Subject: POLITICO's Morning Score, presented by Sinclair Broadcast Group: Battleground Florida House races go down to the wire — Club for Growth aims for Arizona House primary win — One Nation launches new ads in North Carolina, Nevada
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 08:01:55 -0600

By Elena Schneider | 08/26/2016 10:00 AM EDT

With Theodoric Meyer, Kevin Robillard and Maggie Severns 

The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - and for a more comprehensive aggregation of the day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today. (http://www.politicopro.com/proinfo)

SHOT CLOCK PRIMARIES - "Battleground Florida House primaries go down to the wire," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: Florida's late primary has kept two battleground House races churning with uncertainty just a couple of months out from the election. And so far, Florida's 18th District, an open seat based in Palm Beach, and Florida's 26th District, where Democrats are fighting to take on GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo, are leaving many operatives saying the primaries are too close to call. ...in Florida's 18th District ... Rebecca Negron, a former Martin County School Board member and wife of state Senate president Joe Negron, and Brian Mast, a double amputee Afghanistan War veteran, are leading
 the Republican pack. ...National Republicans have already tagged who they feel is their likely Democratic opponent - Randy Perkins, a multimillionaire businessman." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c67e7514a2a9bce39690d5800219e929e4337d0115efab96b72dfb4ddc18878

- "Club for Growth looks for another win in AZ-05," by Campaign Pro's Theodoric Meyer: "After its chosen candidates came up short in two hard-fought House primaries this summer, the Club for Growth is hunting for victories in two of the final primaries of the year. But while the fight for Florida's open 2nd District has turned into another faceoff between the Club and other national super PACs, the race for retiring GOP Rep. Matt Salmon's seat in Arizona has flown under the radar, animated more by the state's local political feuds than the national divides within the Republican Party." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c67e7514a2a9bce570440f06637a5a2e490d031928d9d77340a6950fdceaec8

FIRST IN SCORE - One Nation launches new ads in North Carolina, Nevada: The GOP Senate nonprofit's ad in North Carolina highlights Sen. Richard Burr's work for seniors, as he's fought to "strengthen and preserve Medicare" and is now "is co-sponsoring legislation to protect Medicare from more cuts by unelected bureaucrats." The ad is part of a $1 million broadcast and cable buy, which will air in the Charlotte and Raleigh markets from today to Sept. 4. Watch the ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c67e7514a2a9bce58a7e6bef4d6e2202466ef406aae6258c2ba3eb262bc4a4e

- In Nevada, the group is releasing Spanish-language TV and radio ads to boost Republican Rep. Joe Heck. The ad says that while in Congress, Heck opposed mass deportation, supported care for DREAMers and worked for more technical education funding. The ads are backed by $100,000 and will air in Las Vegas. Watch the TV ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861cd3a552f2013d91ec0d20736ed40104076f9c8427bec98d5 Listen to the radio ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648613085e3a47ae57a67e7f6ff50fc24ef336cc104ea757c395a 

Days until the 2016 election: 74.

Days until the Arizona and Florida congressional primaries: 4.

Thank for joining us. You can email tips to the whole Campaign Pro team at [email-masked], [email-masked], [email-masked], [email-masked] and [email-masked].

You can also follow us on Twitter, where we tweet a lot about campaigns and occasionally about KFC recipes: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @theodoricmeyer and @maggieseverns.

** A message from Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest and most diversified television broadcasting company in the country today, delivers not only TV, the primary medium for reaching potential voters, but also targetable digital (mobile, video, email, social media and native) ad solutions. Contact Alan Brittan @ 703-236-9673. Sinclair, busy - Making Political Ads Work! **

VOTING BLOC PARTY - "The one big Senate race that Asian-Americans could decide," by POLITICO's Seung Min Kim in Las Vegas: "Both [Democrat Catherine] Cortez Masto and [Republican Joe] Heck are intensely courting Asian-American voters in the battle to replace Harry Reid in Nevada, and for good reason: Asian-American voters, by some estimates, make up as much as 9 percent of the electorate - far more than in other states with close Senate races this year, like Ohio and New Hampshire. Aside from their sheer numbers, Asian-American voters have shown they can vote as a powerful bloc. Nearly 80 percent of the Asian-American electorate backed Reid in his 2010 victory over Sharron Angle, when polls
 right up until Election Day projected that Reid would narrowly lose. Asian-Americans in Nevada tend to favor Democrats, potentially giving Cortez Masto a boost in a neck-and-neck race." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861ad86e13d78e4a28050ddf8024c156fe2df71f8d42a1f8a08 

