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By Emily Schultheis (eschultheis@politico.com; Twitter: @emilyrs) and Jose DelReal (
mailto:jdelreal@politico.com
jdelreal@politico.com ; Twitter: @jdelreal)

FIRST IN SCORE-NRCC GOES ON AIR AGAINST PETERSON: Now that veteran Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson is definitely running again in Minnesota's 7th district, the National Republican Congressional Committee is welcoming him to the race with an ad hitting him on Obamacare. "It's hard enough to succeed in small business but with all the taxes and regulations that we have to deal with on a regular basis it even makes it more difficult,' says Randy Czarnetzki, a hardware store owner in Peterson's district. 'The fact that Collin Peterson recently voted to keep ObamaCare threatens the future of my business. After all these years Collin Peterson is part of the status quo.' Peterson's
Republican-leaning district would have been tough for Democrats to hold without him, but will be a competitive race even with his decision to run again. The ad is part of a $50,000 buy and will run in the Fargo and Twin Cities media markets for three weeks. Peterson was one of 33 Democrats to vote against the law in 2010. Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0d1d9d6b38606bf07ef9390fa261f0d015832bda96a2a16d4
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0d1d9d6b38606bf07ef9390fa261f0d015832bda96a2a16d4

GROUND, AIR WARS HEAT UP IN NORTH CAROLINA: POLITICO's Anna Palmer reports on the fight over Democratic Sen. Kay Hagen's highly competitive seat in North Carolina: "The two-front war in North Carolina - on the air and on the ground - is sure to make the race one of the hardest fought in 2014. And not only is it a state to watch as Republicans attempt to retake the Senate this year, it's also an early test of get-out-the-vote operations in a battleground state ahead of 2016. It's unclear whom Hagan, a first-termer, will face off against. North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis and conservative Greg Brannon are the top contenders in a multiway GOP primary May 6. But one thing is
certain - both are running on an anti-Obamacare message. The same strategy - pummel the Democrat with anti-Obamacare ads - was a winning strategy earlier this month in Florida, when Democrats had hoped to trump ads with a strong ground game but lost an open seat to David Jolly."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb034e57ad8aa59ab75682b8c80cdd510af1ce35ceb02c7c016
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb034e57ad8aa59ab75682b8c80cdd510af1ce35ceb02c7c016

HILLARY CLINTON'S DELAY: POLITICO'S Maggie Haberman reports on the growing concerns that Clinton could be freezing the Democratic field for 2016 and the pushback from Clinton's supporters:"Clinton's allies believe it's not true - and increasingly they are saying so. In fact, they argue the opposite: that the former first lady is shielding other prospective Democratic contenders from months of attacks and scrutiny they'd probably face without her in the picture. There's simply no need for Clinton to start a campaign this early, they say. ... The question of whether Clinton is helping or hindering fellow Democrats could prove critical for the party in the event that she declines to run,
which top donors and officials reluctantly acknowledge is possible for a variety of reasons. If she eventually passes, it could leave the party with little time to devise a backup plan with what many strategists privately call a dearth of viable replacements. Democratic operatives who believe Clinton's prolonged time frame is problematic are reluctant to say so publicly lest they antagonize the party's potential 2016 standard-bearer. But the view is widely held."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0e9265531f2b8ccf64a3f630554de1c836d27538ae1b34ada
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0e9265531f2b8ccf64a3f630554de1c836d27538ae1b34ada

As Dem committees bring in the big bucks, Mead Treadwell makes some staff changes and David Vitter says out loud what most Republicans are thinking about AFP, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the 2014 midterms.

DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION: 228.

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Good Friday morning and welcome to Morning Score. As always, send your tips, thoughts, and suggestions to
mailto:eschultheis@politico.com
eschultheis@politico.com or tweet them to @emilyrs.

FRIDAY STANDINGS-Here's Morning Score's take on how some of the most important candidates, campaigns and political players should answer the question: Are you better off now than you were a week ago?

YES: (1) Democratic campaign committees (DNC, DSCC, DCCC), all of which outraised their Republican counterparts in February (see below); (2) Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, whose TV ad about his late father garnered him positive attention on Thursday; and (3) Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who gave a well-received speech in Berkeley, of all places, and led in a handful of recent polls of the 2016 GOP primary.

