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By Elena Schneider | 04/06/2018 10:00 AM EDT


With 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)

SPECIAL ELECTION SEASON - "NRCC airing independent-expenditure ads in Arizona," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "The NRCC's independent expenditure unit is going up with a small cable buy in the House special election in Arizona. An NRCC official confirmed the buy, adding that there would likely be more in the future. The buy totals $22,000 on cable stations from April 6-12, according to Advertising Analytics. The ads will boost Republican Debbie Lesko, who's running against Democrat Hiral Tipirneni in the special election to replace Arizona Rep. Trent Franks in a deep red district." Full story.

PENCE FOR HIS THOUGHTS? - VP to headline Walker fundraiser in Wisconsin, from POLITICO's Daniel Strauss and Matthew Nussbaum: "Vice President Mike Pence is heading to Wisconsin to bolster Gov. Scott Walker, weeks after Walker warned state Republicans that a 'blue wave' could be coming if they aren't vigilant. Pence will attend an April 25 fundraiser for Walker. ... The fundraiser will cost $500 to attend, with those pitching in $2,500 and $10,000 enjoying a 'VIP reception' and 'VIP photo,' respectively, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO." Full story.

- MEANWHILE, NEXT DOOR... - "Pawlenty formally announces candidacy for Minnesota governor," by Strauss: "Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty formally announced a re-run for his old office [Thursday]. ... Pawlenty had already set up a campaign website and hosted a fundraiser in Florida, as well as a gathering in Minnesota, as he explored running for governor again. He left office in 2011 after serving two terms. Pawlenty recently stepped down as CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, a banking advocacy group in Washington." Full story.

- Pawlenty faces a Republican primary, but the Republican Governors Association hailed his entry: "The Minnesota governorship is now a top pick-up opportunity for Republicans this November. Tim Pawlenty's entrance into the race strengthens chances for GOP victory and immediately puts the race in the toss-up column," RGA communications director Jon Thompson said in a statement.

- Pawlenty web video aficionados will no doubt note the complete lack of lens flare, quick cuts and crescendoing trumpets in his launch video.

FIRST IN SCORE - "Nicholson internal poll gives him solid lead in Wisconsin primary," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "Businessman and veteran Kevin Nicholson has a solid lead in Wisconsin's GOP Senate primary, according to a new internal poll from his campaign. Nicholson has the support of 45 percent of likely primary voters in the poll from WPA Intelligence. His major opponent, state Sen. Leah Vukmir, has the backing of 27 percent of the electorate. Another 28 percent are undecided." Full story.

Q1 FUNDRAISING - AZ-09: Democrat Greg Stanton raised $500,000 in the first quarter, ending the period with $850,000 in cash on hand.

CA-10: Democrat Josh Harder raised $350,000 in the first quarter, finishing with $800,000 in cash on hand.

CA-25: Democrat Katie Hill raised $400,000 in the first quarter, closing the period with $500,000 in cash on hand.

FL-18: Democrat Lauren Baer announced that the campaign raised $450,000 in the first quarter.

FL-27: "Donna Shalala, the former Clinton Foundation head and past University of Miami president, has announced a record $1.17 million three-week fundraising haul in one of the nation's likeliest Democratic congressional pickup seats," POLITICO Florida reported.

IL-12: Republican Rep. Mike Bost has $1.1 million in cash on hand, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

KY-06: Democrat Jim Gray announced that the campaign raised $790,000 in the first quarter, finishing the period with $820,000 in cash on hand.

NY-19: Democrat Antonio Delgado raised $460,000 in the first quarter.

PA-10: Democrat Eric Ding raised $170,000 since launching his campaign a month ago.

FIRST IN SCORE - EMILY's List endorses Axne in IA-03: EMILY's List announced today that it's supporting Democrat Cindy Axne, who's running in a crowded primary to take on Republican Rep. David Young. "Cindy Axne is a small-business owner and community activist whose deep Des Moines roots have prepared her to stand up for working families in Congress," said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, in a statement.

Days until the 2018 election: 214

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

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.

