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By James Hohmann (
mailto:jhohmann@politico.com
jhohmann@politico.com ; Twitter: @jameshohmann)

DRIVING THE DAY - A BATTLE FOR THE YOUTH VOTE:

FIRST IN SCORE - ROMNEY TO HIT OBAMA ECONOMIC POLICIES FOR FAILING YOUNG PEOPLE:The Romney campaign is happily engaging the Obama campaign in a fight for the youth vote as the president travels to college campuses today in North Carolina and Colorado. A statement in Romney's name going out later this morning says: "I think this is a time when young people are questioning the support they gave to President Obama three and a half years ago. He promised bringing the country together; that sure hasn't happened. He promised a future with good jobs and good opportunity; that hasn't happened. And the pathway that he pursued is one which has not worked. Young people recognize that and I think
that's why they're going to increasingly look for a different approach." Here is a first look at a research hit coming from Boston with stats on how hard hit college graduates have been hit economically the last few years:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41029b8b688914555a5d6823f120de255215fbd0fed4ce0cb
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41029b8b688914555a5d6823f120de255215fbd0fed4ce0cb .

MITT ENDORSES STUDENT LOAN PLAN:"Romneyon Monday did something he rarely does - embraced one of President Obama's initiatives," the New York Daily News reports. "Courting young voters, the likely GOP challenger supported Obama's call for Congress to freeze rates on federal Stafford loans for college students ... The current rate of 3.4% is slated to rise to 6.8% on July 1, affecting 7.4 million students." Congress is debating how to pay for the freeze...Romney didn't get into how he'd pay for it.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe402dd9fc74c4aa076f4b4031c76882ce096fb7156f2a2f122
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe402dd9fc74c4aa076f4b4031c76882ce096fb7156f2a2f122

SNEAK PEEK- PRIORITIES USA, AMERICAN BRIDGE SLAM ROMNEY CUTS:Obama Super PAC Priorities USA Action and American Bridge 21st Century are pushing out a web video and research hit to highlight what they say is Romney's lack of a plan on higher education."The Massachusetts decline from 37th to 47th in job growth under Governor Mitt Romney was not just a coincidence - his cuts to job training and higher education helped make Massachusetts less competitive. Now, Romney wants give massive new tax cuts to the wealthiest while making dramatic cuts to job training and higher education on a national level," a memo says. A research document notes that in March told a student concerned about college
affordability to 'shop around' or join the military. Memo:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe45c1c4c52ac060ef43162fc7ff9f812064357d890646edb4b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe45c1c4c52ac060ef43162fc7ff9f812064357d890646edb4b . 2-minute web video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe49e45fa10a42414024d72153300083c32fc61210dc5c730f2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe49e45fa10a42414024d72153300083c32fc61210dc5c730f2 .

ELIZABETH WARREN'S NEW AD:'Washington lets big corporations like GE pay nothing - zero - in taxes, while kids are left drowning in debt to get an education," the Massachusetts Senate candidate says in a new 30-second spot that very much picks up the Democrat talking point du jour today.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48bd3de80caa71e181740bb1a13672e0e8ceb36270ee9990b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48bd3de80caa71e181740bb1a13672e0e8ceb36270ee9990b

EDUCATION HEAVY - THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE TODAY:"In the morning, the President willhonor the 2012 National Teacher of the Year and finalists at the White House...Later in the morning, the President will depart from the White House en route Chapel Hill, North Carolina...the President willdeliver remarks at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he will continue to call on Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July...Later, the President willsit down for an interview for 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. NBC will release excerpts of the interview later in the afternoon...In the afternoon, the
President will depart from Chapel Hill, North Carolina...In Colorado, the President willdeliver remarks at the University of Colorado at Boulder to discuss the need for Congress to act to prevent 7.4 million students with federal student loans, 167,000 students in Colorado specifically, from seeing their interest rates double on July 1...The President willremain overnight in Denver, Colorado." The Washington Post's Amy Gardner notes that he will almost certainly NOT be talking about North Carolina's upcoming ballot proposition that would amend the state constitution to ban civil unions and domestic partnerships:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe49f3617dc040eaa104e57c8619e673b446e6ecfec68460d22
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe49f3617dc040eaa104e57c8619e673b446e6ecfec68460d22 . Glenn Thrush and Donovan Slack note that N.C. is not as hospitable as it used to be:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48c0922ddc61e00dce08d6989fbc38c629f8d950e3c18d2d2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48c0922ddc61e00dce08d6989fbc38c629f8d950e3c18d2d2 .

** As Rubio gets his tryout, the Minnesota GOP gets an eviction notice and Boehner says there's a 33 percent chance he's not Speaker this time next year, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.

