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By Kevin Robillard | 10/13/2017 10:00 AM EDT


With Zach Montellaro, Daniel Strauss and Elena Schneider

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)

BEHIND THE WALL - "The loneliest job in politics," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "The post of committee IE director is one of the most powerful and well-financed in Washington - and also one of the most isolating. The staffers designated by the House and Senate committees are charged with crafting multi-million dollar ad campaigns independent from the committees, since those organizations work directly with candidates. But because of the intricacies of campaign finance law, they are also cut off from other outside groups, which can talk to each other but not to candidates. 'It's like you're on 'Lost,'' [former DCCC IE director Ty] Matsdorf said. 'You're on this island, and the only
people you can talk to are the people on that island. You don't really know what's going on in the outside world and you don't have all the information you need, but you have a goal you're trying to get to, so you're doing the best you can to get there.' The House committees have named the next two people to this job: The DCCC's next IE director will be Jessica Mackler, who led American Bridge, as its next IE director, while the NRCC brought on Joe King, an Ohio-based strategist with close ties to the NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers. ... 'I don't think anyone can properly prepare you for how isolating it feels,' said Jessica Furst Johnson, who served as the NRCC's IE director in 2016. 'You're
used to being in a collegial environment, part of a committee team, then all of a sudden the people you worked with, you're prohibited legally from speaking to.' ... And that's even before dealing with the huge amounts of money in play. 'The first time you sign a $2 million invoice for an ad buy, you're like, 'Holy shit, I'm about to spend 2 million dollars,'' Matsdorf said." Full story.

COLLINS STAYS - "Collins declines run for Maine governor," by POLITICO's Daniel Strauss and Seung Min Kim: "Republican Sen. Susan Collins announced Friday that she would not run for governor of Maine, ending weeks of speculation with a decision to stay in the Senate. Collins' decision preserves her role as a key moderate and swing vote in the Senate. She had considered running for governor for months and faced pressure from fellow Republicans and moderates to stay in the chamber. Collins announced her decision at a local Chamber of Commerce event, where she touted her Senate seniority and 'persistent advocacy' for Maine in the Senate." Full story.

MENENDEZ WATCH - "Menendez case gets potential 'death blow,'" by Matt Friedman: "After hearing testimony from Senate staffers, government bureaucrats, private jet pilots, models and former senators and Cabinet secretaries, Judge William Walls indicated he may dismiss most of the 18 charges against Menendez. Prosecutors were unable to produce a smoking gun demonstrating that New Jersey's senior senator explicitly promised to do something for his co-defendant, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, in exchange for a gift or campaign contribution. ... The latest developments are no doubt good news for Menendez, whose trial reconvenes Monday in Newark. But not necessarily for his party: If Menendez
prevails in court, Democrats would face the real possibility that the powerful senator will be hell-bent on running for re-election next year, despite having gone through an embarrassing and politically damaging trial." Full story.

FIRST IN SCORE - Club for Growth PAC backs Blackburn: The Club for Growth PAC is endorsing Rep. Marsha Blackburn to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker in Tennessee's Senate seat. "Earning a lifetime score of 90 percent on Club for Growth's score card is no easy feat, but it is if you're a conservative leader like Marsha Blackburn. Despite her time serving in Washington, Marsha has never become 'of Washington.' She has remained loyal to her conservative principles throughout her time in Congress," said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. The Club's backing should give Blackburn a financial boost against any GOP primary challengers. Former Americans for Prosperity state director Andy
Ogles is already in the contest, and more candidates could jump in.

OL' VIRGINNY - SHOT - "Trump stumping for Gillespie? White House, campaign in 'serious talks,' Trump's Va. chairman says," by the Washington Post's Laura Vozzella: "The White House and Gillespie campaign are in 'very serious talks' about such a presidential appearance as a means of boosting the Republican's chances in his neck-and-neck race against Northam, said John Fredericks, a conservative radio host. ... 'The days of Ed Gillespie threading the needle with President Trump are coming to an end,' Fredericks told The Post. 'And he's got to get on stage with him, and motivate Trump voters to get out on November 7th in huge numbers, enthusiastically, to support this Republican ticket if he's
going to win.'" Full story.

-CHASER - "Gillespie won't say he's 'happy' with Trump endorsement," by WVEC's Janet Roach: "When asked if he's happy with the Trump endorsement, Gillespie said, 'I appreciate the president endorsing me. He's the Republican president, obviously. I'm the Republican nominee. I wasn't surprised he endorsed me.' The former Republican National Committee chairman also stopped short of saying he wants the president to campaign with him. 'I don't talk about campaign strategy with anyone, let alone the media,' Gillespie said during a visit to 13News Now on Thursday." Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 25.

