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By Kyle Cheney

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. (
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- "Gavin Newsom's California power play," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt from San Francisco, with POLITICO Pro Energy's Andrew Restuccia: "By Sunday evening, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom had made up his mind: He wanted to be governor, not senator. But when he tried to call the biggest obstacle to achieving his political ambitions, state Attorney General Kamala Harris, Newsom got her voice mail. As of Monday afternoon, the two still hadn't spoken. But Newsom, who had left a message with Harris outlining his intentions, went ahead anyway and announced on Facebook that he wouldn't be running for Senate in 2016 ... In announcing his plans, Newsom, 47, got out ahead of Harris, 50, who has told
friends that she is also interested in the job of governor. Instead, on Tuesday, she will launch a campaign for Boxer's seat, knowing that if she hesitated, it would appear that she was reluctant to choose the Senate over the governorship."

- "Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has said he is 'seriously considering' entering the contest. Tom Steyer, a hedge fund billionaire and environmentalist, is also expected to signal his intentions soon."
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ROMNEY (MOSTLY) IN, RYAN OUT - "Romney moves to reassemble campaign apparatus for 2016," by the Washington Post's Robert Costa, Philip Rucker and Karen Tumulty, with Dan Balz and Matea Gold: "Mitt Romney is moving quickly to reassemble his national political network, spending the weekend and Monday calling former aides, donors and other supporters ... Over the past few days, Romney has been in touch with ... Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), his former vice presidential running mate; former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty (R); Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman; former Massachusetts senator Scott Brown; former Missouri senator Jim Talent; and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). In the
conversations, Romney has said he is intent on running to the right of Jeb Bush."
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- "The selling of Mitt 3.0," by POLITICO's Maggie Haberman and James Hohmann: "Romney, who made a fortune in the financial sector and was cast by Democrats in 2012 as a heartless businessman, wants to make tackling poverty - a key issue for his 2012 vice-presidential running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan - one of the three pillars of his campaign. The former Massachusetts governor also says he'll have a different communications staff and hopes to show voters a version of himself they didn't get to see last time ... Yet interviews with more than a dozen staffers and supporters who have recently spoken with Romney reveal conversations in which he promises a 'different' path forward without providing
specifics about what that means as far as mechanics and his own sometimes gaffe-ridden performance."

"Romney and Bush already are calling many of the same donors and operatives, in some cases within hours of each other, to make their pitch, round up support, and lay claim to staff. Romney has also called at least two key officials in the early primary state of New Hampshire, former Sen. Judd Gregg and his successor, current Sen. Kelly Ayotte, sources said ... Romney has been burning up the phones to top members of his old finance team, and he hopes to bring back a majority of his old staff, sources said.
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- Ryan formally bows out, by POLITICO's Katie Glueck: "Rep. Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin and 2012 vice presidential nominee, will not run for president in 2016, he announced today. Ryan, the new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, ruled out a presidential bid in a statement after first announcing his decision to NBC News. "After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided not to run for president," he said in the statement. "Our work at the House Ways and Means Committee over the next few years will be crucial to moving America forward, and my job as chairman deserves undivided attention."

While Pataki returns and Van Hollen gives his GOP governor a chance, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: daily news, notes and essential information for the 2015 and 2016 election cycles.