PRIMARY PROBLEMS - "Trump wades into nasty Senate primary," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "President Donald Trump waded into the heated West Virginia Senate primary on Thursday, promoting two party favorites at the expense of a third Republican candidate the GOP hierarchy is trying to defeat - coal baron and former prisoner Don Blankenship. During an ostensibly official event to tout the tax reform law, the president was flanked by two mainstream Republicans, Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who are competing in the May 8 primary for the right to take on Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Early in the event, Trump introduced both men, who each gave a brief speech
showering the commander in chief with praise. The president did not mention Blankenship, who was not in attendance [and has been framing himself in ads as a staunch Trump ally]. ... Trump's appearance was widely seen as an initial strike against the coal baron. The president described Jenkins and Morrisey as 'two very smart representatives' of West Virginia." Full story.

UMMM - "Woman says Las Vegas GOP campaign adviser made her his sex slave," by The Las Vegas Review Journal's Ramona Giwargis: "A Las Vegas political adviser who worked on national campaigns and high-profile Nevada races sexually enslaved and battered his ex-fiancée before police responded to a domestic dispute, the woman told the Review-Journal. The 46-year-old woman provided copies of emails, text messages and a signed contract laying out her duties as a 'slave in training' to Benjamin Sparks. ... Sparks was fired from [Cresent] Hardy's campaign [for his old House seat]. Hardy did not return multiple calls for comment. Sparks, 35, also was working on Republican Yvette Herrell's
campaign for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District." Full story.

STATE IN PROFILE - "New Jersey Becomes a Key Battleground in Race for House Control," by The New York Times' Nick Corasaniti: "In New Jersey, which has been described by Democrats and Republicans as the most suburban state in the country, the revolt has been especially muscular and has put into play Republican-held congressional seats that until this year had hardly been on the Democratic radar. Voters have grown increasingly angry with Mr. Trump, viewing many of his actions as damaging the state's fortunes. ... National leaders, outside groups and statewide officials have launched a concerted effort targeting four of the five New Jersey districts held by Republicans, including the 3rd
Congressional District where [Andy] Kim is running." Full story.

MORE POLLING DATA - Bredesen leads Blackburn, but below majority, in MTSU poll: "Former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has a 45 percent to 35 percent lead over GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn in a new poll of the Tennessee Senate race from Middle Tennessee State University. The remaining 20 percent of registered voters surveyed were either undecided or declined to answer." Full story.

FACT CHECK - "New political ad stretches truth in Debbie Lesko vs. Hiral Tipirneni congressional race," by The Arizona Republic's Ronald J. Hansen: "The ad opens benignly enough, with Republican Debbie Lesko offering a strained cheer to 'Make America great again!' followed by a cringe-worthy 'Woo-hoo!' After that, her Democratic opponent, Hiral Tipirneni, unloads three hard-hitting points against Lesko, two of which take linguistic license and one that is flatly false." Full story.

WAY DOWN-BALLOT - "IDC challengers say they'll continue campaigns" against former rogue Democrats in New York state Senate, via POLITICO New York's Brendan Cheney: "State Senate candidates challenging members of the Independent Democratic Conference said on Thursday that they will continue their primary campaigns even though the IDC has agreed to rejoin the main Democratic conference. The eight IDC members have been aligned with the Senate's Republicans and have shared power with them in the chamber. ... 'We all did this. Because of all of you and because of thousands of grass-roots activists across New York, the Independent Democratic Conference is history,' said Alessandra Biaggi, who is
challenging state Sen. Jeff Klein of the Bronx, who led the IDC." Full story.

FIELD OPS - CLF pushing field effort in 31 House districts: The Congressional Leadership Fund is launching its second 'Super Saturday' event this weekend, coordinating a field operation of door-knocking and phone-banking across 31 House districts and contacting 300,000 voters in one day.

STAFFING UP - Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown's reelection campaign has hired Rachel Petri as press secretary. Petri most recently served as deputy communications director in Brown's Washington, D.C., office. She also served on the communications teams of Ted Strickland's 2016 Senate campaign, the Senate Commerce Committee and the office of former Sen. Jay Rockefeller.

WEB WARS - House Majority PAC attacks Blum in digital ad: House Majority PAC is going after Iowa GOP Rep. Rod Blum in a digital ad, saying he faces "questions about his own unethical behavior," the ad says. "He violated House ethics rules by failing to disclose his ownership in a shady company that's designed to deliberately mislead consumers." Watch the ad here.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "But it's like kind of having a teenage kid that wants a better car." - Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on teachers who are striking for higher pay, CNN reported.

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