LATEST POLLING -

FIRST IN SCORE - SEIU/DAILY KOS STATE OF THE NATION POLL:Obama leads Romney 49 to 44, with seven percent undecided. In a sample of 1,000 registered voters, Obama leads 52-40 among women. The president leads 50 to 43 among mothers, 48-39 among independents and 58-37 over Hispanics. Romney leads 53-41 among those earning between $75,000 and $100,000, but Obama is up 53-49 among those pulling six figures or more. See the crosstabs here:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe448f19e51989d54649f1e62eff0271bf00d13e65dbd08b932
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe448f19e51989d54649f1e62eff0271bf00d13e65dbd08b932 .

GALLUP-ROMNEY IMAGE BECOMING MORE POLARIZED:"Romney's Positive Intensity Score has increased among Republicans since he became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to +21 from +13 last month. At the same time, Democrats have become increasingly negative toward him... This month's increase gives Romney his highest Positive Intensity Score to date among Republicans."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe465bc280a5a40f58a007326cc74e1ce98c0097b30c41ada14
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe465bc280a5a40f58a007326cc74e1ce98c0097b30c41ada14

NEW HAMPSHIRE-WMUR/UNH of likely voters: Obama, 51; Romney 42.Obama wins independents 40-35. The president carried the Granite State 54-45 in 2008. Press release:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c9c08c3969420c185543e7200fa73902041676fa0be00dd3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c9c08c3969420c185543e7200fa73902041676fa0be00dd3 .

ARIZONA-ASU of registered voters: Romney, 42; Obama, 40.Romneywins 75 percent of the 39 percent who support the tea party. Press release:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4107644d383c6d6a42164ce029af32ceed3a38b8a8be80dd2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4107644d383c6d6a42164ce029af32ceed3a38b8a8be80dd2 .

PRIMARIES TODAY - HOW IT'S PLAYING IN THE FIVE STATES:

NEW YORK TIMES:"Not much suspense likely in New York G.O.P. Primary." A17:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4a5fef168e803eccc018ab4131a3af182d4db96a60fbd9236
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4a5fef168e803eccc018ab4131a3af182d4db96a60fbd9236 .

DOYLESTOWN INTELLIGENCER (PENNSYLVANIA):"Decisions, rain and snow await voters." A1:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe47a5af8c3cd62f017a414e66c6c5c4a884d044dcae796ad77
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe47a5af8c3cd62f017a414e66c6c5c4a884d044dcae796ad77 .

STAMFORD ADVOCATE (CONNECTICUT):"Little suspense in GOP primary."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41b5b67c18ff2e66c09b527b5848c758ce863169f0cd420e8
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41b5b67c18ff2e66c09b527b5848c758ce863169f0cd420e8 . The Hartford Courant makes Ann Romney's visit the centerpiece:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4021148b5cb9cb9b10d1e43df2e1f2ab252395ed27e302a1a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4021148b5cb9cb9b10d1e43df2e1f2ab252395ed27e302a1a .

WILMINGTON NEWS JOURNAL (DELAWARE):"Occupy Delaware evicted" is the lead story on A1.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4242d0d25be2d0a872a0f72a1f745e1bb33ec77e1b36a1483
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4242d0d25be2d0a872a0f72a1f745e1bb33ec77e1b36a1483

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL:"On Tuesday, it's Rhode Island's turn to show which presidential candidates it supports."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42e201c22b585c2290cb9bde22453c203155edb3e4cc8ad3c
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42e201c22b585c2290cb9bde22453c203155edb3e4cc8ad3c

ROMNEY SPEECH TONIGHT MEANT TO KICK OFF GENERAL:"Romney on Tuesday will pick up nearly 300 delegates on his way to the GOP presidential nomination with victories in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, and Rhode Island," writes the Union Leader's John DiStaso. "After he is declared the winner of the five contests...Romney will appear at a rally of supporters at the Radisson Center of New Hampshire hotel in downtown Manchester. He is scheduled to deliver a speech entitled 'A Better America Begins Tonight' at about 9 p.m."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe43d3d4074d10dab3651cf01c1f069f7f752a628137c39ccc8
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe43d3d4074d10dab3651cf01c1f069f7f752a628137c39ccc8

NEWT DEATH WATCH, DAY 41-HINTS HE MAY DROP OUT THIS WEEK:Newt Gingrich suggested in an interview with NBC embed Alex Moe that he may withdraw from the race if he has a poor showing tonight in Delaware. "I think we need to take a deep look at what we are doing,' Gingrich said. "Heacknowledged that he would have to 'reassess' his campaign depending on how he fares in Delaware, a winner-take-all state with 17 delegates at stake. 'We have got really positive responses and I would hope we would do well here - either carry it or come very, very close.'" Before polls close, Gingrich tours the Bill Graham library in Charlotte and then has an election night rally at the Vintage Motor Club in
Concord, NC.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4284549061ed99b11055e0d589bdd902c841f7d0ce0ab3d7f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4284549061ed99b11055e0d589bdd902c841f7d0ce0ab3d7f

