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By James Hohmann (
mailto:jhohmann@politico.com
jhohmann@politico.com ; Twitter: @jameshohmann)

HEALTH CARE - DAY 2 OF ORAL ARGUMENTS:The Supreme Court considers the individual mandate today. So watch for a spate of unhelpful coverage for Mitt Romney.

ROMNEY SURROGATE TALKING POINTS:A source passes on four pages of campaign talking points distributed to donors last night by Boston on health care. The suggested messaging emphasizes the differences between Obamacare and Romneycare on taxes, cost, federalism and popularity. Note that the word MANDATE does not appear anywhere. Read:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c02d0ef660396bd90f2a25b0795d43d95bbe785b5f08cbd8
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c02d0ef660396bd90f2a25b0795d43d95bbe785b5f08cbd8 .

NYT/CBS POLL - 47% DISAPPROVE OF HEALTH CARE LAW: "Two-thirds of Americans want the Supreme Court to overturn some or all of the health care law, even though large majorities support a few of its major aspects, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News," per the Times. "At the heart of the opposition is the individual mandaterequiring Americans to obtain health insurance...47 percent said they oppose the law while 36 percent approve, with the rest having no opinion...Yet other aspects of the law attract widespread support. Asked about a provision requiring insurance companies to cover people with a pre-existing medical condition, 85 percent said they approved of that element."
A CBS chart shows the breakdown by age and how its changed over the last two years:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83123bdfbf9739bc805b0bdd416127e745488e7b966b59b46b75
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83123bdfbf9739bc805b0bdd416127e745488e7b966b59b46b75 . The NYT mainbar:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b49552a737d4951c722a13f3686ec6ff3283e1f2667e853e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b49552a737d4951c722a13f3686ec6ff3283e1f2667e853e .

CNN/ORC POLL - GROWING SUPPORT AMONG INDEPENDENTS:CNN puts net disapproval at 50 percent in their poll, but they show support among independents growing from 32 to 41 percent since November. More: "The survey indicates that 23% want the Supreme Court to leave the current law as is, with 43% saying some provisions should be overturned, and three in ten saying the justices should overturn the entire measure."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312e819df921f633741836c6424a0afad36a53d00255eae2ac9
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312e819df921f633741836c6424a0afad36a53d00255eae2ac9

RON PAUL PREDICTS SCOTUS WILL UPHOLD LAW:"I suspect they're going to rule it constitutional, but that is a big guess out of thin air," the Texas congressman said on Bloomberg Television yesterday. He said "this Supreme Court is slightly better than in the past, [but] they haven't done a real good job in defending the free market and the original intent of the Interstate Commerce Clause."Video via The Hill:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312eac752a895e4ef20536f98abdc123269fa470deecbcdb15e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312eac752a895e4ef20536f98abdc123269fa470deecbcdb15e . In a separate interview with Piers Morgan on CNN, Paul said he has no intention of quitting:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f6485b27c5e1134501d96d54858fedc7bdc94deb0b601dd7
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f6485b27c5e1134501d96d54858fedc7bdc94deb0b601dd7 .

IS GOP ESTABLISHMENT LESS TROUBLED BY ROMNEYCARE?Roll Call's David Drucker suggests as much in a story today that quotes Jim DeMint, Marco Rubio, Rob Portman and John McCain."Senate Republicans are expressing confidence in the GOP presidential frontrunner and his ability to lead their party on this crucial issue come November," he writes. "Republican Senators, citing federalism and Romney's promise to repeal 'Obamacare,' insist that the former Bay State governor would be a strong voice for the GOP in the general election - even in a campaign that hinges in part on the controversy over the health care law." Roll Call:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122d8c83030c5cc74af2bfa81e177f83736314064f1a82b945
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122d8c83030c5cc74af2bfa81e177f83736314064f1a82b945 . Dan Balz and Phil Rucker have a less generous take in today's Washington Post on what it means for Romney:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831291d5442f58477d6c3a5165960759ca27c7c3d9195e1d64fd
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831291d5442f58477d6c3a5165960759ca27c7c3d9195e1d64fd .

