Subject: POLITICO’s Morning Score: Romney still has problems with the base--Chicago highlights his conservatism--NOM to back Mitt as the coronation continues--Indiana Senate debate tonight--McDonnell drinks Va. wine with Trump--Christie seen as more leader than bully in N.J.
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:22:58 -0600

By James Hohmann (
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked] ; Twitter: @jameshohmann)

NEW OBAMA VIDEO - HAS ROMNEY BOXED HIMSELF IN?Chicago is going up with a two-minute web video that strings together several Mitt Romney comments from the primaries that could come back to haunt him in the general election. This is one piece of an aggressive effort by the reelection campaign to make Romney's pivot back toward the middle as hard as possible. Called "Memories to last a lifetime," the reel includes Romney saying "corporations are people" in Iowa, "I like being able to fire people..." in New Hampshire and bragging at CPAC that he was "a severely conservative governor." Determined to auger the "war on women" narrative, the video highlights Romney calling for the Supreme Court to
 overturn Roe vs. Wade, promising to "get rid of" Planned Parenthood, expressing support for the Blunt Amendment and telling Mike Hucakbee he backs a Constitutional amendment to begin life at conception. It also includes his calls to let the housing crash run its course and let Detroit go bankrupt. It ends with clips of him opposing bringing the troops home from Iraq, promising to veto the Dream Act and saying that he likes Paul Ryan's budget. The tagline: "Romney: A severely conservative nominee. Remember that." Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb435fabf0dfa510a48591c65a725dd5db4b22b5f15768f210b3 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb435fabf0dfa510a48591c65a725dd5db4b22b5f15768f210b3 .

SANTORUM'S ATTACKS WILL SHADOW ROMNEY TOO:The liberal group ThinkProgress rounded up their 10 favorite hits on Romney by Rick Santorum, which they plan to recycle in an effort to paint the nominee as a lying flip-flopper who pushed an individual mandate and supported bank bailouts.
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SNEAK PEEK - NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE TO ENDORSE ROMNEY:"We hope our endorsement will help focus social conservatives on the need to defeat President Obama," Brian Brown, NOM&#39;s president, says in a forthcoming statement. Romney has already signed the group's pledge, which compels him to support an anti-gay marriage amendment to the Constitution, to appoint Supreme Court justices and an attorney general who will "apply the original meaning of the Constitution," to defend DOMA in court and to fight D.C. giving gays the right to marry.

BUTROMNEY STILL HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM-5 THINGS TO ADDRESS, per Jonathan Martin and Reid Epstein:1)Secure Santorum's endorsement. 2) Seal the deal with conservative stalwarts. 3) Show enough respect/love for Newt that he doesn't go nuclear. 4) Tame Ron Paul's supporters. 5) Get reluctant establishment types (think Mitch Daniels or John Boehner) to serve as surrogates/help raise money. The goal there is to minimize the lack of enthusiasm narrative. Remember that Santorum will still be on the ballot in the upcoming states. Watch closely for how many protest votes are cast against Romney on April 24.
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WOOING WOMEN - LAST NIGHT'S CAREFULLY-STAGED ROMNEY EVENT:"Speaking at a Delaware structural steel factory, Romney responded to Democratic claims his party had waged a 'war on women' [by] accusing President Barack Obama&#39;s administration of failing working women. 'The real war on women has been the job losses as the result of the Obama economy,' he told the audience in Wilmington, saying women had lost 92.3% of jobs lost under the Obama administration...Romney&#39;s event was carefully staged to underscore his message.Rows of mostly women were seated behind him, filling television screens broadcasting the event.The candidate acknowledged the owner of the steel factory, also a woman, and
 the 12 female business owners he met with before the event."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb4342cdff5eb32c938463d766fc8f9604b67925b12c18b60312 
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CROSSROADS GPS - GOING UP WITH A $1.7 MILLION BUY IN 6 STATES:In an ad entitled 'Too Much,' focused on President Barack Obama and energy prices, the outside group Crossroads GPS is going on air for a week on broadcast and cable in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia, with a total buy costing $1.7 million. It's the first of many Obama hits to come. Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43b745de652a973ed7b24b42bccf0efed072ce680b5f475373 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43b745de652a973ed7b24b42bccf0efed072ce680b5f475373 .

