OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Dems tackle Ebola politics

AURORA, Colo. — Democrats are using the rise of Ebola to remind voters of sequestration and the shutdown, two issues they’ve seen as political winners for their party that have largely fallen off the map since last winter.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran ads recently knocking Republicans for backing cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, which the ad suggested has exacerbated the Ebola crisis.

And the issue is cropping up in races independently of national Democrats’ attacks as well. At a forum in Colorado’s 6th District on Tuesday night, an attendee asked the candidates in attendance what should be done about the spread of Ebola.

{mosads}Democrat Andrew Romanoff took a veiled jab at the Republican incumbent, Rep. Mike Coffman, on sequestration and the shutdown in his response.

“In the long term, we’ve got to make sure we not slice or slash vital federal funding for medical research,” he said. “The truth is, when Congress makes foolish decisions to shut down the federal government or to furlough employees who are doing lifesaving work, it imperils public health and public safety, and that’s a mistake.”

 

SENATE SHOWDOWN

AR-SEN (PRYOR): Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) said he thinks middle-class families can make up to $200,000 a year in a Tuesday night debate with Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

Arkansas’s Supreme Court struck down the state’s Voter ID law, making it potentially easier for Democrats to get their voters to the polls this fall.

LA-SEN (LANDRIEU): Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) gave President Obama a seven out of 10 score when asked to evaluate the president in a Tuesday night debate.

Tea Party candidate Rob Maness is letting his supporters weigh in on his campaign strategy and pick which ad he’ll run on television next week. 

KS-SEN (ROBERTS): The AFL-CIO will back independent Greg Orman against Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

KY-SEN (MCCONNELL): Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) is set to rally with Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) in Louisville this evening.

She’s also facing mounting calls from liberal groups to take down an ad that uses the term “illegal aliens.” 

GA-SEN (OPEN): Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stumped with businessman David Perdue (R) on Wednesday.

 

BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE

DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) is blaming potential House Democratic losses squarely on liberal outside groups that he says haven’t stepped up for the cause.

“Outside groups have always played a fundamentally important role in supporting our candidates and supporting our efforts. When you have 32 races within 6 points and you’re making tactical and strategic decisions to shore up incumbents; it is frustrating that the cavalry that’s always been there doesn’t seem to be there,” he told reporters Wednesday morning.

IA-1 (OPEN): Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) stumped with GOP House candidate Rod Blum (R) on Wednesday.

FL-2 (SOUTHERLAND): Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and Democrat Gwen Graham squared off in a debate Tuesday night. 

 

AD WATCH

GA-SEN (OPEN): Businessman David Perdue (R) has another new ad out featuring women praising his business record and tying former charity executive Michelle Nunn (D) to President Obama.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee slams Perdue for wanting to close the Federal Department of Education in their first ad of the race.

NC-SEN (HAGAN): A new Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ad hits Republican state Speaker Thom Tillis over his work in the state legislature.

The U.S. Chamber has an ad featuring Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) attacking Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) on ObamaCare.

AR-SEN (PRYOR): The conservative Freedom Partners launched an ad tying Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) to President Obama and blaming them both for Arkansas’s struggling economy.

KS-SEN (ROBERTS): A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce ad says Kansas independent Senate candidate Greg Orman supports the Obama administration on ObamaCare and remains silent on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. 

NATIONAL GROUPS: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hits the opponents of Reps. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) on Social Security. House Majority PAC also hits Bishop’s opponent focusing on women’s health issues.

NJ-3 (OPEN): The U.S. Chamber of Commerce attacks New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Amiee Belgard in an ad for taking a salary after saying she would not and for raising property taxes in two consecutive years.

 

POLL POSITION

IA-SEN (OPEN): Two new polls find Republican Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst leading with fewer than three weeks to go in her race against Rep. Bruce Braley (D). She leads 47 percent to 43 percent in a new USA Today / Suffolk University live-caller poll and 47 percent to 45 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll.

GA-SEN (OPEN): Former charity executive Michelle Nunn (D) leads businessman David Perdue (R) 48 percent to 45 percent in a new Survey USA live-caller poll.

CO-SEN (UDALL): Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) leads Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) 50 percent to 46 percent in a new CNN/ORC poll.

NH-SEN (SHAHEEN): Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) leads former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) 50 percent to 44 percent in a new internal poll from her campaign.  

MA-6 (OPEN): Republican Richard Tisei leads Democrat Seth Moulton 43 percent to 40 percent in a new Emerson College poll.

 

FUNDRAISING FIGURES

AR-SEN (PRYOR): Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) raised $2.2 million in the last quarter, spent $5.2 million and has just $1 million left in the bank for the final three weeks of the campaign.

VA-SEN (WARNER): Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) raised more than $2 million in the last quarter and has more than $8 million in the bank, his campaign announced.

GA-12 (BARROW): Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) raised $680,000 and has $1.5 million in the bank.

 

2016 RUMBLINGS

BUSH: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) stumped for his son, Texas candidate George P. Bush (R). 

He said his wife is “supportive” of a potential presidential run — and that his mom isn’t dead-set against it like she used to be.

WALKER: Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker waved off suggestions he might run for president anytime soon. “I want to be governor … that’s a long ways off,” he said, adding he would be unlikely to present a Republican challenge to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) if he were also to run.

A new poll shows Walker tied with his Democratic opponent Mary Burke at 47 percent, two weeks after the same poll gave Walker a five-percentage-point lead. 

SANTORUM: Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) is weighing a 2016 White House bid, saying, “I’m doing everything right now as if I’m running.” On whether his main rival in the 2012 race, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, might run again: “The more the merrier.”

PORTMAN: Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) says he has “a lot of friends who are encouraging me to run” for president.

BACHMANN: Conservative firebrand Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Wednesday that she has “no plan” to launch another presidential campaign in 2016. 

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY 

“What’s the Paycheck Fairness Act?” — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R)