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By Elena Schneider | 02/23/2017 10:00 AM EDT


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)

BOOTING UP - "Democrats try to recharge attorney general campaigns with Trump," by Campaign Pro's Daniel Strauss: "President Donald Trump's young administration has already put the spotlight on Democratic attorneys general battling his policies in court. Now, the Democratic strategists focused on electing more AGs hope resisting Trump will bolster their uneven and perennially outgunned political group. The Democratic Attorneys General Association is planning a reboot in 2017 - hiring full-time staff, establishing offices in Washington and San Francisco, and making a fundraising push to rival the high-flying Republican Attorneys General Association, a moneyed political powerhouse that has
helped the GOP gain control of AG offices in 27 states. The effort comes ahead of more than three dozen attorney general races around the country in 2017 and 2018, including a number of blue-state seats currently occupied by Republicans." Full story.

SPECIAL ELECTION SEASON - Montana Republican chairman urges Republicans to not support mail-in ballot legislation: In an email sent Tuesday, GOP chairman Jeff Essmann urged Montana Republicans to oppose a mail-in ballot bill - which would allow counties to use mail-in balloting instead of or in addition to traditional polling centers in order to save money during the special election - on the grounds that it would help Democrats. "I'm here to advocate and point out the strategic disadvantages long term if we start walking down this road," Essmann said. "Until there are safeguards in place to make sure no one is between the voter and the ballot box, my position will have to be the same."
Essmann pointed to reports last fall, when some voters complained that canvassers retrieved their ballots and inquired as to how they voted.

- Democrats called Essmann's email "deeply troubling," ... "Republicans are brazenly acknowledging that the way to win is that registered voters don't vote, and they want to spend more money to make sure fewer people vote," said Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. "Any time you're acknowledging you might win by fewer people voting, it's bad for our representative democracy." Essmann, joined by Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, argued against the bill before the Republican caucus Wednesday morning, but it passed a state Senate committee that afternoon. "Voting is a fundamental right and I don't think doing something in the cheapest possible way is the best test," Essmann said.

HACKING 2016 - "Manafort faced blackmail attempt, hacks suggest," by POLITICO's Kenneth P. Vogel, David Stern and Josh Meyer: "A purported cyber hack of the daughter of political consultant Paul Manafort suggests that he was the victim of a blackmail attempt while he was serving as Donald Trump's presidential campaign chairman last summer. The undated communications, which are allegedly from the iPhone of Manafort's daughter, include a text that appears to come from a Ukrainian parliamentarian named Serhiy Leshchenko, seeking to reach her father, in which he claims to have politically damaging information about both Manafort and Trump. Attached to the text is a note to Paul Manafort
referring to "bulletproof" evidence related to Manafort's financial arrangement with Ukraine's former president, the pro-Russian strongman Viktor Yanukovych, as well as an alleged 2012 meeting between Trump and a close Yanukovych associate named Serhiy Tulub." Full story.

THAT'S NOT A 'NO' - Collins 'not ruling out' run for Maine governor: Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins said Wednesday she was considering a run for governor of Maine in 2018, a move that would greatly increase Republican chances of holding on to Gov. Paul LePage's seat. 'I am not ruling it in, I am not ruling it out,' Collins, a moderate senator with high approval ratings, said during an interview on Maine Public Radio." Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 257.

Days until the 2018 election: 621.

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, where we tweet about campaigns and setting fires: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4.

POLITICO's State Solutions Conference: A series of one-on-one conversations with governors from across the country focusing on innovative approaches their states have taken to address complex problems. 8:30 a.m. session features: Gov. Ricky Rosselló (D-P.R.), Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Gov. Gary Herbert (R-Utah), Gov. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) 1:30 p.m. session features: Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.), Gov. Butch Otter (R-Idaho), Gov. Dannel Malloy (D-Conn.), Gov. Steve Bullock (D-Mont.) Feb. 24, Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center - 901 K St. NW, 11th Floor. RSVP: here

WAY DOWN THE BALLOT - "Brock, donors wade into state fights," by POLITICO's Kenneth P. Vogel: "David Brock and some of the biggest donors from across the left are rallying behind an effort to stave off a Republican avalanche in state-level races that could bury Democrats for decades. The effort, run by a previously low-profile group called the State Innovation Exchange (or SiX for short), aims to offset Republican advantages in state-level campaigns, policy debates and looming redistricting fights. But SiX's aggressive play could also set up a clash with other Democratic big-money efforts to boost the party at the state level, including an ambitious redistricting initiative backed by former
President Barack Obama and his former attorney general, Eric Holder." Full story.

- "Joe Biden Campaigns for Delaware Candidate in Crucial State Race," by The New York Times' Alexander Burns: "... With [Biden's] party's control of the small state in peril, he has returned to the campaign trail, barely a month after leaving office, with a zeal that has surprised even local Democrats: Mr. Biden has raised money for Stephanie Hansen, the Democratic nominee in a State Senate contest this Saturday, and appeared in her radio ads and knocked on doors alongside her." Full story.

