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By Daniel Strauss | 10/20/2017 10:00 AM EDT


With Elena Schneider, Zach Montellaro, 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)

MONEY TALKS - "Historic glut of well-funded Democrats endanger GOP House" by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "An unprecedented wave of well-funded Democrats have launched campaigns against Republican members of Congress this year, setting the stage for a true battle for control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm election. Animated by opposition to President Donald Trump and Republicans' congressional majorities, at least 162 Democrats in 82 GOP-held districts have raised over $100,000 so far this year, according to a POLITICO analysis of FEC data. ... The Democrats' fundraising success, especially from a glut of candidates who have never run for office before, has set off
alarm bells for GOP strategists watching the House landscape develop. 'That's something that should get every Republican's attention in Washington,' said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist who works on House races. 'These first-timers are printing money.'" Full story.

OL' VIRGINNY - "'Our democracy is at stake,' Obama says on Virginia campaign trail" by Politico's Edward-Isaac Dovere: "Fresh from New Jersey after making an appearance for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate there, Phil Murphy, his own former ambassador to Germany, [former President Barack] Obama uncorked. He argued that this year's elections are an existential moment that should - if Democrats do what he's kept telling them to do, without much success, and vote - be the start of reasserting an American politics and society that turns away from what's embodied by President Donald Trump. 'We need you to take this seriously. Our democracy is at stake,' Obama said." Full story.

-NEW THIS A.M. - Americans for Prosperity launches $1 million mail, ad blitz: Americans for Prosperity's Virginia chapter is launching a direct mail and digital ad blitz targeting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, to go along with the Koch-backed group's ever-present field program. The $1 million program includes mailers attacking Northam for supporting tax increases as part of a 2013 transportation deal, and a 30-second digital ad featuring a charter school vice principal from Richmond criticizing Northam for voting against education savings accounts. Watch the ad here.

OPTING OUT - "Ohio's Tiberi to leave Congress," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "Ohio Rep. Pat Tiberi will not seek reelection and plans to resign early to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable, according to a statement the incumbent Republican released [Thursday]. 'Today, it is with a humble and thankful heart that I announce I will not be seeking reelection,' Tiberi said in a statement. 'While I have not yet determined a final resignation date, I will be leaving Congress by January 31, 2018.' A Republican official briefed on Tiberi's thinking said the Ohio Republican plans to stick around 'to help the House pass tax reform.'" Full story.

- A handful of GOP names are already floating as possible replacements, including state Rep. Mike Duffey, state Sen. Kris Jordan and state Sen. Jay Hottinger. Tiberi's district is reliably Republican.

- "Syracuse mayor won't run for Congress," by POLITICO New York's Jimmy Vielkind: "Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a Democrat who will be forced from office this year by term limits, said she will not mount a challenge to GOP Rep. John Katko in the state's 24th District. ... The 47-year-old is also pondering a gubernatorial run, and this weekend met with New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams. Both have criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a nationally aspirant Democrat who says he will seek a third term in 2018." Full story.

OPTING IN - "Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams jumps into U.S. House race against Rep. Mia Love," via The Salt Lake Tribune's Taylor W. Anderson: "Ben McAdams, the Democratic mayor of Salt Lake County, announced he is running for Utah's 4th Congressional District, teeing up a 2018 challenge against two-term Republican Rep. Mia Love. McAdams, a former state senator who was re-elected to his second term as mayor of the state's largest county in 2016, is known as one of the state's most politically popular and ambitious Democrats." Full story.

AT HEADQUARTERS - "Shake-Up at Democratic National Committee, Longtime Officials Ousted," via NBC News: "A shake-up is underway at the Democratic National Committee as several key longtime officials have lost their posts, exposing a still-raw rift in the party and igniting anger among those in its progressive wing who see retaliation for their opposition to DNC Chairman Tom Perez. ... The removal and demotion of a handful of veteran operatives stood out, as did what critics charge is the over-representation of Clinton-backed members on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, which helps set the terms for the party's presidential primary, though other Sanders and Ellison backers remain represented."
Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 18.

Days until the 2018 election: 382.

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

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns.

- "Lawmakers unveil bill to thwart Russian election ads on social media," by POLITICO's Ashley Gold and Nancy Scola: "A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday unveiled a bill to make it harder for Russia to secretly interfere with future U.S. elections, by forcing social media companies to disclose the buyers of online political ads. The measure from Sens. Amy Klobuchar, (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Reps. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), would expand political ad disclosure rules beyond print, radi, and television to the internet. It would include not only material that is explicitly an advertisement, but also other forms of online
paid content like so-called sponsored posts. If the bill becomes law, the major online platforms like Facebook and Google - and any site with 50 million or more U.S. monthly unique visitors - would be required to attach what the lawmakers call 'clear and conspicuous' disclosures like the 'Paid for by Candidate Smith' that appear on ads in other mediums. More than that, though, the bill would make the tech companies keep records of anyone who even attempted to purchase a political ad, as long as the ad buys total $500 in any one year." Full story.

