Subject: POLITICO's Morning Score: DEBATE NIGHT IN ALABAMA — Democratic poll: Graham-Cassidy bill has 24 percent support — DSCC raises $3.5M in August
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
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Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2017 08:03:50 -0600
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By Elena Schneider | 09/22/2017 10:00 AM EDT

With Zach Montellaro
 
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)
 
DEBATE NIGHT - "GOP Senate candidates come out swinging in Alabama debate," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt and Daniel Strauss: "Sen. Luther Strange and former state Chief Justice Roy Moore squared off in a heated debate Thursday evening just days before a close Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate in this deep-red state. For much of the beginning of the debate, the candidates stuck to two themes. Again and again Strange pointed out that he had the support of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. ...Moore, meanwhile, refrained from attacking Trump directly but bashed Strange as a career lobbyist and a product of insiders and corruption in Washington. ...Both public and
 private polls show a tightening race, though most have Moore leading slightly. The debate also comes as top surrogates for the two candidates swoop in to give each a last-minute boost." Full story.
 
HOT OFF THE PHONES - "Democratic poll: Graham-Cassidy bill has 24 percent support," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "The first national poll on congressional Republicans latest health care bill finds the effort by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy to be just as unpopular as previous efforts, with only 24 percent of the public supporting the proposal in a survey from a left-leaning firm. The survey, from the Democratic automated polling firm Public Policy Polling, found 50 percent of registered voters disapprove of the law, which would repeal Obamacare and its expansion of Medicaid and replace it with fixed-cost block grants to states. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has
 tentatively scheduled a vote on the legislation next week, but it's unclear if Senate Republicans have rounded up the 50 votes necessary to pass the law. Previous attempts at repeal have gotten similar grades from the public." Full story.
 
FIRST IN SCORE - DSCC raises $3.5M, pays down debt: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $3.5 million in August and made a $3 million payment on the substantial debt they have left over from the 2016 cycle, which totalled more than $15 million at the end of July. The committee now has $17.3 million on hand. 
 
FIRST IN SCORE - End Citizens United raised $2 million for candidates in 2017: End Citizens United announced today that it has raised $2 million for its endorsed candidates this year, which "represents a drastic increase from the 2016 cycle," per a statement from the group. Last cycle, End Citizens United's endorsed candidates raised $600,000. 
 
Days until the 2017 election: 46.
 
Days until the 2018 election: 410.
 
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You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns. 
 
FOR YOUR CALENDAR - The Doctor-Patient [and Government] Relationship - Join POLITICO for a three-panel event looking at how doctors, patients, caregivers and advocates can navigate complex decision-making - and what policy changes can help make sure that doctors and their patients can decide the best course and get access to innovative and cost-effective therapies. Speakers include Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), American Medical Association President David Barbe, M.D. and more. Tuesday, Sept. 26 - Doors open at 8:00 a.m. - The Newseum. RSVP: HERE.
 
GETTING THE NOD - Blue Dog PAC endorses 8 House challengers: The Blue Dog PAC, which represents the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, endorsed its first round of House candidates today, naming eight challengers in traditional battleground and Republican-leaning seats across the country. The list includes former Rep. Brad Ashford (NE-02), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Paul Davis (KS-02), Gretchen Driskell (MI-07), Roger Dean "R.D." Huffstetler (VA-05), Jay Hulings (TX-23), Brendan Kelly (IL-12) and Dan McCready (NC-09)." Full story.
 
POLLING DATA - "Murphy's lead over Guadagno not as wide in latest governor's race poll," by NJ.com's Brent Johnson: "A new poll shows Democratic nominee Phil Murphy leading Republican nominee Kim Guadagno by 13 percentage points in the race to succeed Chris Christie as New Jersey's governor -- a noticeably smaller margin than other surveys have found." Full story. 
 