FIRST IN SCORE - Walker to take on liberal protesters in CPAC speech: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will use his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference this morning to tell Republicans to stand strong in the face of liberal protests at town halls throughout the country, citing his own experience with union-led protests in 2009. He'll argue the protesters represent a vocal minority: "The tipping point, however, was when protesters - dressed liked zombies - disrupted the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics," Walker will say, according to prepared remarks shared with Campaign Pro. "This was the moment when normal people could see that the protesters were not like
them. I mean, who messes up an event for Special Olympics athletes?" And he'll argue that voters will reward Republicans for enacting their agenda: "What we learned in Wisconsin is simple: do what you say you're going to do. It works. In fact, it works on both political and policy fronts. Not only did I win three elections for Governor, but legislative Republicans in my state gained seats in 2012, 2014 and again in 2016."

GETTING THE NOD - End Citizens United backs Jon Ossoff in GA-06: The liberal outside group announced Wednesday that it would back Jon Ossoff, who's one of five Democratic candidates in the jungle primary to replace Rep. Tom Price.

- EMILY's List announces two endorsements: The pro-abortion rights group announced endorsements for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, per a statement from the group.

AD WATCH - In 2018 Senate races: "One Nation, a conservative nonprofit with ties to Senate GOP leadership, is spending $3 million on radio and television ads in 11 states making the case for the repeal of Obamacare. The television ads are airing for two weeks in four states with vulnerable Democratic Senators up for reelection in 2018 and five states with moderate Republican senators. Two weeks of radio ads will follow the television spots." Full story.

FIRST IN SCORE - American Action Network launches mobile billboard campaign, targets DNC winter meeting: House Republicans' flagship outside group is targeting Democratic members with mobile billboards outside of events in their districts in Nevada, Georgia and Florida, per a statement from the group. The ads, which urge lawmakers to repeal and replace Obamacare, will appear at events hosted by Reps. Jacky Rosen and Stephanie Murphy. A billboard will also circulate outside the DNC's winter meeting in Atlanta. A sample ad reads: "Jacky Rosen supports Obamacare's: higher costs, fewer choices, canceled plans. Demand patient-centered healthcare."

- In 2018 House races: The DCCC is out with targeted English and Spanish-language Twitter, part of its March Into '18 effort. One sample ad reads: "Will Hurd voted to repeal the ACA with no plan to replace it. Now he won't hold a town hall with constituents," with an image showing an empty chair on a stage. The digital ads will target the following lawmakers: Rep. Jeff Denham (CA-10), Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), Rep. Ed Royce (CA-39), Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49), Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Rep. Rod Blum (IA-01), Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06), Rep. Kevin Yoder (KS-03), Rep. Jason Lewis (MN-02), Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03), Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02),
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-01), Rep. John Faso (NY-19), Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-07), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Rep. John Culberson (TX-07), Rep. Will Hurd (TX-23) and Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA-10).

- In Arizona, Nevada: "The League of Conservation Voters is out with TV and radio ads in Nevada and Arizona, attacking Republican Sens. Dean Heller and Jeff Flake for voting to confirm Scott Pruitt as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency." Full story.

DARK HORSE - "Delaine Eastin kicks off 2018 bid: 'Time for California to have a woman governor,'" by POLITICO California's Carla Marinucci: "Former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Schools Delaine Eastin acknowledges that being the only declared female candidate is the least of her challenges in her quest to become the next state's governor. There's raising money, establishing name recognition, and overcoming the fact that she's been out of public office for more than a decade. The former State Assemblywoman, 69, has been viewed as so much of a dark horse that, to date, she still hasn't been included in any of the major polls on the race." Full story.

STAFFING UP - Sen. Bob Casey hires M.E. Smith to manage campaign: The Pennsylvania Democrat announced that M.E. Smith, who served as deputy campaign manager to Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet in 2016 and Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2014, will serve as his campaign manager. "M.E. has substantial experience in both government and campaigns. She has successfully fought for candidates and policies that help middle class families," Casey said in a statement.

- RSLC brings on general counsel, finance director: The Republican State Leadership Committee has hired Matt Raymer as its vice president and general counsel and Catherine Onnen as its finance director as it gears up for 2018. Raymer was previously the general counsel at the NRSC from 2015-2016, while Onnen was the director of fundraising strategies at the Seminar Network and previously served as the western finance director for Marco Rubio's presidential campaign and a deputy NRSC finance director.

ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ - "Trump looks for a reset with his address to Congress," by POLITICO's Shane Goldmacher: "White House advisers reluctantly acknowledge they could use a reset ... and see President Donald Trump's televised address next week before a joint session of Congress as a prime opportunity to start again. Like Trump's inaugural address, Tuesday's speech will be written by aide Stephen Miller. But rather than echo the broad strokes of the Jan. 20 'American carnage' address, White House aides involved in planning say the president will be more detailed as he seeks to recast his tumultuous first month as a success, ticking through the promises he's already kept and outlining
the next ones on his agenda. Full story.

- "Obama lawyers form 'worst case scenario' group to tackle Trump," by POLITICO's Edward-Isaac Dovere: "Top lawyers who helped the Obama White House craft and hold to rules of conduct believe President Donald Trump and his staff will break ethics norms meant to guard against politicization of the government-and they've formed a new group to prepare, and fight. United to Protect Democracy, which draws its name from a line in President Barack Obama's farewell address that urged his supporters to pick up where he was leaving off, has already raised a $1.5 million operating budget, hired five staffers and has plans to double that in the coming months. They've incorporated as both a 501c3 and
501c4, allowing them to operate as a non-profit but participate in some forms of political advocacy as well." Full story.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If he's interested and we're interested, it's worth pursuing." - WFAN program director Mark Chernoff, on considering New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as a possible replacement when longtime drive-time host Mike Francesa retires, the Record reported.

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