LOCAL ROMNEY SUPPORTERS NERVOUS ABOUT DELAWARE:Ginger Gibson, who previously covered Delaware politics, says "Gingrich is hoping to become the Christine O'Donnell of the 2012 race - rallying the state's conservatives to pull off an upset victory over the more moderate candidate who never saw it coming...Sure, a win by the former House speaker - who has laid off most of his staff and is millions of dollars in debt - in Delaware is still a longshot. BUT evensome Romney backers are becoming increasingly concerned that Gingrich could catch them flatfooted and pull out a surprise victory in the state."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe44bf9668a12b93a2ca927a7a05d574867d0d5b01273e050f2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe44bf9668a12b93a2ca927a7a05d574867d0d5b01273e050f2

PAUL VOWS TO FIGHT ON:Ron Paul said on CNBC yesterday that he'll continue to campaign 'in a modified way' even if Romney obtains the needed 1,144 delegates to secure the nomination.'You don't quit because you happen to be behind,' Paul said, per USA Today. 'You want to see how you can do. Who knows? Maybe somebody will stumble.' He said Romney is 'part of that whole crowd of politicians, Republicans and Democrats, that are much closer together than most people realize."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ba22f7c678babf9162242d3cba0b0617d18d53283546dc82
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ba22f7c678babf9162242d3cba0b0617d18d53283546dc82

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE - NO STRONG GOP CANDIDATES IN PRIMARY:The Atlantic's Molly Ball looks at the five-way primary and says "it's generally agreed the winner will be the pick of a bad litter." More: "In the race to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, 'There are a bunch of fools running, literally,' Philadelphia-based media consultant Neil Oxman tells me. 'These are not even C-team people. It's the D team. They're silly people.' Across the political spectrum, Pennsylvania observers say the same thing. The state's veteran independent pollster, Terry Madonna, says Casey 'looks relatively safe.' Observes a Republican insider in Harrisburg, 'I don't know anyone who thinks Bob
Casey's going to lose.' In a state where the president is relatively unpopular and the GOP romped in 2010, what ought to be the marquee non-presidential contest has seemingly already been taken off the board."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ba1d891150334cd0f429537e60114546b743a4c7c725faa1
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ba1d891150334cd0f429537e60114546b743a4c7c725faa1

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE - ALTMIRE-CRITZ PRIMARY TESTS LABOR MUSCLE:A Jason Altmire win in the heated Democratic primary against Mark Critz today would be a HUGE blow to organized labor, which has mobilized hard to defeat him. "Critz, who was drawn into the same district as Altmire in redistricting, has the backing of nearly 20 labor groups, including the AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers, which counts around 30,000 members in the district," Alex Isenstadt reports from in the district. "Last week, the Working for Us Political Action Committee, a union-backed third-party group overseen by longtime labor strategist Steve Rosenthal, air-dropped nearly $50,000 worth of mailers and robocalls
blasting Altmire. Standing before workers at a pro-Critz rally at USW headquarters on a rainy Saturday morning, USW President Leo Gerard cast the race as a battle between a friend of labor who could be trusted and an enemy who could not."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4fed4056c7c0d6616a5fd59bd115a12287b62c9d0a5b8b5a1
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4fed4056c7c0d6616a5fd59bd115a12287b62c9d0a5b8b5a1

BIG AD BUY - AMERICAN FUTURE FUND SPENDING $2 MILLION ON OBAMA HIT:"The American Future Fund is poised to launch a multi-state television offensive against President Barack Obama, targeting him across the 2012 general-election landscape with the conservative group's second TV blitz of the year," Alex Burns reports. "A strategist familiar with the organization's plans said AFF will go on the air starting Wednesday in eight states at a cost of approximately $2 million. The most heavily targeted states appear to be Florida, where AFF is spending over $600,000; Ohio, drawing at least $200,000 in ads; and Michigan, where the ads cost at least $157,000, according to a GOP media-tracking source.
Other states where ads will air include Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Colorado. The group's newest TV ad accuses the Obama administration of wasting taxpayer money, specifically mentioning the failed clean-energy company Solyndra and the recent spending scandal at the General Services Administration." Watch the one-minute spot:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe46aef3836cb2bc19ee83ba18b0156f577d4fed64c000fbfe2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe46aef3836cb2bc19ee83ba18b0156f577d4fed64c000fbfe2 .

ROMNEY TALKERS -

DEMS TO BRACKET ROMNEY ON NATIONAL SECURITY:The Truman National Security Project will hold a 10 a.m. conference call to attack Romney for saying in a speech last week that all America needs to protect herself is a strong military, even if it's never used. Ahead of a Joe Biden speech later in the week on the subject, retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Truman Project Vice President Michael Breen will say that Romney does fundamentally misunderstands what makes for good defense policy. Here's a preview of Breen's message on the 10 a.m. conference call: "It's very clear that Mitt Romney simply has no idea how to keep America safe and keep America strong. He has announced that the largest national
security challenge we face today is Russia, he has proposed publishing our private conversations with foreign nations, and now he says that the only thing we need to protect America is a strong military. Many modern threats do not have military-only solutions. We face new threats like pandemic diseases and transnational terrorism which can't be bombed or invaded...The naivete that Romney and his campaign have demonstrated time and again on these issues is truly staggering."