POLICY WATCH - "Obamacare sticker shock could tilt key Senate races," by POLITICO's Rachana Pradhan and Paul Demko: "As insurers push larger premium increases for 2017 Obamacare plans, some of the steepest hikes have been requested by insurers in crucial swing states that could determine control of the Senate. The potential sticker shock - coupled with the possibility many consumers will have fewer insurance options next year after major insurers scaled back their exchange business - could create a political opening for Republican candidates when the next Obamacare enrollment season starts one week before Election Day." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648619148db6ec042d6f4c696b3658dd651c06fc11ad44e65f28e

CAHOOTS! - "Establishment frets: Freedom Caucus and Club for Growth in cahoots," by POLITICO's Rachael Bade: "Lawmakers and political operatives aligned with House GOP leadership are growing increasingly concerned that the powerful conservative outside group Club for Growth is taking marching orders from their arch-nemesis: The House Freedom Caucus. ... Club officials deny working in concert with the Freedom Caucus. One Republican operative working on a House race, however, said a Club staffer told him explicitly that the group would back whomever the House Freedom Caucus supports. And a GOP lawmaker charged that the group has abandoned its independence." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648613b47b8f9c0528dbbeb66901c9969381d16cfeb5c58843d94

SENATE PROGRAMMING - DSCC out with a new digital ad: National Democrats are releasing a new digital ad that ties Senate Republicans to Donald Trump. The first thirty seconds shows a reel of some of Trump's most controversial comments. Then, the second half of the ad splices together comments from several Senate candidates, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, Nevada Rep. Joe Heck and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr. At the end, the ad flashes the question: "If they won't stand up to Trump, how will they stand up for us?" The ad will run on Facebook and Youtube and is "part of the DSCC's sustained 'Party of Trump' campaign," per a memo from the group. Watch the ad here: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648619b8e190dfc4ab26edc0feafb65630b2812416afd7eeedf46 

ADS, ADS, ADS - In New Hampshire ... Both leading New Hampshire GOP gubernatorial candidates are out with new ads. Sununu's features him speaking direct to camera about support for the police. "The blink of an eye. That's all it takes," he says before sirens interrupt him. "One crazed killer leaves children without their father, a wife without a husband. In the blink of an eye." He promises to "dedicate more resources for better equipment and recruitment." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861b86ff5cdc31fa9c2a0bf4adcb9d4f5ba812ab634f9dfbaf9

- Gatsas' new spot is also direct-to-camera, featuring him telling voters he opposes Common Core. "If our kids are going to compete in today's economy, we need to get Washington out of their classrooms," he says. "Some say they will fight to end Common Core, but talk is cheap." The "some say" line is aimed at Sununu. Watch the line here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d996486147edfff38e25d0845b089b3765f28ae5eeb9d6f63c9e2044

- In Nevada ... End Citizens United's second television ad in Nevada's Senate race targets GOP Rep. Joe Heck and the "mountain of anonymous money special interests spend" on his behalf, per a memo from the group. The TV spot is part of the group's $1.7 million television and digital ad buy. It will air statewide through Sept. 2. Watch the ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648610a0b1909666a9107d81cdda3f5ed713af9879e6d02d6ab09 http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861ef09b5db7b8c14773955c36da7443a064439014db746b4fb 

- More in New Hampshire ... A new ad from a Democratic nonprofit attacks New Hampshire GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte for supporting the conversion of Medicare to a voucher system. The ad, from Majority Forward, is backed by $2.4 million and is airing in both the Manchester and Boston markets. It begins airing today and will run through Sept. 5. Watch the 30-second ad, "Vitamins," here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861bef4513f0c64610465d18aa54a7970dcc31f38e1581591bd http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648613e0be6e9c0417650bced9586b1b39c037e7d7f57204097fb 

- Even More in New Hampshire ... A new 60-second radio ad from Kelly Ayotte's campaign says it's been a "summer of smears" and accuses Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan for "open[ing[ the floodgates for tens of millions in out-of-state, negative attacks." Listen to the ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648614b5fb063db3d66f9f85b5a8d8902c93ad973a6fc2f55e51c

