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By Daniel Strauss | 04/10/2018 10:00 AM EDT


With Zach Montellaro 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)

$200 MILLION SENATE RACE - "'He has unlimited money:' Scott upends battle for the Senate" by POLITICO's Kevin Robillard, Marc Caputo and Burgess Everett: "Florida Gov. Rick Scott's long-awaited clash with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has the makings of the most expensive Senate race ever - and that spells trouble for Democrats everywhere else. Strategists in both parties think this race could potentially cost up to $200 million, dwarfing the record $180 million they spent fighting over Pennsylvania in 2016, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Scott, a multimillionaire, hasn't ruled out spending tens of his own millions as he has in the past. ... The DSCC, Senate Majority PAC
and American Bridge have all been focused on the contest, with the party unleashing a barrage of digital ads aimed at Scott as he entered the race. The Senate Majority PAC ad, backed by a six-figure buy, attacks Scott for refusing to expand Medicaid while giving tax cuts to the rich and says the governor 'won't look out for you.'" Full story.

RGA PRE-BOOKING - The Republican Governors Association is reserving television advertising in six additional states: Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Per a release from the RGA: "The Republican Governors Association announced today a second round of TV ad reservations in states with gubernatorial elections scheduled to occur this November. This follows the first round of ad reservations the RGA made in February in Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Arizona, which totaled about $20 million. The ad reservations were made on Monday and are effective for the last 4-6 weeks of the general election. This latest round totals about $14 million, bringing the RGA's total ad
reservation so far for 2018 to $34 million. The RGA reserved ad time in Alaska ($1.5 million), Connecticut ($1.7 million), and Minnesota ($2.3 million). These three states are top pick-up opportunities for Republicans, and these reservations are just the beginning of GOP efforts to win these governorships. The RGA also reserved ad time in Kansas ($1.1 million), Tennessee ($2.2 million), and Wisconsin ($5.1 million). Each of these states have the potential for a competitive governor's race, and could also see potentially competitive Senate and House races in their states or media markets."

Q1 FUNDRAISING - NEW THIS MORNING - Wisconsin Senate: Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin raised $3.7 million in the first quarter and now has $7.8 million on hand.

- Missouri Senate: Sen. Claire McCaskill raised $3.9 million and has $11.5 million cash on hand, according to Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard.

- Connecticut Senate: Sen. Chris Murphy raised $1.5 million for a total of $12 million in the 2018 campaign cycle. The Murphy campaign's press release did not include a cash on hand number.

- Nevada Senate: Rep. Jacky Rosen raised $2.6 million and has $3.5 million cash on hand, per Robillard.

- Pennsylvania Senate: Rep. Lou Barletta raised $1.25 million for his Senate campaign and he now has $1.6 million cash on hand.

- Wisconsin Senate : Republican Kevin Nicholson's campaign announced in a press release raising over $1 million in the first quarter. The campaign has over $800,000 cash on hand.

- FIRST IN SCORE - VA-10: Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock raised more than $870,000 in the first quarter, finishing the quarter with $1.8 million in cash on hand.

- AR-02: Democrat Clarke Turner announced he raised more than $500,000 in the first quarter, finishing the period with $440,000 in cash on hand.

- NC-13: Democrat Kathy Manning raised $600,000 in the first quarter, closing the period with $1 million in cash on hand.

- TX-32: Democrat Colin Allred announced he raised $400,000 in the first quarter.

- New Mexico governor: Rep. Steve Pearce raised $1.625 million from October 2017 to April and has $2.1 million cash on hand.

Days until the 2018 election: 210

Upcoming election dates - AZ-08 special election: April 24 - Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina and West Virginia primaries: May 8. - Idaho, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Oregon primaries: May 15.

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.

NEW PHONE, WHO DIS? - "GOP governor absent from Pence visit to Massachusetts," by POLITICO's Lauren Dezenski: "Vice President Mike Pence is traveling to Boston [today] for two fundraisers - including one for the Republican National Committee, which is expected to haul in $500,000. But Massachusetts' Republican governor won't be at either of them. Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters [on Monday] that he will be in New Bedford during Pence's visit and won't attend the RNC event, adding, 'I didn't know about it.' Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito also said she 'wasn't asked to attend' and has other commitments. Pence's office said it extended an invitation to the governor's office." Full story.