FIRST IN SCORE - MANY YOUNG OBAMA INDEPENDENTS DISILLUSIONED OVER LACK OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS:Conservative-leaning Resurgent Republic, an independent non-profit, is releasing the second of six focus group memos in their targeted voter series today. This batch focused on Gen-Y voters ages 23-30 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbus, Ohio. These voters self-identified as Independents, voted for President Obama in 2008 but are undecided on the generic presidential ballot today. Conducted by the highly-regarded Tarrance Group, the focus groups were split between those in college or new to the workforce in 2008 and those who were beginning their professional career in 2008. Phrases that jump
out from these findings:young voters today tend to be the most negative about the direction of the country. There's disillusionment due to a pattern of perceived over-promising and under-delivering. The top-of-mind responses call into question their reliability to turnout for Obama this November...barring any changes. It seems the unhappiness largely stems from the economy.The full four-page memo by Ed Goeas and Ed Gillespie:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c9da1ea0fa98b6d9450acbda8cc05c5f752a74ade81fd3c3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c9da1ea0fa98b6d9450acbda8cc05c5f752a74ade81fd3c3 .

** As Newt charges for photos, Scott Brown will write a check to a charity of Elizabeth Warren's choice and Michele Bachmann pledges to raise record amounts of money, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.

WISCONSIN - SANTORUM BEING OUTSPENT 4-TO-1:"Romney's campaign and the super PAC Restore Our Future are spending a combined $1,917,764 over the next seven days, including $742,928 from the campaign and the balance from ROF. The pro-Romney super PAC is the only group on the radio in Wisconsin and has a major TV presence across the state," Alex Burns reports. "Santorum's campaign is not on the air at all at the moment, so the TV campaign is being carried by the Red White and Blue Fund super PAC. That group is in the process of putting $513,000 into the state for the home stretch...Over the course of the contest in Wisconsin, pro-Romney forces have spent about $3.2 million to the
Santorum camp's $568,000, for a roughly 6 to 1 Romney advantage."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83123862a9728211b021e782198b13718cf12244bcf4b4d3eeab
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83123862a9728211b021e782198b13718cf12244bcf4b4d3eeab

ALWAYS BEWARE OF HOT MICROPHONES! -'This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,' President Obama told Dimitri Medvedev yesterday in Seoul. The revealing comment cost Obama the day, arguably ruined his trip and will dog him through at least November (standard diplomatic acquiescence will forever more be cast by this president's critics as long-planned appeasement).

CLEAN UP-OBAMA SAYS HE'S NOT "HIDING THE BALL":In Seoul overnight, Obama addressed reporters about the flap. "The only way I get this stuff done is If I'm consulting with the Pentagon, with Congress, if I've got bipartisan support and frankly, the current environment is not conducive to those kinds of thoughtful consultations,' Obama said after meeting with the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan. Jen Epstein adds: "Obama said his comments, though not intended for public consumption, were 'not a matter of hiding the ball -- I'm on record' about wanting to cut reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles. Though he spoke bluntly to Medvedev, Obama insisted that the thrust of his remarks was
in line with what he said in his Monday speech at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and in other public statements."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312d235377213a3ab95cd607e5e341132ea68c901ffa4c3d0c2
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312d235377213a3ab95cd607e5e341132ea68c901ffa4c3d0c2

SNEAK PEEK - WES CLARK TO ATTACK ROMNEY FOR RUSSIA COMMENTS:Wesley Clark, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, will attack Romney for asserting on CNN that Russia is "without question, our number one geopolitical foe." In a statement that the Democratic National Committee will push to reporters later this morning, he says: "Governor Romney's statement sounds like a rehash of Cold War fears...Good policy does not come from bumper sticker slogans. The next president is going to have to take America forward, out of war, and into other challenges. The rekindling of old antagonisms hardly seems the way to do it."

