Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by United for Medical Research: WHAT’S TED CRUZ UP TO THESE DAYS? – Walker feeling confident post RSC interview – GUINTA HAS NARROW LEAD IN PRIMARY – Menendez loses in appeals court – HARRY REID TALKS ‘SLIM AND TRIM’ TRUMP -- Could Begich be back?
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2016 06:08:06 -0600
List-Id: <1376319_5831121.xt.local>

09/14/2016 08:05 AM EDT

By Heather Caygle ([email-masked] or @heatherscope) 

With assistance from Nolan McCaskill, Daniel Lippman and Burgess Everett 

WILL TED CRUZ HELP SAVE THE SENATE? Even with control of the Senate on the line, Sen. Ted Cruz has been sitting on the sidelines. He's not stumping with vulnerable incumbents and has given few precious campaign dollars to his colleagues. Well at least until now, reports Burgess Everett. On Tuesday, "as Republican insiders began grumbling to POLITICO about Cruz's lack of activity, Cruz forked over $100,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee."

But: "Some Republicans aren't holding their breath for Cruz to exert himself this fall - they say Cruz's rock-ribbed conservatism doesn't carry much appeal with independent voters that purple and blue-state Republicans need. ... 'He believes he is a different kind of Republican. And I do too,'" said Sen. John McCain. 

Oh yeah, Burgess also caught up with GOP Sen. Richard Shelby, who's sitting on a mound of cash and isn't facing a competitive race in November yet isn't giving to the Senate GOP's campaign arm: "'I don't give my money' to the NRSC, said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who had nearly $10 million in his campaign coffers as of the end of June." Full story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191f0f89a3cfb4d57ed2f7de517c442b2407ec2a3181499e392 

And speaking of Ted Cruz, he could be wading into negotiations over a stopgap bill to fund the government. "The Texas Republican senator's latest crusade is to block an Obama administration plan to turn over U.S. oversight of domain names to international supervision," report Steven Dennis and Todd Shields for Bloomberg.

"Cruz and some senior Republicans want to block the transfer as part of the stopgap spending bill required to avoid a government shutdown Oct. 1, although neither party has explicitly threatened to block the measure over the fight." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c1919d2e3a7a9c5cc37fccec303e42488afcec75f4f55652b7e2 

WALKER FEELING GOOD POST-RSC MEETING- Freshman Rep. Mark Walker tells your Huddle host he's feeling confident after meeting with leaders of the Republican Study Committee Tuesday night. Walker said the interview, which lasted about 30 minutes, focused not so much on policy but what type of leader Walker would be if elected to the chairmanship in November. The group, currently boasting 178 members, is the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. "I think good leaders have empowered people around them," Walker told Huddle. 

So what's next? "I haven't finished going through all the hazing yet," he said jokingly. Walker could still compete against Rep. Andy Harris, who is mulling a bid. Rep. Trent Franks ultimately declined to run after meeting with the group's leaders, tweeted Philip Wegmann, who writes for Heritage's media arm. 

INDIANA NOT A DEMOCRATIC LOCK-The Indiana Senate race suddenly looks a lot more competitive, reports Maggie Severns in a dispatch out this morning. "Democrats hoped to scare Republicans out of competing for Indiana altogether with an early show of force this summer... But the GOP has instead poured millions into bashing [Democratic candidate Evan] Bayh and is now redoubling its efforts." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191ed1bb9628ae3c8ee387e7638e83b9855cfa0e7826f06029c 

GUINTA HAS NARROW LEAD IN PRIMARY-Rep. Frank Guinta has a narrow lead, about 660 votes this morning, ahead of challenger Rich Ashooh in the still too-close-to-call race. "In the aftermath of a campaign finance scandal, all of the state's Republican establishment, including Senator Kelly Ayotte and the New Hampshire Republican Party chairwoman, Jennifer Horn, called on Guinta to resign. But he clawed his way back into contention - in part thanks to his support for Donald Trump," reports the Boston Globe's James Pindell.  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c19149c4b159c67795358ccbb56ddf941eac00c171221ad62e1e 

BRING IT ON, HUMP DAY. Welcome to Wednesday, Sept. 14. You're reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. If you too can't believe it's only Wednesday, here's a video of an overweight Pomeranian pupper playing piano to get you through the day: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191957ae8b0fe12860e0dace9be3340864dee930bd7e7298759 

TODAY IN CONGRESS- The Senate gavels in at 9:30 a.m. with up to 3 votes possible at 2:45 p.m. related to the water infrastructure bill. The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes expected at 1:30 p.m. and last votes around 5:30 p.m. 