MITT TO MAKE NYC FUNDRAISING PUSH THIS WEEK:Romney has six fundraisers on the docket after the primary. "He has a major breakfast hosted by a group of bundlers who typically appear on his major event invitations on April 26, but he also has five other events in the tri-state area, all of them at private homes," reports Maggie Haberman. "One of Romney's stops will be in New Jersey, where he will headline a fundraiser Wednesday afternoon in New Jersey for U.S. Senate candidate Joe Kyrillos. Kyrillos was Romney's New Jersey state chair in his 2008 race."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe438c3ef51e9a33b4c86cbbb8e106e023431069968b3126646
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe438c3ef51e9a33b4c86cbbb8e106e023431069968b3126646

WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL SLAMS HIS HABIT OF SECRECY:"Whether it involves the details of his personal finances or the identity of his big fundraisers, the presumptive Republican is setting a new, low bar for transparency - one that does not augur well for how the Romney White House would conduct itself if he were elected," the paper says.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48173b16ded6a62675013019756dcbb26b54f7620353f662d
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe48173b16ded6a62675013019756dcbb26b54f7620353f662d

VEEPSTAKES -

"MARCO AND MITT" - DID RUBIO OVERSHADOW ROMNEY IN PA. TRY OUT?"He drew louder applause than Romney at several points," the Philadelphia Inquirer's Tom Fitzgerald reports. "Romney, who has called President Obama too inexperienced, declined to answer a Fox News reporter's question about whether Rubio, 40 and in his first Senate term, was qualified to serve a heartbeat away from the presidency. 'I don't think I have any comments on qualifications for individuals to serve in various positions in government in this stage,' Romney said. 'That's something we're going to be considering down the road as we consider various potential vice presidential nominees.'" Inquirer:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4bc966c9b765170c3eed666a99a35db4c24643e4a5c71da0a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4bc966c9b765170c3eed666a99a35db4c24643e4a5c71da0a . Bloomberg:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4add04a91f160185988f7d7575bb655131965a60cab2716a9
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4add04a91f160185988f7d7575bb655131965a60cab2716a9 .

HE SIDE-STEPPED QUESTIONS ON RUBIO'S DREAM ACT:"Romney brushed aside a question on his choice of a running mate - and ducked taking a position on an immigration bill that Rubio is drafting," per CBS.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4e521e0232c7895239407c5787dc410718fad96f251c9826f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4e521e0232c7895239407c5787dc410718fad96f251c9826f

How it played-

WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Running mate dance begins."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4760d87cbf2bc4124d8d95718391d48271fa1e958a943cae7
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4760d87cbf2bc4124d8d95718391d48271fa1e958a943cae7

LOS ANGELES TIMES: "Rubio appeals to Latinos on Romney's behalf."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4cc9f34da83b2aa675b08ffa1167480ee44ca810b739ae2d2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4cc9f34da83b2aa675b08ffa1167480ee44ca810b739ae2d2

ABC: "Romney spokeswoman in 2010: Marco Rubio is a 'wheeling-and-dealing' 'Lobbyist-Politician' with 'Questionable Ethics.'"Jon Karl highlighted some of the nastiest comments Andrea Saul made about Rubio when she worked for then-Gov. Charlie Crist in the Senate primary:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe46d10b4ed3428af2775414f99576c1f6b74392648189f214d
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe46d10b4ed3428af2775414f99576c1f6b74392648189f214d .

TAMPA BAY TIMES:Today's paper has great earned media for Rubio on the class he teaches Mondays and Fridays at Florida International University in Miami:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4511ce3b98e1197bdb9b49b5d3d4e5e99c8ba1e7c5e19bbdc
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4511ce3b98e1197bdb9b49b5d3d4e5e99c8ba1e7c5e19bbdc .

PORTMAN KILLS TURKEY:Yesterday was the first day of turkey hunting season in Ohio, and Rob Portman shot one at 6:45 a.m. in Guernsey County. "Beautiful morning, great hunt," he tweeted, withthis photo of himself holding the dead bird:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe442ed49af66a48fdb68c22e1a5d79e5f1ae8e8c07e82aaeef
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe442ed49af66a48fdb68c22e1a5d79e5f1ae8e8c07e82aaeef . The Columbus Dispatch runs a brief:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe447c13c8c3e6209adca83eac1031bf42d292d1f67766d6018
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe447c13c8c3e6209adca83eac1031bf42d292d1f67766d6018 .