** As the CWA offers help to a bipartisan mix of lawmakers, Lugar sends a mailer to Donnelly and Jon Stewart complains about CNN, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.

NEWT DEATH WATCH, DAY 28-GINGRICH CHECK BOUNCES:The Salt Lake Tribune offers a window into just how bad things are getting over there. "Utah Elections Director Mark Thomas said a designated agent for the Gingrich campaign brought the filing papers and a check for $500 in March [to get on the ballot], but after the check was deposited, the state was notified by the bank that the check had bounced. He said the office has tried to contact the Gingrich campaign through the telephone number and email provided on the application, but have not received a response. Recently, the state sent a certified letter to the campaign, stating that if the fee isn't paid by April 20, Gingrich will be
 disqualified and will not be on the ballot."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43effc0001857a365144a1ebb0ebf7262bfb0c0f4bdbdb6ded 
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NEWT'S OBSTINACY - INSISTS HE'LL STAY IN UNTIL TAMPA:"Gingrich, whose campaign is carrying roughly $4.5 million in debt, immediately began trying to use Santorum's exit as a fundraising vehicle, adding a banner to the front of his website declaring him the 'last conservative standing,'" per Ginger Gibson. "I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice," Gingrich said in a statement.
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PAUL FIGHTS ON - HE WON A DO-OVER CAUCUS IN MISSOURI LAST NIGHT:The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports this morning that "Supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul took control of St. Charles County's second-try Republican caucus Tuesday night, winning all of its delegates to later stages of the state GOP's presidential selection process. The Paul campaign used superior organization to get its people to the meeting at the St. Charles Convention Center. More than 900 people took part overall...GOP State Chairman David Cole had scheduled the do-over session after the county GOP's original caucus March 17 disbanded amid boisterous disputes over rules. Two Paul supporters, including Stafford, were arrested
 at that event." The Paul campaign, in a statement, said that the Texas congressman "is now the last - and real - conservative alternative to Mitt Romney":
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb432907086636cb6ca7334ed34e8b63dbdfafc36b7c6a879111 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb432907086636cb6ca7334ed34e8b63dbdfafc36b7c6a879111 . The Post-Dispatch story:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43956d7d50c3fe49b17950424052906758058ed15e07cc0021 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43956d7d50c3fe49b17950424052906758058ed15e07cc0021 .

WHAT THE REMAINING CANDIDATES ARE UP TO:Romney hosts a campaign event at Alpha Graphics in Hartford, Conn., at 1 p.m. and a town hall at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, R.I., at 6:25 p.m. Ron Paul hosts a town hall at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth at 7 p.m. In Delaware, Gingrich visits the Newark Senior Center at 10 a.m. and holds a town hall on Social Security in Dover at 7 p.m. Details:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43d1bff14dda003d6bdf51a6567993cd3d81f05664db65f72f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1e1854519358fb43d1bff14dda003d6bdf51a6567993cd3d81f05664db65f72f 

APOWERFUL STAT-MORE ON ROMNEY'S RIGHT FLANK PROBLEM:"Romney has not won a primary contest in a state where evangelical Christians made up more than half the GOP electorate - nor has he lost one in a state where evangelicals made up less than half the electorate," The Washington Post's Dan Balz notes in his story on Santorum dropping out.
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GARY BAUERtells the Wall Street Journal's Peter Nicholas:"Most of the party will unite simply because four more years of Barack Obama is unthinkable. BUTto avoid losing three, four, five or six percentage points on the margins, which in a close election could be devastating, Gov.Romney will have to continue to make his case'' to conservative voters.
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DAVID BRODYwrites on his Christian Broadcasting Network blog that"money - not message - doomed Santorum." His takeaway from the campaign: "A divided Teavangelical base led to Santorum's exit and allowed Mitt Romney to become the soon-to-be Republican nominee for president...Can Romney secure the Teavangelical vote? It may not be as easy as you think. The Romney campaign shouldn't take them for granted."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f9f2e388f255c23db6f57b26a5b279bb9737f8acc79c2898 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f9f2e388f255c23db6f57b26a5b279bb9737f8acc79c2898 

RICHARD VIGUERIEtells Bloomberg's John McCormick: "There'ssome hard feelingsamong conservatives... He's gota mountain to climb."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab656d121e127847c5aa7c8ac7f374f16094a6f2c2a970cb125 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab656d121e127847c5aa7c8ac7f374f16094a6f2c2a970cb125 