This is part of a continuing effort to minimize the damage to the president by putting Romney on the defensive. Clarks' statement will be the fourth distributed by the DNC. Similar ones came out yesterday afternoon from former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, former Ambassador to India and Congressman Timothy Roemer, and Dr. Colin Kahl, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East.A Democratic operative emails Scoreto argue that "Romney overplayed his hand on Obama's open mic...committing a foreign policy gaffe about a strategic ally of the United States."

ROMNEY TWEETS:'@BarackObama: I'll have more flexibility to ______ after the election.'

MITT ON HUGH HEWITT'S SHOW LAST NIGHT:"I don't think he can recover from it ... [The mainstream media] may try and put this to bed, but we're going to keep it alive and awake."

NEWT IN DELAWARE LAST NIGHT: "I think this is a really alarming behavior and it makes me want to know how many other countries has he promised things after the election, if they'll, quote, 'give him a little space.' What does that tell us about the Iranians or North Koreans?"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831294c5b1e6f29a3f33726916fe28453f11ca03fb3453669673
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831294c5b1e6f29a3f33726916fe28453f11ca03fb3453669673

RNC WEB VIDEO - "AFTER THE ELECTION":The one-minute video is a compilation of Monday morning cable coverage. The on-screen message the end is: "What else is on Obama's agenda after the election that he isn't telling you?" Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312bfb9e73e992f88c827cded35022e7c62e4a3d3c449074b9e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312bfb9e73e992f88c827cded35022e7c62e4a3d3c449074b9e .

WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS UP TO:Obama flies back to the United States today. He is scheduled to arrive back at the White House by 9:55 p.m.

THE INEVITABILITY NARRATIVE - ESTABLISHMENT RALLYING BEHIND ROMNEY: A story in today's Wall Street Journal says authoritatively that Santorum "risks alienating the growing number of GOP leaders calling for the candidates to close ranks behind Mitt Romney" if he stays in the race "despite the receding odds of victory."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312099fa549b248a38216b91300c92c26437f5e25021b5a68c9
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312099fa549b248a38216b91300c92c26437f5e25021b5a68c9

FOUR VOICES -

American Conservative Union Al Cardenas wrote an op-ed for the Daily Caller yesterday saying "it's time for my fellow conservatives to come to grips with the answer to that same question."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ab4bd7337e8d357d0cee1f863ec2cbc4610b5e4a649096a5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ab4bd7337e8d357d0cee1f863ec2cbc4610b5e4a649096a5

Florida Republican Party Chairman Lenny Currytold CNN that Romney vs. Santorum should not be compared to Obama vs. Hillary: "The difference is there was no incumbent then. We have an incumbent president right now that's raising money and sitting on money, which puts him in a very powerful position."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312619aa70e00221bef9c6897a0fe12191812053ab800ae39bf
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312619aa70e00221bef9c6897a0fe12191812053ab800ae39bf

NRSC Vice Chair Carly Fiorina,the former CEO of HP and losing Senate candidate, is endorsing Romney. Bloomberg notes that it coincides with Romney's California swing, which could aid fundraising:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122986c97628308341d46a113f5b539f24dc8f25771380d06a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122986c97628308341d46a113f5b539f24dc8f25771380d06a .

Senior Huntsman strategist Paul Collins,who worked in his New Hampshire campaign and is a pledged Huntsman delegate, "will be announced later today as moving to Mitt Romney," the Union Leader reports:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312aceeee4ccb8cd8db9e539c96159115af1dffa8003ea9f7ab
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312aceeee4ccb8cd8db9e539c96159115af1dffa8003ea9f7ab .

SANTORUM VS. THE NEW YORK TIMES, CONT. -

PALIN PRAISES SANTORUM FOR CURSING AT JEFF ZELENY:'Santorum's response to that liberal-leftist, in-the-tank for Obama press character really revealed some of Rick Santorum's character," she told Greta last night on Fox News. "And it was good and it was strong and it was about time because he's saying enough is enough of the liberal media twisting a conservative's words, putting words in his mouth, taking things out of context and even just making things up. And when I heard Rick Santorum's response, I was like 'Well, welcome to my world Rick and good on you.'" Video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312fc9caed699e94c87f204fe9ddc53f93bf2b372b5434e26f4
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312fc9caed699e94c87f204fe9ddc53f93bf2b372b5434e26f4 .

