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By Elena Schneider, Scott Bland and Kevin Robillard | 12/08/2015 10:00 AM EDT


With Theodoric Meyer

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)

(AMERICAN ACTION) NETWORK NEWS - "GOP group that hit conservatives changes its tune," by POLITICO's Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer: "The American Action Network is changing with the times. Just months ago, the House Republican leadership-aligned outside group ran a set of sharply controversial ads criticizing conservative Republicans who were holding up funding for the Department of Homeland Security over immigration issues. This week, though, the group is launching a $3 million advertising campaign thanking some of those same lawmakers for working with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to enact what they believe to be a conservative agenda. For example, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), a leader of the
Freedom Caucus who was critical of AAN targeting conservatives, will have a television spot running in his district. The spot starts out by saying, 'It's a new day in America,' evoking Ronald Reagan's iconic 'It's morning again in America' ad." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa51652754feeab6d09165803b3c499eabdd361e64ca4f4d642ba3

THE SUPREMES - Two elections-related arguments on tap at the Supreme Court today: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two important elections cases today. In Evenwel v. Abbott, a Texas voter is challenging the use of total population, rather than the total number of eligible voters, to draw legislative districts. The plaintiff is arguing that individual votes are diluted in districts with more eligible voters, violating the "one person one vote" principle of the 14th Amendment.

- Changing to apportionment by eligible voters instead of population would dramatically reshape the House landscape, as California consultant Paul Mitchell demonstrates in a new map. Districts concentrated in the Southwest, South, and urban areas around the country (ones with large numbers of children and Hispanic non-citizens, especially) would find themselves suddenly underpopulated. One practical effect would be to eliminate Hispanic- and African-American-held congressional seats, Mitchell told us in an email, since underpopulated districts tend to be clustered near each other in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. "If one is underpopulated, and can absorb it from an
adjacent overpopulated district, then it's just a shift to reach equilibrium," Mitchell wrote. "But when four or five districts are all under, you see a district or two actually get 'lost' from that community." See Mitchell's map here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa51656060a2faff33e6fec691fc3a7cac689d5c07ca085400d5a7

- The second case, Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, is a challenge to Arizona's state legislative districts based on whether the commission was justified in drawing boundaries that allowed population deviations by district to comply with other Voting Rights Act requirements -- or whether that violates "one person one vote."

TRUMP GOES THERE - "Donald Trump calls for 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims' coming to U.S.," by POLITICO's Daniel Strauss and Eli Stokols: "The brash GOP front-runner, increasingly desperate to hold on to his position atop the field, emailed out the statement just hours after a new poll showed Ted Cruz overtaking him for the first time in Iowa ... Once again, Trump's extreme positioning on an issue forced his GOP rivals to weigh in, further fanning attention Trump's way. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has been winning many of Ben Carson's former supporters in Iowa over Trump, said, 'that's not my policy' when asked about Trump's proposal Monday afternoon in South Carolina."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa51656b5fbf07d80ddde64d89bb4890db8a6a99adf49d5a1aa9ed

- The comments drew reaction down the ballot, too: Rep. David Jolly, one of several Florida Republican Senate candidates, will "call for Trump to drop out" of the presidential race, "denouncing" the real estate mogul for his comments about Muslims, the Tampa Bay Times' Alex Leary reports. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa5165367cda3a18c48f40468851ca17219564d70e3e3ff561a097

FIRST TO FALL? - Rep. Bobby Rush faces petition challenge ahead of primary: The two-decade Illinois Democratic incumbent suddenly faces a serious obstacle to reelection. Democratic Chicago Alderman Howard Brookins' campaign challenged Rush's primary ballot access petitions and believes that Rush's campaign submitted less than 750 valid signatures -- well short of the 1,314 requirement.

Days until the 2016 election: 335.

Thanks for joining us. You can email tips to the whole Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com, tmeyer@politico.com and kcheney@politico.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter, where we tweet a lot about campaigns and occasionally about bikeshare: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @theodoricmeyer and @kyledcheney.

