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Michigan Rock Star Kid Rock leads Democratic opponent Sen. Debbie Stabenow in the states 2018 U.S. Senate election according to a poll released Monday.

The singer earned 30percent of support in the poll, compared to Stabenows 26 percent support, according to the poll conducted by Delphi Analytica. The remaining 44 percent remained undecided.

Kid Rock teased his potential challenge July 12, by tweeting a picture of a sign that read Kid Rock for USSenate, including a link to his official campaign website.

He hit the incumbent Democrat in the official statement, asserting that he knows more about the concerns of Michigan voters than Stabenow.

I concede she is better at playing politics than I am so Ill keep doing what I do best, which is being a voice for tax paying, hardworking AMERICANS and letting politicians like her know that We the People are sick and tired of their bullshit! Kid Rock wrote in an official statement at the time.

The star isin a decent position to run. He has very high name recognition in the state of Michigan and hasa loyal fan base that enjoys his brash approach to life. He also has a net worth between $80 and $120 million, according to the Federalist, so he could easily fully fund his own campaign without outside party funds.

Stabenow has occupied the seat since she narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham in the 2000 election with 49.5 percent of the vote. Her lead has grown much higher in the years since, ballooning to 58.8 percent of the vote during the 2012 election.

She also has a strong fundraising history. Shes raised $35,027,401 so far during the course of her Senate career, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and $14,376,142 of that total was raised and spent during the course of the 2012 campaign bid.

Delphi surveyed 668 Michigan residents. The pollster didnt include a margin of error or the dates the survey took place.

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Kid Rock Leads Democrat In New Poll - The Daily Caller

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told Arkansas Democrats in Little Rock on Saturday night that there's an opportunity for them to flip seats in 2018 -- pointing to his own election in a deeply red state nearly two years ago.

The governor from Arkansas' southern neighbor was the keynote speaker for the Arkansas Democrats' annual fundraiser, which for the first time was called the Clinton Dinner.

The self-described "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment" Democrat reflected throughout his speech on the similarities between the two states, which have seen decades of strong Democratic support wither.

Democrats' ranks in the Arkansas Legislature are at the lowest point since Reconstruction, and they control no constitutional or federal offices.

"I suspect they invited me here because I won the governor's race a little less than two years ago in Louisiana, a state that doesn't look terribly different than Arkansas," Edwards said in an interview earlier Saturday.

In his speech, Edwards said his path to the governor's mansion could serve as a road map for Arkansas Democrats.

And he said Democrats' fortunes in both states lie at the center of the aisle and with independents.

"We cannot hang out at the far left of the political spectrum, because you cannot seize what is available to us from there," Edwards said.

Both states have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Edwards said support for the expansion should be a "huge" talking point for Democrats in 2018, as Republicans in Washington struggle to repeal and replace the law.

He also said diversity is key to the party. On the local and national level, Edwards said, the party can't afford to shun people who "don't stand with 100 percent of the party platform."

It was a possible reference to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, who earlier this year said support for the party's position favoring abortion rights is "not negotiable."

The dinner was the first headed by new state Democratic Party Chairman Michael John Gray, who is also a state representative from Augusta.

Like Edwards, Gray served as House minority leader. The two met in Philadelphia last year at the Democratic National Convention.

The Saturday night dinner at the Statehouse Convention Center raised at least $100,000 for the party, according to spokesman Jessica DeLoach, though a final tally was not yet available.

Including a dinner of shrimp and grits, chicken jambalaya, Nashville hot chicken and pork belly with baked beans, tickets for the event cost $100.

About 800 people were in attendance, according to the party.

Earlier in the day, at a meeting of the Democrats' State Committee, House Minority Leader Rep. David Whitaker, D- Fayetteville, laid out a "bold, aggressive agenda," that he said will be the basis for 2018 campaigns.

The platform, according to Whitaker, includes opposing any legislation that would reduce health care coverage in Arkansas and supporting expanded pre-kindergarten programs, criminal justice issues and parole overhauls.

At the earlier meeting, Whitaker called on Democrats to recruit candidates or consider running for office themselves.

As of Saturday, no Democrat had announced plans to challenge Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson next year -- a point alluded to by Edwards.

"Somebody in this room, it's time to go big or go home," he said.

Hutchinson, while critical of the Affordable Care Act, has also held back from supporting the U.S. Senate's replacement plan.

At a meeting of the National Governors Association this month in Rhode Island, Edwards said a talk about President Donald Trump's health care policy from Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price received a dull reception from the governors.

"There was nobody in that room excited about what he was saying," Edwards said.

The new Clinton moniker for this year's dinner was adopted after Democrats held the last Jefferson-Jackson Dinner last year, with former President Bill Clinton serving as the keynote speaker.