BEFORE ZUCKERBERG'S TESTIMONY - "Facebook to create independent election commission to study social media's impact on democracy," by POLITICO's Steven Overly: "Facebook will establish an independent election research commission that partners with academics and researchers to study the effects of social media on democracy and political elections, the company announced Monday." Full story.

ON THE AIRWAVES - Vern Buchanan pops second TV ad in FL-16: Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan released his second TV ad on Monday, casting himself as an "independent leader." Buchanan is "taking on the Washington establishment to produce real results" and "fighting to keep our coastlines pristine," the ad's narrator says. The ad, backed by a $200,000 initial buy, will air on broadcast and cable stations in the district. Watch the ad here.

- Kerr launches second TV ad in CA-49: Democrat Paul Kerr released his second TV ad, attacking President Donald Trump for his "reckless behavior," adding, "we've got to work together, but sometimes, you've got to draw a line in the sand." Kerr also calls for "protecting Planned Parenthood" and "fighting for Medicare-for-All." The ad will air on broadcast and cable stations district-wide. Watch the ad here.

- Dacey releases positive spot in NC-03: Republican Scott Dacey, who's challenging North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones in the GOP primary, is out with a positive ad that highlights his support for Trump. "Scott Dacey supports President Trump and his agenda for America," the ad's narrator says. "It's time for a congressman who will stand with conservatives and support President Trump." The ad will air on broadcast and cable stations in the district. Watch the ad here.

- Cordray airs first ad: Democrat Richard Cordray's campaign begins airing its first TV ad today. The ad focuses on Cordray's work running the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and includes former President Barack Obama praising Cordray. The ad will air statewide. Cordray's campaign placed about $350,000 on the ads as of Monday, night according to Advertising Analytics. That number could increase.

- Senate Leadership Fund hits Tester: The Senate Leadership Fund released the latest in its series of digital ads targeting Senate Democrats. This ad, "Let Em Have It," focuses on Sen. Jon Tester.

BEFORE THIS RACE - "A Bernie-branded millionaire is leading the Democratic race for governor. He almost ran as a Republican, consultants say," by The Intercept's Zaid Jilani: "A Michigan gubernatorial candidate who has branded himself as the Bernie Sanders of the 2018 race privately mused about running as an independent or Republican just weeks before launching his campaign, according to four political consultants and one small-business association representative he met with. Shri Thanedar, a millionaire who has poured millions of dollars of his own money into the race, ultimately decided to run as a progressive Democrat. He is now first in some polls. ... Joe DiSano, who runs the
Michigan-based consulting firm DiSano Strategies, told The Intercept that he first met with Thanedar in January 2017, before he announced his bid for governor. 'Shri didn't know what party banner to run under. But he was certainly running,' DiSano said. ... In February, DiSano met again with Thanedar. 'He told me he was going to run as a Democrat during a meeting at his home,' DiSano explained. 'I think the only things that stopped him from running as a Republican was that he was adamantly pro-choice and Trump had just popped his first version of the travel ban.'" Full story.

GETTING THE NOD - Club for Growth backs Greg Steube in FL-17: The conservative Club for Growth announced its endorsement of Greg Steube, who's running in a crowded Republican primary to replace retiring Florida Rep. Tom Rooney. Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh called Steube the "embodiment of a true fiscal conservative," in a statement released Monday.

STAFFING UP - DSCC names Lauren Brainerd field director: Brainerd previously worked as campaign director for the Virginia Democratic Party. In 2016, she was the Florida Democratic Party's coordinated campaign director. She also worked as a regional organizing director for Hillary for America and as a field director for the coordinated campaign in North Carolina in 2014.

- Samantha Cotten is America Rising's new press secretary. She previously served as communications director for Rep. Tom Reed. She has also held the role of communications director for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's a disgraceful situation" - President Donald Trump on the FBI raid on his personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

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