Days until the 2018 election: 389

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.

FIRST IN SCORE - Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund targets members on gun silencer measure: Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund is launching video ads in 2,500 DC cabs for the next two weeks, urging members to remove the gun silencer provision from the SHARE Act. The video features quotes from members after the shooting at the congressional baseball practice. Watch the ad here.

Q3 FUNDRAISING - North Dakota Senate: Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp raised $1 million in the third quarter and has over $3.7 million on hand, NDXPlains reports.

- Indiana Senate: GOP Rep. Luke Messer raised $735,000 in the third quarter and has $2.4 million on hand, the Indianapolis Star reports.

- Missouri Senate: GOP Attorney General Josh Hawley raised $820,000 and has $782,000 on hand.

-Indiana Senate: Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly raised $1.3 million and has $4.6 million on hand.

- Colorado governor: Democratic Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne raised $380,000 since launching her campaign, finishing with $320,000 in cash on hand, per a statement from her campaign.

-Florida governor: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King raised $148,000 in September between his official campaign and his independent committee, per FloridaPolitics.com

-Massachusetts governor: GOP Gov. Charlie Baker already has $6.5 million in his campaign account, the AP reports.

- FIRST IN SCORE - CA-48: Democrat Harley Rouda raised just over $280,000 including some self-funding, and has $372,000 on hand.

- FIRST IN SCORE - AZ-09: Democratic Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton raised $100,000 in his first week in the race for Rep. Kyrsten Sinema's seat, as Sinema runs for Senate.

- MA-03: Democrat Lori Trahan, a former congressional aide, raised $240,000 during the final two weeks of September, her campaign announced in a statement.

- FL-06: Democrat Nancy Soderberg raised $330,000 in the third quarter, her campaign announced.

- NH-02: Rep. Annie Kuster raised $425,000 in the third quarter, and has over $2 million on hand, the Concord Monitor reports.

- NJ-11: Democrat Mikie Sherrill raised nearly $500,000 in the third quarter, finishing with $495,000 in cash on hand, per a statement from her campaign.

PRIMARY CONCERNS - "Steyer takes a shot at Feinstein, 'very much looking at the Senate seat'," by McClatchy's Christopher Cadelago: "Tom Steyer, the liberal California billionaire donor who wants President Donald Trump impeached, took a broadside at U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and may run against her, a close associate said Wednesday. The associate said Steyer feels the need to challenge the Democratic establishment to stand tougher against Trump and is 'very much looking at the Senate seat' held by fellow Democrat Feinstein as a way to accomplish that. ... Steyer urged candidates to support impeachment, writing 'this is not a time for 'patience.'" Full story.

2018 WATCH - "Rockeymoore Cummings launches bid for Maryland governor," by the Washington Post's Ovetta Wiggins: "Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, a policy consultant who is married to longtime U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), is launching a bid for Maryland governor, becoming the second woman and the third African American to join the crowded Democratic primary field. ... Rockeymoore Cummings, 46, is not widely known in Maryland political circles apart from her husband. She holds a doctorate in political science from Purdue University and has more than two decades of experience working in the public and private sectors." Full story.

GETTING THE NOD - End Citizens United endorses Kyrsten Sinema: End Citizens United is now backing Democrat Sinema, who's challenging GOP Sen. Jeff Flake in Arizona. ECU also endorsed Sinema when she ran for reelection in 2016.

DAILY WAR EAGLE - "Cygnal Alabama poll: Moore 49, Jones 41" by Campaign Pro's Daniel Strauss: "Former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore leads former U.S. attorney Doug Jones by 8 percentage points in a new Cygnal/L2 poll of Alabama's special Senate election. Moore leads Jones 49 percent to 41 percent, the poll found - a solid lead, but one that again shows Jones performing better than expected in deep-red Alabama, where some Democrats hope he may be able to exploit Moore's controversial statements in the December special election." Full story.

- "LCV Action Fund endorses Jones in Alabama," by Daniel Strauss: "The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund endorsed former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones for U.S. Senate in Alabama, the latest sign of national progressive groups rallying behind Jones' long-shot bid against Republican Roy Moore in this year's special election." Full story.

- Rubio to fundraise in Alabama... for Will Ainsworth, a candidate for Alabama lieutenant governor. The fundraiser will be on Nov. 9 in Birmingham. See the invite here. Ainsworth was a co-chair of Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign in Alabama.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "You guys with the cameras always catch me when I'm thinking hard and it looks like I'm frustrated and mad." - White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, explaining his resting thinking face during a press briefing.

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