NO: (1) Alaska GOP Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, who's replacing two top staffers over the Senate campaign's lackluster polling and fundraising numbers, (2) Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who has the full attention of GOP businessman Bruce Rauner now that he's won the GOP primary, and who will be the target of the $750,000 the RGA just transferred to Rauner for the general election; and (3) Georgia GOP Rep. Paul Broun, who was hit with a report over his congressional office spending money on a debate coach and came in fourth in the latest GOP Senate primary poll.

COMMITTEE FEBRUARY FUNDRAISING-DEMS OUTRAISE GOP: Here's a rundown of all the committee fundraising numbers that are out so far, all of which show Democrats with an edge for February: DCCC: $6.4 million raised, $34.4 million on hand (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0e288e437704c5c4031d5229d41a964c7596da3daf8fccbdf
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0e288e437704c5c4031d5229d41a964c7596da3daf8fccbdf ) ... NRCC: $5.1 million raised, $24.8 million on hand (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0aed759dfdc7024b67e44e768980a5c183d4efb954a077daa
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0aed759dfdc7024b67e44e768980a5c183d4efb954a077daa ) ... NRSC: $5.47 million raised, $12.75 million on hand (compared with $6.8 million raised for the DSCC, as reported Thursday morning:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0af76f3e6e8370f33c5dff7dc5c91b9ba6bdcf84e21f4083a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0af76f3e6e8370f33c5dff7dc5c91b9ba6bdcf84e21f4083a ) ... DNC: $7.24 million raised, $6.96 million on hand ... RNC: $7.1 million raised, $10 million on hand.

TREADWELL SHAKES UP CAMPAIGN: In an effort to revitalize his Senate campaign, Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell is replacing two top staffers. POLITICO's James Hohmann reports: "Treadwell released a statement saying he 'parted ways' with campaign manager Adam Jones and communications adviser Rick Gorka. 'I have had to make one of the toughest decisions to this point in our campaign,' Treadwell said. ... Treadwell's close friend and current national finance chair, Peter Christensen, will assume day-to-day leadership of the campaign until the new manager is named. Jones is heading to work on the Oregon Senate race, sources said, and Gorka will focus on other clients."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb08d3f98930c3b0d447c4b404b1ad461d1785a71eb2ca9584c
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb08d3f98930c3b0d447c4b404b1ad461d1785a71eb2ca9584c

THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE: The Wall Street Journal looks this morning at the growing dichotomy between political views in cities versus rural areas in the U.S.: "As Democrats have come to dominate U.S. cities, it is Republican strength in rural areas that allows the party to hold control of the House and remain competitive in presidential elections. ... The urban-rural divide has also grown in presidential contests. In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton beat Republican George Bush in the 50 densest counties-the most urban in the country-by 25 percentage points. By 2012, Democrat Barack Obama's advantage in those urban counties had shot up to 38 points, according to a Journal analysis of Census
and election data. Today, almost all big cities, even those in red states such as Missouri, Indiana and Texas, favor Democrats for president. The shift in rural areas has been even more dramatic. In 1992, Mr. Bush won the 50 least-dense counties-the most rural in the country-by 18 points. In 2012, Mr. Romney's advantage there had roughly tripled, to 53 points."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb04e3188c420b2a992b0e462ff3b35f7abc04ab6dba5811c7e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb04e3188c420b2a992b0e462ff3b35f7abc04ab6dba5811c7e

BLAST FROM THE PAST-CAMPAIGN WEBSITES IN THE '90S: Forget data analytics-POLITICO Magazine takes a look at the now-antiquated campaign websites of the 1996 presidential election:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb03c55ba0bb23703e39bf320ca75eed2b3599fe4cfc14b54f3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb03c55ba0bb23703e39bf320ca75eed2b3599fe4cfc14b54f3

ACROSS THE MAP-Quick takes from races around the country:

