Subject: POLITICO’s Morning Score: The race for Waxman’s seat begins—Candidate for Radel seat releases Super Bowl-related ad—PCCC endorses Leach in PA-13—Friday standings—GOP groups drop $1.2 million in FL-13
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 04:54:55 -0600

By Emily Schultheis (
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked] ; Twitter: @emilyrs)

THE WAXMAN SEAT-WHAT'S NEXT? Another day, another retirement: that's what January in D.C. has felt like. With the news that California Rep. Henry Waxman won't seek another term, his deep blue Santa Monica-area seat is up for grabs. One major Democratic candidate has already announced she's running: former LA Controller Wendy Greuel, who lost the race for LA Mayor in 2013. Via the LA Times, other possible Democratic candidates include state Sens. Ted Lieu and Fran Pavley; Assemblyman Richard Bloom; Secretary of State Debra Bowen; local radio host Matt Miller and women&#39;s rights activist Sandra Fluke. Rep. Julia Brownley, who represents a nearby district, denied rumors that she would
 switch districts and run for Waxman's seat instead (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60ce00c39388ac5e17f5d5a5d314d46722b6d7d7a9630e21f6 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60ce00c39388ac5e17f5d5a5d314d46722b6d7d7a9630e21f6 ). Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also said he'd sit this one out. Manhattan Beach businessman Bill Bloomfield, who ran against Waxman in 2012, is likely to run again as an independent. There's little chance the seat wouldn't stay in Democratic hands-but given how rare it is for a seat like this to open up, and the deep Democratic bench in California looking to fill it, the race to fill it will likely be a crowded one. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b609b5d7cf24f7bbb6be8c2c984f0229b40d8e2979dda2a8a27 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b609b5d7cf24f7bbb6be8c2c984f0229b40d8e2979dda2a8a27 

SNEAK PEEK-CLAWSON RUNS SUPER BOWL AD IN RADEL DISTRICT: Curt Clawson, a businessman who's one of several GOP candidates running for Rep. Trey Radel's now-open Florida seat, is out with a sports-themed ad that will run during the Super Bowl this weekend. Clawson, a former college basketball player, says in the ad that he's challenging President Obama to a "three-point" contest-because, Clawson says, Obama has "been missing a lot of shots lately, and not just in basketball." The ad features former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady. It's a six-figure buy, and will run once during the pre-game, twice during the game and once during halftime, then will continue to run for the next two weeks.
 Thus far, Clawson faces former state Rep. Paige Kreegel and most likely state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto in the GOP primary. Watch: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60e0b8ea1efd44b28376ecefb9532dcf54f0436159661dda19 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60e0b8ea1efd44b28376ecefb9532dcf54f0436159661dda19 

SCORE PREVIEW-PCCC BACKS LEACH IN PA-13: The Progressive Change Campaign Committee will announce today that it's endorsing state Sen. Daylin Leach in the race for Pennsylvania's 13th district-and in the process, took a not-so-subtle dig at Rep. Allyson Schwarz, who's giving up the House seat to run for governor. 'When Wall Street front group Third Way attacked Elizabeth Warren and Social Security, Daylin could have remained silent-especially since his outgoing Congresswoman, Allyson Schwartz, was a Third Way Chair," said Adam Green, PCCC co-founder. "Instead he denounced Third Way and demonstrated the kind of clarity and bold leadership we need in Congress.' Leach is one candidate in a
 crowded Democratic primary that includes former Rep. Marjorie Margolies, Dr. Val Arkoosh and others.

As more money flows to FL-13, OFA moves in with Messina and New Hampshire voters are getting impatient for Scott Brown, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the 2014 midterms.

DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION: 277.

Good Friday morning and welcome to Morning Score. As always, send your tips, thoughts, and suggestions to 
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked]  or tweet them to @emilyrs.

FRIDAY STANDINGS-January is finally coming to a close and we're just over 9 months out from Election Day. Here&#39;s Morning Score&#39;s weekly take on how some of the most important candidates, campaigns and political players should answer the question: Are you better off now than you were a week ago?

YES: (1) Democrat Charlie Crist, who led GOP Gov. Rick Scott by 8 points in a new Quinnipiac poll and also reportedly found his campaign manager this week; (2) Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whose big issue of 2013, immigration reform, returned from the grave this week; (3) Virginia state Del. Barbara Comstock, who added to her list of big-name endorsements and got at least one race rating shifted in her favor in her bid for the state's 10th district.