** A message from Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest and most diversified television broadcasting company in the country today, delivers not only TV, the primary medium for reaching potential voters, but also targetable digital (mobile, video, email, social media and native) ad solutions. Contact Alan Brittan @ 703-236-9673. Sinclair, busy - Making Political Ads Work! **

FIRST IN SCORE - CITIZENS UNITED BACKS FLEMING - Citizens United Political Victory Fund is backing GOP Rep. John Fleming in Louisiana's open Senate race, an early conservative endorsement for Fleming over fellow Republican Rep. Charles Boustany. Fleming officially launched his campaign Monday. "Louisianans deserve a trusted conservative in the United States Senate who will put the priorities of the people of Louisiana first and Congressman John Fleming is that trusted conservative," Citizens United President David Bossie said. Bossie also took swipes at Boustany, noting Boustany is considered close to former Speaker John Boehner and that the Almanac of American Politics described him as
having a "moderate" voting record for a Southern Republican. The group's endorsement also comes with a $5,000 donation to Fleming's campaign. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa516539205a9268cc3f5e03d2c8529663cda6b231759b125bce6d

SCORE INTERVIEW - Gillespie: I believe I will be the GOP nominee - Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard caught up with Ed Gillespie, the likely Republican nominee for governor of Virginia in 2017, at the Republican Governors' Association in Las Vegas last month. Here's a transcript, edited for length and clarity.

- Q: Why are you running for governor? A: "Well, I'm planning on running for governor. Obviously, we have a lot to do between now and next November in Virginia because I don't see any path to the White House for a Republican nominee without carrying Virginia, so that's our focus is in the immediate future. After that, I'd like to hit the ground running in 2017. When you look at what's going on in Virginia today, our economic growth rate last year was zero. North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland all had higher economic growth rates than we did. Our average family income dropped from number one in the country to number nine last year. We need to turn things around."

- Q: While you were RNC chair, you were frequently warned Republicans to make it clear the party and the country weren't at war with Islam and didn't discriminate against Muslims. Does the rhetoric surrounding Syrian refugees contradict that advice? A: "There is a legitimate concern here, from a homeland security perspective, about do we have the processes in place to ensure the safety of the American people and the safety of Virginians. When we welcome people in -- and we are a country that welcomes refugees, we have a proud history of that -- we need to make sure, given the circumstances, that we put the safety of the American people first."

- Q: But does that mean abandoning a welcoming message towards Muslims? A: "I think we can do both. I think we can be a welcoming nation and protect the safety and security of the American people. But protecting the security and safety of the American people has to come first."

- Q: Do you think Ken Cuccinelli is going to run for governor? A: "I don't know. He's a friend. I saw him last night."

- Q: Gun control became a dominant issue in the 2015 Virginia state Senate elections. Do you believe there was a backlash against Democrats who pushed for gun control? Do you support closing the gun show loophole? A: "I believe strongly in the Second Amendment. I do think there was some backlash, particularly in the 10th district. First of all, [closing the gun show loophole) wouldn't have prevented the tragedy in Franklin County. I've not seen a policy that you can enforce in a way consistent with the Second Amendment that would actually result in improving the safety of Virginians."

BALTIMORE LEADERS BACK VAN HOLLEN, CUMMINGS BID LOOKING LESS LIKELY - Rep. Elijah Cummings' already unlikely Maryland Senate bid became even more unlikely on Monday when Baltimore City Council President Jack Young and state Sen. Nathaniel McFadden endorsed Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Both men are major parts of the black Democratic establishment in the city, and would be natural Cummings supporters if he were to run. Both men also told the Baltimore Sun that Cummings had personally told them he wasn't entering the contest. "I personally spoke to the congressman, and he told me he was not running," Young said at a press conference. Polls have shown Cummings would be a favorite in the contest, but
the ninth-term Democrat has been Hamlet on the Chesapeake since Sen. Barbara Mikulski announced her retirement earlier this year. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa51654a9d3ef35e5690a05db30c57b581aa36ea6610bcb93be20e

