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07/27/2016 08:00 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

BREAK OUT THOSE LIBERAL BONA FIDES- Sen. Tim Kaine will introduce himself to the country tonight as Hillary Clinton's running mate, with his speech at the convention being the first time tens of millions of voters have gotten a good look at the Virginia Democrat. Kaine is well-liked by both Democrats and Republicans on the Hill, known as a pragmatic politician who's not afraid to make a bipartisan deal to get things done.

But as he prepares for tonight's big roll out, "there's an open debate playing out in the party over Kaine's ideological credentials after Clinton passed over bona fide liberals like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker and Labor Secretary Tom Perez," reports Burgess Everett from Philadelphia.

What's the harm? Dozens of lawmakers and delegates pointed to Kaine's resume as evidence of his progressive instincts but not everyone thinks that's the way to go. "There's a strong belief from among members of the party's decaying centrist wing that casting Kaine as a purebred liberal is a bad fit for a politician with deal-making tendencies," writes Burgess.

Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin: "From where the national Democratic Party is: Tim would have to be considered a moderate, or a moderate with compassion. I don't know why they are just playing to that side of the aisle." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e46af46030dc37514778325194e17d9020cae1bc19a0d77f70

ALSO IN TONIGHT'S LINEUP: President Obama will speak tonight as well as Vice President Joe Biden and retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. From the DNC's tribute video to Reid: "He didn't like it that I never shined my shoes. He'd slip me $20 bills. He said 'here, here's $20-because he knew I was cheap-go shine your shoes,'" said Sen. Chuck Schumer. Watch it, from the New York Times: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4b2ec89ed17aca296c891c88b1698f9e1d1d052651ca41091

CRUZ CLASHES WITH ADVISERS OVER HUELSKAMP- Rep. Tim Huelskamp, in the primary fight for his life, got a much-welcomed boost from Sen. Ted Cruz, who endorsed the Kansas Republican a few weeks ago. But at the same time, members of Cruz's political team are working aggressively behind the scenes to defeat Huelskamp.

Alex Isenstadt reports: "Two of the pillars of Cruz's political operation, the consulting firms Axiom Strategies and Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, have helped steer a super PAC that is spending heavily to defeat Huelskamp, a member of the conservative, Cruz-friendly House Freedom Caucus - even though Jeff Roe, Cruz's former campaign manager and Axiom's top strategist, had previously pledged that he and his firm wouldn't oppose Huelskamp."

Somebody should tell Huelskamp: "During a recent interview, the congressman said he was unaware of Axiom's participation in his primary. 'Oh no, Jeff Roe said last fall he supported me,' Huelskamp said. 'I mean, Ted Cruz gave me his word and so did Jeff Roe.'" Don't miss this story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4c51d9537b83dff06f24d79857bb3a64a6e96289a3b82ce08

MIKE PENCE GIVES TRUMP SOME HILL CRED-Rachael Bade with this juicy anecdote: "When Rep. Jeb Hensarling endorsed fellow Texan Ted Cruz for president this spring, he took a shot for good measure at Cruz's main rival: 'Based on Donald Trump's track record, I have serious questions about his commitment to the conservative cause.' But when Cruz delivered his prime-time snub of Trump at the Republican National Convention last week, Hensarling was not rooting him on. He was watching the scene unfold in horror - from the comforts of Trump's swank VIP box in Quicken Loans Arena."

And he's not alone. "Spurred by VP pick Mike Pence, a former congressman with close ties to many lawmakers, the Trump campaign in recent weeks has stepped up its courtship of wary Capitol Hill Republicans. And the efforts appear to be bearing fruit," Rachael writes. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e42109430da86a3e50e758f296cf233ff1c0d19722a6a85962

WE LOVE WEDNESDAYS. Welcome to July 27. You're reading POLITICO's Huddle, your play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. Got the mid-week convention blues? Don't fret. Here's a picture of Biggie Smalls hanging out at Independence Hall to get you over the hump: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4ae5e646e83d5f19e84698f770aad1ba55ca331ebc719553b

** A message from Anthem: The status quo in health care is unacceptable and unsustainable. That's why Anthem is challenging the DOJ's flawed decision to block our acquisition of Cigna, a combination that will transform health care by expanding access to affordable, high quality health coverage for consumers. For important information, please visit AnthemInc.com **

TODAY IN CONGRESS - Shhhh, the overworked press assistant in your office is trying to sleep under his desk.