OUTBURST UNDERCUTS HIS NICE-GUY IMAGE:"For a while, it had seemed that Rick Santorum's crabby days were behind him. Gone were the sarcastic potshots at reporters and peevish outbursts aimed at his political opponents. He had transformed into the Mr. Rogers of the presidential race: good-natured, self-deprecating and downright likable," Sandhya Somashekhar writes in today's Washington Post. "But that nice-guy image has gone down the drain lately, with a series of provocative remarks and testy exchanges that have coincided with his slipping presidential fortunes. He may have hit a low point Sunday, when he uttered an expletive in response to a question from a New York Times reporter...Butfor
people who have followed Santorum's decades-long career in politics, it was the latest sign that Santorum is reverting back to a prickly persona that predated his rise in the polls."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ea5c5a8ac5f561c7f950c10fb8b9b370b19f1caca440caab
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ea5c5a8ac5f561c7f950c10fb8b9b370b19f1caca440caab

SANTORUM DEFENDS HIMSELF OUTSIDE SUPREME COURT:Standing in front of a sign that read 'Repeal ObamaRomneycare,' the former senator told reporters: 'I don't regret taking on a New York Times reporter who was out of line. You know, if you're a conservative and you haven't taken on a New York Times reporter, you're not worth your salt as far as I'm concerned." The video of Sunday night's back-and-forth with Zeleny makes it clear that the reporter acted appropriately:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312989f1519a963027034711586d31c24d82782d715c18730a5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312989f1519a963027034711586d31c24d82782d715c18730a5 .

RICK'S COMMENT TO NATIONAL REVIEW SOUNDS ALMOST NEWTONIAN:"Some members of the press simply cannot understand what I'm saying. They're just incapable of understanding because their world is, in some respects, very different." Robert Costa has more from his breakfast with Santorum at Bistro Bis yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83120b11ca0f1557d2fe709b3b6a9f631373607d9ffc6c2717ea
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83120b11ca0f1557d2fe709b3b6a9f631373607d9ffc6c2717ea .

Romney on CNN:"I'm not going to worry too much about what Rick is saying these days."

SANTORUM DOESN'T RULE OUT BEING ROMNEY'S #2:"I'll do whatever is necessary to help our country," he told the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f5a2f237892a2d589d50a18226a8885572581c4737fd7e2e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f5a2f237892a2d589d50a18226a8885572581c4737fd7e2e . In the same interview, he also said that he thinks its "increasingly likely" the nominating fight will go to the convention:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122e7f5e5b526a4d1689582fdfb4b0f5a9f218927e87354438
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122e7f5e5b526a4d1689582fdfb4b0f5a9f218927e87354438 .

WHAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE UP TO:Santorum is in Wisconsin - for an 11:30 a.m. rally at the Elks Lodge in Beaver Dam and a 6 p.m. rally at the Armory in Janesville. Romney is in California, where he'll tape for Jay Leno's NBC show tonight. Gingrich holds a press avail on the steps of the Maryland State House in Annapolis at 10:30 and a 3 p.m. afternoon rally at Salisbury University. Details:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312835167d70ea511a008c3e3f1b25b064af772826ba16b441b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312835167d70ea511a008c3e3f1b25b064af772826ba16b441b .

