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This Fox News headline is typical of many in recent weeks: Democrat Fundraising Is Worst in a Decade. A less partisan authority, the Washington Posts David Weigel, had a parallel Twitter take:

Itd be apt to call this state of affairs the Democratic Partys Looming Fundraising Crisis, as another headline did, if Democratic Party meant the same thing as Democratic National Committee. But the DNC and RNC are by no means the principal, or even secondary, factors in midterm-election funding. A more comprehensive assessment in The Hill notes that the playing field is pretty much even if you look beyond the national committees:

The DNCs fundraising woes have not extended to party committees and candidates. On the House side, both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee each raised about $60 million in the first six months of 2017. The Republican grouphas a $12 million advantage in cash on hand.

Republican House candidates have narrowly outraised Democratic House candidates, $145.4 million to $142 million.

Comparing Senate candidates is more difficult, since many more Democratic incumbents than Republicans find themselves in difficult reelection fights. But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Senatorial Campaign by a slim $700,000 margin.

You could apply that note about the broader turf that Senate Democrats must defend to House Republicans, given the huge 20102014 gains the GOP is defending alongside the historic midterm pattern of the party controlling the White House almost always losing seats, compounded by Trumps poor approval ratings. Similarly, the $36 million to $21 million fundraising advantage of the Republican Governors Association to its Democratic counterpart looks impressive, until you realize the GOP is defending nearly three times as many gubernatorial seats as its rival.

In the end, all these party accounts could be dwarfed by candidates, especially wealthy self-funders. The Illinois governors race could wind up costing an aggregate $300 million. And Democratic candidates for governor of California have out-raised the DGA.

There is a big wild card that is not being reflected in any of these numbers: independent groups that supplement and sometimes eclipse party and candidate expenditures. On the GOP side, that includes the powerful Koch donor network, which can be expected to overcome its lack of enthusiasm for Trump to defend GOP congressional power next year (though theres some talk of a big donor strike if Congress doesnt enact tax cuts or health-care legislation before the midterms). And small-dollar online donations to nonparty funding sources have made a big comeback on the Democratic side during the 2017 special congressional elections.

While the importance of the fundraising numbers for the RNC and DNC has been grossly exaggerated, they do matter, and the turmoil and turnover at the DNC have greatly undermined the organizations finances. For one thing, the DNC is struggling to connect with the nearly 3 million people who gave money to Bernie Sanderss 2016 campaign, which isnt surprising given the widespread belief in their ranks that the DNC helped rig the nominating process for Hillary Clinton last year. There is also an undercurrent of discontent with Democratic small-dollar-fundraising tactics, which tend to rely on negative messages that may not wear well over the long haul.

It is far too early, however, to concede a big Republican money advantage particularly if the GOP continues to stumble in keeping its promises to past donors, large and small. Another possible problem for the GOPs midterm effort is now coming into sight: Team Trumps preparations for 2020. Aside from creating an alternative magnet for donations (especially the massive small-dollar donations that Trump generated late in the 2016 campaign), the president might decide to triangulate against his ineffective congressional allies, which could hit the GOP in places even more sensitive than the wallet.

A high-speed train hit another train parked at the station in Upper Darby.

All ships will have a one-day operational pause this week after the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker.

He thinks asking lawmakers to hold Trump accountable would amount to a partisan hack-fest.

To the extent that its bold, its dangerous; to the extent its new, its vague; to the extent that its a strategy, its Obamas.

He offered few details, saying, Americas enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.

Luther Strange may need all the money and all the Trump love he can get to catch up with Roy Moore, whos winning over supporters of other candidates.

Sarah Jessica Parkers voice-over is a surprisingly good match for Trumps stoic facial expressions.

Still, House conservatives are threatening to let America default on its debt, unless Democrats agree to massive spending cuts.

Instagram is inundated, and even Donald Trump dons a pair of special glasses.

Trump seems to be the only one who dared to risk staring at the sun without eclipse glasses.

A vernacular translation of the the New York Times report on Rinat Akhmetshin.

New stories on the site recall Bannons threats to go nuclear on the First Daughter.

As Trumps approval rating in the Rust Belt dips, labor leaders work to help Democrats exploit an opening with working-class Trump voters.

More are being taken down every day.

While the DNC is struggling to keep up with the RNC in fundraising, other sources of campaign financing are more balanced, and its very early yet.

He was the last remaining at-large suspect in a terrorist cell.

Pulling down monuments is a start, but the real change happens in schools.

Last-minute tips for the astronomical event of the century.

A new book will profile Trumps mother, grandmother, and three wives.

Excerpt from:
Too Early for Democrats to Freak Out Over Fundraising 'Crisis' - New York Magazine

Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

Democrats push new bill to change recall rules, save senator

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Democrats started a new legislative push Monday to change recall election rules in an effort to protect one of their own after a court put an earlier attempt to slow the recall process on hold.