The previous name was dropped due to its association with two slave-holding presidents.

Clinton said in a pre-recorded video played at Saturday's dinner that he also has hope for the party in a state where once served as governor.

"I'm old enough to remember battles that looked even longer," Clinton said.

Republicans will have their own annual fundraiser, the Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner, at the Little Rock Marriott next weekend.

The keynote speaker for that event is Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

Metro on 07/23/2017

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Democrat speaks at annual dinner in Arkansas - Arkansas Online

Motivated to boost Currie to clerk's seat

Passaic County Clerk Kristin Corrado is in line to replace Sen. Kevin O'Toole in the 40th District.(Photo: northjersey.com file photo)

Passaic County Clerk KristinCorrado's victory in the 40th Legislative District Senate primary last monthturned out to be one of the more bitter, intra-Republican Party skirmishes this year.

And her success was fueled with the generous support of a familiar Democratic operation.

Corrado's campaign was financed, in part, by family and allies of U.S. Rep. William Pascrell, the former Paterson mayor and Passaic County kingpin. Pascrell's affiliates -- including his son, lobbyistWilliam Pascrell III -- contributed to the Republican Corrado's cause.

The reasons for Pascrell's involvement are varied, but it reflects the complicated,bipartisan tangle of power and interests that have shaped Passaic County politics for decades.

Bill Pascrell(Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)

For one thing, the ties are personal. Pascrell III is close to Peter Murphy, the powerful operative from Totowa and former Passaic County Republican Party chairman who served as Corrado's chief benefactor in her vanquishing of primary rival Paul DiGaetano of Franklin Lakes, who is also the Bergen County Republican chairman.

Pascrell III also said Murphy is the godfather of his youngest child.

But strategically, Corrado's victory in capturing the Republican nomination could open the Passaic County clerk's seat. Longtime Pascrell ally John Currie, who doubles as both state and Passaic County Democratic Party chairman, is eyeing a run to be her replacement.

Pascrell III acknowledged that elevating Currie to that seat -- which paid Corrado over $111,000 last year -- was a strategic imperative.

"John Currie isvery important to me, to my dad, and our organization,'' Pascrell said.

Passaic County Democratic chairman John Currie is considering a run for county clerk.(Photo: northjersey.com file photo)

A couple of key procedural steps would need to take place in order to position Currie to vie for that seat. Former 40th District Sen. Kevin O'Toole of Cedar Grove,resigned from the Senate seat last month,and it is widely expected that Corrado will be selected to be his replacement.

Republican committees from the four counties with towns in the 40th District Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Morris plan to meet Wednesday in Totowa to select O'Toole's replacement.

State law forbids dual office holding, so Corrado would have to step down immediately if she is sworn in as a senator. It would then be up to Gov. Chris Christieto appoint an interim clerk.

If Corrado is sworn in as a senator before Sept.12, an election for county clerk would then be on the November ballot. If she is sworn in after Sept.12, the county clerk's election would be delayed until November2018.

Corrado's campaign was financed by several longtime allies of the Pascrell organization, including $2,600 from Pascrell III. They includedEd Farmer, the congressman's former chief of staff and chief executive of a grant writing firm, who contributed $1,000 and Keith Furlong, who has handled public relations for Currie and other Passaic democrats, who donated $1,000.

Al Gaburo, the Somerset County Republican chairman and is also partner in Pascrell's Trenton lobbying firm, contributed $5,500.

The Eagleton Institute's Center on the American Governor released last week "From Candidate To Governor-Elect: Recommendations for Gubernatorial Transitions," a colorfuland anecdotal how-to guide for the next New Jersey governor. It's culled from interviews from ex-governors and former officials who oversaw the hectic but crucial transitions.

The report's presentation was adorned with several pull-out quotes, including this intriguing one from former Gov. Thomas H. Kean about the potential useful wisdom aformer governor can impart to anewcomer.

Tom Kean Sr.(Photo: CHRIS PEDOTA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

"I think former governors can be very helpful to present governors, if present governors have the humility to reach out,'' he said.

That struck as a possible jab at Christie. Kean mentored Christie as a teen-aged aspiring political mover during Kean's first run for governor in 1976. AndChristie's relations with Kean have been rocky since Christie's ill-fated attempt to dislodge Kean's son, Thomas H. Kean Jr., from the Senate minority leader's post in November 2013.

But Eagleton officials noted that the quote was pulled from an interview Kean gave to Eagleton in May 2011 -- two years before Christie's failed coup attempt. In the interview, Kean was referring to the useful and collegial advice he received from two Democratic predecessors, Brendan T. Byrneand Richard J. Hughes.