SENATE-

-GA-Sen: A new SurveyUSA poll has businessman David Perdue leading Rep. Jack Kingston in the GOP Senate primary, 29 percent to 19 percent. Rep. Phil Gingrey follows with 12 percent; Rep. Paul Broun with 11 percent; and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel with 10 percent.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0883809840b1a1e8c75355163afbaf2e91fe17cb7de457680
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0883809840b1a1e8c75355163afbaf2e91fe17cb7de457680

-More GA-Sen: Kingston released a new TV ad Thursday touting his conservative fiscal record.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb000f9381f42f1af08c33049438d7eee8899936ea2ac9545f7
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb000f9381f42f1af08c33049438d7eee8899936ea2ac9545f7

-KY-Sen: The Lexington Herald-Leader is hitting Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes on her jobs plan for failing to provide concrete estimates on the cost and outcomes.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0a9c253a6f8a5471726e778e220f0327b5875dad2b921ab8e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cc24eee65477bfb0a9c253a6f8a5471726e778e220f0327b5875dad2b921ab8e

-MS-Sen: The Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund has endorsed state Sen. Chris McDaniel in his primary battle against incumbent GOP Sen. Thad Cochran.

-CO-Sen: GOP state Sen. Randy Baumgardner is staying in the race against GOP Rep. Cory Gardner, unlike most of the other candidates who have already dropped out to clear the field for Gardner.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7e23861e12411be168d81eabeebee082bd32897f266a11e46
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7e23861e12411be168d81eabeebee082bd32897f266a11e46

HOUSE-

-CO-04: Gardner endorsed fellow Republican Ken Buck to succeed him in his House seat.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd73fbe6ce487f152b9fc94a6d5e167e1dc9d772033f73121fd
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd73fbe6ce487f152b9fc94a6d5e167e1dc9d772033f73121fd

-TX-04: Now or Never PAC, a conservative Texas-based group, released a TV ad hitting incumbent GOP Rep. Ralph Hall on his age and painting him as a Washington insider.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd731aee8a9b3f9ea4daf937819027f224b54b19be9be892212
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd731aee8a9b3f9ea4daf937819027f224b54b19be9be892212

-More TX-04: Meanwhile, Hall's runoff challenger John Ratcliffe advocated giving undocumented immigrants jail time in an interview with the Washington Post, saying it would incentivize them to 'self deport.'
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7d10e8ee9cd00b935ba25c29d2b93cc7ee236336ab2af06cd
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7d10e8ee9cd00b935ba25c29d2b93cc7ee236336ab2af06cd

-NY-13: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., a top ally of Rep. Charlie Rangel, is reportedly backing his Democratic primary opponent, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7ba6a68ef36aab81405bb69e9d029ec13b31f528e27fae7aa
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7ba6a68ef36aab81405bb69e9d029ec13b31f528e27fae7aa

GOVERNORS-

-FL-Gov: Democratic candidate Charlie Crist did not appear alongside President Obama in a public event in Orlando Thursday, citing scheduling conflicts.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7dcaef8d42c4f722187891a4bcc2f3ce12f49f131020e1407
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7dcaef8d42c4f722187891a4bcc2f3ce12f49f131020e1407

-MA-Gov: A new WBUR/MassINC Polling Group poll has Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley leading State Treasurer Steve Grossman, her closest competition in the Democratic primary, 45 percent to 14 percent. For the general election, Coakley would best GOP candidate Charlie Baker 41 percent 26 percent.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7b3b023c823a5126bd97de4dc41e2cbcd57a9ea0a396723f1
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7b3b023c823a5126bd97de4dc41e2cbcd57a9ea0a396723f1

-MI-Gov: Two internal polls, one Democratic (from Benenson Strategy Group) and one Republican (from Public Opinion Strategies), found GOP Gov. Rick Snyder leading Democrat Mark Schauer. The Benenson poll had Snyder up 3; the POS one had him up 9.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7265da3ee7b64381431a442695c0039edc6ac38352ea5fbac
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6b0f2575c19badd7265da3ee7b64381431a442695c0039edc6ac38352ea5fbac and
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CODA-QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I'll be honest with you: My reaction is God bless the Koch brothers." -Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, on Americans for Prosperity's big spending so far this year
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