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By Elena Schneider | 02/08/2017 10:00 AM EDT


With Kevin Robillard

The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - and for a more comprehensive aggregation of the day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today. (http://www.politicopro.com/proinfo)

STRANGER THINGS - "Bentley leaning toward 'Big Luther' Strange to replace Sessions," by POLITICO's Kenneth P. Vogel, John Bresnahan and Marc Caputo: "Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is strongly leaning toward picking the state's attorney general to replace U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions after his expected confirmation Wednesday to become United States Attorney General, according to three Republican operatives with direct knowledge of the plans. The operatives all cautioned, however, that the mercurial governor hasn't formally picked Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to replace Sessions, and Bentley could change his mind. But all three said that Strange - a hulking former basketball player
nicknamed "Big Luther" - has made plans to travel to Washington, D.C. this week, and one said that he has reached out to set up interviews over the coming days in Washington with potential staffers for a Senate office." Full story.

THE CHOPPING BLOCK - "House Republicans name Democratic targets for 2018," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "Republicans, already hoping to expand their House majority in 2018, have devised a 36-seat list of top Democratic targets for the next two years - and they are particularly focused on blue-collar parts of the country where President Donald Trump is popular. ... One-third of the districts, detailed in a NRCC spreadsheet, are seats that President Donald Trump carried over Hillary Clinton even while a Democratic House member also claimed victory. That segment of the list is heavy on blue-collar districts in the Midwest, which Republicans believe will be especially fertile political
territory in the Trump era. It includes two Democrats who were not heavily targeted by the GOP in 2016: Reps. Dave Loebsack, a veteran incumbent from southeastern Iowa, and Ron Kind, who is from west central Wisconsin and ran unopposed in 2016 while Trump carried his seat by more than 4 percentage points. Another Democratic incumbent in the category is Rep. Rick Nolan, who represents a swing district based in the Minnesota Iron Range. Nolan and Trump narrowly won the district in 2016. In all, the committee plans to target three Minnesota Democrats." Full story.

PRODUCT ROLLOUT - "New GOP app promises Obama-style data management," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "The GOP consulting firm WPA Research has a new resource on offer for 2018 campaigns: Archie. The nickname, used by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's political team, refers not to a staffer but to a new web app formally known by its creators as Archimedes, after the Greek mathematician who said, "Give me a lever and I can move the world." The program's architects say it represents the latest step in Republican efforts to match Democrats in data collection, synchronization, and modeling - and in making those tools available and accessible for down-ballot campaigns. The program allows campaigns to
work across all formats and vendors to collect data in one place, whether from donors or volunteers or voter lists. Campaign staffers will be able to use the app to generate models, target audiences, cut lists and produce data visualization tools to make strategic decisions. Smaller campaigns, subject to contracted agreements, will be able to access data from statewide campaigns in their states, too." Full story.

EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES - "GOP bench overflows into Midwestern primaries," by Campaign Pro's Daniel Strauss: "Republicans have spent the decade building a large and enviable bench of officeholders who could become future governors or senators. Now, they have to fight through each other for a shot at the big prize in their states. The GOP had such success electing attorneys general, lieutenant governors and others to statewide posts in 2010 and 2014 that their bench is now bursting with ambition, just as dozens of governorships and a handful of major Senate races come up in 2018 and candidates get ready to pile into Republican primaries. Nowhere is the situation more glaring than in the
Midwest, where Democrats lost significant ground to the GOP culminating in President Donald Trump's election - and where the Republican primaries for governor in Ohio and Michigan figure to be especially crowded and talent-laden. Republican attorneys general and lieutenant governors are on collision courses in both states, while the secretary of state and a wealthy congressman are also potential candidates in Ohio." Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 275.

Days until the 2018 election: 639.

Thanks for joining us. You can email tips to the whole Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com and dstrauss@politico.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter, where we tweet about campaigns and bathrobes: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4.

DID SOMEONE CALL FOR SECURITY? - "Republicans fear for their safety as Obamacare protests grow," by POLITICO's Rachael Bade: "House Republicans during a closed-door meeting Tuesday discussed how to protect themselves and their staffs from protesters storming town halls and offices in opposition to repealing Obamacare, sources in the room told Politico. House GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers invited Rep. David Reichert, a former county sheriff, to present lawmakers with protective measures they should have in place. Among the suggestions: having a physical exit strategy at town halls, or a backdoor in congressional offices to slip out of, in case demonstrations turn violent;
having local police monitor town halls; replacing any glass office-door entrances with heavy doors and deadbolts; and setting up intercoms to ensure those entering congressional offices are there for appointments, not to cause chaos." Full story.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - Former Rep. Joe Heck joins RedRock Strategies: Heck, who lost the Nevada Senate race to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, will join RedRock Strategies as president of government relations. Heck worked with RedRock on his Senate race. "I could not be more excited to have Joe launch this effort and cannot wait to see him put his experience, relationships, and strategic insight to work for our clients," said Ryan Erwin, RedRock Strategies' founder, in a statement.

