The Hill’s 12:30 Report

by Cate Martel - 10/04/16 12:29 PM ET

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Bill Clinton slams ObamaCare (!) | What you need to know for VP debate | Ayotte walks back Trump ‘role model’ remark | Dems hit Trump over PTSD comments | National Taco Day (!)

OH THIS SHOULD GO JUST … SWIMMINGLY … FOR DEMS: Former President Bill Clinton slammed President Obama’s signature healthcare law as “the craziest thing in the world.” How: Clinton blasted the core principles of ObamaCare as unworkable as he pitched a new system that would allow people to buy into Medicare or Medicaid. Enjoy, GOP. Enjoy this gift. http://bit.ly/2dq9bas

It’s Tuesday. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what you missed this morning — and what’s on tap for the rest of the day. Send comments, story ideas and weekend plans to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

YOU GUYS HAVE ONE SHOT AT THIS: Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence have their only vice presidential debate of the cycle this evening. Throwback: Just imagine how different the lead-up would have been if Trump chose Newt Gingrich or Chris Christie — and Clinton had chosen Elizabeth Warren. Ahh, good times. Anyway, here are five things The Hill is watching for tonight: http://bit.ly/2dPgPKw

Can Pence change the narrative?
Will tax returns dominate the debate?
Can Kaine give a strong defense of Clinton?
Do voters care? (Lol, sad but definitely true)
Will there be a memorable moment?

WHY TV EXECS WON’T BE CHOMPING AT THE BIT: Via The Hill’s Joe Concha, TV networks are unlikely to cash in on tonight’s debate. Why: My favorite line from The Hill’s Niall Stanage: “Neither Pence nor Kaine is over-endowed with charisma.” http://bit.ly/2cGI087

INSIDE THE SPIN ROOM: http://bit.ly/2doB4mu

EHHH, BUT AN ENDORSEMENT?: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said she would “absolutely” point to Donald Trump as a role model for children but still declined to endorse him for president in an awkward answer to a debate question Monday night. During the second debate of 2016 in the critical New Hampshire Senate race, Ayotte was asked whether she sees Trump as a role model. “Well, I think that certainly there are many role models that we have, and I believe he can serve as president, and so absolutely I would do that.”

— Ayotte quickly walked back the comments later in the evening in a statement from the campaign that said she “misspoke.” “While I would hope all of our children would aspire to be president, neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton have set a good example and I wouldn’t hold up either of them as role models for my kids,” she said. http://bit.ly/2dPxNIR

{mosads}TALKED ABOUT ON THE MORNING SHOWS — DID HE SAY IT? OR DID HE NOT?: Democrats have seized on remarks Donald Trump made to a veterans group on Monday, accusing the GOP nominee of disrespecting veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What Dems are saying: Trump suggested that soldiers who suffer from PTSD aren’t “strong.” What Republicans are saying: This was taken totally out of context. http://bit.ly/2dBravR

BIDEN REACTION: “I don’t think he was trying to be mean. He is just so thoroughly, completely uninformed.” http://bit.ly/2dPousk

WHAT SHADE OF GRAY SHALL WE DESIGNATE THIS?: Via RealClearPolitics’s Rebecca Berg, Donald Trump donated nearly $300,000 of his foundation’s money to conservative organizations over a three-year period in the lead-up to his presidential run. Why this matters: The contributions may run afoul of IRS laws prohibiting charity executives from using a group’s funds to their own benefit. Flashback to Friday: The Washington Post has reported on a number of similar cases of possible self-dealing involving the Trump Foundation, which on Friday was ordered to stop receiving public donations by the New York attorney general. http://bit.ly/2dGVkek

UHHHH, DID YOU JUST COMPARE YOURSELF TO HITLER, DUDE?: In a speech, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said: “Hitler massacred 3 million Jews. Now there is 3 million, what is it, 3 million drug addicts [in the Philippines], there are. I’d be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have [me]. You know my victims, I would like [them] to be all criminals, to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.” Uhhhhhh? He later apologized, saying he never intended to hurt the feelings of the Jewish community. http://cnn.it/2dOboPC

I’LL HAVE WHAT HE’S HAVIN’: Eric Trump dismissed polls that show Clinton is leading because “when I’m walking on the street, I feel such tremendous love, and Clinton doesn’t have that.” http://bit.ly/2cQ90Cs

TODAY IN CAMPAIGN SHRINES: In today’s edition of “This Person Has Far Too Much Time,” here’s an impressive political shrine built outside of a house in West Hartford, Conn. I totally bet these people give out the big candy bars on Halloween. 😉 http://bit.ly/2dq1elE

NOTABLE TWEETS:

Deadspin’s Timothy Burke (Trump on what he has in common with his daughter. Nononononono)
Weird http://bit.ly/2dsAyQO

Politico’s Jenny Hopkinson
Of course there are farm animal cookies at a luncheon for USDA’s Tom Vilsack. http://bit.ly/2dBlKAY

NH1’s Paul Steinhauser
NOW: Look who’s working the drive thru at the McDonalds in Hudson, N.H. right now http://bit.ly/2dH8U1n

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are o-u-t, out.

12 p.m. EDT: First lady Michelle Obama campaigns for Hillary Clinton in North Carolina.

12:30 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Josh Earnest gives the daily press briefing.

3:45 p.m. EDT: President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with Defense Secretary Ash Carter in the Oval Office.

3:45 p.m. EDT: Hillary Clinton campaigns in Harrisburg, Pa.

4 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders campaigns for Clinton in Minneapolis.

4:15 p.m. EDT: Bill Clinton campaigns for Hillary Clinton in Canton, Ohio.

5 p.m. EDT: Donald Trump holds a rally in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

7:30 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders campaigns for Clinton in Duluth, Minn.

WHAT TO WATCH:

9 p.m. EDT: The VP debate with Tim Kaine and Mike Pence.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Taco Day! Not to be confused with National Soft Taco Day, which was yesterday! (?) Here are some of the best Taco Day celebration deals in D.C.: http://bit.ly/2dpCeM3 And here are deals nationally: http://usat.ly/2dYeHTC

WELL, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA DO IN THE PENALTY BOX…?: During a Detroit Red Wings preseason game, Dylan Larkin and Steve Ott photo-bombed a 4-year-old’s selfie while in the penalty box. The photo is hilarious: http://atnhl.com/2dFEpYU

AHHH, THE MEMORIES: Remember Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls? Well tomorrow, Netflix is sponsoring Luke’s Diner pop-up shops around the country with free coffee. Why: To promo the Gilmore Girls four-episode revival coming to Netflix on Nov. 25. Locations in each state: http://bit.ly/2dOedAm

And because you read this far, here’s a butterfly that photo-bombed a koala bear during the bear’s big debut photo shoot: http://bbc.in/2doz8us

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