** A message from United for Medical Research: America's investment in medical research - through the National Institutes of Health - is making amazing things possible. This week, United for Medical Research proudly launches a new podcast series, Amazing Things, that tells the stories of NIH-funded research on the cusp of changing lives and saving healthcare dollars. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c1912095e11b5dac2d682edabd498947e103dfae10132ee7612e **

AROUND THE HILL- Sens. Cory Booker (@corybooker) and Tim Scott (@senatortimscott) will be in the National Museum of African American History and Culture this morning for a special tour ahead of the museum's opening later this month and they'll be instagramming along the way using the hashtag #APeoplesJourney. 

The Congressional College Football Caucus, let by Reps. Terri Sewell (Roll Tide!) and Roger Williams, launches this morning starting at 8 a.m. in the Rayburn Gold Room (R-2168). Rep. Ted Lieu and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse hold a 9 a.m. press conference on climate change in the House triangle. 

Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Dan Kildee hold a press conference with Dr. Karen Weaver, mayor of Flint, Mich., at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate swamp on drinking water. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carlos Curbelo and Frederica Wilson meet with Florida Gov. Rick Scott about Zika at 9:45 a.m. in 2206 Rayburn. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and others hold a press conference on opposition to TPP at 10 a.m. in S-325. 

Rep. Xavier Becerra and other members of the California congressional delegation hold a press conference on healthcare for undocumented immigrants at 11 a.m. in the House triangle. Reps. John Conyers, Jerry Nadler and Ted Deutch hold a press conference on the Trump Foundation's donation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in HVC Studio A at 11:30 a.m.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin meets with Merrick Garland at 11:30 a.m. in S-321. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid meets with Garland at 12:15 p.m. with a photo op in S-224. Vice President Joe Biden and House leaders hold a remembrance ceremony for Rep. Mark Takai, who died in July, starting at 2 p.m. in Statuary Hall. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal holds a 2 p.m. press conference on veterans appeals reform in the Senate swamp. Rep. Bobby Scott holds a 4:30 p.m. press conference on criminal justice reform in the House triangle. 

MENENDEZ LOSES IN APPEALS COURT- "Sen. Robert Menendez has lost another round in federal court in seeking to have the bribery and corruption charges against him dismissed, and the New Jersey Democrat will now ask the Supreme Court to get involved in his case," reports John Bresnahan. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191f6cefa61603ee08c725a6260d8d1a1c3534e7cd78a716caa 

POLLS, POLLS, POLLS: Sen. Elizabeth Warren leads former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling 54 percent to 29 percent in a hypothetical matchup, according to a WBUR poll: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c19180188f2baa352c21f9a26a0c745c69c70c498ff16919dd23 A new Bloomberg Politics poll has Sen. Rob Portman up 17 points over challenger Ted Strickland (53 percent-36 percent): http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c1919e4ba012ef6908a6a6e3e6678387a584da27da3c69410d95 

ISSA CHALLENGER FACES STALKING CLAIMS-- Douglas Applegate, the retired Marine colonel mounting a competitive challenge to GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, "was accused of 'stalking,' harassing and threatening his ex-wife, who was granted two temporary restraining orders, according to court records on file in Orange County, California." Carla Marinucci reports: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191bc6f680a6f6a3201ebcbb12f3520053efe0247a5a95e7c31 

TWEET DU JOUR-- Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) What do members talk about on their way to votes? Well, Rodney Davis was just telling members about Ryan Lochte getting attacked on #DWTS.

CORNYN TO OBAMA: IF YOU VETO, DO IT SOON-Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn has a message for President Obama: If you're going to veto the 9/11 victims bill (officially called the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act), do it soon so Congress can override it. "Rather than leave the families dangling here for 10 days, I hope, if he does veto, he does it promptly and so the Senate and the House can take up a vote on a veto override, which I'm confident we will do," Cornyn told reporters Tuesday. 