- Kander launches voting rights group: "Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a rising star in the Democratic Party who lost a bid for Senate in 2016 and has since been the subject of speculation about his future endeavors, is launching a new voting rights group, Let America Vote, with the backing of a slew of big-name Democrats. The 527 group will focus on "winning the public debate" over voter laws, according to a release, whereas most existing voting-rights group focus their energy on legal challenges. The goal, Kander said in the statement, is to ensure "politicians intent on denying certain Americans the right to vote will first have to consider the political consequences."
Full story.

COMING SOON - "Multimillionare Gladesman 'Alligator Ron' Bergeron mulling governor campaign," by The Tampa Bay Times' Adam C. Smith: "One of the more colorful business leaders in Florida, 'Alligator Ron' Bergeron, tells the Buzz he is considering - 'reasonably seriously' - running for governor in 2018. 'I've had an awful lot of people approach me,' said Bergeron, 73, a rodeo champ, alligator wrestler, and eighth generation Floridian who grew up swimming in the Everglades and made a fortune in the development, road construction and cattle business. ... A Republican who describes himself as a 'moderate conservative,' Bergeron says private sector experience is critical in government, as is
building consensus, listening, and bringing people together. He is a big fan of Gov. Rick Scott, but also is complimentary of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, and likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam." Full story.

- Carly Fiorina eyes Virginia race: "Former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina on Monday told a local Virginia radio show that she's considering running for the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia in 2018. Asked on the John Fredericks Show if she would run for Senate, Fiorina said, 'Well, I don't know yet, John. Sorry, I'm not gonna make a big announcement on your show,'" CNN reported.

- MORE PERSONNEL MOVES - Perriello hires Sanders alumna to manage campaign: "Former Rep. Tom Perriello has hired a top staffer and consulting firm from Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, he announced today, as well as more Hillary Clinton veterans as he rounds out his campaign staff in his bid for governor of Virginia. Julia Barnes, who served as Sanders' New Hampshire primary director and later national field director, will manage Perriello's campaign. Revolution Messaging, which ran Sanders' digital fundraising operation, will play the same role for Perriello." Full story.

- Ryan O'Daniel, the 2016 campaign manager for John McCain, is starting Intrepid Public Affairs in Arizona, his own firm that will do consulting and lobbying for companies and candidates.

VOTING WARS - House Administration Committee votes to ax Election Assistance Commission: The House Administration Committee, in a party line vote, decided to kill the Election Assistance Commission, which was created to help states run efficient elections after the 2000 Florida recount. The GOP has argued the body is irrelevant, with the $1 billion in grants it was given to hand out now gone. USA Today has much more.

FROM THE COURTS - "Trump campaign appears to settle texting lawsuit," by POLITICO's Isaac Arnsdorf: "President Donald Trump's campaign appears to have settled a lawsuit over its use of mass text messages. The lawsuit surrounds two Chicago-area people who sued the Trump campaign last year over texting, claiming the campaign used auto-dialing equipment to blast out bulk messages in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Law firm Locke Lord defended Trump's campaign, arguing the law violates the First Amendment protections of free speech. According to the campaign's FEC filing, it paid $200,000 to Locke Lord on Dec. 27. Then, on Jan. 11, the plaintiffs dropped the case. They did
not submit a settlement for the judge to approve or say why they were withdrawing their claims." Full story.

ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ - Appeals Court Panel Appears Skeptical of Trump's Travel Ban," by The New York Times' Adam Liptak: "A three-judge federal appeals panel voiced skepticism on Tuesday at the Justice Department's broad defense of President Trump's targeted travel ban during arguments over how much power the president has to impose immigration restrictions based on national security concerns. It was a lively but technical hearing on an issue that has gripped much of the country's attention - and that of foreign allies and Middle East nations - for the past week. Issued without warning on Jan. 27, just a week after Mr. Trump took office, the executive order disrupted travel and drew
protests at the nation's airports by suspending entry for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries and limiting the nation's refugee program. No matter how the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules - in an order that is expected within days - an appeal to the United States Supreme Court is likely. That court remains short-handed and could deadlock. A 4-to-4 tie in the Supreme Court would leave the appeals court's ruling in place." Full story.

- "Melania Trump 'has no intention' of profiting from public position, representatives say," by The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger: "A day after Melania Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a British news company of hurting her ability to build a profitable brand, her representatives issued statements saying that the first lady 'has no intention' of using her public position for personal gain. 'It is not a possibility,' said statements issued simultaneously Tuesday by a spokeswoman for Melania Trump and a law firm representing her. 'Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted.'" Full story.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I said, 'yeah, you did well Mr. President.'" - House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who said his Oval Office conversation with President Donald Trump included talk of Trump's electoral victory in Utah in 2016.

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