NO: (1) Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who learned the hard way this week that a governor's response to a national disaster can have a huge effect on how people view him or her; (2) New York Rep. Michael Grimm, who was hoping to avoid bad headlines Tuesday night about his campaign finance investigation and instead made worse ones by threatening a reporter; and (3) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who lost yet another top ally Thursday with Henry Waxman's retirement.

MAHER WANTS TO OUST A CONGRESSMAN: Via the New York Times: "On his weekly HBO talk show, "Real Time With Bill Maher," on Friday night, Mr. Maher and his staff plan to ask viewers to make a case for their individual representatives in the House to be selected as the worst in the country. After some culling and analysis, one member of Congress will be selected, and the show will follow up through November with examples of what it considers terrible work by that representative. Mr. Maher will make occasional visits to that member's district to perform stand-up and generally stir up hostile feelings toward the show's target." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b606f309f601ddaa243dd5dd2d97f13967b8d21d8baed8964be 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b606f309f601ddaa243dd5dd2d97f13967b8d21d8baed8964be 

BIG SPENDERS IN FLORIDA 13th-THREE GOP GROUPS DROP $1.2 MILLION: The already intense ad war in Florida's 13th district is getting even more heated. As POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt reports, three GOP groups-American Crossroads, American Action Network and YG Network-will air ads and send mailers throughout the district. The move changes the dynamics of the money race: Democrats had thus far reserved more than $3 million in TV ads, compared with just $900,000 for Republicans. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60995b3de34ccb8c1ea0cc05b669b1c47be4e83f98bdc1be2e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60995b3de34ccb8c1ea0cc05b669b1c47be4e83f98bdc1be2e 

SUPER PAC COMES TO COCHRAN'S AID IN MISSISSIPPI: The lion's share of the outside ad spending thus far in Mississippi's Senate GOP primary has been on behalf of state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who's challenging incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran. But Cochran is getting a boost from a super PAC that's supporting his candidacy. Via NYT's Jonathan Martin, a group called Mississippi Conservatives PAC is going on the air today with an ad painting McDaniel as unreliable on issues such as tort reform and reducing federal debt. "So who is Chris McDaniel? He's whoever he needs to be," the ad says. While it's tough to beat an incumbent senator, the fact that this super PAC is already aiding Cochran means they're
 not taking any chances by letting McDaniel allies control the airwaves. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60b3e032e6c52bdc3f2dfdf0bfaed2b9e687b087177bd7c694 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60b3e032e6c52bdc3f2dfdf0bfaed2b9e687b087177bd7c694 

RGA OUTRAISES DGA IN 2013: POLITICO's Byron Tau crunches the numbers of the two gubernatorial committees: "According to totals released Thursday, the Democratic Governors Association announced that it raised about $28 million in 2013 across its three committees. The RGA announced earlier this week that it raised $50.3 million in 2013 through its 527 committee. The RGA - which normally does not release additional fundraising numbers - told POLITICO Thursday that it raised another $2.2 million through an affiliated nonprofit. That brings its total cash haul to $52.5 million in 2013 - close to double what the Democrats raised." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602d46478a12d5a8e8247f6e28355cd5ea50c509b1a046e9d1 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602d46478a12d5a8e8247f6e28355cd5ea50c509b1a046e9d1 

MORE ON THE COMMITTEE FUNDRAISING FRONT-The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised a record $75 million in 2013. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60519a762d739b7ffdd51e48c076e038faed68c4c8ab9d6206 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60519a762d739b7ffdd51e48c076e038faed68c4c8ab9d6206 

TRANSITIONS-"OFA staff moves to Messina offices," via POLITICO's Maggie Haberman: "The group, which has a grassroots emphasis on legislative issues the president is focusing attention on, has Messina as its national chairman. A host of other Obama alumni, including former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, former campaign advisers Stephanie Cutter, Jennifer O'Malley-Dillon and Erik Smith, serve on the OFA board. Two sources said the move into the Messina Group's new offices had long been planned, after both OFA and Messina have recently rented space from Smith. ... POLITICO reported Wednesday that Priorities USA, the pro-Obama super PAC that is reconfiguring itself as a pro-Hillary
 Clinton endeavor with Messina as its co-chairman, will also be located in the Messina Group's offices." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b607d39821cd8a13ebaa06d83d222c153f523d7fd43f7be8b9f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b607d39821cd8a13ebaa06d83d222c153f523d7fd43f7be8b9f 

ACROSS THE MAP-Here are Score's top quick takes from races around the country:

SENATE-

-NRSC first look: The National Republican Senatorial Committee looks this morning at Obama's approval rating in key Senate swing states for this year-complete with an Obama/Chuck Schumer comic strip: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6059ab2cad383870068d4172af41f63d2cb1af0fbf71542982 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6059ab2cad383870068d4172af41f63d2cb1af0fbf71542982 

-NH-Sen: A poll from Purple Strategies has Sen. Jeanne Shaheen tied with former New Hampshire Sen. Scott Brown in a head-to-head matchup. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6004c0ad801d28a8a737bb0906e3c1d7e208ae5f846236c654 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6004c0ad801d28a8a737bb0906e3c1d7e208ae5f846236c654 

-SC-Sen: State Sen. Lee Bright, who's challenging GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in the primary, got an endorsement from Texas Rep. Steve Stockman. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60270a77cc70f5245750c33872e3ee3766790c03c817adae49 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60270a77cc70f5245750c33872e3ee3766790c03c817adae49 

-AK-Sen: GOP candidate Dan Sullivan is out with a new web video: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b601787c6e15b8355f0e2002beec4ac8c9e9c216032e5c4d643 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b601787c6e15b8355f0e2002beec4ac8c9e9c216032e5c4d643 

HOUSE-

-NY-04: Democrats got a key recruit Thursday when Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said she'd run for retiring Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's seat. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6067112b7e922b14a2a0a2470ff1bf9d78e1fa9f699842ede0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6067112b7e922b14a2a0a2470ff1bf9d78e1fa9f699842ede0 

-VA-08: Yet another Democrat is running for retiring Rep. Jim Moran's seat: state Sen. Adam Ebbin. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602dbcad4c469db032d8784bbbffedddb9277fc9e8610c8d32 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602dbcad4c469db032d8784bbbffedddb9277fc9e8610c8d32 

-CA-17: Democrat Ro Khanna, who's challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Honda, is taking heat for a video in which he praises Honda less than two years ago. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60cd52c10762c0207af1c7912b22704959a46a805a2a3fd4a9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60cd52c10762c0207af1c7912b22704959a46a805a2a3fd4a9 

-PA-13: Democratic candidate Val Arkoosh raised $203,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 and now has $643,000 on hand. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602a73929e1277e40ff79137bcf2e5fcf519914ffac1e921ab 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b602a73929e1277e40ff79137bcf2e5fcf519914ffac1e921ab 

-NJ-03: There are reportedly 16 candidates vying for the GOP nomination in retiring Rep. Jon Runyan's district. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6064fbfa2bd270af2564d532422deaea928f6437614202ada5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6064fbfa2bd270af2564d532422deaea928f6437614202ada5 

GOVERNORS-

-PA-Gov: In a new Franklin & Marshall poll, just 23 percent said GOP Gov. Tom Corbett has done well enough to deserve reelection. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60c66872fb1d9e5bafd6c1f4cca5dcef24e0c7a16984870b1f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60c66872fb1d9e5bafd6c1f4cca5dcef24e0c7a16984870b1f 

-More PA-Gov: Democratic businessman Tom Wolf, who's pledged to spend $10 million of his own money on the Democratic primary, is out with his first ad (which is 60 seconds long and will run statewide). 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60fc6d57ad6fe5a8f2add7d5dffc5de85111d529b2ab86eae3 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60fc6d57ad6fe5a8f2add7d5dffc5de85111d529b2ab86eae3 

-CA-Gov: A Public Policy Institute of California poll gave Gov. Jerry Brown a 53-17 lead over Republican state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. (Neel Kashkari, a recent GOP entrance to the race, wasn't included in the poll.) 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6076eb81e1e092a474f0a1de53ffb4eb2d88b302a5d8f68a37 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b6076eb81e1e092a474f0a1de53ffb4eb2d88b302a5d8f68a37 

-OK-Gov: Randy Brogdon, a conservative former state senator who's running a primary challenge against GOP Gov. Mary Fallin, is thinking about switching to run for retiring Sen. Tom Coburn's Senate seat. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b609e02d9ab0791c7eaee4efa58646ea0057c117a08c93bee72 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b609e02d9ab0791c7eaee4efa58646ea0057c117a08c93bee72 

CODA-QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We don't take you seriously until you have coffee in all of our living rooms." -Kerry Marsh, chairwoman of the Concord (N.H.) Republican City Committee, to The Boston Globe about Scott Brown's potential New Hampshire Senate bid. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60f6836421d3a3b1b6379429a43e7bf39d4215bf6c78e5e23b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=82b444a90cda8b60f6836421d3a3b1b6379429a43e7bf39d4215bf6c78e5e23b 

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