MORE POLLING - SUPPORT FOR WAR IN AFGHANISTAN REACHES ALL-TIME LOW:"According to the survey, conducted among 986 adults from March 21-25, just 23 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting in Afghanistan. That percentage - the lowest ever recorded by CBS News and the New York Times in this survey - is down from 36 percent in November 2011. Sixty-nine percent of Americans said the U.S. should not be involved in Afghanistan, the highest percentage of respondents who have said so since CBS News/New York Times started asking that question in 2009.Only one in four Americans believes the war is going well for the U.S., the poll indicates, down from 48 percent last
November."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a0d5bcf199fd1a5f7e994e6acd33db2eaaf57574b69877ac
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a0d5bcf199fd1a5f7e994e6acd33db2eaaf57574b69877ac

NEWT DEATH WATCH, DAY 14 -

NOW CHARGING FOR PICTURES:CBS reports that Gingrich started charging $50 to have a photograph taken with him while campaigning in Delaware last night. "It was the first time that the former House speaker has charged those attending one of his public speaking events to pose for a photograph with him," writes Sarah Huisenga. "Lately, a member of his campaign staff has been snapping photos of any interested attendee and later posting them online at the campaign's website, Newt.org. On Monday night, those paying for a photograph were also told they could find their photos on Gingrich's website, after they had filled out a form providing their credit card information." CBS/NJ:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312fbc7a4fd3e7e0d8566709e42f3698c6b90de5610ab1497cb
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312fbc7a4fd3e7e0d8566709e42f3698c6b90de5610ab1497cb . Spokesman R.C. Hammond emails reporters to defend the practice:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312edf2b0d75efe8950e3d96276406afcf1833acdc95c21bca8
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312edf2b0d75efe8950e3d96276406afcf1833acdc95c21bca8 .

LOSES HIS LAST PRINT EMBEDS:"The last two print reporters covering Gingrich full-time on the trail -- from POLITICO and the Atlanta Journal Constitution -- pulled out on Friday. The Associated Press pulled its embed after Tuesday's Illinois primary," Dylan Byers reports. "These and other print outlets will continue to cover Gingrich on occasion, but the sustained traveling press has been reduced to the television networks."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312375c4d06723b4c82e45ece47160eeee93b1ab7ae951111ac
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312375c4d06723b4c82e45ece47160eeee93b1ab7ae951111ac

ABRUPTLY POSTPONES NORTH CAROLINA TRIP:"Gingrich's campaign swing to North Carolina on Wednesday has been canceled, his campaign has confirmed," the Charlotte Observer reports. "There were no details available on why he had changed his plans.Gingrich had been scheduled to make some appearances in Raleigh as part of the lead up to the May 8th primary. The change of plans was abrupt. His campaign sent out a schedule at 1 p.m. Sunday that listed a trip to North Carolina. But by Monday morning, the visit was canceled."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83120448a13a37ea686bf7835eee0c77f1ee0e0b213e138cc3f5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83120448a13a37ea686bf7835eee0c77f1ee0e0b213e138cc3f5

WISCONSIN HOUSE SNEAK PEEK - DEMS SLAM DUFFY ON ANNIVERSARY OF "STRUGGLING" GAFFE:One year after freshman Rep. Sean Duffy (famous for once being on the cast of Real World) complained to constituents that he and his family were "struggling" to get by on his $174,000 salary, Wisconsin Democrats will launch a week-long anniversary campaign today to try defining him as "blindingly out-of-touch with Central and Northern Wisconsin." A 30-second man-on-the-street web video has normal looking Wisconsinites marveling at the comment. Democrats plan a benefit bake sale to get additional earned media. Democratic Party state Chair Mike Tate and 7th Congressional District candidate Pat Kreitlow will hold
a conference call for reporters at 1:30 p.m. CT to talk more about their push. Watch the 30-second video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83125d6c249d18938522e057172c2f9aa9a38600e1c338c85f0b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83125d6c249d18938522e057172c2f9aa9a38600e1c338c85f0b .

WISCONSIN RECALL - 2 FORMER WALKER SPOX SUBPOENAED:"Two former spokespeople for Gov. Scott Walker while he was Milwaukee County executive have captured the attention of prosecutors in the long-running secret John Doe investigation," the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. "Fran McLaughlin, Walker's county spokeswoman, and Jon Myhre, a deputy spokesman, were among a group of seven former county employees whose personnel records were subpoenaed by prosecutors in connection with the investigation, according to court records."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831272aa0a08f4ac15b289ddbedbed8965c5b8089ab2486afb1a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831272aa0a08f4ac15b289ddbedbed8965c5b8089ab2486afb1a