It's worth noting that theinterview was also conducted only 15 months after Christie's own rocky transition from former Gov. Jon Corzine'sadministration. In an interview on Friday, Kean said Christie did reach out to him for advice during that time.

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Stile: Republican Corrado's victory aided by Democrat Pascrell - NorthJersey.com

Belleville News-Democrat

Severe thunderstorms leave thousands without power in metro-east Belleville News-Democrat A severe storm passed through the region Saturday night, leaving thousands without power in the metro-east, according to Ameren Illinois. In St. Clair County, 1,809 households didn't have power as of 7:30 a.m., according to Ameren's outage map. and more »

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Severe thunderstorms leave thousands without power in metro-east - Belleville News-Democrat

(1 of ) MIKE SMITH / Las Vegas Sun

PETE GOLIS

PETE GOLIS IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT. | July 23, 2017, 12:07AM

| Updated 16 hours ago.

Six months into his presidency, people have stopped talking about Donald J. Trump.

Im kidding. Six months into his presidency, people still cant stop talking about Trump. Whether the daily news involves alleged collusion with Russians, various business entanglements, contradictory statements about almost everything or weird handshakes, Trump and his family continue to take up all the air in the room.

Democrats have spent the first six months in a dither, in turns angry and depressed. Of late, however, there are signs that rank-and-file Democrats at least want to move on. The question I hear every day from my Democratic friends is this: What the hell is wrong with the Democratic Party? These Democrats want to know why their side cant produce new ideas and a new generation of leaders.

It is easier in hindsight to recite all the mistakes made by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the people who ran her campaign. Its worth remembering that if you flip 80,000 votes in three states, Clinton is finishing the first six months of her presidency.

Still, anyone not living on an iceberg knows that national Democrats couldnt be bothered with the problems facing white working-class folks in Rust Belt cities and rural towns. Once upon a time, this was where the Democratic Party lived, where the party found its greatest strength. Not anymore.

Trumps not going to help these people, Democrats complain. Hes just blowing smoke. (They dont say blowing smoke, but you get the idea.)

Its true that all the presidents promises cant change the basic laws of economics. Consumers wont be lining up to pay $2,000 for the iPhone assembled by workers earning Ohio wages. In the face of a changing energy market, no one is going to be reopening coal mines in West Virginia. And if union members in Michigan think Trump is going to be their friend, they can look forward to new disappointments.

Trump, however, did reach out to these voters. Focused on the demands of identity politics, Clinton and the Democratic Party managed to recite a long list of aggrieved Americans without mentioning working people except when Clinton described some among them as deplorables.

One would think the Democrat Party now would be committed to re-inventing itself, rewriting the messaging that lost the last election, offering up alternatives to Trumps rush to reverse course on health care, immigration, business regulation, trade, taxes, strategic alliances and more. Until now, however, there has been no evidence of that.

Democrats dont have do anything, the argument goes, because voters can see that Trump is such an objectionable person. You will recognize here the same presumption that lost the 2016 election.

In the litany of complaints from rank-and-file Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, the embodiment of the status quo in politics, remains minority leader in the House. Most Americans couldnt name Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. And people still talk about Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 79 years old by the time the next presidential election rolls around as a presidential hopeful.

In the latest issue of the Atlantic (Whats Wrong With the Democrats?), Franklin Foer argues that success in the cultural wars created a measure of complacency, as if those wars had been won with little cost. In actuality, the losers seethed. If the Democrats intend to win elections in 2018, 2020 and beyond, they require a hard-headed realism about the country that they have recently lacked about the perils of income stagnation, the difficulties of moving the country to a multicultural future, the prevalence of unreason and ire.

The Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank reported see Fridays Press Democrat that Beltway Democrats are finally wising up. This week, he said, Democratic congressional leaders will roll out a new plan that means to spell out what Democrats believe.

Milbank noted recent polls that show only 37 percent of voters believe Democrats stand for something, and 52 percent believe the party just stands against Trump.

The newest promise A Better Deal: Better Skills, Better Jobs, Better Wages could turn out to be more of the same, just more talk and window dressing. Time will pass before we know whether Washington Democrats self-proclaimed reawakening represents an earnest change of heart, or merely a reflexive response to the latest opinions polls and what is available in plain sight for everyone else. When it comes to identifying the obvious, political insiders in Washington are often the last to know.

A longtime supporter of Democratic candidates told me he now fields requests for donations to the party with a standard response: Ill make a donation just as soon as you show me that the Democratic Party stands for something.

Pete Golis is a columnist for The Press Democrat. Email him at golispd@gmail.com.

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Golis: What in the world happened to the Democratic Party? - Santa Rosa Press Democrat