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<p>By Alexander Burns (@aburnspolitico, <a href="mailto:aburns@politico.com">aburns@politico.com</a>) <br />
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<strong>POLITICO SNEAK PEEK - DGA'S BATTLE PLAN:</strong> The Democratic Governors Association plans to focus its campaign efforts this fall on a collection of high-value states with disproportionate influence over national politics, executive director Nathan Daschle writes in a strategy memo set for release today. Dubbing the DGA's battle plan “Project Extreme GOP Makeover,” Daschle writes that his committee will comprehensively exploit the Republicans' “brutal civil war.” “Over the next 56 days, the DGA will execute its largest-ever series of independent expenditures and direct contributions in more than a dozen states, focusing our resources on the best pickup opportunities,” Daschle says, setting the bar for success thusly: “[T]he most telling indicator will be how the GOP performs in a wave year in critical states such as California, Colorado, Florida and Texas.” <strong>Here's the memo:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://politi.co/aTyeht ">http://politi.co/aTyeht</a> ; and <strong>the appendix (!)</strong>: <a target="_blank" href="http://politi.co/9YVmhN ">http://politi.co/9YVmhN</a> <br />
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<strong>PLUS - THE NUCLEAR OPTION:</strong> Democrats are launching saturation-level television campaigns today in a pair of New England states, attacking Republican gubernatorial candidates in Maine and New Hampshire for their views on energy. In Vermont, the independent expenditure group Green Mountain Future - supported by the DGA - hits GOP Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie for backing the controversial Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, warning in a spot that the plant has “too many dangerous leaks” and Dubie wants it “open another 20 years.” In Maine, the DGA blasts Republican Waterville Mayor Paul LePage for endorsing nuclear power and offshore drilling, in an ad that starts with images of Maine's scenic coast. “How 'bout adding a nuclear power plant to that picture?” the commercial asks. “Paul LePage says we should.” <strong>Watch the ad here</strong>. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/c9n2GS ">http://bit.ly/c9n2GS</a> <br />
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As Richard Daley hangs up his spurs, immigration reformers get a boost and the Michael Steele reviews come in from abroad, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily cheat sheet for the 2010 midterm elections. <br />
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<strong>TODAY - KAINE'S CONTRAST:</strong> DNC Chairman Tim Kaine will kick off the fall campaign for Democrats today at a Philadelphia rally, where he'll draw this contrast on job creation, health care, banking reform and more: “President Obama and Democrats chose to stand with the American people so we could move America forward. The Republican Party chose to stand with the special interests.” Kaine will take aim at a succession of GOP candidates, including Sharron Angle, Ken Buck, Rand Paul and - the big one - John Boehner: “Let's look no further than the man who is already measuring the drapes for the Speaker's office, minority leader John Boehner, for how Republicans would govern and what their priorities would be. … In Mr. Boehner's world - teachers, police and firefighters are undeserving special interests but companies which use tax loopholes to ship American jobs overseas deserve some type of special protection. Incredible.” <br />
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<strong>GOP BRACKETS KAINE:</strong> The RNC will drop a research hit this morning calling Kaine's speech and media blitz “another failed ploy to distract from economic woes,” following “FAILED STRATEGY #1: BLAME BUSH,” “FAILED STRATEGY #2: FIRING UP THE LIBERAL BASE” and so much more. <strong>See it here.</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/bASOhl ">http://bit.ly/bASOhl</a></p>
<p><strong>FIRST IN SCORE - TITUS GETS BACKUP:</strong> The EMILY's List independent expenditure effort Women Vote! is launching a two-week television campaign targeting Nevada congressional candidate Joe Heck for a vote he took in the Nevada state Senate, opposing a bill that would have mandated insurance coverage for the vaccine against human papillomavirus. “Joe Heck actually voted against requiring insurance companies to cover the vaccine,” the ad warns. “If we can't trust Heck with our health, can we trust him with our future?” <strong>Watch it here</strong>. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/9JYUzY ">http://bit.ly/9JYUzY</a></p><p><strong>MORE - THE BUZZY DETAILS:</strong> The commercial is laser-targeted to reach young women, appearing on cable television shows that young women are likely to watch. The commercial will appear during cable programs including “Iron Chef America,” “Teen Mom,” “Jersey Shore,” “House Hunters,” “Designed to Sell,” “NCIS and Law and Order SVU,” according to a list shared with POLITICO. The spot will also run on the website Hulu, where viewers in Nevada will see it during the programs “Glee,” “Modern Family,” “30 Rock,” “Grey's Anatomy” and “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” <br />