NEW DNC DOCUMENTS LEAKED-Hackers released a new trove of Democratic National Committee documents Tuesday, including "detailed spreadsheets allegedly about DNC fundraising efforts, including lists of DNC donors with names, addresses, emails, phone numbers and other sensitive details." Cory Bennett: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191eceee9fa8d3d0e733a72062ec3d98a1ad6e4ff262d72281c 

SYRIAN REFUGEE PROGRAM 'RECKLESS AND EXTREME'- GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions is criticizing the administration's new Syrian refugee plan as "reckless and extreme" as some Republicans have threatened to make it an issue in ongoing government funding negotiations. "In an 82-page report to Congress obtained by POLITICO, the Obama administration said it will try to admit a 'significantly higher' number of refugees from Syria during the next fiscal year than the 10,000 goal it set for the fiscal year that ends this month," reports Nahal Toosi. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed lawmakers on the new plan Tuesday. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191fdc80f8a6f6c5f79eb18844d1dd1ece57c02db45f426cbd3 

WHO WANTS HAMILTON TICKETS? Congress may not yet have a deal on keeping the government open but they are working on some very important stuff, including possibly making it easier to get Hamilton tickets. "Ticket sellers and re-sellers - including the producer of the hit Broadway show 'Hamilton' - testified at a Senate hearing Tuesday and endorsed congressional efforts to crack down on the use of computerized software by ticket brokers to snap up tickets." The AP's Mary Clare Jalonick: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c19106ea8239ad35c9d1b66f89b720e1e785ab83f9824481846e 

CPC ENDORSES LEE, TAKANO-The Congressional Progressive Caucus on Tuesday endorsed Rep. Barbara Lee (a former CPC chairwoman) in her race against Rep. Linda Sanchez for Democratic Caucus vice chair. The group also endorsed Rep. Mark Takano over Rep. Tim Walz in his bid for House Veterans Affairs ranking member. 

HARRY REID TALKS 'SLIM AND TRIM'-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid hit Donald Trump Tuesday for the GOP nominee's penchant for fast food after reporters questioned Reid about Hillary Clinton's recent health problems. "'Take a look at this character that's running for president,' Reid said of Trump. 'He complains about her health? What does he do? He's 70-years-old. He's not slim and trim. He brags about eating fast food every day.'" USA Today's William Cummings: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191141ec5182a412a6a33789e993b9747299935c58d0f0e9df1 

COULD BEGICH BE BACK? Former Alaska Sen. Mark Begich says he's being asked to mount a write-in campaign against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (who famously won her own write-in bid in 2010) and he's not saying no, at least not yet. Nathaniel Herz with the Alaska Dispatch News: "'I'm getting a lot of calls from people who say they are not satisfied with their choices and they are not interested in seeing another [Joe] Miller-Murkowski fight,' Begich's statement said, referring to Murkowski's successful 2010 write-in campaign to keep her seat after Miller won the GOP primary." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c1912d71bdc64fc4144f51b94fa5b5f67e861e35e80213628533 

DEPARTURE LOUNGE-Pam Stevens, media affairs director for the House GOP conference, has taken a new job as senior advisor at Main Street Advocacy, the sister organization of the Republican Main Street Partnership. 

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER- Marshal Shemtob was the first to guess that Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Tom Cotton are the Senate's oldest and youngest members while Reps. John Conyers and Elise Stefanik hold those honors in the House. 

TODAY'S TRIVIA- Marshal, current law student and a former Hill intern, has today's question: Which Supreme Court Nominees were confirmed without any nay votes (excluding conformation by voice vote)? Bonus points if you name the year they were nominated and the president who nominated them. The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in tomorrow's Huddle. Get at me: [email-masked] 

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. 

** A message from United for Medical Research: The greatest returns on the federal government's investment in the National Institutes of Health are discoveries that lead to improved health, longer lives and the ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Without question, NIH-funded research is making the impossible possible. Listen to the Amazing Things podcast with Vanderbilt University's William Fissell and learn about a bio-hybrid kidney in development that stands to dramatically improve life for people waiting for a donor kidney. NIH funding: Because America's investment in medical research is making amazing things possible. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=10dc0abce2a6c191b1e24511d924ad0519b4cb54b3d2bff025ef6f7ba982c86c **

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