WEB WARS - "Klobuchar, Warner float legislation to require political ad disclosure rules," by POLITICO's Steven Overly: "Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner are seeking co-sponsors on proposed legislation that would require Facebook, Google and other digital platforms to disclose more information about political advertisements and the buyers behind them. They are writing legislation that would require web platforms with more than 1 million users to publicly disclose the names of individuals and organizations that spend more than $10,000 on election-related advertisements, according to a letter obtained by POLITICO. The sites would also have to provide a copy of the advertisement,
 and disclose details about the targeted audience, the number of people who view the ad, the time and date it was published, the amount of money charged and the buyer's contract information." Full story.
 
 - Zuckerberg says Facebook will rise to the occasion of protecting elections: "Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said today his company is taking further steps to protect what he called "the integrity of free and fair elections," after the company acknowledged that it will share with congressional investigators advertisements purchased by Russians to influence the 2016 campaign." Full story.
 
- LCV targets House members on cuts to National Park Service: The League of Conservation Voters is going after eight House members with a $50,000 digital ad effort, criticizing them for voting for a spending bill that cuts funding to the National Park Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund and the EPA. The ads will target Reps. Darrell Issa (CA-49), Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Barbara Comstock (VA-10), Mimi Walters (CA-45), along with Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-07). LCV is also releasing another round of digital ads to thank two other members, Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum and Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo, who "[stood] up to these attacks," per a memo
 from the group. Check out the ad here. 
 
- DSCC jumps on "Kimmel Test" search boom: The DSCC is taking advantage of the squabble between Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Jimmy Kimmel to release Google search ads in Indiana attacking GOP Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita. The ads highlight "how the GOP's plan fails 'The Jimmy Kimmel Test' by gutting coverage for pre-existing conditions and making health care more expensive for Hoosiers. The digital ads are part of an ongoing six-figure buy. Watch the ad here. 
 
KEY VOTING BLOC - "BlackPAC plans $1.1 million effort to mobilize African American voters in Virginia," by The Washington Post's Fenit Nirappil: "An organization that mobilized black voters on behalf of Hillary Clinton in November plans to spend more than $1 million in Virginia to do similar work to support Democrats ahead of the November governor's race. Black Progressive Action Coalition said it plans to spend $600,000 on voter education, including 100 paid canvassers, to impress on African Americans the importance of casting a ballot to fight racism, end voter suppression and create good-paying jobs. An affiliated political action committee plans to spend $500,000 on mailers and digital
 ads targeting black voters on behalf of the Democratic statewide ticket, including gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam." Full story.
 
RETIREMENT WATCH - "Are any Texans in Congress ready to retire in 2018? We asked them," via The Texas Tribune's Abby Livingston and Claire Allbright: "Two out of the 38 Texans in Congress made clear months ago they weren't seeking re-election: U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Richardson, announced his retirement earlier this year, and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, the El Paso Democrat is challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. And another of those Texans, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, won't face re-election again until 2020. The Tribune asked the remaining Texans in Congress this week if they plan to run for re-election. People close to nearly every member indicated to the Tribune that, yes, they have either
 officially launched their re-election campaigns or intend to when state filing begins in November." Full story.
 
WHAT'S NEXT - "With his political clock ticking, state Senate leader Kevin de Le&oacute;n keeps mum about what he'll do next, by The Los Angeles Times' Patrick McGreevy: "...The mystery over the Los Angeles senator's political future has injected uncertainty into the races for governor and U.S. Senate, and demanded patience from those Democrats aspiring to succeed him as leader of the Legislature's upper house." Full story. 
 
TRANSITIONS - Pete Maysmith joins LCV as SVP of campaigns: Pete Maysmith, who served as executive director of Conservation Colorado, will join The League of Conservation Voters as senior vice president of campaigns, according to a statement from the group. Maysmith will oversee LCV's federal and state independent electoral programs.
 
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Who the hell is Dana Rohrabacher?" - Seth Meyers on "Late Night" goes after the California congressman, The Los Angeles Times reported. 
 
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