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<strong>SENATE RACE PREVIEW I - AIDING AYOTTE:</strong> The anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List is planning a $150,000 independent expenditure campaign to help New Hampshire Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte, with $50,000 to be spent on radio ads in the final days of the campaign. Ayotte has taken criticism from the right for her handling of a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood, but SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser stands firmly behind the former state attorney general in a statement. “Ayotte made a judgment call that potentially saved New Hampshire taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Dannenfelser said, dubbing Ayotte a “pro-life heroine.” The push comes as one of Ayotte's opponents, self-funder Bill Binnie, goes up with an ad reminding independents that they can vote in the primary and calling himself a “pro-choice Republican.” <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/d0ynXN ">http://bit.ly/d0ynXN </a><br />
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<strong>SENATE RACE PREVIEW II - THE JOHNSON TREATMENT:</strong> Wisconsin Senate candidate Ron Johnson is airing a television commercial beginning today that grinds away at incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold's maverick reputation, calling him a “career politician” and a party-line Democrat. The ad shows a series of Wisconsin voters describing Feingold as a man who's gone to Washington. “Russ Feingold is a career politician and has not worked anywhere outside of politics,” one woman says. A man continues: “Russ Feingold has never created a job. Russ Feingold has never met a payroll.” The last voter in the ad delivers a tough kicker: “Russ Feingold can't blame anybody else. He's the problem.” <strong>Here's the commercial.</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/cSMUW2 ">http://bit.ly/cSMUW2</a> <br />
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<strong>SPOTTED -</strong> The Chamber of Commerce's classic anti-Alexi Giannoulias spot, back up on cable in Peoria, Rockford, Springfield and Paducah. Refresh your memory. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/adhSCL ">http://bit.ly/adhSCL</a> <br />
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<strong>WHIPLASH - DEMS LOVE:</strong> Gallup's generic House ballot is back to a tie game after showing Republicans with a 10-point lead just ONE WEEK ago. Frank Newport offers a grab bag of possible explanations, including <strong>(1)</strong> Obama coming back from vacation; <strong>(2)</strong> The declared end of combat operation s in Iraq and <strong>(3)</strong> The aftermath of Glenn Beck-fest 2010. Newport: “It is not clear if these or other factors affected Americans' voting preferences as measured by the generic ballot.” <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/at8zLh ">http://bit.ly/at8zLh </a><br />
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<strong>HOUSE RACE EXCLUSIVE I - THE BEST DEFENSE</strong> - Florida Rep. Suzanne Kosmas is going up today with her first general election spot: A one-part positive, one-part negative ad in the Orlando media market. The ad hits Republican nominee Sandy Adams for having “strange ideas,” starting with Adams's comment that “we need to go back to the way our forefathers planned on us having senators.” That means no direct elections, the ad reminds viewers. Kosmas appears on the screen to offer her competing pitch at the close of the spot: “People in this district are mad and I'm mad, too. … It's my nature to fight for people.” <strong>Watch it here</strong>. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/d0vJNQ">http://bit.ly/d0vJNQ</a> <br />
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<strong>HOUSE RACE EXCLUSIVE II - THE KIRK SEAT:</strong> The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will formally endorse Illinois Republican Robert Dold for Congress today, leaving its mark on one of the few House seats Democrats are eyeing for takeover this year. Ben Taylor, the Chamber's Midwest regional director, will make the endorsement at the education company Learning Resources, saying in a statement that Dold would “bring to Washington a common sense approach to job creation and getting America back on the road to recovery.” Dold is competing with Democrat Dan Seals for outgoing Rep. Mark Kirk's open seat. <br />
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<strong>AND - HAPPENING NOW - TRIVEDI'S TALE:</strong> Physician Manan Trivedi, the Democrat challenging Pennsylvania Rep. Jim Gerlach, is running a biographical ad introducing himself as an Iraq war veteran with a job-creation plan. “Whether my name was on my uniform as a battalion surgeon in Iraq or as a primary care physician at home, I've always had a mission to serve my country and my community,” Trivedi says. “It's time we all made putting Americans back to work our No. 1 priority.” The ad is airing on network and cable television across the district. <strong>Here it is</strong>. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/9atIdd">http://bit.ly/9atIdd</a> <br />
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<strong>LAST NIGHT - CLINTON'S TAKE:</strong> Florida Senate candidate Kendrick Meek raised $175,000 at an event in New York City with former President Bill Clinton, hosted by Democratic donor Sant Chatwal. There's more heavyweight support coming: Vice President Joe Biden is due in Florida for Meek, congressional candidate Joe Garcia and others on Sept. 24, the Miami Herald reports. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/aHzUQs ">http://bit.ly/aHzUQs </a><br />
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<strong>2012 TALKER - “Mitt Romney headed back to Iowa Oct. 26”</strong> - From the Des Moines Register's Tom Beaumont: “Romney, who finished second in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, plans to campaign in eastern Iowa, with tentative plans for Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Dubuque, Romney aides said. Romney, who endorsed Republican candidate for governor Terry Branstad before the June primary, plans to campaign with Branstad, who is challenging first-term Democratic Gov. Chet Culver. Romney is also expected to campaign for congressional and Statehouse candidates.” <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/bellKj">http://bit.ly/bellKj</a> <br />