INDIANA DEMS TO BRACKET MCDONNELL VISIT:As Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell flies to Indiana for the state party's annual dinner tonight, Democratic gubernatorial Candidate John Gregg and Virginia Delegate Charniele Herring are holding a 10 a.m. press conference call to highlight the ultrasound legislation he signed into law. They want to get Republican frontrunner Mike Pence on record saying he'd sign a similar bill.

CHENEY SAYS ROMNEY SHOULD NOT PANDER:Citing the 'talking heads' who suggest that Romney must choose 'a woman, an Hispanic' or a somebody from a swing state, Dick Cheney urged the presumptive GOP nominee to ignore such talk and make a governing pick. 'Those are interesting things to speculate about,' Cheney told C-SPAN's Steve Scully and an audience of college students gathered in Washington, 'but it's pretty rare elections turn on those kinds of issues.' Jonathan Martin: "The former vice-president, himself a textbook example of a less-than-flashy running mate, said there was one overriding factor at stake in a nominee's decision about who to put on the ticket. 'The single most
important criteria has to be the capacity to be president,' said Cheney. 'That's why you pick them. Lots of times in the past that has not been the foremost criteria.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe419e7b14c34f34a91956782aecbe651bdc9fbf63b9d398598
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe419e7b14c34f34a91956782aecbe651bdc9fbf63b9d398598

NATE SILVERcalculates that a VP candidate has produced a net gain of only about two or three percentage points in his home state for the top of the ticket on average since 1920:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c84e6bc61752338e6f7138e068118a21dd11d73d8e5bd7bf
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c84e6bc61752338e6f7138e068118a21dd11d73d8e5bd7bf .

THE WAR OVER WOMEN -

ANN ROMNEY DELIVERS FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH POST-ROSEN:"Before nearly 800 Connecticut GOP activists attending the annual Prescott Bush Dinner, [Mrs. Romney] spent her first speech since the Rosen flap mostly telling her personal story of raising five sons, doing the grocery shopping, cooking and the laundry without much assistance, until an operation after she gave birth to the fifth boy prompted her to get a 'little extra help,'" Maggie Haberman reports. "Without ever naming Hilary Rosen, Mrs. Romney framed her experiences at least partially around the Democratic operative's comments that as a stay-at-home mom Romney had 'never worked a day in her life.' ... She is still learning how to
perform...and, based on her performance in Connecticut, is enjoying her turn on stage, spending more time focused on her own story than her husband's." BuzzFeed's McKay Coppins recalls that Ann was actually a liability in the 1994 Senate race:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41f3ff10311505baadf12c8d268a6876f10b46066c84f177e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe41f3ff10311505baadf12c8d268a6876f10b46066c84f177e . Maggie:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe416ab34b063896a0438619b5ca1c0a1d899b7053c6654af51
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe416ab34b063896a0438619b5ca1c0a1d899b7053c6654af51 .

IS OBAMA OVER-PLAYING THE GENDER CARD?Carrie Budoff Brown compares the White House approach to using a two-by-four. "No issue is proving too tiny for Obama and his team as they seek an edge with female voters," she writes. "They've denounced male-only membership of the Augusta National Golf Club, cut a video message of support for Planned Parenthood, universally disavowed a supporter's slipup on Ann Romney and issued a 65-page report that recasts the administration's entire record through the lens of how it affects women...'I'm all for women,' Obama said in some impromptu remarks from the Oval Office in March. 'I live with a lot of them.'
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4005d121af43718d30ca33b218c15ff2a27f3e6398831db48
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4005d121af43718d30ca33b218c15ff2a27f3e6398831db48

STAT DU JOUR:Womengave only 26 percent of federal political donations in 2010.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c78290a0c89dd0df56fb448f6e5632eb099713827174f9e4
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4c78290a0c89dd0df56fb448f6e5632eb099713827174f9e4 .

INDIANA SENATE EXCLUSIVE - VETS SIGN OPEN LETTER FOR LUGAR:Following up on the mailer in yesterday's Score, a cross-generational letter is going out today to Indiana veterans endorsing Richard Lugar. It's signed by a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient and other Hoosier veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The letter notes that State Treasurer Richard Mourdock never served in the Armed Forces. "We veterans need to look out for each other," they say. "Why vote for a guy who didn't have the time for his country and doesn't have time for us?That's why we are endorsing Dick Lugar for Senate. He's a Navy veteran who volunteered because he
believed it was his duty, and he is a great advocate for our troops. Most importantly, he's one of just a few Senators who truly knows what it takes to keep the military strong...On veteran's issues, he's got the most dedicated staff in Congress working for us." Read the full letter:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4a7fd50a41af2715507e70dea64a3abd6e97fd695e3ced9c3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4a7fd50a41af2715507e70dea64a3abd6e97fd695e3ced9c3 .

