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By Elena Schneider | 03/08/2018 10:00 AM EDT


WIth Kevin Robillard, Daniel Strauss, Zach Montellaro

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)

SPECIAL ELECTION SEASON - "Republicans trash their candidate in Pennsylvania special election," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "Shortly after the new year, Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio, the House GOP campaign chief, delivered a stern message to Pennsylvania Republican special election candidate Rick Saccone. You need to start to pulling your weight, Stivers implored Saccone, a mustachioed 60-year-old state legislator who is carrying the weight of the Republican Party in a crucial contest next week. Stivers' warning, described by two people familiar with the call, was intended to put the candidate on notice. The national GOP would be helping him out substantially, Stivers said. But if Saccone
didn't start upping his fundraising game and getting his sluggish campaign in order, he could lose a race that should be a gimme for the party. ... But as Election Day grows closer, the national GOP is increasingly pinning the blame on Saccone." Full story.

- NextGen starts digital ads, field program in PA-18: Tom Steyer's NextGen America launched a $50,000 digital ad program and field program on Wednesday targeting young people in the district.

- "Tom Steyer announces $7M effort to bring out young voters in Florida, California," by The Hill's Brett Samuels: "Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer on Wednesday announced separate $3.5 million investments in California and Florida to turn out young voters in this year's midterm elections." Full story.

NEW THIS MORNING - House Majority PAC reserves $43 million for fall TV," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "House Majority PAC, the leading pro-Democratic super PAC for House races, is laying down TV ad reservations early for the fall, spending $43 million in 33 media markets. The reservations - the earliest the group has made ahead of a general election - cover a range of cities and suburban areas that overlap with competitive House districts across the country." Full story.

GUN DEBATE - "Manchin drafts on Trump in election-year gun-control push," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia: "Sen. Joe Manchin has plunged head-first back into one of the country's most polarizing debates, pushing for a revival of gun control legislation as he runs for reelection in a state President Donald Trump won by more than 30 percentage points. And he's using cover from unusual source: Trump himself. Manchin's co-authorship of a 2013 bill to expand background checks with Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) already cost him his 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association, and the major Republican campaigns seeking to challenge him in November had pinpointed his
support for the bill as one of his top weaknesses. But Trump's short-lived dalliance with the Toomey-Manchin bill at a White House meeting last week ... potentially turns a vulnerability into an advantage." Full story.

RISING STAR - "Kamala Harris keeps Senate guessing on 2020," by POLITICO's Burgess Everett and Elana Schor: "Ask Sen. Kamala Harris about her aspirations for higher office and you'll get an unsatisfying answer 'I have aspirations to get through this interview,' the California Democrat says with a belly laugh. One year into her stint into the Senate, the Democratic Party's newest rising star - and one of its most buzzed-about potential 2020 hopefuls - has cut a profile that offers few clues about her political aspirations. ... But the former prosecutor has developed a reputation as a serious-minded lawmaker who bones up on policy and can engage on substance. The 53-year-old freshman
senator's reluctance to engage in daily partisan warfare with congressional Republicans could be read as a canny political strategy - or a sign that she's settling in for a lengthy Senate career rather than the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign. No one seems to know the answer for sure, including Harris herself." Full story.

YEAR OF THE WOMAN - "Women aim to make history in 2018 midterms," by POLITICO's Heather Caygle: "More than a quarter-century after the 'Year of the Woman,' women still make up only one in five elected officials on Capitol Hill. But this election cycle, more women are signing up to run for the highest elected offices than ever before - so far, at least 575 women have declared their intention to run for the House, the Senate or governor. ... POLITICO will be tracking the status of female candidates - how they are faring in primaries, the themes driving their election contests and the stories of individual candidates - through Election Day." Full story.

Days until the 2018 election: 244

Upcoming election dates - Pennsylvania 18th District special election: March 13. Illinois primaries: March 20.

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.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR - Carrie Budoff Brown to moderate panel on women in politics: POLITICO's Carrie Budoff Brown will moderate a panel at the Wilson Center at 9:30 a.m. today with Andrea Bozek, a senior vice president with Mercury; Missy Egelsky, vice President at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research; Nicole Eynard, DCCC's deputy executive director; Margie Omero, a partner at GBA Strategies. Full details here.

NOT GOING AWAY? - "Kihuen, dogged by sex harassment allegations, considering running again despite previously announcing retirement," by The Nevada Independent's Jon Ralston: "Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who announced last year that he was retiring after multiple allegations of sexual harassment, is considering filing for re-election, multiple sources have confirmed. Kihuen has contacted donors, the Culinary union and even former Sen. Harry Reid about the possibility of running again, saying he has received encouragement to do so. He has until a week from Friday to file." Full story.