ALEX CASTELLANOSwarns that it would be a mistake to focus too much on evangelicals: "The worst thing Mitt could do now is turn inward and worry about consolidating evangelicals and the party," he told Dan Balz. "He needs to be a general, face forward toward the enemy and lead the troops into battle against the president of European-style government, Barack Obama. That will get the army marching in step."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6e2280df9d78db8108e160ad60cdd9c18dfa5c6be0555f58e 
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BYRON YORKnotes the difficultBALANCING ACT that Romney faces in his column for today's Washington Examiner. "Romney will have a hard time winning in November unless he can convince the Chuck Laudners and Bob Vander Plaatses ... to do the things that need to be done ... Surveying today&#39;s situation, both ... think back to 2008, when social conservatives like themselves opposed John McCain. In February of that year, when McCain sewed up the nomination, they began an extensive period of sitting on their hands...It was only in September &#39;08, after McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, that a lot of activists became re-activated.Romney can&#39;t afford a summer of conservatives
 sitting on their hands...He could certainly pick a running mate who personifies conservative ideals, but if he follows tradition, that choice won&#39;t come until the Republican convention, which begins August 27 in Tampa. ...[His] best bet is to emphasize the overwhelming urgency of defeating Obama."

http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab60658308ee06af92b1878b57583560c15b724d128cc572443 
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THE CORONATION, CONT. - HEAVIES RALLY AROUND THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE:Endorsements came yesterday from three governors: Louisiana's Bobby Jindal (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab61ea5f930581fb089c3d86710d914c914d128627e7ced0bc4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab61ea5f930581fb089c3d86710d914c914d128627e7ced0bc4 ), Iowa's Terry Branstad (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab61f2f7919e678ffab93d73037eb6d8c26912a7702b333ac47 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab61f2f7919e678ffab93d73037eb6d8c26912a7702b333ac47 ) and Florida's Rick Scott (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab66d39bb3409c4ab722de7a2c39ae0a58728d6f2d8860d0d42 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab66d39bb3409c4ab722de7a2c39ae0a58728d6f2d8860d0d42 ).Lindsey Graham (South Carolina senator):"Now is the time to get behind Mitt Romney as our presidential nominee so that every corner of the Republican Party is united."

FOSTER FRIESS HOPS ON THE ROMNEY MONEY TRAIN:The retired investor who spent nearly $1.7 million boosting Rick Santorum's presidential run said yesterday afternoon that he's ready to help Romney. "Friess, who was in Washington to accept an award from the Horatio Alger Association, said he had yet to discuss his planned shift in allegiance with Romney's campaign or the Washington-based super PAC supporting it," Ken Vogel reports. "The bottom line is, I'm going to be very supportive and I'll probably have plans to share with you a little later on."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f648949be4fe48da12704afda7a0e5dded997eb65173b6f7 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f648949be4fe48da12704afda7a0e5dded997eb65173b6f7 

KEY PENNSYLVANIANS PLANNING TO ENDORSE MITT:Sen. Pat Toomey (former Club for Growth chief) will endorse Romney today.NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports that Pennsylvania GOP chairman Rob Gleason called Romney to coordinate an endorsement as early as today. "They are leaving it up to the Romney camp to decide on timing of endorsements, but local officials want to do it as soon as possible," she says. "They say there was real concern within the state party about Santorum, given how badly he lost his last statewide race. Despite loyalty to Santorum for building the party in years past, party officials said that with Santorum at the top of the ticket, they feared losing critical statewide contests
 including: U.S. Senate (whoever wins the primary fight to run against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey), Attorney General, Auditor General, and State Treasurer."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab618d87d44b914c81455e50f24107376b8dd4f9eb71f951bfd 
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WSJ EDITORIAL CREDITS SANTORUM FOR RAISING ROMNEY'S GAME:"The Pennsylvanian was also by far the most effective Republican critic of RomneyCare. When he stood on stage in a debate and took apart the Massachusetts health law as a prototype for ObamaCare, Mr. Romney realized he couldn&#39;t coast to the nomination. That&#39;s when the former Massachusetts Governor came out with his own tax cut and tax reform plan to appeal to economic conservatives...There are no consolation prizes in Presidential politics, but if Mr. Romney does win in November, Mr. Santorum&#39;s strong run will be part of the victory story."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6967140e262a9b108aee17f6322d992f5eb2e55e235bed256 
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TOP SANTORUM TALKERS -

