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By Daniel Strauss | 03/15/2018 10:00 AM EDT


With 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)

SPECIAL ELECTION HANGOVER - "Republicans sound the alarm after likely loss in Pennsylvania," by POLITICO's Rachael Bade and Alex Isenstadt: "Republicans on Wednesday struggled to explain their likely loss in the Pennsylvania special election: GOP leaders warned lawmakers that the outcome in the pro-Trump district could spell disaster in the midterms if they don't respond forcefully, but many lawmakers dismissed the race as an anomaly and seemed to be in denial. During a closed-door conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, House Republican leaders said that Tuesday's special election, where Democrat Conor Lamb is narrowly leading, could portend a monster Democratic year. They told
rank-and-file members in no uncertain terms that they needed to get their campaigns in order or that they could be casualties, and they need to raise money now to protect themselves come November. 'Prepare to bear down,' warned National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), who kicked off the huddle by calling the race 'a wake-up call,' said one person in attendance." Full story.

- "More Democrats likely to disavow Pelosi after Pennsylvania stunner," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider and POLITICO's Heather Caygle: "Conor Lamb weathered $10 million in attack ads cartoonishly calling the Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania's special election a member of Nancy Pelosi's liberal 'flock.' Now other Democratic hopefuls are looking to adopt Lamb's strategy - he repeatedly and bluntly disavowed the Democratic leader - in their own competitive races. It raises the prospect of a slate of Democratic hopefuls running against the party's House leader as they try to neutralize one of the GOP's go-to attacks - a pillar of Republicans' plan to keep the House majority in November. A
half-dozen Democratic House members and candidates told POLITICO in interviews that they had been closely monitoring how Lamb handled the Pelosi attack." Full story.

- "Republicans prepare for recount in Pennsylvania special election," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "The special congressional election in Pennsylvania appears headed to a recount, with Republicans preparing behind the scenes to cry foul after the vote count showed Democrat Conor Lamb leading Republican Rick Saccone by 627 votes. The GOP is considering challenging the accuracy of voting machines in the district, in addition to confusion over the state's changing congressional map later this year, according to two sources familiar with the process, granted anonymity to discuss ongoing plans that have not been finalized. State law does not require an automatic recount in congressional
races, even when the margin is this close: Lamb currently leads Saccone by 0.2 percentage points, 49.8 percent to 49.6 percent. But Saccone and his allies can request a recount after all the counties have completed their tallying of provisional and overseas military ballots." Full story.

- "Republicans seek answer to Trump drag after special-election setback in Pa.," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tamari: "It's not clear what [the GOP has] for Plan B - especially since Pennsylvania's leading Republican candidates for governor and U.S. Senate have so far taken the kind of [President Donald Trump-embracing] approach that just failed state Rep. Rick Saccone. ... Among those facing a difficult challenge is Rep. Ryan Costello, who represents a Chester County-based swing district that Trump lost and that moved left in the recent redistricting imposed by the state Supreme Court. Costello has told GOP officials that he was uncertain if he would seek reelection, given the
shifting map and brutal political environment, according to four Republican sources. Costello is still circulating petitions to campaign but has not definitively said if he will run, leaving Republican leaders worried about having to scramble to find a replacement if he bows out. Asked Wednesday about his plans, Costello pointed to his petition drive but did not say if he is definitely running." Full story.

Days until the 2018 election: 237

Upcoming election dates - Illinois primaries: March 20.

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SWITCHEROO - "McDaniel drops Wicker challenge, will run for soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "Mississippi GOP state Sen. Chris McDaniel is dropping his primary challenge to Sen. Roger Wicker, he announced Wednesday, and will instead run for the open seat as a result of Sen. Thad Cochran's pending resignation next month. McDaniel's decision means Republicans won't have to spend resources against a potentially pesky primary challenger, but could be a headache for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose allies are determined to keep McDaniel out of the Senate. McDaniel nearly defeated Cochran in a 2014 primary challenge. But the announcement also dials up the
pressure on GOP Gov. Phil Bryant, who will appoint someone to fill Cochran's seat until November. All the candidates, potentially including the eventual appointee, will run on a nonpartisan ballot together Nov. 6. If no candidate earns a majority of the vote, the top two finishers will face off in a runoff later that month." Full story.

- Wicker statement: "Until Sen. McDaniel removes his name from the ballot for this race, we have no choice but to continue our campaign as planned. Gayle and I are grateful for the outpouring of support we're receiving from all over the state. We will not take anything for granted and will continue the hard work of once again earning the support of Mississippi voters."

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ALL IN THE FAMILY - "Brotherly love: Mike Pence to raise money for Greg Pence," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "Vice President Mike Pence is headlining a Wednesday evening fundraiser for a 2018 candidate he knows well - his brother, Greg. The vice president will host a donor event for Greg Pence at the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Greg Pence, a businessman and Marine veteran, is running for Indiana's 6th Congressional District, which Mike Pence held prior to becoming Indiana governor in 2013." Full story.

FUNDRAISING CIRCUIT - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's gubernatorial campaign is getting ready to host a major fundraiser on Wednesday, May 2, according to a draft of the invitation reviewed by Campaign Pro. The draft reads: "On the evening of Wednesday, May 2nd, Tom and Jenny Williams will be hosting a fundraising reception at their home in support of the DeWine-Husted. We would like to personally invite you to join our efforts and help the campaign raise the necessary resources to win this fall by serving as a member of the Host Committee and contributing or raising $10,000." Signees on the draft include Neil Bortz, Robert S. Castellini, Bob Coletti, Bobby Fisher, Chip Gerhardt, Mark
Hauser, Gary Heiman, Dave Herche, Bob Kohlhepp, Gary Lindgren, Tony Maas, Tim Mathile, H.C. "Buck" Niehoff, Don Oeters, Scott Robertson, John Silverman, George Vincent, Ginger Warner, David Williams, and Tom Williams. The draft reads "paid for by the Ohio Republican Party."

FIRST IN SCORE - Not One Penny launches Arizona ad: Not One Penny, a progressive group fighting the GOP tax plan, is out with a new ad airing in Arizona as part of its plan to spend at least $5 million on advertising against the new law. The ad attacks the plan as a giveaway to large corporations and says the "Washington Tax Plan" has resulted in "hundreds of millions for wealthy shareholders, almost nothing for workers." Watch the new ad here.

STAFFING UP - Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani's gubernatorial campaign has hired Andrew Childs as campaign manager. Childs is an alum of Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo's race in 2014 and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign in 2016. He will be handling the ground game for Giunchigliani.

TRANSITIONS - McKenna Media hires Nelson: Isiah Nelson, a longtime campaign manager in the South, is joining McKenna Media. He most recently helped launched state Rep. James Smith's run for governor in South Carolina.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Everyone gave me a fair shake and I know that there are people that voted for the president who also voted for me." - Conor Lamb on Wednesday morning after the PA-18 election.

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