Subject: POLITICO’S Morning Score, presented by POWERJobs: Bowser wins D.C. primary—Obamacare: Now what?—RNC huddles on 2016 cities—New energy ad vs. Begich—Israel meets the press—Bao Bao’s adventure
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 04:05:15 -0600

By Elizabeth Titus (
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked] ; Twitter: @emtitus) and Jose DelReal (
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked] ; Twitter: @jdelreal)

With Emily Schultheis

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: D.C. Councilwoman Muriel Bowser advanced out of the Democratic mayoral primary, beating incumbent Vincent Gray, who was hit with new allegations in a campaign-finance scandal just weeks ago. Gray conceded around midnight, and with about 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bowser led him 44-33, including in the district's westernmost and northwestern wards. Bowser gained ground in the polls over the past several months and is now expected to enjoy a handy advantage in the fall campaign, where she'll face independent David Catania. Gray "blamed the April primary for low turnout in the race," according to Washington City Paper, but vowed to "work extremely hard" for the last
 nine months of his term (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160710066e0adfc453fb18f0b1f8d963702cd179389933ab200 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160710066e0adfc453fb18f0b1f8d963702cd179389933ab200 ). Gray campaign manager Chuck Thies revisited federal prosecutors' shakeup of the race last month, asking: 'What was so important about March 10? ... Why did that need to happen?" (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16077f78e44db7671bd12c7bf5441c211e39bdfb17879669de7 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16077f78e44db7671bd12c7bf5441c211e39bdfb17879669de7 ).

-HOME TURF: Bowser beat Gray in Ward 4, the diverse neighborhoods in the District's northern tip she represents on the Council, 50-36. Even though it was also then-Mayor Adrian Fenty's home turf, Gray won there four years ago, 59-40.

-HILL IMPACT: "House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose panel has jurisdiction over the city's affairs, [said] 'If there is a new mayor, we would hope that he or she would continue the same level [of communication] we've enjoyed under' Gray. ... I have his cell number, he has mine." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16028e07061b95f168cbb39ceaaec8f7488f24f4061c5296d0b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16028e07061b95f168cbb39ceaaec8f7488f24f4061c5296d0b 

7 MILLION SIGN-UPS. NOW WHAT?: Obamacare still looms large in the midterms, even as the president said at a jubilant Rose Garden event Tuesday that "Armageddon has not arrived" after 7.1 million people signed up for insurance under the law. Democrats' view of the law has improved in recent polls, "but most Republicans and independents remain stubbornly opposed," a recent Washington Post survey found (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16043164cdfd9e6d742501252a5db75df01720a46bf15ed2d41 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16043164cdfd9e6d742501252a5db75df01720a46bf15ed2d41 ). RealClearPolitics' month-long average of Obamacare polls shows its net approval rating still underwater at -12 points (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160fd373d924bcf662bdc181de93b3c6715a66929a2890a9fee 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160fd373d924bcf662bdc181de93b3c6715a66929a2890a9fee ). Even one administration official, speaking to reporters Tuesday, "acknowledged that perceptions of the law are unlikely to change significantly before Obama leaves office. No campaign that the president undertakes for the next two years is likely to cause a major shift" (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16016828b887b4a0b735fb852f2a3021041d1b1900d794847a5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16016828b887b4a0b735fb852f2a3021041d1b1900d794847a5 ).

VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ARE STILL WARY: "They plan to continue emphasizing the ways they want to 'fix it' and 'make it work,'" POLITICO's James Hohmann reports. "Added a prominent Democratic pollster, 'It is helpful but it's not going to fundamentally change the playing field. The less we're talking about Obamacare, the better off we are. Since good things are now happening, we may be talking about it less and that's a good thing.'" 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f1605e074ce02fcfc412a09c9aa4d93d6902e621b39541146230 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f1605e074ce02fcfc412a09c9aa4d93d6902e621b39541146230 

42 WEIGHS IN: "It's time for the law's political opponents to stop trying to repeal it and start working together, across party lines and political differences, to fix its remaining problems and allow all eligible working families to get coverage under Medicaid," former President Bill Clinton said in a statement late Tuesday. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16086799bf789e2951f334df41f074c6c166bb9672b1ebc3d33 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16086799bf789e2951f334df41f074c6c166bb9672b1ebc3d33 

FIRST IN SCORE-RNC'S 2014 HAUL: The RNC plans to announce later Wednesday that it has raised $100 million thus far for the 2014 cycle. The news comes the same day President Obama is set to head to Chicago for DNC events, according to the White House. Republicans are seeking to contrast their committee's performance with the that of the DNC, which the Wall Street Journal recently reported "is entering this campaign season with millions of dollars in debt, gambling that money spent now on technology and organizing efforts will outweigh the burdens of red ink" (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16068b8e10c5405554ad876157fa7ff32c56d03546cc2026897 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16068b8e10c5405554ad876157fa7ff32c56d03546cc2026897 ).