THE WAY TO LOSE - SANTORUM LACKED MESSAGE DISCIPLINE:The Huffington Post's Jon Ward blames Santorum's "tendency to speak off the cuff, in a uniquely provocative way, about cultural and social issues" for his failure to become a real contender. "In those four industrial states -- Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin -- Santorum demonstrated an inability to expand his base of evangelical Christians by attracting support from upper-income, more moderate and less religious Republicans." Jon recounts some of the biggest gaffes in his piece:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6624c768bc1cbe11bf25a450edcd9848df64effda466cd93f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6624c768bc1cbe11bf25a450edcd9848df64effda466cd93f .

MARK HALPERIN'S TAKE:Romney must "convince [Santorum] to use a prepared text at the convention."
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SHOT - LAST NIGHT IN LANCASTER, SANTORUM TOUTED HIS SOCIAL CONSERVATISM:"Hours after dropping out of the presidential race, Santorum said Tuesday night that he was the sole candidate ... who had been willing to go beyond a perfunctory commitment to socially conservative causes... 'The people who evaluate the candidates and label extremism understood thatI actually believed what I said I believed,' he said, and the crowd at Lancaster Bible College roared in approval. 'All the candidates on the dais were social conservatives, but ...I was the only one on the dais who actually tried to do anything, who tried to move the ball ... and I dare say talk about it on a regular basis.' ... Santorum
 was in good spirits at the evening forum before hundreds of religious-minded voters. When [evangelical leader James] Dobson asked what was next for him, Santorum replied, 'I'd like to get some sleep.'"
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CHASER - FRONT PAGE OF PHILLY INQUIRER SAYS "PASSION FOR SOCIAL ISSUES MAY HAVE DOOMED SANTORUM":"At a crucial point before February&#39;s Michigan primary, when he could have grievously wounded Romney by beating the front-runner in his native state, Santorum let himself stray from his message of economic populism - symbolized by his moving evocations of his coal miner grandfather - into controversial comments on social issues," Tom Fitzgerald writes. "It was reminiscent of 2006, when Santorum lost his Senate reelection bid in Pennsylvania by 17 percentage points, passionately talking of morality and the family and warning of the dangers of Islamic terrorism and Iran."
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ROMNEY ENDORSEMENT WILL COME, BUT HE'S IN NO RUSH:"Though Santorum did not endorse Romney in his concession speech Tuesday, adviser John Brabender said it would be wrong to read into that any hesitation about helping the presumptive GOP nominee," Alex Burns and Maggie Haberman report. "Brabender said Romney had called Santorum and expressed a desire to meet and discuss how Santorum could be helpful, and that Santorum had been receptive. 'Rick felt it was more appropriate to see if the governor is going to ask for Rick's endorsement,' said Brabender, who has advised Santorum since he first ran for the House in 1990.
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HE WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY BE A FRONTRUNNER IF HE RUNS IN 2016:"It is questionable, however, whether Mr. Santorum can expect the competition in 2016 or 2020 to be as soft as it was this year, with big names like Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and perhaps others looming on the horizon, and as the Republicans who were elected to office in the 2010 wave begin to mature as politicians," Nate Silver notes on his 538 blog. "Whomever Mr. Romney selects as his vice presidential candidate will also have a good shot at future Republican nominations. Finishing
 second in a strong field of candidates, as John McCain did in the Republican race of 2000, may be an indication of future success, but it is less of a credential when the competition is middling and some of Mr. Santorum's support came by virtue of being an 'anti-Romney' candidate."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6225295b4b106b8b88d653dbae859efff876dba14870be209 
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HE'S UNLIKELY TO RETURN TO FOX NEWS:Saying that your former employer is shilling for your opponent is not the way to win. The New York Times' Jeremy Peters: "Mr. Santorum, in fact, was terminated about a year ago, a person with knowledge of the parameters of his contract said Tuesday. Under the terms of his three-year deal with Fox - which the person said was actually in the range of five-figures per year and not the higher six-figure amounts that had been widely reported - Mr. Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, had 60 days after the network suspended him in March 2011 to confirm that he was not running for president. He never confirmed, so his contract was canceled."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab64cf74220e2542935c622e16bdb5d0d5968ae5dc3d12d9423 
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WHAT WILL HE DO WITH HIS WARCHEST?Santorum has five options, Dave Levinthal explains. Keep it. Spend it. Donate it. Convert it for other political uses. Do nothing.
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SANTORUM'S CONCESSION - WHO HE THANKED:In his 14-minute concession speech, without referencing his opponents, Santorum offered nods to the following people.Chuck Laudner:"Drove us around in his Dodge RAM pick-up truck."Sam Clovis: "A talk show host. I'll never forget this fighter pilot - a man of very strong convictions - welling up and tearing up about what was going on with our country, particularly our national security."Wendy Jensen: "Our best volunteer. 5,000 phone calls...She passed away shortly before the caucus but was someone that I remember her passion for the least of us, those who were on the margins of society - as many would have looked at her."Nathaniel:"Our best phone caller
 after Iowa was a young man who came to our first event in Oklahoma in a wheelchair who had Spina Bifida..."The Duggar Family:"who traveled around with us in a bus."Bemidji Woolen Mills (sweater vest maker):"Turned out we were the best company that [they've] ever had in their entire history."The Santorum Girls (Camille and Haley Harris):"Over a million hits on YouTube of that catchy little tune that they were inspired to give!"And, finally, Joe Klein (the liberal columnist):"...One of my favorite articles was the one that he wrote where his headline was 'Rick Santorum's Inconvenient Truths.'" That column:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6ea82cf32fbc76835d065aeb7d6fe3590d484ddd1c98e7410 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6ea82cf32fbc76835d065aeb7d6fe3590d484ddd1c98e7410 . Video of Santorum's speech:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab68bb9ff23e035080b6bc007b11381e5a9e383ed9f1aa53864 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab68bb9ff23e035080b6bc007b11381e5a9e383ed9f1aa53864 .

WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS UP TO:"In the morning, the President will deliver a statement on the Buffett Rule. This event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is open press.Later in the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office...Later, the President will attend a campaign event in Washington, DC. This event at The W Hotel is closed press."

4 THINGS OBAMA NEEDS TO DO NOW THAT ROMNEY'S THE NOMINEE,per Glenn Thrush: 1) Scare Democrats into giving him money to compete with Mitt. 2) Deny Romney the chance to pivot to the general. 3) Become more relatable to the middle class. 4) Make the election as much a referendum on Romney as possible.
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LATEST POLLING -

WAPO/ABC-MOST SEE SCOTUS AS PARTISAN, POLITICAL BODY:"More Americans think Supreme Court justices will be acting mainly on their partisan political views than on a neutral reading of the law when they decide the constitutionality of President Obama's health-care law, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Half of the public expects the justices to rule mainly based on their 'partisan political views,' while fewer, 40 percent, expect their decisions to be rooted primarily 'on the basis of the law.' The rest say both equally or do not have an opinion."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f6e7dc50270daa71de8f58c3e6d24f6c74d47e9d0ea53603 
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PPP-IN COLORADO, OBAMA LEADS ROMNEY 53-40:"He&#39;s gained 11 points in the state since December when he led just 47-45."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6825d849d97c3ad1307aa1d4fbb4a52195a9d0a70e141510e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6825d849d97c3ad1307aa1d4fbb4a52195a9d0a70e141510e 

OBAMA CHANNELS GINGRICH - COMPARES 2012 TO 1964:"This election will probably have the biggest contrast that we&#39;ve seen maybe since the Johnson-Goldwater election, maybe before that,' the president said at a fundraiser in Florida. He raised $1.75 million in the Sunshine State yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f10e31b0b5f9a1c335ba08e443d14bfa3b826814514e3f9f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f10e31b0b5f9a1c335ba08e443d14bfa3b826814514e3f9f .

