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By Kevin Robillard | 06/22/2017 10:00 AM EDT


With Daniel Strauss and Scott Bland

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)

DEMOCRATIC DONNYBROOK - "Democratic finger-pointing intensifies after Georgia loss," by POLITICO's Gabriel Debenedetti in Atlanta: "[T]he Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee doesn't believe it erred in the Georgia race between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Karen Handell, or in its spending decisions in the surprisingly competitive South Carolina special election that also took place Tuesday. ... the morning was otherwise marked by finger-pointing reflecting some of the biggest divisions in the party - including some that have been festering since the 2016 presidential primary. To many progressives, Ossoff's loss was a symptom of the party's insistence on running moderate candidates who
try to appeal too much to Republicans who dislike Trump. 'So far this cycle, we've seen an underfunded, authentic candidate with a message lose and we've seen a well-funded candidate with D.C. talking points lose. Now it's time to focus on putting real resources behind candidates who can inspire progressives and give folks a clear vision for the future,' said longtime Democratic strategist Rebecca Katz, referring respectively to Rob Quist in Montana and Ossoff. 'Democrats have to stop focusing all our energy on winning over Romney voters and start figuring out how to bring more progressive independents into the fold.'" Full story.

- "Pelosi faces growing doubts among Dems after Georgia loss," by POLITICO's John Bresnahan, Heather Caygle and Kyle Cheney: "There is no challenge to Pelosi's leadership, and none is going to happen at this point, said numerous Democrats. ... Some Democrats want to replace Pelosi atop their caucus, as they have since last November's poor showing at the polls; they say there is no way to get back in the majority with her as their leader. And others who backed her in last year's leadership challenge have now flipped their stance. 'I think you'd have to be an idiot to think we could win the House with Pelosi at the top,' said Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), who supported Pelosi in her last
leadership race. 'Nancy Pelosi is not the only reason that Ossoff lost. But she certainly is one of the reasons.'" Full story.

- More from the New York Times' Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns: "[I]n a private meeting of Democratic lawmakers, Representative Tony Cárdenas of California, Ms. Pelosi's home state, suggested the party should have a more open conversation about her effect on its political fortunes. ... Any Democratic leader would become a target for the right, said the aide, Drew Hammill, Ms. Pelosi's deputy chief of staff. 'Republicans blew through millions to keep a ruby red seat and in their desperate rush to stop the hemorrhaging, they've returned to demonizing the party's strongest fund-raiser and consensus builder,' he said. 'They don't have Clinton or Obama, so this is what they do.'" Full
story.

ANOTHER DEM, CATHY MYERS, LAUNCHES VS. RYAN - As Democrats debate what Ossoff's loss meant, and whether it will suppress enthusiasm and motivation within the party, Democratic Janesville School Board Member Cathy Myers is launching a campaign against Speaker Paul Ryan in WI-01. It's a GOP district where Ryan has dipped below 60 percent of the vote once in five elections, but it looks like a Democratic primary is brewing to take on the speaker, with Myers joining iron worker Randy Bryce and activist David Yankovich in long-shot campaigns for Ryan's seat. Myers' announcement video calls Ryan "one of the most powerful millionaires in Congress" and hits him on the GOP health care bill, noting
that Myers delivered her children via C-section. See the video.

MEMO MADNESS - "DCCC seeks to rally demoralized troops," by Gabriel Debendetti: "In a nearly 1,600-word Wednesday morning memo to committee staff that was obtained by POLITICO, the New Mexico congressman shared polling conducted between late March and mid-June showing Democrats in position to make gains in a handful of competitive seats held by Republicans. ... Explaining that in some cases the pollsters tested specific Democratic challengers against Republican incumbents, Lujan said "many incumbents - who won with double digits last cycle - would be in the race of their careers, including Reps. Martha McSally (D+5), Brian Mast (D+3), Kevin Yoder (D+2), and Rodney Frelinghuysen (D+3). ...
One of the polling graphics included in the memo shows an 18-point Democratic advantage in Florida's 27th District - held by retiring Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - an 11-point lead in California's 21st - held by David Valadao - and 9-point leads in both California's 10th (Jeff Denham) and 49th (Darrell Issa) districts." Full story. Full memo.

- America Rising's efforts included 6,184 miles driven by an America Rising tracker, covering 123 different events and resulting in a 130-page Ossoff research book.

- SBA List's take: "We congratulate pro-life champion Karen Handel on her historic victory tonight. Although America's largest abortion business, Planned Parenthood, spent six figures in support of her opponent Jon Ossoff, Karen's record of courageous leadership won the day." SBA List ran a GOTV program targeting 65,000 voters in the special election.

- NARAL's take: "Based on the results in Georgia, South Carolina, and the Virginia gubernatorial primaries, it's clear that electoral resistance to Trump and the GOP is being led by two populations that are extremely supportive of abortion rights: college-educated white female voters and women of color," the group's political director, Joel Foster, writes. "Anti-abortion politicians in districts with large populations of voters of color and college-educated white voters (like AZ-02, CA-49, CO-06, and VA-10) should be very worried about these trends." Full memo.

- House Majority PAC highlighted the Democratic money disadvantage. "The new reality is that Democrats can be competitive and match their individual opponent's fundraising, but CLF and the NRCC have almost unlimited money this cycle," wrote Charlie Kelly, the group's executive director. "CLF announced earlier this year their plans to raise and spend a staggering $100 million in 2018, about twice as much as they spent last cycle." Full memo.

- And CLF takes a victory lap, with a web ad highlighting their efforts. Watch it here.