AROUND THE HILL-- http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e421dd30a80ab5936a5c15ad6f5e69c0d1ed72e3ea374d045f

NEW THIS A.M.: Sen Majority Whip John Cornyn's op-ed on the one-year anniversary of the Iran nuclear deal. "Where we were guaranteed transparency and openness, we've found deception; where we were promised a better diplomatic relationship with a theocratic regime, we've been met with hostility and aggression," he writes in the Washington Post. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4a388d1205f1c4c15e5b409b65ed284fb0fd8ed9c69332ff9

GRAYSON THREATENS POLITICO REPORTER-- Rep. Alan Grayson threatened to have POLITICO reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere thrown into jail Tuesday after Dovere asked the lawmaker about abuse claims from Grayson's ex-wife. "You're assaulting a member of Congress," Grayson said, leaving a POLITICO event, as he pushed Dovere. Grayson later threatened to turn the video footage over to Capitol police, adding, "You know, I'm hoping that somebody comes here and arrests you." Watch the whole fiery exchange go down: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4afe56a39207fb87ad508418c3add134d8a4f4383fec30ae5

-Fallout continues: Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee are withdrawing their support for Grayson following the POLITICO story detailing abuse allegations, the group said in a joint statement Tuesday. Revolution Messaging, the digital consulting group, also dropped Grayson as a client. Kevin Robillard and Marc Caputo on the Grayson campaign implosion: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4dea1efcf73b9b90297b936b8243fb197b07a112fe2f65d57

CASTRO VS. CRUZ IN 2018? Well that was fast: "Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro floated a 2018 run for Senate against Sen. Ted Cruz in an interview Tuesday morning - and by Tuesday afternoon, the Texas Republican firebrand sent out a fundraising missive warning supporters about the potential challenge," reports Seung Min Kim. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e499252f327a2397717544e8cadb27895cf8724dbf57228b9b

PELOSI TO CLINTON: BACK OFF A LITTLE ON THE WOMAN THING-- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sat down with Glenn Thrush this week and she had some advice for Clinton heading into the final months of the campaign: "In terms of Hillary Clinton and this election, I think that the attitude that ... you should vote for her because she's a woman and you're a woman is not a good selling point. And I think that turns some people off," she told Thrush. Much more, including her early convention memories as a little girl: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4173cda4dac0037d866eef780205a968c2126ce645e2e266a

Pelosi on taking back the House: "I think we have enough seats that are possibilities. But remember this: Donald Trump is a gift that keeps on giving," Pelosi told the Washington Post's Kelsey Snell in a sit-down interview. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e48cabfdd9c5f88754f2c5c25b29e8b18c63103fe95bbe35e8

Just announced fundraising haul: Out this morning, from the DCCC: "In the second quarter of 2016, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi raised $37 million for House Democrats, including $32.6 million directly for the DCCC. In total, this cycle, Pelosi has raised $93.1 million, including $77.2 million directly for the DCCC."

TWEETS DU JOUR: Bill Clark (@billclarkphotos): When the guy wearing the Uncle Sam hat looks at you like you're crazy #DNCinPHL #DNC2016 Don't miss the pic: pic.twitter.com/0fOH6uaw3X

- Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT): I feel like I've accomplished everything I need in politics. @LanceBass just said to me "Oh, I know who you are." #thisipromiseyou

MEANWHILE, IN GOP WORLD... "House Speaker Paul Ryan vigorously defended the role of NATO and the importance of the United States leading the creation of free-trade agreements on Tuesday, breaking from positions taken by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump," reports the AP. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4047c1c8d1829ef65a5cd936f5dd1bc6bf39cb2c210f28442

CBC BACKS BOBBY SCOTT FOR SENATE-- The Congressional Black Caucus wants Rep. Bobby Scott to fill the seat left vacant by Sen. Tim Kaine if Democrats win the White House and CBC members are already lobbying hard to make it a reality. BuzzFeed: "Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver told BuzzFeed News that the CBC contacted the Clinton campaign a day or two before the vice presidential decision to make sure she understood that the caucus fully backs Scott."