SNEAK PEEK - CWA HELPING HEINRICH, MURPHY & BALDWIN:The Communications Workers of America will launch a "thank you" effort to support 21 members (from both parties) for backing a key union priority - legislation to cut down on overseas call centers. CWA IS making supportive phone calls to nearly 400,000 constituents in the following states/districts, including statewide calls to constituents of three Democratic Senate candidates who now hold House seats -Martin Heinrich in New Mexico, Chris Murphy in Connecticut and Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin. They're making in-district calls to the legislation's sponsors, Tim Bishop (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV). Others getting supportive calls to
 constituents: Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Mike Michaud (D-ME), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), Lois Capps (D-CA), John Garmendi (D-CA), Kathy Hochul (D-NY), Tim Holden (D-PA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Bill Owens (D-NY), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and John Tierney (D-MA).

INDIANA SENATE - MOURDOCK SAYS SANTORUM DROPPING OUT HELPS:It's spin, but State Treasurer Richard Mourdock says the end of Santorum&#39;s bid will keep establishment types who would have been motivated to turn out for Romney and Lugar home. 'I think the timing couldn&#39;t be better. I think it definitely helps us,' he told Dave Catanese."Mourdock and Lugar meet in their only debate Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65435dc2f82746879777e612925c23622c167ef9c495aa258 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65435dc2f82746879777e612925c23622c167ef9c495aa258 

LUGAR MAILING TO DEMOCRATS:Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) received a mailer touting Richard Lugar last week, a sign that the vulnerable six-term Republican is trying to motivate Democrats to vote for him in next month's open primary. Roll Call has the PDF:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab611c5032e41ebf0ca8468b7e4c0310f05330f36e6c183aec0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab611c5032e41ebf0ca8468b7e4c0310f05330f36e6c183aec0 .

WASHINGTON GOVERNOR - MCKENNA WINS THE SILENT MEDIA PRIMARY:A liberal blogger accuses the media of more favorably covering Republican Rob McKenna than Democrat Jay Inslee. His post offers a good window into how to run a good press operation versus how to, well, not. McKenna has won over the editorial boards, built relationships with beat reporters and presented himself as a break with Democratic hegemony in a state where one-party-rule is widely perceived to be part of the problem. McKenna, the frontrunner, would be the first Republican governor to win in the state since 1980.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab67108b682828032b9855cd923c6b77bec9ebd3e255c155de5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab67108b682828032b9855cd923c6b77bec9ebd3e255c155de5 

WISCONSIN SENATE - IS NEUMANN'S CAMPAIGN A "SINKING SHIP"?The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at the high turnover on former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann's staff. Four senior staffers have left in the past two months, including the political director, finance director and deputy finance director. "One Neumann source chalked up the exodus to 'internal issues,' including Neumann&#39;s reluctance to make fundraising calls. Another source was even harsher, saying the four left because they saw the campaign as a 'sinking ship.' ... Neumann is running against former Gov. Tommy Thompson, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgeraldand hedge fund manager Eric Hovde for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this
 fall." Neumann reported raising $650,000 in Q1 yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6fd79fc75c761a5098dfc427559a84c3288a61c09ce855406 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6fd79fc75c761a5098dfc427559a84c3288a61c09ce855406 . The item on his campaign:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab666e7965bbff660cf36df730e3656c07a17b50c40df198ef6 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab666e7965bbff660cf36df730e3656c07a17b50c40df198ef6 .

WISCONSIN RECALL -

WALKER ENTERS CAMPAIGN PHASE:"From a farm in Dane County to a foundry in Milwaukee, Gov. Scott Walker barnstormed across Wisconsin on Tuesday, defending his record and opening an unprecedented battle to keep his job.Walker, the first Wisconsin governor to face a recall election, rallied supporters on what he called his 'Moving Wisconsin Forward Tour.' ... The marathon opening day of his official campaign saw Walker make six stops, including appearances at businesses in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Mosinee and Green Bay. The general election is June 5."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab63cbbc2ca118d9a98a46ce916672680b385f65367b1dbc4ba 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab63cbbc2ca118d9a98a46ce916672680b385f65367b1dbc4ba 