Days until the 2015 election: 294; Days until the 2016 election: 665

Thanks for joining us. We're eager for your news and feedback. Email us at
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STAYING PUT - "McCaskill won't run for Missouri governor," by Campaign Pro's Kyle Cheney: "Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said Monday that she won't run for governor in 2016, with the two-term Democrat instead positioning herself for a 'very likely' reelection bid in 2018. McCaskill had been considering a gubernatorial campaign, and aides maintained she was deciding what office would give her the greatest impact on Missourians, as well as how her choice might affect her family. She said she made her decision over the holidays ... Pressed about whether her decision was final, she said, "I will not be running for governor in 2016. That's a firm no." She added that she'll begin fundraising for
her 2018 reelection in earnest this year. McCaskill endorsed Attorney General Chris Koster for governor, calling Koster 'a terrific candidate that is ready to run for governor and will be a great governor.'"
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2016 GOP - "Ex-NY Gov. George Pataki leans toward 2016 bid," by NH1's Paul Steinhauser: "George Pataki says he's 'very strongly inclined to run' for the White House ... Pataki spent Sunday and Monday making the rounds in New Hampshire, his third visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state in the past couple of months. Pataki, who considered but eventually decided against presidential bids in 2008 and 2012, said that 'this time is very different because the situation in Washington is far worse. It has grown way too powerful, too big, too intrusive, too expensive, and it just continues to try and dominate so many elements of the peoples' lives in a way that I think is horribly
wrong. And you look at the globe, and as I said, it's the most dangerous situation we've been in since September 11.'"
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REPLACING GRIMM - "Malliotakis yields to Donovan in race for Grimm seat," by Kyle Cheney: "New York state Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has dropped out of the running to succeed former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), deferring to Daniel Donovan, the prosecutor in the Eric Garner case. Malliotakis, a rising Republican prospect from Staten Island, had signaled her interest in filling the seat in an anticipated special election in the district. But party leaders quickly lined up behind Donovan, the Richmond County district attorney. "I respect the decision of [Staten Island GOP] Chairman [John] Antoniello and believe it is important that we unite behind Dan Donovan's candidacy to ensure we
maintain New York City's only Republican seat," Malliotakis said in a Facebook post Monday afternoon.
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STAFFING UP - "Rand Paul taps veteran adviser for likely 2016 campaign," by The Wall Street Journal's Beth Reinhard: "Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is bringing on Republican strategist Chris LaCivita as a senior adviser as he prepares for a likely presidential campaign. Mr. Paul began building a political team months earlier than his potential rivals, and the competition for staff is escalating now that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney are considering bids. As Mr. Paul seeks to bridge the gap between his tea party base and the party's establishment wing, Mr. LaCivita can offer perspective from both sides.
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- Christie landed a top RNC fundraiser, Ray Washburne, The Associated Press reports:
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2018 TEA LEAVES - Van Hollen on running for governor: Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen wouldn't rule out a run for governor in 2018 - but added that he wants to give newly inaugurated Republican Gov. Larry Hogan "a chance." "Let's see what he comes up with," Van Hollen said during an appearance on C-SPAN on Sunday. Van Hollen, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said he wants to be part of the committee's work for the foreseeable future. But he said he's been "flattered" by people approaching him and urging him to run for governor. And, he noted, Maryland's governorship is "very strong." "It has strong executive powers," he said.
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SEIU HITS REPUBLICANS - SEIU is preparing to run digital ads urging Republicans to oppose legislation that would undermine President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration. The labor union is aiming the campaign at districts in nine states with disproportionate immigrant populations. The states include Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. The senators specifically targeted include Sens. John McCain, Marco Rubio, Mark Kirk, Rob Portman, Pat Toomey and Ron Johnson. At the House level, SEIU is going after GOPers in districts with high Latino populations: Reps. David Valadao (CA-21), Joe Heck (NV-03), Cresent Hardy (NV-04), Carlos
Curbelo (FL-26) and Will Hurd (TX-23)

STU IT UP - "Can Democrats Win the House in 2016?" by Stuart Rothenberg:
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CORRECTION - Monday's Morning Score incorrectly characterized Lincoln Labs. The group supports right-leaning and libertarian ideals through advancing technology.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "They're going to clear the field for Hillary Clinton, another flawed candidate, just like [Bruce] Braley was a flawed candidate, just like [Jack] Hatch was flawed candidate, just like - what's her name?, I've already forgotten it - just like [Staci] Appel was a flawed candidate!" - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, briefly forgetting the name of 2014 IA-03l candidate Staci Appel, per the Des Moines Register:
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