Does he want the job? "Multiple sources close to Scott confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Scott is open to the idea, and has signaled to the Clinton campaign he'd accept if selected by McAuliffe." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e4b1c24a039a2152d0b2dfc62a52eb259f8cb7547281d8b928

KAINE'S WIFE LEAVES GOVERNMENT JOB-- Kaine's wife, Anne Holton, has left her job as Virginia education secretary to hop on a bus and campaign for the Democratic presidential ticket. Holton has also been mentioned as a possible replacement to fill Kaine's Senate seat. More from Nolan McCaskill and Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e42338346d6c45e4d08f097296e437f9e4599e69eb0da396a9

-Inside Clinton's covert VP vetting, from USA Today: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e40e863164a8f0f53473bcbfb29442f1d44c599a29ef5ebbad

FRANKEN NOT AIMING FOR DSCC JOB- Sen. Al Franken may be barnstorming the country, raising money for Democratic Senate candidates. But he has no desire to take over as head of the Senate's campaign arm next cycle, Burgess reports. "I'm not a strategist. I just go. Don't confuse me with a political strategist," Franken said in an interview. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e47a34fcf0f3b19fb02dd5f427274d5067cbc10a616d185059

SHOW ME THE MONEY-- Sens. Harry Reid and Sherrod Brown want the Senate to terminate its contract with Restaurant Associates after the Labor Department found that the company owes Capitol cafeteria employees more than $1 million in back wages. The company "said it corrected the problem and has already compensated the workers" according to a report from the Huffington Post. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e41df238561f0ad1a3602eb4158ad136b58745e17569c499fc

GEORGIA GOP CALLS ON JOHNSON TO RESIGN-- "The head of the Georgia GOP is calling on Congressman Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, to resign after the five-term lawmaker was quoted likening Jewish settlement policy in the disputed West Bank to 'termites,'" reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tamar Hallerman. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e437b8bc1717829e73c40e3b0dd3c996d086a205a3a1a198c4

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - We have a tie: Logan Ferree and Lucas White both guessed--at exactly the same time--that Adlai Stevenson and George H.W. Bush were both nominated on their party's ticket while the convention was being held in their home states. Stevenson was nominated in 1952 and 1956, with both conventions in Chicago. Bush was nominated in Dallas in 1984 and Houston in 1992.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Logan with today's question: The first nominating convention for a Presidential ticket in the United States was held in what year, in what city, by what party, and for what Presidential nominee? The first person to correctly answer will get a mention in tomorrow's Huddle. E-mail: hcaygle@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5a2a39e1d13b29e42d1d8929601afb3d785c351b66f77bb01ca057cdb896bc53

POLITICO Caucus: Economy and the Election - Join the POLITICO Hub at the DNC for a 2-panel conversation on the economic policy issues facing the next president. First, Ben White interviews former CEA Chair Alan Krueger, former Treasury Sec. Lawrence Summers & CAP CEO Neera Tanden, and then Steve Shepard takes on Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), & Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. Wednesday, 11am. Learn more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4665c7d5b4183fb95d96f2313ef1e8cee464466e38e3f623dbf830c1c9838a3a Livestream: www.POLITICO.com/live

** A message from Anthem: Access, affordability and quality are goals universally shared by all health care stakeholders, but not universally enjoyed by consumers. That's why the Anthem-Cigna combination matters. Anthem's acquisition of Cigna will advance affordability, returning an additional $2 billion in health care savings to self-insured customers each year. The combination will also allow Anthem to expand our participation in the health insurance exchanges to nine additional states, even as other companies leave this volatile market. And Anthem will advance quality by further partnering with physicians and hospitals to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. The flawed DOJ decision
is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the dynamic, competitive, highly regulated health care landscape and preserves a suboptimal market for health care coverage when Americans need and deserve better. Anthem is fully committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality care and defending the benefits of this acquisition on behalf of consumers. For important information, please visit AnthemInc.com **

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