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By Kyle Cheney

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KATHLEEN SEBELIUS FOR SENATE? NOT LIKELY - But maybe a memoir: The former Obama administration HHS chief and Obamacare architect told the Kansas City Star on Tuesday that her political days are over. "I have PTSD" from dialing for dollars, the former Kansas governor said. Sebelius been floated as a high-powered candidate for Senate in her home state, but its increasingly conservative tilt has made it harder for a Democrat to compete. However, Sebelius may be planning a memoir on her Obamacare days, which would carry a different kind of political significance. "It's interesting for me to read some of the books which have come out recently on the health care debate because the people writing
them weren't actually in the room," she told the paper. "And a lot of what is said is not terribly accurate."

- Sebelius saved special ire for her successor in Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, who she said had a "failed and flawed vision" for cutting taxes that had harmed the state economy. She also ripped Sen. Pat Roberts, a onetime ally who called on her to resign amid the failed rollout of the Obamacare enrollment website, HealthCare.gov:
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KIRK'S CONFIDENCE -"Kirk brushes off potential Duckworth challenge," by Kyle Cheney and Trevor Eischen, with Manu Raju: "Sen. Mark Kirk isn't sweating Tammy Duckworth, the Democratic congresswoman who may be gearing up to challenge him next year. 'It's going to be a vigorous campaign that I will overwhelmingly be likely to prevail in,' the Illinois Republican said of his colleague and potential rival, who told local and national outlets Monday that she's strongly considering running against the freshman senator.
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POLITICS OF THE SOTU - "GOP: Obama ignored message of midterm thumping," by POLITICO's James Hohmann, with Kendall Breitman and Burgess Everett: "Potential 2016 presidential candidates responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address by accusing him of failing to get the message voters delivered in the most recent election in November. 'More intent on winning elections than on winning progress ...' Mitt Romney, the failed 2012 Republican nominee, who is moving toward another run, wrote on Facebook ... Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said 'it was disappointing to see the president refusing to acknowledge the overwhelming sentiment that we need a new path.'"
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2016 GOP - "Crazy for Cruz," by Katie Glueck from Myrtle Beach, S.C.: "All day long, the Republican senator from Texas was mobbed by people who thanked him for taking on Washington, jostled for pictures and sought out hugs. Even after Cruz had departed the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention, his booth was consistently crowded ... The senator himself acknowledged that popularity among the tea party alone isn't enough to cinch the Republican nomination. 'For any Republican to win the nomination, you have to be able to bring together a broad coalition,' he told POLITICO. 'You have to be a full-spectrum conservative.'"
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"Bush courts D.C. lobbyists," by Anna Palmer and James Hohmann: "The former Florida governor held two meetings with association executives and lobbyists Tuesday at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors headquarters, outlining his thinking about running for president and taking questions from veteran GOP operatives. Bush is expected to hold a similar meeting Wednesday with another group of Republican allies. He is slated to return to Washington in February as part of 60 fundraisers across the country his team has planned ... Bush was accompanied by veteran GOP fundraiser Heather Larrison and Jack Oliver of Bryan Cave, who was a top fundraiser for President George W. Bush's
campaigns and has also been working behind the scenes for Jeb Bush."
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"Christie making rounds in D.C. to meet with GOP lawmakers," by POLITICO's Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman: "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a potential presidential contender in 2016, is headed Wednesday to Capitol Hill, where he will huddle with Republican lawmakers. Michigan Rep. Candice Miller, chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, organized a meeting between Christie and freshman lawmakers, according to multiple GOP sources ... GOP megadonor Bobbie Kilberg organized a roundtable luncheon Tuesday between Christie and the Northern Virginia technology community. Kilberg, who serves as president of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, gathered a group of more than 90
attendees, including tech CEOs, four university presidents and the superintendent of Fairfax County schools. It was held at LMI Government Consulting."
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As Toomey awaits a challenge and the Kentucky ad war begins, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: daily news, notes and essential information for the 2015 and 2016 election cycles.

Days until the 2015 election: 286; Days until the 2016 election: 657

Thanks for joining us. We're eager for your news and feedback. Email us at
mailto:kcheney@politico.com
kcheney@politico.com or find us on Twitter at @
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kyledcheney .

POLL POSITION - Early look at the Pennsylvania Senate race: Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) could be in for another Election Day nail-biter, according to a new poll from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. Toomey is within the margin of error in a hypothetical matchup against Ed Rendell, and the Democratic ex-governor has significantly higher name recognition. Joe Sestak, who's gearing up for another run against Toomey after falling just short in 2010, narrowly trails Toomey, 40-36. MSNBC host Chris Matthews, who's hinted at a potential run before, would come within four points according to the poll. The telephone and online poll of 1,042 registered voters, conducted from Jan. 15-18, carries a
3-point margin of error.
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PARTY POLITICS - Turmoil in the Florida GOP: The Palm Beach Post's George Bennett reports on a wave of resignations from the Florida Republican Party, following the unexpected election of state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia as the new GOP chairman over Rick Scott-favored Leslie Jennings Dougher. Bennett reports that the party's communications director, Susan Hepworth, and its digital director, Andrew Abdel-Malik have also resigned.
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- New Hampshire GOP hires new E.D.: The Union Leader reports that the party selected Elissa Voccola to succeed Matthew Mowers: "Mowers has previously worked for N.J. Gov. Chris Christie ... Voccola most recently worked as executive director of the Connecticut Republican Party.
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CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I have no more campaigns to run ... I know because I won both of them." - President Barack Obama, who ad libbed a little during his State of the Unionafter Republicans applauded his exit from electoral politics.

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