A measure introduced Monday would help state Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton, who is facing a recall attempt backed by Republicans over his support for a gas tax increase. If they succeed in replacing Newman with a Republican, Democrats would lose their supermajority that allows them to raise taxes without GOP votes.

Election officials in three counties reported Friday that they've verified enough signatures for the recall to proceed. State law gives Secretary of State Alex Padilla 10 days to certify them.

Republicans are pushing to hold a recall election shortly after the gas tax rises Nov. 1.

The Democratic bill would allow people to remove their name from a recall petition and require the state to estimate the costs of holding a special election. The new procedures were initially tucked into a state budget bill, SB96, in June, but the California Court of Appeal put them on hold last week because the bill touched on multiple unrelated subjects.

Democrats say people were tricked into signing the petition believing they were supporting a referendum on the gas tax. They say those people should have a chance to remove their name.

"It remains in the overwhelming public interest to safeguard the integrity of California's recall process and to ensure that recall petitions are not being signed under false and fraudulent pretenses," said Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Senate Democrats.

The bill would draw out the recall process, potentially allowing it to coincide with the statewide primary in June when more Democrats are likely to participate.

The bill will get a hearing in the Senate and Assembly budget committees on Tuesday and Wednesday and could be considered by the full chambers on Thursday, before the deadline for Padilla to certify that recall organizers collected sufficient signatures.

"In light of the Court of Appeal's recent order staying the recall procedures in SB96, the secretary is consulting with his attorneys to determine what his current obligations are under the law and how to appropriately proceed," Padilla spokesman Jesse Melgar said.

California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte has urged Padilla, a Democrat, to act quickly.

Read more:
Democrats push new bill to change recall rules, save senator - SFGate

EXCLUSIVE

Scooter Braun will be running for Governor of California ... if some very powerful CA democrats have their way.

We've learned a number of Democratic fundraisers and political operatives in the state have approached Braun, because they believe, as one source put it, the current candidates -- Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are flawed.

Braun, who manages Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Usher and Kanye, has immersed himself in the Democratic political system over the last year ... doing fundraising for Hillary Clinton.

We're told there was something of a groundswell -- Scooter for Governor -- after he gave an emotional speech at Ariana Grande's Manchester concert to raise money for the victims of the terror attack.

No word on whether Scooter is seriously considering a run, or whether he'll change his name if he does ... but there's definitely interest from the Democratic Party.

Follow this link:
Scooter Braun Democrats Push Him To Run for Cali Governor - TMZ.com

It's all a part of this week's "Inside Politics" forecast, where you get tomorrow's headlines today.

With President Trump facing a backlash for his comments on Charlottesville, Democrats see an opening with voters. But energy doesn't necessarily mean momentum for Dems looking towards the midterm election in 2018.

Dems' biggest midterms worry is their messaging, according to Julie Pace, White House Bureau Chief for the Associated Press. Some Democrats are anxious about going all in on Trump's response, she says.

"They see Democrats potentially falling into some of the same traps that they fell into in 2016, where they ran mostly on an anti-Trump message. The party still feels like it's an economic message that needs to resonate with voters," Pace explains.

"The irony, of course, is that Sen. Chuck Schumer and some other Democrats have rolled out an economic blueprint for Democrats, but it's been completely overshadowed this summer by all of the antics surrounding Trump and the White House."

The Democratic National Committee's July fund-raising numbers are in. And compared to the Republicans, they're not good.

The DNC haul was just $3.8 million compared to the RNC's $10.2 million. In total, the Republican National Committee has $47.1 million to the DNC's $6.9 million.

But as CNN's Nia-Malika Henderson reports, some are worried it's DNC Chair Tom Perez who's doing the damage.

"It's easier for parties to rake in the cash when they have a sitting president. But for some progressive Democrats, the paltry numbers are a reflection of Tom Perez and proof that the Democratic establishment just can't get it done," Henderson explains.

"The DNC says it's still early, and the rebuilding of the brand and the party's infrastructure is still ongoing," she adds. "They also say that they think they'll have the resources they need for the rest of the year in 2018."

Trump is back from vacation, but he may not be sticking around the White House for long.

The President will be doing a big, public push for tax reform and it will take him on the road, most likely to the Rust Belt where he first sold his populist economic message.

As Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender tells us, the road trip is set for the end of August.

"I'm told the West Wing has identified a Rust Belt city for a first major event on August 28th," Bender reports. "What they would really like this tour to eventually include is a stop in California in Simi Valley at the Reagan Library, which includes the desk where former President Reagan signed the last major tax reform three decades ago."

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has been fired, but it may not affect White House operations all that much.