ANOTHER POLLING SURPRISE - "GOP turnout confounds pollsters in Georgia election," by POLITICO's Steve Shepard: "[T]he Georgia contest represented yet another election in which the Democratic candidate either led or was tied in public polls - and was overtaken by the Republican when all the votes were counted. Unlike in some other races, however, it wasn't because Democratic voters didn't show up. More than 259,000 votes have been tallied as of Wednesday afternoon, considerably more than the 193,000 votes in the first round of voting in April." Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 138

Days until the 2018 election: 502

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

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4.

MONEY MOVEMENT - "Sanders sent $100,000 to DNC in May," by Campaing Pro's Maggie Severns: "Sen. Bernie Sanders, who clashed with the Democratic National Committee during his 2016 presidential campaign and continues to criticize the party, gave $100,000 to the DNC in May to help cover costs from his cross-country spring tour with DNC Chairman Tom Perez. ... The rare transfer of money from Sanders to the national Democratic Party comes after the unity tour and addition of Ellison as a "deputy chair" at the DNC, two changes that could signal a thaw in a high-profile, often-icy relationship." Full story.

HEALTH CARE STATUS UPDATE - "What's in the Senate's secret Obamacare repeal bill," by POLITICO's Jennifer Haberkorn: "The bill is expected to repeal the biggest parts of the Affordable Care Act, including the individual mandate and the employer mandate. It is also expected to defund Planned Parenthood for one year by kicking the women's health organization out of the Medicaid program. That provision could be dropped if Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs votes from moderate Republicans who oppose it. Senate Republicans plan to release the draft at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday and hold a vote at the end of next week. ... John Cornyn (R-Texas) said a CBO score of the measure would be
available by Monday, or possibly Friday." Full story.

ENDORSEMENT ALERT - "Moulton, frustrated with party leaders, endorses 8 veterans in House races," by Edward-Isaac Dovere: "Moulton is backing Dan McCready in North Carolina, Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Roger Dean Huffstetler in Virginia, Joseph Kopser in Texas, Patrick Ryan in New York, Ken Harbaugh in Ohio, Josh Butner in California and Jason Crow in Colorado, all Democrats who plan to challenge sitting Republican lawmakers next year." Full story.

GUN TRAINING - Sen. Luther Strange has been corresponding with Chris Cox, the chief strategist for the NRA, about creating a training program for members of Congress on handling and using firearms. Strange, in a letter to Cox dated June 16, noted that a member of his staff was on the field during the Republican congressional baseball practice where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot and wounded. Cox, in response on June 19, wrote that the NRA looks "forward to working with you to provide firearms training to members of Congress and their staff." Meanwhile, Rep. Mo Brooks, one of Strange's opponents in the upcoming Alabama Senate primary, on June 19 announced that he would introduce
legislation to let members of Congress to carry guns.

NEW FIRM ALERT - McLaughin, Hyers form WIN: Matt McLaughlin of Acres and Bill Hyers of Hilltop Public Solutions have formed WIN, which they say will be a new "kind of political media firm." The firm's first spot was the debut ad for Randy Bryce's bid against House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin.

- PLAYBOOK THEFT: SpeakEasy Political, a San Francisco-based self-service Democratic direct mail platform, is expanding with the opening of a new D.C. office, led by co-founder Danielle Winterhalter; Eric Jaye and Bergen Kenny are the company's other co-founders. Dozens of organizations and candidates have used SpeakEasy to produce hundreds of targeted mail pieces. Last year, 43 percent of its clients were women and 39 percent were people of color; the firm uses technology to reduce the cost of direct mail for clients.

- STAFFING UP - Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer has brought on Annie Ellison as her new campaign communications director. Ellison previously served as press secretary for Rep. Ami Bera's office and as communications director for Bera's campaign.

2018 WATCH - "Rushern Baker, leader of Prince George's, to run for Md. governor in 2018," by the Washington Post's Arelis R. Hernandez: "Baker, 58, is midway through his seventh year as leader of the state's second-largest jurisdiction. He has focused on eliminating the corruption that used to be a hallmark of the county's government as well as improving schools and services and stimulating economic growth. A former state lawmaker with a law degree from Howard University, Baker would become Maryland's first African American governor and the first county executive to serve in the role since Parris N. Glendening (D), also of Prince George's, did from 1995 to 2003." Full story.

SALARY SCRUTINY - "Fishers pays Rep. Luke Messer's wife $240K for part-time role," by the Associated Press' Brian Slodysko: "The wife of a likely Senate candidate averages a 26.5-hour work week in her $240,000-a-year job doing legal consulting for suburban Fishers, according to timesheets reviewed by The Associated Press. ... Since signing the contract in early 2015, Messer logged a full 40-hour week just once, working about 50 hours between March 28 and April 3, 2016. Legal experts say the part-time arrangement, which Messer primarily does from home in suburban Washington, doesn't appear to break any rules. But it could create problems for her husband, Republican Rep. Luke Messer, who was
elected in 2012 on a pledge to 'stop the reckless spending' and is preparing to challenge Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly next year." Full story.

- Messer went on the Tony Katz show to attempt to explain the situation: "My wife had this job and worked for the city of Fishers before I was ever elected to Congress, and she is a strong professional, she ought to have an opportunity to follow her career while we pursue public service," he said, later adding: "[T]here's been some misinformation about kinda my living situation in Indiana so I was hoping to talk to you a little bit about that. ... It's actually a home that I do own with my mother. I purchased it with her before I was ever married. I was raised in a single-parent family, Tony, and my mom never owned a home. So the year the before I was married I bought it with her, and
that's where I live when I'm back in the state. We split the cost of the home and that's my residence in Indiana." Listen to the full interview here.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I have no idea about Tim Canova, I honestly don't. I know nothing about Tim Canova." - Sen. Bernie Sanders, asked about the Debbie Wasserman Schultz primary challenger whom he endorsed in 2016 (and who is running again in 2018), via the Miami Herald.

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