NEBRASKA SENATE - NEW BRUNING AD HIGHLIGHTS OBAMACARE OPPOSITION:Republican frontrunner Jon Bruning is going on the air across Nebraska today with a 30-second issue spot called Leading. "Why am I leading the fight to stop President Obama's health care law? Just look at the unconstitutional power grab of a federal mandate that forces you to buy certain kinds of insurance," he says, looking into the camera. An announcer intones: "Jon Bruning fought the Obama Administration's job-killing regulations and sued Obama 11 times. He's the conservative leading the fight against Obamacare." An earnest Bruning ends the spot again looking into the camera: "I approved this message and I'm running for
Senate to make sure Obamacare gets overturned - and common sense gets returned to Washington." Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4099d3efd96d040e02dc1d4212bb86d2990f770d55622c625
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4099d3efd96d040e02dc1d4212bb86d2990f770d55622c625 .

MISSOURI SENATE - STEELMAN "NOT SURE" WHAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT IS:Sarah "Steelman said recently that she didn't have a position on the Violence Against Women Act, a 1994 law aimed at combating domestic violence, and was 'not sure' what the law was about," according to the Springfield News-Leader. "When voter asked Steelman about her position on the act last weekend, the former Missouri state treasurer said she knew nothing about. In a video of the exchange-posted online by the Missouri Democratic Party-Steelman appears a little flummoxed by the question. 'Do you have any thoughts on it?' a man asks her. 'I'm not sure what that is because I'm not serving right now,' she says." Story:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f06060485cf329b8816e0f7eb5cebeaacb5a785a979363dc
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f06060485cf329b8816e0f7eb5cebeaacb5a785a979363dc . Video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ecc32c769529d9ee22566d72b433a1880e6c5e78e615991f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ecc32c769529d9ee22566d72b433a1880e6c5e78e615991f .

MORE - CHAMBER BACKS BRUNNER:The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will endorse frontrunner John Brunner in the Missouri Republican Senate primary over Steelman and Congressman Todd Akin.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe451259140322ea55b1b69d09ab0c306ae1a425718648dacc0
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe451259140322ea55b1b69d09ab0c306ae1a425718648dacc0

THE HOUSE -

BOEHNER SAYS 1-IN-3 CHANCE THAT GOP LOSES THE HOUSE:"I would say that there is a two-in-three chance that we win control of the House again, but there's a one-in-three chance that we could lose, and I'm being myself, frank," Speaker John Boehner says in a pre-taped interview with Fox News that will air this morning. "We've got a big challenge, and we've got work to do." New York Times: "Mr. Boehner pointed to what aides called 'orphan districts' in Democratic-leaning states that would not be a factor in the presidential campaign. Local Republican Party affiliates are less organized in such states and turnout may be depressed. 'We have 50 of our members in tough races, 89 freshmen running
for their first re-elections, and we have 32 districts that are in states where there is no presidential campaign going to be run, no big Senate race,' he said. 'You take 18 of them, California, Illinois and New York, where you know we're not likely to do well at the top of the ticket, and those districts are frankly pretty vulnerable.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe452378fc4b3b89eea94aac40c2bb3c1f97e3cbdc47388ad65
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe452378fc4b3b89eea94aac40c2bb3c1f97e3cbdc47388ad65

DCCC ANNOUNCES 14 NEW "RED TO BLUE" RACES:The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is announcing 14 more races that have qualified for the Red to Blue program as part of the 'Drive for 25' campaign to win the House. They now have 35. The designation is meant to recognize strong fundraising performance and meeting other organizational targets. Chairman Steve Israel is also announcing four new Majority Maker candidates (which highlights Democrats in strong Democratic districts) and 13 Emerging Races:

New Red to Blue (14):Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Joe Miklosi (CO-06), Patrick Murphy (FL-18), David Crooks (IN-08), Gary McDowell (MI-01), John Delaney (MD-06), Shelley Adler (NJ-03), Julian Schreibman (NY-19), Manan Trivedi (PA-06), Pat Kreitlow (WI-07), Arizona's 9th District* and New York's 18th District*.

New Emerging Races (13):Q. Byrum Hurst (AR-04), Blong Xiong (CA-21), Gloria Romero Roses (FL-26), Teresa Hensley (MO-04), Hayden Rogers (NC-11), Mark Murphy (NY-11), Dan Lamb (NY-22), Joyce Healy-Abrams (OH-07), Sharen Neuhardt (OH-10), George Badey (PA-07), Larry Maggi (PA-18), Matt Varilek (SD-AL), New York's 23rd District*

Majority Makers (4):Tony Cardenas (CA-29), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Dina Titus (NV-01), Joyce Beatty (OH-03)

KENTUCKY HOUSE - INTERNAL POLL PUTS MASSIE UP 10 FOR OPEN SEAT:Geoff Davis endorsed Alecia Webb-Edgington yesterday in the Republican primary for the House seat he is giving up, along with former Sen. Jim Bunning. Now her leading opponent, Thomas Massie, is releasing an internal poll conducted last week that shows him leading her 32 to 22, with Gary Moore pulling 17 percent. Massie will continue to frame himself ahead of the May 22 primary as a Tea Party Outsider challenging the Establishment generally and an Insider specifically. Massie's pollster is Fritz Wenzel of Wenzel Strategies, who has polled for Ron Paul's presidential campaign and Rand Paul's Senate bid. Here's his one-page memo:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ad55888681d7891baa9383ea5fe1af30f4ce30ffdb642ff0
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4ad55888681d7891baa9383ea5fe1af30f4ce30ffdb642ff0 .