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<strong>NOT DEAD YET - MURKOWSKI MOVES:</strong> Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, defeated in the August Republican primary by tea party-backed attorney Joe Miller, has met with leaders of the state Libertarian Party and told the AP that she's “still in the game.” “What I'm looking at is my state and the future of my state for my kids. So, I have not made that determination that I'm going to give up. I'm not a quitter, never have been,” she said after meeting with the Libertarian nominee for Senate. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/9c73Mx ">http://bit.ly/9c73Mx </a><br />
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<strong>THE 2010 STAKES - ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES</strong> - Michael Cooper of the New York Times: “Republicans are within reach of gaining control of eight or more chambers in state legislatures this fall … [T]hey expect to win control of house chambers in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and of the Wisconsin State Senate, and said that they saw at least a dozen other states where they have a reasonable chance of winning control of legislative chambers. Democrats acknowledge that they will be fighting to preserve their slim majorities in at least 10 chambers - including state senates in New York, New Hampshire and Nevada - but say that they see opportunities to gain control of chambers in four other states.” <strong>Read the whole thing</strong>. <a target="_blank" href="http://nyti.ms/aRgoAu ">http://nyti.ms/aRgoAu </a><br />
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<strong>COUNTDOWN TO SEPT. 14 - WHEN MIKE CASTLE ATTACKS:</strong> The moderate Delaware congressman goes after Senate primary opponent Christine O'Donnell in a television ad focused on her questionable personal finances. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/akiYs0 ">http://bit.ly/akiYs0</a> (<strong>Also worth the click</strong>: The Wall Street Journal endorsing Castle's campaign. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/dqAtK6">http://bit.ly/dqAtK6</a>) <br />
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<strong>FRONTIERS OF ENDORSING - DECODE THIS</strong> - @SarahPalinUSA retweets: “@HeyTammyBruce @marklevinshow Thank you so much for that RT ;) It is appreciated! @ChristineOD is great, her election must a major focus for us all.” Got that, Delaware? <br />
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<strong>AND CHASER:</strong> New York Rep. Dan Maffei uses the former Alaska governor's endorsement in an ad against challenger Ann Marie Buerkle. The punch line: “Buerkle's extreme views may have gotten Sarah Palin's support, but she's wrong for central New York.” <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/c0nSoE ">http://bit.ly/c0nSoE </a><br />
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<strong>COMING SOON - LIVING THE DREAM (ACT):</strong> Immigrants' List, the pro-immigration reform political action committee, is endorsing a dozen incumbent Democratic senators for reelection and backing Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's open-seat Senate bid. The list of endorsees includes some of the most vulnerable Dems up this fall, including Michael Bennet, Barbara Boxer, Russ Feingold, Blanche Lincoln, Patty Murray and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Immigrants' List will run some independent expenditure efforts in the most competitive races. Also on the endorsement list: Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Barbara Mikulski, Daniel Inouye and Ron Wyden. <br />
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<strong>END OF AN ERA - RAHM'S OPENING:</strong> Chicago Mayor and urban American legend Richard Daley will not run for another term next year, bringing an end to his more than two-decade reign. POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Matt Negrin look to the next horizon: Mayor Emanuel? <a target="_blank" href="http://politi.co/bvF1bA ">http://politi.co/bvF1bA </a><br />
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<strong>THEY REALLY LIKE HIM!</strong> “Senatorials impressed with Steele,” Guam's KUAM News reports. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/dyRNFU ">http://bit.ly/dyRNFU</a> <br />
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<strong>ONE TO WATCH - WINK AND YOU MISS IT</strong>: The open-seat House contest in Kansas's 4th District, already described by some Democrats as a sleeper race, could quickly become a toss-up if former GOP candidate Wink Hartman decides to run as a Libertarian. Hartman, who lost the GOP primary to Mike Pompeo, was in talks with the Libertarian Party this week following the withdrawal of the party's chosen candidate. The Democratic nominee is state Rep. Raj Goyle. <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/bD138K ">http://bit.ly/bD138K </a><br />
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<strong>CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY:</strong> “I must admonish the media to end its coordinated commentary on who will be the next mayor of the city of Chicago.” - Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush, to many of you. <a target="_blank" href="http://politi.co/bvF1bA ">http://politi.co/bvF1bA</a></p><br>
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