43 EMPLOYEES IN DA OFFICE INVESTIGATING WALKER SIGNED PETITIONS:"A conservative research group says several dozen employees in Democratic Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm&#39;s office signed recall petitions for Republican Gov. Scott Walker," the AP reports. "But Chisholm&#39;s top aide said none of the prosecutors who are overseeing a long-running investigation of Walker&#39;s current and former aides were among those who signed the recall petitions. Media Trackers identified 43 people in Chisholm&#39;s office who signed the petitions. It said one was a deputy district attorney and 19 were assistant district attorneys." (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab661922eea8cfa8fa5cab0e7bc2cc42b6856a834569710732c 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab661922eea8cfa8fa5cab0e7bc2cc42b6856a834569710732c ) Meanwhile, BuzzFeed posted a city of Milwaukee proposal from Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett that looked to end collective bargaining on overtime hours and pensions:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6c5b6994c1a3c00dbdc8c925a00e25064eb22757f4b482e97 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6c5b6994c1a3c00dbdc8c925a00e25064eb22757f4b482e97 .

THE HOUSE - CHARLIE COOK SAYS DEMS UNLIKELY TO RETAKE HOUSE:"In the House, it looks highly doubtful that Democrats will score the 25-seat net gain necessary to capture a majority. But a net gain of some seats is very likely," the namesake of the Cook Political Report writes. At this point, Cook Political Report House Editor David Wasserman estimates, Republicans are likely to score a nationwide net gain of one seat through redistricting. If the Florida map is thrown out in the courts, though, that could change. Two states, Kansas and New Hampshire, have yet to complete their maps. They are not, however, expected to feature dramatic changes. While a 25-seat net gain is not an enormous number
 of seats, Wasserman estimates that 80 percent of incumbents who gained partisan advantage were Republicans. The redistricting process probably saved them 10-15 seats overall. Wasserman puts the chances of Republicans losing seats at about 90 percent."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6ec63b81f84a392cda9f95683a80839fdc654fab8c2406283 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6ec63b81f84a392cda9f95683a80839fdc654fab8c2406283 

Q1 FUNDRAISING - SOME BIG NUMBERS:

FIRST IN SCORE - KIRKPATRICK RAISES $307K:Ann Kirkpatrick, the Democrat running to return to the House from Arizona, will report today that she's raised more than $1 million this cycle. She has $655,000 cash on hand from more than 5,000 donors.

WI-SEN:Democrat Rep. Tammy Baldwin raised $2 million for her Senate campaign.

MO-SEN: Incumbent Claire McCaskill raised $2.3 million and now has $6 million cash-on-hand.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6a0af669d1116af48a936917feab32a2ee28441e15fa60479 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6a0af669d1116af48a936917feab32a2ee28441e15fa60479 

AZ-SEN:DemocratRichard Carmona raised $800,000 in Q1 and has about $1.1 million COH. No Jeff Flake numbers yet.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65a21206b78494a0a29555a3838eeaf4505f80794a7e31e1e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65a21206b78494a0a29555a3838eeaf4505f80794a7e31e1e 

OH-HOUSE:DemocratBetty Sutton raised $455,000 in Q1 to Republican Jim Renacci's $431,000. Renacci has $1.2 million COH to Sutton's $750K.

IL-10:Bob Dold raised $602,407. $1.6 million COH.

CO-7:RepublicanJoe Coors raised $449,297.

CA-26:RepublicanTony Strickland raised $770,000.

VEEPSTAKES -

MCDONNELL MAKES NEW YORK SWING:Virginia Gov.Bob McDonnell - who should not be overlooked or forgotten in the VP buzz - will give three in-studio interviews in New York City today, including CBS This Morning at 7, Morning Joe at 8:15 and CNBC (Larry Kudlow) at 7:15 p.m. Last night, the governor joined Donald and Eric Trump for a reception promoting Virginia wine and food in Trump Tower. Some good Virginia wines were served. Meanwhile,A Roanoke College poll out yesterday showed McDonnell with a higher favorable rating than any other elected official polled and a56 percent approval rating (compared to 38% for Obama):
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab64724683c6b41fd0f15f8a55a287ce6f248c0c96415afce86 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab64724683c6b41fd0f15f8a55a287ce6f248c0c96415afce86 . Here's a photo of McDonnell and Trump together:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f7471f65b6b376f24cd6280c13d66c659865c67f9575da85 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6f7471f65b6b376f24cd6280c13d66c659865c67f9575da85 .