Massie's ad team, which worked for Rand in the 2010 primary and general, produced a 30-second spot that actually starts with Davis saying nice things about Massie. It aired during the NCAA semifinal and title games in the Cincinnati media market, which accounts for close to 65 percent of turnout. Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42cdeb8f8e7aec2ecd7c18f46cec3db8d0e04e7fd2b43fc76
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42cdeb8f8e7aec2ecd7c18f46cec3db8d0e04e7fd2b43fc76 . Local TV story about David endorsing Webb-Edgington:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f25fa8e6f9d7a454062669a159b8cd5e88487c2eb12fa62b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f25fa8e6f9d7a454062669a159b8cd5e88487c2eb12fa62b .

GEORGIA HOUSE - MCKINNEY RUNNING FOR HER OLD SEAT:"Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is preparing to run for her old 4th Congressional district seat on the Green Party ticket," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "McKinney was defeated by 4th district incumbent Hank Johnson in 2006 after serving six terms in Congress and has kept a low profile since returning to Atlanta from the San Francisco area where she moved in 2007. Since February she has made a few public appearances in her old district but stayed low key with her plans. She filed paperwork April 2 with the Federal Elections Commission declaring her intention to run.Tracked down at her mother's home Thursday by a
reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,McKinney declined to comment and ordered the reporter off the property."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe458bc65d7d8e9feb85af05a4184d3be16aacc46c0d09e644f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe458bc65d7d8e9feb85af05a4184d3be16aacc46c0d09e644f

ARIZONA HOUSE - BABEU ADS RAISE POLITICKING QUESTIONS:"Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's new campaign ads for Congress feature at least six of his Sheriff's Office employees praising his conservative values," today's Arizona Republic reports. "By using the subordinates in the two 30-second spots, Babeu may have violated federal law that restricts elected officials from using their official resources to help campaigns, even if the employees volunteered. But Babeu's campaign consultant says he doesn't believe the campaign erred by filming the employees, because they volunteered to appear on their personal time. He argues that the ads, unveiled Monday, will help voters learn
about Babeu from people who know him well. Most of the employees are top Pinal County Sheriff's Office managers and staunch allies of Babeu's, including community-relations Director Cheryl Chase and several deputies." Story:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f6f5f8f410a56dff964f01bbfbb76d322e9b2bf4541f573f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe4f6f5f8f410a56dff964f01bbfbb76d322e9b2bf4541f573f . Watch ad 1:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42996a8e0e06d2b500a457337b2ab28f995d9e7f617a0df92
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=1a3acbb578c3efe42996a8e0e06d2b500a457337b2ab28f995d9e7f617a0df92 . Ad 2:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62cbf4dedb7417f5388a6f41b9feb00981f9857223ac4adb01a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62cbf4dedb7417f5388a6f41b9feb00981f9857223ac4adb01a .

NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR - POLL SHOWS TIGHT DEM PRIMARY:According to Public Policy Polling numbers out last night, "The momentum in the North Carolina Democratic primary for Governor has swung strongly in Walter Dalton's direction over the last month and the race is now basically a tie with him at 26% to 25% for Bob Etheridge. Geography continues to be the biggest divider in the race. Dalton is up by 24 points in metro Charlotte, 17 in the Triad, and 9 in the Mountains. Etheridge is up 17 points in northeastern North Carolina, and 12 points in the Triangle and southeastern North Carolina." North Carolina Democrat Tom Jensen's analysis:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c84eb9f3b6812095780153ad71c3c2e0be5daf284dc72e382
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c84eb9f3b6812095780153ad71c3c2e0be5daf284dc72e382 .

WISCONSIN RECALL - WALKER TAKES CREDIT FOR $1 BILLION SAVINGS:"Gov. Scott Walker said Monday that his policies had saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $1 billion so far - savings largely achieved by the Republican governor and lawmakers repealing most public workers' union bargaining and effectively lowering their compensation," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "Much of those savings - more than three-quarters of a billion dollars - could be verified, such as state and local workers picking up more of the tab for their health care and pension. But the figures also included a significant amount of savings for local governments that could not be verified." Meanwhile, at a
labor-sponsored form yesterday, Tom Barrett and Kathleen Falk avoided attacking each other and attacked Walker instead:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c120b73dbd864efff02ab07d908517d25768f06ea0893ebf6
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c120b73dbd864efff02ab07d908517d25768f06ea0893ebf6 . Walker story:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62cd1438b046cdb1d6e23a0a4d105be339bdb1e5c7f9440c94f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62cd1438b046cdb1d6e23a0a4d105be339bdb1e5c7f9440c94f .