Michael Warren from The Weekly Standard has reporting on how Bannon spent his final weeks on the job.

"I'm told that he spent much of his time, particularly in the last several months of his time at White House, sitting on a couch in the office of Reince Priebus, scrolling through his phone. But what was he doing there?" Warren asks.

"He was trying to run sort of an outside media campaign against his enemies on behalf of his agenda -- (against) people like H.R. McMaster, Gary Cohn," adds Warren, speaking of the national security advisor and Trump's chief economic advisor. "I guess we're going to see more of that and it 's going to intensify from outside the White House."

At the beginning of his term in January, many wondered aloud about how candidate Trump would turn into President Trump.

But the so-called presidential pivot hasn't happened, and likely won't happen. And as the LA Times' Jackie Calmes reports, some Republicans have given up on the idea altogether.

"I talked to a couple of very well-known, formerly high-placed Republicans over dinner (about Trump) ... the most senior of the two Republicans looked at me and said, 'He's a classic narcissist ... you cannot get someone like that to change,' " Calmes says. So Trump's own party isn't counting on that pivot.

Originally posted here:
Democrats see an opening with Trump but are worried about messaging - CNN

Democrats are heading toward a new phase in the battle over healthcare as they brace for a tough midterm election cycle.

With the GOP's ObamaCare repeal push largely on ice, Democrats are shifting their focus from defending the Affordable Care Act to pitching their own healthcare ideas.

The long-shot proposals have little chance of passing with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.

But the competing measures could feed into the ongoing fight about the partys future as Democrats search for a path out of the political wilderness.

Establishing a Medicare for All single-payer program will improve the health of the American people and provide substantial financial savings for middle class families. It is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do, Sanders wrote in a Guardian op-ed.

Echoing his upstart presidential campaign last year, the Vermont senator is asking supporters to sign up as a citizen co-sponsor of the forthcoming legislation, arguing that its time to wage a moral and political war against a dysfunctional healthcare system.

Sanders put universal healthcare at the center of his bid for the Democratic nomination, and the idea has gained traction amid a progressive resurgence within the party.

Many of Sanderss potential opponentsin a 2020 presidential primary including Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerBooker: Republicans can't force new healthcare plan 'down our throats' Bill targets lead in schools drinking water Batman v Superman star pushes Cory Booker for president MORE (N.J.) have voiced some support for a government operated healthcare system. Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren: Education Dept lawyer may have violated conflict-of-interest laws Congress should think twice on the Israel Anti-Boycott Act Sanders plans to introduce single-payer bill in September MORE (D-Mass.) told The Wall Street Journal that its time for the next step. And the next step is single-payer.

Marissa Barrow, a spokeswoman for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said Democrats should embrace a big and bold agenda heading into the next election.

Were looking to make Medicare for all one of the big issues on the campaign trail, she said. We see it as an issue that could help unite the Democratic Party.

But Sanderss Senate colleagues who are running in red states have kept the proposal at arm's length.

Democratic Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinOPINION | 5 ways Democrats can win back power in the states Trump's Democratic tax dilemma Manchin eyed as potential pick for Energy secretary: report MORE (W.Va.), Joe DonnellyJoe DonnellyTrump's Democratic tax dilemma FEC 'reform' a smokescreen to weaponize government against free speech It's time for McConnell to fight with Trump instead of against him MORE (Ind.), Jon TesterJon TesterWhy 'cherry-picking' is the solution to our nations flood insurance disaster Trump signs Veterans Affairs bill at New Jersey golf club It's time for McConnell to fight with Trump instead of against him MORE (Mont.) and Heidi HeitkampHeidi HeitkampTrump's Democratic tax dilemma It's time for McConnell to fight with Trump instead of against him The real litmus test is whether pro-life democrats vote for pro-life legislation MORE (N.D.), as well as Independent Sen. Angus KingAngus Stanley KingSen. King: If Trump fires Mueller, Congress would pass veto-proof special prosecutor statute Senate heading for late night ahead of ObamaCare repeal showdown Overnight Healthcare: Four GOP senators threaten to block 'skinny' repeal | Healthcare groups blast skinny repeal | GOP single-payer amendment fails in Senate MORE (Maine), joined with Republicans to vote against a single-payer amendment from GOP Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.) late last month.

Heitkamp said Congress needs realistic solutions and that Dainess maneuver which was expected to fail was a political stunt.

We need realistic solutions to help fix our healthcare system. ... The decision was made in 2010 to go with a market-based system the question is how we improve the system we have, Heitkamp said in a statement.

Sen. Claire McCaskillClaire McCaskillSenators push for possible FCC enforcement over Lifeline fraud Democrat senator: Trump has elevated Kim Jong-Un to the world stage It's time for McConnell to fight with Trump instead of against him MORE (D-Mo.), who like most Democrats voted present on the GOP amendment, also told constituents she would not support a single-payer proposal.