PAWLENTY PAYS OFF ALL CAMPAIGN DEBT:The former Minnesota governor's campaign had paid off all of its debt by the end of March, according to a report filed Tuesday with the Federal Election commission. That's down from about $435,000 last September. Robin Bravender spotted a $2,000 check from Michele Bachmann's congressional leadership PAC.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6e714b33d20b181cfd5ac5774d04d62252d7d6e1480b86819 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6e714b33d20b181cfd5ac5774d04d62252d7d6e1480b86819 

NEW QUINNIPIAC POLL SHOWS CHRISTIE'S HIGHEST APPROVAL EVER: "NewJersey voters still approve 59 - 36 percent of the job Christie is doing, his best score ever. Approval is 92 - 6 percent among Republicans and 64 - 32 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 64 - 30 percent.Christie is more of a leader, 54 percent of voters say, while 39 percent say he is more of a bully." Quote from Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute: "Whether Gov. Christopher Christie is traveling the nation, campaigning for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, or traveling to Israel to tout New Jersey business, his job- approval rating at home in Trenton continues to
 climb." Press release:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab670f6bb9a7e153c5b24e61d541a480f5bc49fbd88a09cab9b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab670f6bb9a7e153c5b24e61d541a480f5bc49fbd88a09cab9b .

BUT QUESTIONS SWIRL ABOUT CHRISTIE HALTING TUNNEL:"Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey exaggerated when he declared that unforeseen costs to the state were forcing him to cancel the new train tunnel planned to relieve congested routes across the Hudson River, according to a long-awaited report by independent Congressional investigators," the New York Times reported yesterday. "Canceling the tunnel, then the largest public works project in the nation, helped shape Mr. Christie's profile as a rising Republican star, an enforcer of fiscal discipline in a country drunk on debt. But the report is likely to revive criticism that his decision, which he said was about "hard choices" in tough economic
 times, was more about avoiding the need to raise the state's gasoline tax, which would have violated a campaign promise."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6859b71b7a5a2d493fc53a2d9bb94b07fc41a03af46bd4ca5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6859b71b7a5a2d493fc53a2d9bb94b07fc41a03af46bd4ca5 

LIGHTER CLICKS -

STEPHEN COLBERTdid a sketch about the GOP "war on women" last night:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6d186234cf91a33b3331bacd99510b8673fb09d0ad7534ed7 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6d186234cf91a33b3331bacd99510b8673fb09d0ad7534ed7 .

JON STEWARTwent after CNN again last night:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6269f47b9dfab1a817d058ee06dc891acab54cfa0e0e5da81 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6269f47b9dfab1a817d058ee06dc891acab54cfa0e0e5da81 .

HILLARY CLINTONloves the Texts from Hillary meme:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab63b2e0c0d1fe797fae946bb95ee4f1688f6163a2434063686 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab63b2e0c0d1fe797fae946bb95ee4f1688f6163a2434063686 .

ROMNEYtalks about Ann's horses and getting her off the trail to go riding during a pre-interview chat with Sean Hannity that got leaked to Gawker by a mole at Fox News. There's some stuff he'd certainly never say in public, but this video is a net plus because it's humanizing:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab605964058a68317c041554ffcb0617b6cfe83658762f2bbd9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab605964058a68317c041554ffcb0617b6cfe83658762f2bbd9 .

GQsays Mitt's the new Al Gore:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65503e1f52251a80f84c5718c254ce3a8a5b1fd1903793fae 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab65503e1f52251a80f84c5718c254ce3a8a5b1fd1903793fae .

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSwill perform a free concert for Obama campaign workers in Ohio on Sunday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6cc368b13f92f57b66a77ed5b0699107bb9a4e408382187fa 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6cc368b13f92f57b66a77ed5b0699107bb9a4e408382187fa .

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY:'They show us pictures of Ron Paul yard signs in their country and say &#39;See, there are signs and stickers all over Stockholm.' I&#39;m not without some compassion and sympathy for them. But until we annex Denmark, there&#39;s just not much benefit for an American political campaign to be dealing with foreign press.' - Ron Paul campaign chairman Jesse Benton responds to the grumblings of Dutch and Scandinavian reporters who cannot get interviews with the congressman in a Wall Street Journal A-hed on foreign journalists covering the presidential.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6dce284817b722961f165d6573db873cfac7ed84be0bcc77c 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=47f38d018f055ab6dce284817b722961f165d6573db873cfac7ed84be0bcc77c .

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