GETTING THE NOD - EMILY's List endorsed Maryland state Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk in her race to replace Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards, who's running for the Senate, the Washington Post reported last night. The pro-abortion-rights group could help lift Pena-Melynk's fundraising in a crowded Democratic primary. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa516535104b28c390df4bac41ea60e4381668ae3b2023b388d109

GROUND GAME - Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson's campaign will announce Tuesday the "grassroots leaders in all 72 counties to head up the campaign's volunteer efforts," according to a statement, which includes a list of the more than 70 volunteers and local leaders. "The grassroots ground effort in Wisconsin is the most powerful weapon we have to deliver our state to the Republican nominee for president - and make sure our new president has a Republican majority in Congress to take the tough votes and help solve the problems facing our nation," Johnson said in the statement.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR - Solving for Y: Exploring Opportunities for the Next Generation Conversations exploring millennials as voters and critical voices in 2016. Why do elections and voting matter? How have elected officials campaigned to successfully target millennials? How are presidential campaigns working strategically to get millennials excited and activated at the polls? Speakers include Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Rep. Will Hurd, Rand Paul's National Youth Director Cliff Maloney and Bernie Sanders' National Press Secretary Symone Sanders. Wednesday, 8 a.m. RSVP: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa5165fd5e3ac10a03f42b88062723b1b4b77380a31af9c53f9a04 Livestream: POLITICO.com/live

PRESIDENTIAL SPEED READ - "Political ads fund new hyperlocal video series in Iowa and New Hampshire," by Campaign Pro's Scott Bland: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa5165c36958674da336c1f2bedec3b9456deba099580432331401

- "Jeb Bush super PAC attacks Trump, Cruz and Rubio in new TV ad," by The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe: "The super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, which is sitting on the largest political war chest in American politics, is preparing to air one of its most aggressive television ads ... Using footage of the Oval Office, an announcer asks, 'When the attacks come here, the person behind this desk will have to protect your family. Will he be impulsive and reckless like Donald Trump? Will he have voted to dramatically weaken counter-terrorism surveillance like Ted Cruz? Will he have skipped crucial national security hearings and votes just to campaign, like Marco
Rubio?'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa5165f15464c22d1b3f2972b2b01dc1764738db4fb1df85eeeb81

- "Trump to bypass RNC event," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "Donald Trump will not be attending an RNC fundraising event this week after all. Trump's campaign had said in October that it would be attending Wednesday's Presidential Trust Dinner, to be held in New York City. But on Monday, three sources familiar with the planning of the event said that neither Trump, nor any other presidential candidate, would be attending the event. Neither Trump, nor the Republican National Committee, is explaining the reason for the change in plans." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa516571c9e53d04f8ee9d9be9d3d9894617d8e96d322eb38eb50a

- "Rand Paul first candidate to confirm appearance at NHGOP 'First-in-the-Nation Presidential Town Hall," by WMUR's John DiStaso: "U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is the first presidential candidate to confirm an appearance at the state Republican Party's major pre-primary gathering in Nashua, WMUR.com has learned ...scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23, at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b602ed9f9bfa516502f06b03e3cb20419e5c4bc72d4b77682be1d3633ce4008e

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I don't know if I'm watching the news or an episode of The Man in the High Castle." -- Russell Moore, a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, tweeting on Donald Trump's comments about closing the borders to Muslims.

** A message from Sinclair Broadcast Group: The race for influence in the 2016 election cycle is gaining speed. Everyone is looking to reach as big of an audience as possible and get significant portions of that audience motivated and educated enough to vote and mobilize probable supporters. As the pace quickens, more will be trying to find an edge to influence voters their way. Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest and most diversified television broadcasting company in the country today, can help you break through the clutter. Utilizing both TV, the primary medium for reaching potential voters and targetable digital (mobile, video, email, social media and native) ad solutions, Sinclair
Makes Political Ads Work! The bottom line is the bottom line - winning elections. At the Sinclair Broadcast Group, we have the ad tools necessary to help you to persuade, enlighten and activate voters. Contact Alan Brittan, Sinclair's Director of Political Ads for more details @ 703-236-9673. **

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