MASSACHUSETTS SENATE - BROWN TO WRITE 2ND CHECK UNDER AD DEAL:"Sen. Scott Brown has agreed to write a second check to charity after the American Petroleum Institute ran an ad urging Brown to oppose legislation," the Associated Press reports. "The oil and gas industry's main lobbying group ran radio and print ads asking voters to call Brown and urge him to oppose legislation which they said would raise taxes on energy producers. Brown's campaign said he's committed to honoring an agreement he signed with Warren designed to keep third party ads out of the Senate campaign. Under the agreement, the candidate who benefits from the ad must write a check for half the cost of the ad campaign to a
charity named by the other candidate. Warren's campaign said the ad reflects Brown's past support for tax breaks for big oil companies."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ff79c196444ae0d4ca5977b4a7c7517f7b8f56b9aa5ffe84
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312ff79c196444ae0d4ca5977b4a7c7517f7b8f56b9aa5ffe84

INDIANA SENATE - LUGAR AD HIGHLIGHTS OPPOSITION TO OBAMACARE:Desperately trying to shore up his right flank ahead of a strong primary challenge from Richard Mourdock, Richard Lugar is up with an ad noting that he voted against the health care law and its derivatives 32 times...including on Christmas Eve. Buy size not known. Watch the 30-second spot:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b8eaa90a4d323271caf604284e50e580c83eec38ac4506ae
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b8eaa90a4d323271caf604284e50e580c83eec38ac4506ae .

IF LUGAR LOSES - ROTHENBERG STILL FAVORS MOURDOCK OVER DONNELLY:"There is little doubt that [Democratic Rep. Joe] Donnelly has a better chance of winning the Senate race against Mourdock than against Lugar. Even Mourdock supporters accept that fact, and that's certainly why the Indiana Democratic Party has been trying to soften up Lugar whenever possible," Stu Rothenberg writes in his Roll Call column today. "BUT acknowledging that Donnelly's chances of winning improve if Mourdock is his opponent is very different than saying that a Donnelly-Mourdock race would be a tossup. While it could well be competitive, Donnelly would be a clear underdog in the fall."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312893872b5618d5ffd1f2f0a6b70b9572f46e3359d6f505e2c
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312893872b5618d5ffd1f2f0a6b70b9572f46e3359d6f505e2c

MAINE SENATE - KING HIRES A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT:Independent Senate candidate and frontrunner Angus King announced yesterday that Marge Kilkelly, a former Democratic state legislator, and Edie Smith, a former GOP strategist, are both joining his campaign. The Portland Press Herald: "King has said that if he wins the race to replace outgoing Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, he will make the decision about which party's caucus to join - if he joins either - after he arrives in Washington...Kilkelly will be policy director and Smith political and field director... King supported George W. Bush in 2000, but Democrat John Kerry in 2004 and he is backed Barack Obama in 2008 and this year."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127246cd67d50402706185134a176547453080415235469c1f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127246cd67d50402706185134a176547453080415235469c1f

EXIT INTERVIEW -SNOWE GIVES OBAMA AN "F":Olympia Snowe told Jon Karl that she hasn't spoken to Obama in two years and gives him an F on bipartisanship. She has been in Congress since Jimmy Carter, but says she has talked to Obama less than any president she's served under. Watch the four-and-a-half-minute segment:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831276251f3ab1ac47db8765387782e72ec2d59dcfb4ee73a6c5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831276251f3ab1ac47db8765387782e72ec2d59dcfb4ee73a6c5 .

