl7BZ  

GINGREY FOR NEWT - Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey, who pledged to back Newt Gingrich in a potential presidential campaign, followed through in a statement to Morning Score: "Newt will offer commonsense solutions to solve our nation's problems and bring about economic prosperity in a time when our country needs it most. Americans want leadership and I know he is a candidate fully capable of cutting spending, creating jobs and economic stability, and really changing the way we do business here in Washington. I fully support Newt as he embarks on this journey to the White House and applaud his decision to take on this challenge." Texas Rep. Joe Barton also endorsed Gingrich yesterday: http://bit.ly/j4WVOF  

AND - UPDATE FROM NEWT INC. - The Gingrich-founded 527 group American Solutions will continue under new management, now that the former speaker is an announced 2012 candidate. The details: "Joe Gaylord, a longtime Republican operative and trusted Gingrich confidant, is taking the helm as CEO ... Though American Solutions is currently registered as a 527 group, it has applied for status as a 501(c)4 nonprofit ...'The most important thing for us is to let our members and donors know that we are still in existence and we're going to be championing issues that are important,' [Gaylord] said." http://politi.co/kBq9if  

CARNEY THE MAGNIFICENT - W.H. UPBEAT: White House press secretary Jay Carney predicted from the podium Thursday that President Obama would win reelection, telling reporters: "We are highly confident that the president will be reelected." POLITICO's MJ Lee: "Carney's comment was in response to a question on whether Obama's request for a two-year extension to the term of FBI Director Robert Mueller is related to the 'political calendar.' 'If it's about politics ... and about the president wanting to nominate his own, then he would do that now,' Carney said ... Carney added that by the time Mueller's new tenure ends in two years, Obama 'will be in his second term.'" http://politi.co/mTr9sq  

THE NEW YORK SPECIAL - CORWIN DOUBLES DOWN - Republican congressional candidate Jane Corwin has now put a total of $1.96 million in personal cash into her campaign, as she seeks to recover momentum against Democrat Kathy Hochul and independent self-funder Jack Davis. Roll Call: "News of the new loan comes the same day that the National Republican Congressional Committee reserved $265,000 in television advertising time in the once-sleepy special election to replace Rep. Chris Lee (R)." http://bit.ly/lJFTtF  

AND - UNFORCED ERROR - Remember that on-camera scuffle between Jack Davis and a tracker? Well, it turns out that tracker was Jane Corwin's chief of staff, in a turn of events that's put the Republican unexpectedly on the defensive: "[Corwin chief of staff Mike] Mallia is heard on video asking Davis why he dropped out of Thursday morning's debate when Davis responded by smacking the camera ... Did Corwin's staffer behave properly in the unseen moments before Davis swiped at his camera? Only the raw footage will answer that question. 'Like I said, it will be up to him to decide [to release it] because that's his video. It was on his time,' Corwin said." http://bit.ly/mMDrLW  

HUCK RETURNS THE FAVOR - BOOSTS HARIDOPOLOS: Mike Huckabee has endorsed Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos in the 2012 Republican U.S. Senate primary, giving a helpful stamp of approval to the state legislator who backed Huckabee's last presidential campaign. The Palm Beach Post: "The backing of the former Baptist minister should help Haridopolos with the important social conservative segment of the Republican primary electorate. Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner are also vying for the right to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson." http://bit.ly/iDze6n  

ELECTION EVE IN WEST VIRGINIA - TOMBLIN VS ... WHO? Acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin looks like a strong favorite in Saturday's Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to Public Policy Polling. The outcome of the Republican primary is much less certain, with mining executive Bill Maloney essentially tied with former Secretary of State Betty Ireland. The results: "Tomblin's polling at 33% to 20% for Rick Thompson [and] 17% for Natalie Tennant ... [Maloney] now has the smallest of leads with 32% to presumptive front runner Betty Ireland's 31%. When PPP first polled this race in mid-April Ireland led with 31% to Maloney's 17%. Since that point in time she has not picked up any additional support, while Maloney has seen a 15 percent gain in his standing." http://bit.ly/jMpYBr  and http://bit.ly/iqyuNC  

NEXT WEEK - BIDEN TO CHICAGO - The vice president will visit the Windy City on Monday to attend Rahm Emanuel's swearing-in as the first new mayor in 22 years. AP: "Emanuel said he is glad his friend is coming to represent the Obama administration at the ceremony Monday. 'I think this speaks volumes about the vice president's friendship for our city,' Emanuel told reporters Thursday ... Emanuel said Biden has a 'love for the city' and recognizes how important Chicago, the third-largest city in America, is for the country." http://apne.ws/lD0dzf  

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I know exactly what you are doing. Put your pants on and go home." - Tim Coe, religious adviser to John Ensign, urging the senator to break off his affair with Cindy Hampton, according to the Senate Ethics Committee report released Thursday http://bit.ly/j1JFCn  

Go to Morning Score Now >> http://www.politico.com/morningscore

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