AIR WAR - Super PAC ad in Wisconsin highlights Nicholson's military service: "A super PAC backing businessman and veteran Kevin Nicholson in Wisconsin's Senate race is out with an focusing on Nicholson's military service." Watch the ad here. Full story.

- Great America Alliance attacks Jones in new Alabama ad: "Great America Alliance, a 501(c)(4) backing President Donald Trump's agenda, is out with a new television ad attacking Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama's Senate race. The ad attacks Jones, a former U.S. attorney in the state, over his stance on abortion. The ad will run digitally this week and move to television next week." Watch the ad here. Full story.

- Super PAC launches to back Braun in Indiana race: "A top Republican strategist will lead a super PAC backing state legislator and businessman Mike Braun in Indiana's Senate race. Norway Hill Associates President Dave Carney, a New Hampshire-based strategist who has worked for Texas Govs. Rick Perry and Greg Abbott and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, will lead the group, called Our Indiana Voice." Full story.

REVOLUTION ROADBLOCKS - "Mega donor Foster Friess battles against Steve Bannon's war on GOP establishment," by Fox Business' Brian Schwartz: "Conservative mega donor Foster Friess said in an interview with FOX Business that he will not be joining Bannon's ranks in his fight against Republican leaders such as Sen. Mitch McConnell (R KY) because he believes the best way to pass legislation is to do it the conventional way: go after the opposing party. 'I can understand [the] frustrations of some of my fellow Republicans, but I believe they are wrong,' Friess said in an email to FOX Business. 'While Steve Bannon wants to replace Republican incumbents I want to champion the effort [and for]
that money be devoted instead to replacing the ten Democrats in states where President Trump won. I do not intend to raise money to defeat fellow Republicans. My efforts will be spent on raising money to defeat Democrats so we have more Republicans to pursue our agenda.'" Full story.

THE MORE YOU KNOW - "Inside the Campaign Merch Graveyard," by GQ's Elaina Plott: "So what happens with all the stuff that a company like Hammerstone can't sell? Campaign volunteers are usually gifted the T-shirts and other basic apparel: a Republican operative who worked on the Rubio campaign tells me that kind of merch is given out first to volunteers, with the rest donated to someplace like Goodwill. Similarly, Moira Muntz of the Bernie Sanders campaign says they were able to get rid of most stuff by sending it to volunteers. As for leftover yard signs, [My Campaign Store director Jason] Worrix says he encourages campaigns to give them to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts." Full story.

CASH INFUSION - The Democratic Governors Association announced Thursday that it's putting another $1 million into Northam's gubernatorial campaign in Virginia. Per a press release: "Today the DGA announced it is sending another $1 million to Ralph Northam in the Virginia governor's race. The donation brings the DGA's total investment in the race to just over $5 million. Northam already has a cash advantage over his opponent Ed Gillespie. This latest donation puts the campaign in a strong position heading into the final weeks of the campaign. 'This latest $1 million investment will help continue Ralph Northam's momentum heading into the final stretch of the campaign,' said DGA Executive
Director Elisabeth Pearson. 'The DGA is committed to supporting Ralph's campaign to bring economic opportunity to all Virginians. We look forward to continuing to support Ralph's campaign over the final 3 weeks.'"

- The Republican Attorneys General Association has sent Virginia attorney general candidate John Adams an additional $775,000, bringing the organization's investment in the race to $3.525 million. During the second and final debate between Adams and Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, the group plans to use a special snapchat filter during the debate in Leesburg hitting Herring for giving "staff backdoor pay raises." Finally, RAGA has taken out a full-page color ad in Loudoun Now to also ding Herring on pay raises.

"Honestly, voters in the Commonwealth should be deeply troubled by Mark Herring's backdoor pay raises for staff. This decision was wrong, and he knows it," RAGA executive director Scott Will said. "Unfortunately, it's the norm and not the exception for Mark Herring. He is a political activist masquerading as the attorney general."

THIRD QUARTER FUNDRAISING - Virginia Republican Senate Candidate Corey Stewart raised about $190,000 and has about $150,000 on hand.

FROM THE COURTROOM - Menendez defense could rest next week, via POLITICO New Jersey: "The defense for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and co-defendant Salomon Melgen could rest as soon as next week, attorneys said Wednesday. Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell told Judge William Walls during a sidebar conference Wednesday morning that if Menendez and Melgen don't testify, he anticipates wrapping up at the end of next week." Full story.

STAFFING UP - Lujan Grisham's chief-of-staff joins campaign: Dominic Gabello has left as chief of staff to New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham to join the congresswoman's gubernatorial campaign as manager.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "There's no perfect way to make that phone call" - White House chief of staff John Kelly during a press briefing Thursday discussing calling the families of fallen soldiers.

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