MINNESOTA HOUSE - MCCAIN WILL APPEAR AT BACHMANN FUNDRAISER:Minnesota Public Radio reports that John McCain will appear at a DC fundraising event for Michele Bachmann, who is now running for reelection, this week in Washington. "Finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last week showed Bachmann's presidential campaign was more than $1 million in debt as of January 25...In between stops to local GOP political conventions in the Twin Cities over the weekend, Bachmann... predicted she'll post strong 1st quarter fundraising numbers and she noted the House record-setting $13.5 million she raised for her 2010 congressional reelection campaign.'No other member of Congress
is the history of the United States Congress has ever raised more money for election,' she said. 'And I'll do it again this time.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f6a730b5aedf8a195d9e409e042390098a9e000e22624eda
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f6a730b5aedf8a195d9e409e042390098a9e000e22624eda

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE - CRITZ GETS AFL-CIO BACKING:The state's largest labor union officially got behind Mark Critz in the April 24th Democratic primary yesterday over Jason Altmire. "Labor plays heavily in western Pa., and Critz has earned the endorsement of every major labor union in the 12th district in his primary against fellow Democrat Jason Altmire (including the Western Pa. Laborers, AFSCME, the United Steelworkers, United Mineworkers, SEIU and each of the area labor councils in the district)," PoliticsPA reports. Meanwhile, the Critz campaign released an internal poll yesterday that showed them down seven points (45-38) to the longer-serving member. They put it out after an Altmire
poll released earlier in the month gave him a 24-point lead (55-31):
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f10d9b91b04719dc1433b367054a8b3694ee2248c50b63ac
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312f10d9b91b04719dc1433b367054a8b3694ee2248c50b63ac . PoliticsPA on the AFL-CIO:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a1e7b1be0c4375ffb54f2d2b4ec9bea072967e310c978538
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a1e7b1be0c4375ffb54f2d2b4ec9bea072967e310c978538 .

FLORIDA HOUSE - PROPOSED MAP WOULD GIVE GOP 13-11 MAJORITY:"A [Miami] Herald/[Tampa Bay] Times analysis of the new congressional map submitted Monday in Leon County Circuit Court shows that the proposed districts would create 13 Republican-leaning districts, 11 Democrat-leaning districts and 3 swing districts. That compares to the map created by the Legislature that creates 16 GOP-leaning districts and 9 Democrat-leading districts with only two swing districts," Darla Cameron and Mary Ellen Klas write. "More significantly, the map shifts the sprawling congressional district now held by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown into a much more compact district, creates more minority districts than the
Legislature's map and does it without reducing the minority population in Brown's map -- leaving it at 48.9 percent black voting age population. The map was submitted as part of the Florida Democratic Party's lawsuit challenging the congressional plan."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127a78a57bc9d5586ad6b3ba5b3c42acea6dc6b5e0071fcd4e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127a78a57bc9d5586ad6b3ba5b3c42acea6dc6b5e0071fcd4e

LIGHTER CLICKS -

JON STEWARTmade fun of coverage of the Trayvon Martin flare-up:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83128c1efd38a11cd1ad16b9f901cfa8cca69f6391c06e8ff88f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83128c1efd38a11cd1ad16b9f901cfa8cca69f6391c06e8ff88f .

STEPHEN COLBERT, off last week, made fun of the Eric Fehrnstrom Etch-a-Sketch flap last night:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831289c770bb6e68e1e2f1a26f8b98922d415855fec503e0792b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831289c770bb6e68e1e2f1a26f8b98922d415855fec503e0792b .

GERALDO also got mocked by Colbert. "Yes, it was the hoodie's fault!" Colbert exclaimed. "A hooded sweatshirt can make an innocent teen look like a criminal. Just like a suit and glasses can make Geraldo Rivera look like a journalist!"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312893aac4ef4b979fe03da8353636717f309be34aa2b58f5dd
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312893aac4ef4b979fe03da8353636717f309be34aa2b58f5dd

MIKE PENCE'S SONis running for student body president of Purdue University. He's a sophomore:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831267b91f23176e3a321ef653f69c7073db2c7fbcdc5850a22b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831267b91f23176e3a321ef653f69c7073db2c7fbcdc5850a22b .

JON HUNTSMAN'S DAUGHTERAbby writes on Huffington Post that Congress needs more women:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312936588e7df4ae974e025d9144e5edf7fcb7080610e0c54d3
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312936588e7df4ae974e025d9144e5edf7fcb7080610e0c54d3 .