- In NH-01 ... GOP Rep. Frank Guinta's primary challenger, Rich Ashooh, is out with his first TV ad. The ad opens with a clip from WMUR's coverage of the agreement Guinta struck with the FEC last year to repay $355,000 in excess contributions from his parents during his 2010 campaign, after years of denying that he'd done anything wrong. The words "FRANK GUINTA IS A DAMNED LIAR" - a six-word editorial that ran in The New Hampshire Union Leader last year - appear on screen. The ad then cuts to a clip of Ashooh. "I'm Rich Ashooh and I approve this message, because honesty matters in public service," Ashooh says. "I'll work to balance the federal budget and rein in government so businesses can
 create more jobs for middle-class families." The primary is Sept. 13. Watch the ad: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861cb80fe7bff4b2f43a0f69616054b4a7b4ef42cb0c096088f

POLLING DATA - "Poll: Rubio, Murphy easily win primaries, but face close contest in November," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: "Sen. Marco Rubio has a marginal 3-point lead over Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy, according to a new poll of likely Florida voters that indicates the race is close to tied. 'It's a competitive race. It's not a slam dunk,' said Brad Coker, pollster for Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, which conducted the three-day Florida survey of 625 voters that ended Wednesday." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648616788435c396d0af8e7461ede84d7f1c17897e327f100870d 

PRESIDENTIAL SPEED READ - "Trump campaign CEO once charged in domestic violence case," by POLITICO's Hadas Gold and John Bresnahan: "Stephen K. Bannon, the new CEO of the Donald Trump campaign, was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and dissuading a witness following an incident in early January 1996, though the case was ultimately dismissed, according to a police report and court documents. The Santa Monica, Calif., police report says that Bannon's then-wife claimed he pulled at her neck and wrist during an altercation over their finances, and an officer reported witnessing red marks on her neck and wrist to bolster her account. Bannon also reportedly smashed the phone
 when she tried to call the police." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861bbff11ae759112e66f5ffeee81e94bab06fda90a24f04b35 

- "Trump and Clinton hurl the R-word," by POLITICO's Gabriel Debenedetti and Louis Nelson: "Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's war of words went nuclear on Thursday, with Clinton accusing the billionaire of craven racism and Trump roaring back: Shame on you. The charges hurled between the two presidential candidates were some of the nastiest of the election so far and showed just how vicious the next 74 days will be. The brawl spilled into public view on Wednesday night when Trump called Clinton a "bigot" to an overwhelmingly white audience at a Mississippi rally, saying she is someone 'who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future.' The Clinton camp
 responded - punching back 10 times harder." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861e95b507de3c1ab9587554907314874b73509d200e10d2f12 

- "The Alt Right Is Having Its Best And Worst Week," by Buzzfeed's Rosie Gray, Andrew Kaczynski and Christopher Massie: "On a day when the alt right is likely to become more famous than it's ever been before, the movement is also facing a disorienting shift on its key issue by its favored candidate. On one hand, Hillary Clinton is set to give a speech today tying Donald Trump to the movement - a moment that will undoubtedly raise their profile and which casts them as central characters in the election. On the other, Trump has pivoted hard on immigration, reversing his stance on deportations. And Trump's hard-line positions on immigration had been a key cause of the alt right's devotion to
 him. On the week of possibly the alt right's biggest victory, it's also dealing with possible betrayal." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d9964861718779cf5e0702935c0c8560cadf27c2dac610b1bbfbec1a 

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "He is going to be 80 on Monday and I want to give him the best birthday present ever, the gift of retirement." - Kelli Ward, Sen. John McCain's Republican primary challenger, on MSNBC's MTP Daily. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1498c2a2d99648610067577e89c0b1edb348713d36ad033452a547b5acc41729

** A message from Sinclair Broadcast Group: News, opinions, and entertainment surround us 24/7, yet a fundamental truth remains, whether for competitive races or impactful ballot measures, the TV commercial reigns as the medium for reaching potential voters. TV helps strongly at the margins. Television is also the easiest way to reach undecided voters. Those passive folks who don't show up at the rallies or ask for email updates, but will be there to pull the levers on Election Day. At the Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country, we combine TV with targetable digital (mobile, video, email, social media and native) ad
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