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FROM THE STATES - "Quigley challenger accused of abusing women and resume inflation," by POLITICO Illinois' Natasha Korecki: "Benjamin Thomas Wolf, an Illinois congressional candidate whose provocative campaign has captured national media attention, has smoked weed in front of an American flag, brandished an AR-15 in a campaign ad and is running ads on porn sites. But his turn in the spotlight - the former FBI employee has been featured in write-ups in Newsweek, CNN and appeared in an interview on Fox & Friends - has unearthed a troubled past, including accusations of abusive behavior toward women and claims that he inflated his resume." Full story.

- PowerPAC Georgia ad touts Abrams: "A new 30-second ad by a Georgia PAC supporting former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams casts 2018 as a ripe opportunity to elect the country's 'first African American female governor.' The ad, by PowerPAC Georgia, starts out with a clip of Abrams announcing her candidacy. Text on the screen then reads, 'History is on the MARCH! Now Is Our Time!' ... The ad is part of PowerPAC Georgia's $2.5 million effort to boost Abrams, who faces state Rep. Stacey Evans, in the Georgia race." Full story. Watch the ad here.

- The Republican Governors Association launched its own new digital ad campaign called "Stacey Whoever": The RGA launched a new digital campaign and radio ad in the Georgia governor's race today, highlighting how Democratic gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans both have records of supporting tax hikes and big government programs that would hurt Georgia families. You can visit the hub for the digital campaign and listen to the new radio ad here: www.StaceyWhoever.com.

ON THE AIR - Messer launches first television ad: Rep. Luke Messer is out with his first television ad of the Indiana GOP Senate primary, featuring his two teenage daughters talking up his conservative credentials. "He's a conservative, a big advocate for President Trump's agenda," they say. "He lives his values every day. Family first, country always, faith forever." Watch the ad here.

- And Messer gets some outside help: American Economic Freedom Alliance has purchased more than $200,000 worth of airtime for an ad buy backing Messer on broadcast and Fox News, according to Advertising Analytics. The buy starts tomorrow and runs through March 20. The spot touts Messer's support for tax reform and ending tax credits for illegal immigrants.

WEB WARS - Heinrich launches digital ad: New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich is out with a new digital ad in his reelection bid against Republican Mick Rich. The ad emphasizes Heinrich's support for alternative energy and the state's national laboratories and military bases. Watch the ad here.

THIRD PARTY WATCH - Potential spoilers emerge in Rhode Island, Minnesota: Almost any third-party bid for statewide office is unlikely to win, but candidates can still shave points off one candidate or the other's margin and potentially tip a close election. Four third party bids potentially worth keeping an eye on have emerged in recent days.

- The most serious is in Rhode Island, where WPRI reports former Democratic Secretary of State Matt Brown is considering an independent challenge to Gov. Gina Raimondo, who a poll earlier this week showed in a tight race with Allen Fung, the Republican mayor of Cranston. Full story.

- Former Bush White House ethics chief Richard Painter isn't sure what party he'll run as in the race for the Senate seat now held by Tina Smith in Minnesota. "I'm going to be considering any and all options," he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, later describing himself as "a centrist in many ways - right up the middle." But his potential candidacy could cause problems for Smith, state Sen. Karin Housley, or both. Democrats say his work in the Bush White House means he'd be persona non grata to many of their voters, while Republicans say the same of Painter's frequent cable news criticisms of Trump. Full story.

- And lower-profile Libertarians have jumped into races in Missouri and Montana. While neither candidate is likely to be as large as a factor as Painter or Brown, Japheth Campbell is running as a Libertarian in Missouri and Rick Breckenridge is running as a Libertarian in Montana. Libertarians can often shave one or two percentage points off a Republican's percentage, allowing the Democrat to win with under 50 percent. Both of Montana Sen. Jon Tester's wins have come with some assistance from Libertarians.

GETTING THE NOD - Club for Growth endorses two Texas runoff candidates: The Club for Growth endorsed two Republicans who advanced to the May runoff, Bunni Pounds and Ron Wright.

STAFFING UP - "Nelson hires Wilkes as campaign manager" by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "Marley Wilkes, a veteran Florida political operative, will lead Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's 2016 reelection bid, the campaign announced today. ... The campaign also announced Greg Goddard would serve as deputy campaign manager. Goddard had been working as Nelson's finance director since 2017 and was the Florida finance director for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016. Shahra Anderson, who has worked in Nelson's Senate office for 14 years, will serve as political director." Full story.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "In an anti-GOP year - which this is shaping up to be - the Republican candidates will need to run much stronger campaigns or be prepared for the national party to cut them loose," Ken Spain, who served as a senior aide at the NRCC during the GOP's 2010 House takeover, told POLITICO.

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