NEW ENERGY ADS VS. BEGICH, RAHALL: American Energy Alliance is rolling out a new ad in Alaska today saying Democratic Sen. Mark Begich "likes to have it both ways" on the carbon tax (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160e07c902f8a2ffbcefc9d502f83d776b8b766fa325f951d98 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160e07c902f8a2ffbcefc9d502f83d776b8b766fa325f951d98 ). It comes after the group introduced a similar ad against Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall (WV-03) on Tuesday (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160697cae808d01f198448921ee46f34457174f3904d6201e66 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f160697cae808d01f198448921ee46f34457174f3904d6201e66 ). Together, the spots make up a TV and online ad campaign against the vulnerable incumbents that AEA says it is backing with more than $630,000.

BEGICH'S CAMP RESPONDS: Citing AEA's reported link to a Koch-affiliated group, spokesman Max Croes said in a statement: 'Alaska is not for sale and the Koch brothers&#39; attempt to be a modern day William H. Seward and buy Alaska&#39;s elections won&#39;t work because Alaskans know Mark Begich opposes a Carbon Tax and these claims are false."

As Washington ousts its mayor, Scott Brown hangs out on the Hill and another poll shows Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis neck-and-neck, here&#39;s POLITICO&#39;s Morning Score: your daily guide to the 2014 midterms.

DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION: 216.

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ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT: You've probably noticed that Morning Score has been going deeper into the most-competitive races in recent days. This is the new and improved Morning Score, designed especially for you - Campaign Pro's community of political professionals. On April 9th this enhanced version of Morning Score will be exclusive for Pros only. Get the campaign intelligence you need to do your job by signing up for Campaign Pro today. Know what #ProsKnow -- 
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Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Morning Score. Emily Schultheis will be back tomorrow. As always, send your tips, thoughts, and suggestions to 
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked]  or tweet them to @emilyrs.

TODAY AT 10 A.M.: DCCC Chairman Steve Israel is set to talk about the Democrats' outlook for the midterms and GOP Rep. Paul Ryan's latest budget at a news conference at the National Press Club. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16055011bc4621c903453b4441fb94c47cf012588f84f6b135f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16055011bc4621c903453b4441fb94c47cf012588f84f6b135f 

RNC TO HUDDLE ON 2016 CITIES: The RNC site selection committee is meeting today to discuss 2016 convention cities, and the group could potentially narrow down the list, a Republican official said. The eight cities in the running as of February were Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix. "By mid-March, the selection committee will choose which cities will get site visits; the visits will take place in late spring," POLITICO's Emily Schultheis reported previously. "The winner will likely be announced in late summer or early fall once the final city is voted on by the full RNC." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16090f7a8031a8e1ae48ecf14ea5d15bcd01c0ffac8c943f509 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f2ca6ca214c2f16090f7a8031a8e1ae48ecf14ea5d15bcd01c0ffac8c943f509 

CA-17: HONDA HAS $1M ON HAND: Democratic incumbent Mike Honda's campaign said overnight it raised $650,000 in the first quarter of this year and has $1,050,000 cash on hand (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cae5109b3f91d6e64d8c45cb9656ff387d01005267ffc0be63 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cae5109b3f91d6e64d8c45cb9656ff387d01005267ffc0be63 ). The relatively early report is a gesture of confidence from the Silicon Valley legislator, who has met a fundraising powerhouse in Democratic opponent Ro Khanna. Khanna, who will face Honda in an open primary, ended last year with about $1.9 million in the bank.

PAUL TO GOP: GET 'BEYOND DEPORTATION': Latino voters are "not going to care whether we go to the same church or have the same values or believe in the same kind of future of our country until we get beyond that," Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said at a conservative event in Washington Tuesday, after recent stops in Detroit and Berkeley, Calif., to reach out to non-traditional GOP audiences. "Showing up helps, but you got to show up and you got to say something, and it has to be different from what we've been saying." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cafead62a831faebfe67be77f6a297f9c6bb84eb5fe0c3f2de 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cafead62a831faebfe67be77f6a297f9c6bb84eb5fe0c3f2de 

SANTO ON THE SILVER SCREEN: The Washington Post's Ben Terris catches up with Republican Rick Santorum: "By being a potential contender, he gets to keep his speaking fees high and can bring attention to EchoLight Studios, his production company that makes faith-based movies. 'Everybody has a script, everybody has an idea, everybody wants to make a movie,' he humblebrags about the business like a seasoned Hollywood pro (his company is actually based in Dallas). 'I've never felt so popular.'" 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca3b8171964b0b38c4b35f2cba699c3d1b16cc1049152e3c5b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca3b8171964b0b38c4b35f2cba699c3d1b16cc1049152e3c5b 

LIGHTER CLICK: Bao Bao the baby panda went outside for the first time at Washington's National Zoo on Tuesday. Video: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caf2af4e3467279a75861ef94e1c2911ac6a8bd0ff7f81a420 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caf2af4e3467279a75861ef94e1c2911ac6a8bd0ff7f81a420 

ACROSS THE MAP-Quick takes from races around the country:

SENATE -

-CO-SEN: Republican challenger Cory Gardner is pressuring Democratic incumbent Mark Udall over fracking, calling for the senator to come out against measures to ban the practice. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca4a7f619de35a11b13e264069e81f6bf112fea3a496e696f5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca4a7f619de35a11b13e264069e81f6bf112fea3a496e696f5 

-IA-SEN: Nate Silver writes that Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley&#39;s Iowa farmer remarks could make the race a more plausible one for Republicans to win. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca3ce87e763a1eaab3d32b827eb7d9ef3a05663233f09f787d 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca3ce87e763a1eaab3d32b827eb7d9ef3a05663233f09f787d 

-MS-SEN: Republican Sen. Thad Cochran released a new TV ad emphasizing his conservative record. Cochran faces a primary fight against state Sen. Chris McDaniel. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caa29ac5cc07b13dbec294b5aaf2ad398bd16bf937689e046d 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caa29ac5cc07b13dbec294b5aaf2ad398bd16bf937689e046d 

-NC-SEN: A SurveyUSA automated poll for TWC News shows a dead heat: Republican Thom Tillis 46, Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan 45, undecided 9. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca94963513406e480af1a9bce0d80d21fee933896e01acd2e8 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca94963513406e480af1a9bce0d80d21fee933896e01acd2e8 

-More NC-SEN: As part of a $1.1 million buy, American Crossroads launches a new ad saying Tillis has the "guts to replace Obamacare," aimed at boosting Tillis in the primary. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9235913e1f83d8423289e695529205d4732ac8313029f279 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9235913e1f83d8423289e695529205d4732ac8313029f279 

-NC-SEN, VA-SEN: The 60 Plus Association is hitting Senate Banking Committee members, including Hagan and Democrat Mark Warner, on housing finance reform with a $1.5 million ad buy spanning seven states. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca8414164d55c1aea99917cd1aaba3872d9e58000c43e3ab83 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca8414164d55c1aea99917cd1aaba3872d9e58000c43e3ab83 

-NH-SEN: Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown was spotted on Capitol Hill Tuesday attending a Senate GOP lunch. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cafda4cfe0e4a138f0750db041f1fe62bde0a74c30d24720d4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2cafda4cfe0e4a138f0750db041f1fe62bde0a74c30d24720d4 

HOUSE -

-AZ-07: State Rep. Ruben Gallego raised $160,000 in the first month of his campaign for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Rep. Ed Pastor. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca42c632f7ff08af5689245a4b251b2594f0d2bfa815479db2 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca42c632f7ff08af5689245a4b251b2594f0d2bfa815479db2 

-CA-33: Actress Eva Longoria endorsed independent Marianne Williamson in the crowded race for the seat of retiring Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca10e99a66a890044ccfc735fa31e41313cf121e45503011c8 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca10e99a66a890044ccfc735fa31e41313cf121e45503011c8 

-FL-02: Americans for Prosperity is launching a positive TV ad saying Republican incumbent Steve Southerland "has it right" on health care. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca85accf6a5fb25df03f1d9a121226e984f462e36b96972212 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca85accf6a5fb25df03f1d9a121226e984f462e36b96972212 

-FL-19 SPECIAL: Republican Paige Kreegel released a new TV ad featuring his wife, Erika, touting his medical career and conservative record in the race for ex-Rep. Trey Radel's seat. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9611e28a6e9f80537f93c15b1da8700f96e47bf47e642193 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9611e28a6e9f80537f93c15b1da8700f96e47bf47e642193 

-IL-10: The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund endorsed Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider in his reelection bid. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca03bd9bcc28677021a11ee8b0b4bc6b472c1d31cac94abfc1 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca03bd9bcc28677021a11ee8b0b4bc6b472c1d31cac94abfc1 

-MI-04: GOP state Sen. John Moolenaar launched a bid for the seat of retiring Republican Dave Camp. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca1527a026d2cc2e068cf745a231655ce6f291bc90e75e1297 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca1527a026d2cc2e068cf745a231655ce6f291bc90e75e1297 

GOVERNORS -

-FL-GOV: Republican incumbent Rick Scott's campaign and two affiliated groups raised more than $17 million in the first quarter, Florida GOP spokeswoman Susan Hepworth said Tuesday. Scott has also released a new web ad touting job growth in the state. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9ad2cab6bb1b69ab0b331685f57fabcd72a6b1041257a5fc 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca9ad2cab6bb1b69ab0b331685f57fabcd72a6b1041257a5fc 

-PA-GOV: The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5, endorsed Democratic state Treasurer Rob McCord in the crowded primary. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caba5f9178ae7b2f1180262e9970b69bbe2c08ff15b92ef811 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2caba5f9178ae7b2f1180262e9970b69bbe2c08ff15b92ef811 

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "There's no problem." - D.C. Board of Elections spokeswoman Tamara L. Robinson to the Washington Post editorial board on Tuesday night, an hour and a half after polls had closed in the mayoral primary with scant results in sight. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca7f79aa51ccb5064e80e0749067cc980cbe72594cac2c7c41 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=528b076081a3b2ca7f79aa51ccb5064e80e0749067cc980cbe72594cac2c7c41 

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