LAWRENCE O'DONNELLinterviewed an empty chair on MSNBC last night after George Zimmerman's lawyer Craig Sonner canceled his appearance at the last minute.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831244b91d3b525730e3e09d241576d42b3484d47990c84fafab
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831244b91d3b525730e3e09d241576d42b3484d47990c84fafab

DANISH TVmocked Obama for saying during bilateral sit-downs with the Danes, the Norwegians, the Irish and the Filipinos that each country "punches above its weight" in foreign affairs. ABC's Jon Karl flags the funny four-minute video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a73abbc18045d7725ea3e885b1b7b725088ae0774eef72a4
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312a73abbc18045d7725ea3e885b1b7b725088ae0774eef72a4 .

THE 5 STAGES OF POLITICAL DEATH, via BuzzFeed's Zeke Miller: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and finally Acceptance:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831298ba8ba08cd6c53e81c29ba1dc998bef22432a68a54efcba
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831298ba8ba08cd6c53e81c29ba1dc998bef22432a68a54efcba .

HERMAN CAINreleased a bizarre video yesterday that simulates the shooting of a rabbit:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127107dd715fa71f9d4154a7cbd2389e4999db59b55bbbb854
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83127107dd715fa71f9d4154a7cbd2389e4999db59b55bbbb854 .

MARTIN SHEEN recorded a web video for the DCCC called "Stand up for Medicare."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c3bd32ddad844513bdc6c69664ef53025b907f1e4841ce59
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312c3bd32ddad844513bdc6c69664ef53025b907f1e4841ce59

PAT BOONE,the conservative crooner, records his own Medicare-focused video for 60 Plus:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831286f632d6bb979217a183ce84f726d54ef4ff6035b0bc4fab
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831286f632d6bb979217a183ce84f726d54ef4ff6035b0bc4fab .

MITT ROMNEYliked Hunger Games - the books and the movie, which he watched with Ann over the weekend.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831273653dd83a439fc15d92ddc2feb05a5365099ded8e5b5bde
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d831273653dd83a439fc15d92ddc2feb05a5365099ded8e5b5bde

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNEhas a very friendly/positive story on Romney's tenure as a Mormon bishop:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122671a4d8057059ab48902b291bc351d76db5575af9abc18f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83122671a4d8057059ab48902b291bc351d76db5575af9abc18f .

A SANTORUM WHITE HOUSEwould have the second most children under 18 in presidential history. Eric Ostermeier's Smart Politics blog:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83128f4e46d8175dac560dd36ad350d10a35af32faf01d53ce7b
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83128f4e46d8175dac560dd36ad350d10a35af32faf01d53ce7b .

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS get higher salaries than in any other state. Sacramento Bee:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b640967477ddaa54c2d61885b07219f61c08aaea3ca7047f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312b640967477ddaa54c2d61885b07219f61c08aaea3ca7047f .

NATE SILVERexplains when models based on "fundamentals" have failed at predicting presidential elections. This is helpful fodder to push back on egghead political scientists who delude themselves into thinking/pretending that campaigns don't matter:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312cc74bd7b60ca52907b1d4d7171aefb441f6a06303194f8ce
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312cc74bd7b60ca52907b1d4d7171aefb441f6a06303194f8ce .

JULIANNA MARGULIES,the star of the "Good Wife" sitcom, told More Magazine that she has no sympathy for scorned political wives. 'Maybe the Spitzers and the Clintons already had an arrangement," she said. "Frankly I don't care. There are some things where you go, 'It's none of your business.''
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312777543f0e50f194926bd118756c3efa803d3e8ef0d645a77
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d8312777543f0e50f194926bd118756c3efa803d3e8ef0d645a77

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY:"I will transmit this information to Vladimir." - Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to President Obama, who told him in Seoul yesterday morning that he'll have "more flexibility" to negotiate with the regime after he gets reelected.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83126f0b8f59ef0c2e8d224266afce5437c3a2858149c6686f30
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9ecae24f529d83126f0b8f59ef0c2e8d224266afce5437c3a2858149c6686f30

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