Im going to disappoint a lot of you. ... I would say if a single-payer came up to a vote right now I would not vote for it, McCaskill, who is up for reelection next year, told constituents during a town hall earlier this year.

McCaskill added she would support allowing individuals who only have one option on the ObamaCare exchanges to buy into Medicare or Medicaid instead.

Democrats face a tough Senate map in 2018, with 10senators running for reelection in states carried by Trump. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted three of those races West Virginia, Indiana and Missouri to toss up and North Dakota from likely D to lean D this week.

A spokesman for Sanders said he didnt yet have an estimate for how many members of the Democratic conferencewould support the forthcoming legislation. One hundred and sixteen House Democrats are backing a separate House bill from Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) the first time a majority of the House Democratic Caucus has supported the proposal.

Democratic leadership is trying to walk a fine line in the looming healthcare fight as they balance the competing interests of different wings of the party.

Senate Minority Leader CharlesSchumer (D-N.Y.) has put myriad options, including single payer, on the table.

We're going to look at broader things single payer is one of them, he told ABC News. Medicare for people above 55 is on the table. A buy-in to Medicare is on the table. A buy-in to Medicaid is on the table.

Overall, 33 percent of Americans believe healthcare should be a single payer setup, according to a Pew Research Center poll from late June, compared to 52 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of liberals.

The poll also found that roughly 60 percent believe the government is responsible for making sure all Americans have health insurance.

The coming fight over healthcare is the latest example of a vocal progressive wing trying to flex its muscle and push the Democratic Party to the left in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.

When Sanders introduced a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 a key issue between himself and primary opponent Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonAssange meets U.S. congressman, vows to prove Russia did not leak him documents High-ranking FBI official leaves Russia probe OPINION | Steve Bannon is Trump's indispensable man don't sacrifice him to the critics MORE 30Democratic senators signed on to the bill, compared to five supporters for a similar bill in 2015.

But red-state incumbents arent the only Democrats worried about embracing single payer.

Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne FeinsteinTrump's Democratic tax dilemma Feinstein: Trump immigration policies 'cruel and arbitrary' The Memo: Could Trumps hard line work on North Korea? MORE (D-Calif.) received pushback at a town hall in San Francisco when she said told constituents that she wasnt there on single payer.

Asked if he could support a single-payer system, Sen. Tim KaineTim Kaine Violent white nationalist protests prompt state of emergency in Virginia Republicans will get their comeuppance in New Jersey, Virginia Spicer signs deal with top TV lawyer: report MORE (D-Va.), Clintons vice presidential pick, noted Sanders would be introducing a bill but that he has a different view about what we ought to do.

I want people to have more options, not fewer. ... I would like to explore a circumstance under which there could be a public option, like a Medicare Part E for everybody that you'd have to buy into, Kaine, who is also up for reelection next year, told ABC News earlier this month.

Democratic Sens. Debbie StabenowDebbie StabenowHead of McConnell-backed PAC: We're 'very interested' in Kid Rock Senate campaign Juan Williams: Trump and the new celebrity politics Senate Dems unveil trade agenda MORE (Mich.), Tammy BaldwinTammy BaldwinClub for Growth endorses Nicholson in Wisconsin GOP primary Senate Dems unveil trade agenda Group pushes FDA to act on soy milk labeling petition MORE (Wis.) and Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownOvernight Finance: House passes spending bill with border wall funds | Ryan drops border tax idea | Russia sanctions bill goes to Trump's desk | Dems grill bank regulator picks Dems grill Trump bank regulator nominees Senate Dems launch talkathon ahead of ObamaCare repeal vote MORE (Ohio), who are each up for reelection in states carried by Trump, are offering legislation that let Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 buy into Medicare.

Barrow called the move a positive step, though the end game is either a single-payer system or a state-by-state or federal Medicare option for everyone.

Sanders has also acknowledged that with Republicans in control of Congress, his bill is unlikely to pass. He outlined three steps to take in the meantime: passing legislation to get the public option in every state, lowering Medicaid eligibility to 55 and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

But he is also prepared to take his argument for a broader single payer bill into Trump territory. Hell hit the road with stops in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan to discuss healthcare and the economy, including a rally with Conyers where theyre expected to discuss Medicare for all.

Barrow added that the Progressive Change Campaign Committee is already reaching out Capitol Hill offices and will keep up their effort through 2018 and beyond to get Democrats to wrap themselves in the flag of Medicare.

If you go into a red state its a super, super popular program in red states, blue states and purple states, she said. Its going to be a winning issue in 2018 especially in those red and purple states.

Continue reading here:
Democrats prep for next round of healthcare fight - The Hill