MINNESOTA GOP GETS EVICTION NOTICE:"The Minnesota Republican Party is facing eviction for nonpayment of more than $111,000 in rent at its longtime headquarters near the Capitol," according to the Star Tribune. "Republican Party Chairman Pat Shortridge tried to assure party faithful on Monday that he expects the party will keep its home office, but acknowledged that the party has not paid a full month's rent for a year. 'We're not going to be evicted,' Shortridge said, although the eviction matter is due to be heard in Ramsey County District court next Tuesday. He added that the party is 'continuing to negotiate on the back payments as well as on a lease that better fits both our
space needs and our budget.' The possible eviction is the latest blow for a state Republican Party that is swamped with debt and financial problems."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c7849e59824ee6fedc00e999ed0b3e4a82a052866d9b58b23
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c7849e59824ee6fedc00e999ed0b3e4a82a052866d9b58b23

LIGHTER CLICKS -

JON STEWART made fun of politicians denying that they want to be VP:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62ca5a48f15d0bdb7ac00d58e0553f147a4973704231e167b21
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62ca5a48f15d0bdb7ac00d58e0553f147a4973704231e167b21 .

HERMAN CAINwas interviewed by John Oliver for last night's Daily Show. Six-minute package:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c384de3e16835c8a1554af8e4038fbedb0505413c111969ff
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c384de3e16835c8a1554af8e4038fbedb0505413c111969ff .

STEPHEN COLBERTmocked Fox News' Steve Doocy mercilessly:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62ccf687b82643425489ae506d54f9980442a72f064ef14d6b5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62ccf687b82643425489ae506d54f9980442a72f064ef14d6b5 .

JON HUNSTMANwalked back his comparison of the GOP to China's Communist Party on Morning Joe yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c96b9e216a4962269f4eb49882f62bf3c9a9f41fb90a4c6dc
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c96b9e216a4962269f4eb49882f62bf3c9a9f41fb90a4c6dc .

JOE BIDENtraversed the Florida Everglades in an airboat. Slideshow:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c3e68bfc6d01c2f8494a668404f47ee70a0fae019351ef374
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c3e68bfc6d01c2f8494a668404f47ee70a0fae019351ef374 .

JOHN EDWARDS'trial will come down to which of two admitted liars jurors believe more, Josh Gerstein explains in his recap from North Carolina of day one:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c0c2cc22c3799b729d5e685906918d9ccd7fe084f01195a5e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c0c2cc22c3799b729d5e685906918d9ccd7fe084f01195a5e .

CHARLIE CRIST'slaw firm gave $50,000 to the Obama Super PAC:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c3cec03f8c41bfa3735a98fa2cdab08a9c5c0b279b9a33eb3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c3cec03f8c41bfa3735a98fa2cdab08a9c5c0b279b9a33eb3 .

JEFF GREENE, another Floridian who came out of 2010 worse than he went in, had his libel suit against the publisher of the Tampa Bay Times dismissed yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c332a45a873eca75d4e10b8bcfa68e84bb14b0350005b2e4e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c332a45a873eca75d4e10b8bcfa68e84bb14b0350005b2e4e .

KEN CUCCINELLI, the Virginia attorney general running for governor in 2013, sued White House gate crasher Tareq Salahi yesterday for failing to conduct wine tours that customers purchased:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c0ddc05d879ee339b67d722fd9cc5ac628a4bfd990f89bf03
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c0ddc05d879ee339b67d722fd9cc5ac628a4bfd990f89bf03 .

ROD BLAGOJEVICH,the former Illinois governor, is washing pots in prison and hopes to teach Shakespeare and Greek mythology to other inmates:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c38cba2841fd99ecb92224f0def7046b3f627ef5cbbd38c50
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c38cba2841fd99ecb92224f0def7046b3f627ef5cbbd38c50 .

MICHELE BACHMANNtoured the Middle East as part of a congressional delegation:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c39978ee1faf8d337f083c6d8d6e522908a7a9d992b443f98
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c39978ee1faf8d337f083c6d8d6e522908a7a9d992b443f98 .

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY:"It's one of the most magnificent cities in the world and I look forward to occasional vacations again; it's such a beautiful place." - Mitt Romney on Paris
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c51abdca5388f7b2fb4dba4df62bd88db37f7c05cb986fa5d
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a52440f962e5f62c51abdca5388f7b2fb4dba4df62bd88db37f7c05cb986fa5d

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