OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Follow the money

by Cameron Joseph and Emily Goodin - 07/09/12 10:02 PM ET

Democrats are broadcasting their worries — Obama held two fundraisers on Monday — while Republicans were gleeful.

Meanwhile, Obama reopened a tax battle with the GOP just before the last stretch of the presidential election.

{mosads}Republicans are unlikely to agree to a deal that decouples some tax rates from others, but Monday’s announcement was aimed more at election-year politicking than policy.

Obama’s call also puts him on a different page than some other top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), who have called for setting the income cutoff for the Bush-era rates at $1 million.

TOMORROW’S AGENDA TODAY:

President Obama will be campaigning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Michelle Obama will campaign in Miami and Orlando.

Mitt Romney will attend a town hall at Central High School in Grand Junction, Colo.

TWEET OF THE DAY: “Headed to DC with some trepidation. After passing the trans bill and dealing w/student loans, fear we’re getting back to ‘messaging’ bills.” — Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He said, ‘What’s up, Spike?’ and I said, ‘What’s happening, Mitt?’ ” — Spike Lee, on running into Mitt Romney at Reagan Washington National Airport.

POLL POSITION:

Two-thirds of likely voters say President Obama has kept his 2008 campaign promise to change America — but it’s changed for the worse, according to a sizable majority. A new poll for The Hill found 56 percent of likely voters believe Obama’s first term has transformed the nation in a negative way, compared to 35 percent surveyed who believe the country has changed for the better under his leadership.

Obama maintains a narrow lead over Mitt Romney in pivotal battleground states, 47 to 45 percent, in a survey from USA Today and Gallup.

BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is up with YouTube ads targeting seven House Republicans ahead of this week’s planned House vote to repeal Democrats’ healthcare law.

Arizona: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) over fellow Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) in the member-versus-member primary.

California: Republican candidate Ricky Gill posted another strong fundraising quarter in his bid against Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), raising $470,000. The recent law school graduate faces a tough race in the Democratic-leaning district, but he’s proven to be a strong fundraiser, tapping into the Sikh Indian-American community, and won’t be short on cash — he now has more than $1 million in the bank. McNerney has yet to announce his quarterly fundraising numbers.

Connecticut: Former Connecticut state Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D) banked more than $340,000 in the second quarter of 2012, leaving the Democrat with more than $900,000 cash on hand.

Florida: Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) blasted reports that he equated the Social Security program to “21st-century slavery,” writing on his Facebook page that he is “committed to protecting social security retirement benefits for retirees and future retirees.”

New York: Rep. Charles Rangel’s Democratic opponent conceded on Monday and dropped a legal challenge to the congressman’s primary victory in New York state.

New York: Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) raised more than $530,000 for her reelection bid, her campaign announced Monday, a strong haul for the longtime congresswoman. Her campaign did not announce a cash on hand figure, though she had $550,000 in the bank as of the end of March. Republicans are high on their recruit, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks (R), though the seat leans Democratic and Slaughter is likely safe. Brooks has not yet announced her numbers.

SENATE SHOWDOWN:

Indiana: Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R) has raised $1.6 million in the past three months, nearly doubling the $900,000 Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) raised in the same time span.

Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren raised $8.6 million in the second quarter, indicating she hasn’t been hurt by the controversy surrounding her supposed Native American heritage.

Michigan: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) continued her strong and consistent fundraising pace by bringing in just shy of $1.5 million in the last three months, and used that to purchase $3.25 million worth of television ads in the state this fall.

Missouri: Vice President Biden voiced the administration’s strong support for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) at a private fundraiser in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, calling her the “toughest, most principled person in the United States Senate.”

Nebraska: The Nebraska Democratic Party launched a new ad calling Republican Senate hopeful Deb Fischer a hypocrite on government handouts.

Nevada: The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it will formally investigate Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) over allegations she violated House rules by using her position in Congress to benefit her husband’s medical practice.

Wisconsin: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) uses her life story to attack the Republican Party on Medicare in a new ad.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs ripped Mitt Romney for his personal finances. Gibbs, who now acts as a campaign strategist for President Obama, said Romney’s personal finances are relevant to his ability to deal with reforming the tax code.

Romney banked more than $3 million for his campaign over a series of three glitzy fundraisers in the Hamptons on Sunday, his first campaign activity following the July 4 holiday.

Please send tips and comments to Emily Goodin, egoodin@digital-stage.thehill.com; Cameron Joseph, cjoseph@digital-stage.thehill.com; and Justin Sink, jsink@digital-stage.thehill.com.

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