Obama to Hill to Meet With Dems; Lundergan Grimes Kicks Off KY SEN Bid; How Weiner 'Rolls'

National Journal

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WHAT'S NEWS

  • In a speech on Tuesday at an Amazon.com fulfillment center in Chattanooga, TN, Pres. Obama pitched "a new fiscal deal to cut corporate tax rates in exchange" for more gov't spending "on jobs, education and infrastructure" (Chattanooga Times Free Press).

  • Obama on Wednesday will head to Capitol Hill for meetings with House and Senate Dems to talk and strategize about their agenda (National Journal Daily).

  • "In a carefully scripted" KY SEN campaign kickoff rally "that featured a video endorsement" from Bill Clinton, speeches from "prominent" state Dem leaders and remarks from her 83-year-old maternal grandmother," Sec/State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) declared that Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (R) "embodies a 'disease of dysfunction'" in DC (Politico).

  • Ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) "sought to move beyond the scandal" that has upended his NYC mayoral bid, "posting a video on his campaign website Tuesday evening, vowing to forge on." Weiner: "Quit isn't the way we roll in New York City. We fight through tough things" (New York Daily News). Billionaire John Catsimitidis (R) "plans to begin running a television advertisement criticizing" City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D) "over a crime issue" (New York Times).

  • Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald "had been touted as an online guest" at NJ SEN candidate/Rep. Rush Holt's (D) "'Geek Out' town hall meeting" on Tuesday night, but Greenwald "could not appear due to technical difficulties, instead sending "an email Holt read to the audience that called him 'exceptional, unique and urgently needed'" (Newark Star-Ledger).

  • Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) "is considering" a MI SEN bid and "has met with" McConnell, but Camp "did not have any timeline for getting into the race" (Politico).

  • EMILY's List pres. Stephanie Schriock (D) "said in a statement Tuesday" she "is declining" a MT SEN bid (AP).

  • Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) announced on Tuesday that she would not pursue a NC SEN bid (release).

  • "Americans for a Conservative Direction ... has ads up lauding" Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) in CO-06 "for his immigration reform plan that is 'compassionate' and 'strengthens the economy.'" The group spent "at least" $175K on three "major networks" in the Denver market (Denver Post).

  • WV state Sen. Evan Jenkins (D) will "change his party affiliation" on Wednesday and is expected to challenge Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) in WV-03 as a GOPer (West Virginia MetroNews)

  • The IA GOV field "is most likely set now that" state Senate Maj. Leader Mike Gronstal (D) and state Senate Pres. Pam Jochum (D) "have both decided against running" (Des Moines Register).

  • "Saying taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill" for Mayor Bob Filner's (D) "'mess,' the San Diego City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night not to pay any of ... Filner's legal bills as he fights a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by one of his top aides. The move came just hours after the council voted -- also unanimously -- to sue Filner to recover any costs imposed on the city by the lawsuit, which names both Filner and the city as defendants" (Los Angeles Times).

OUR CALL

Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day

• Camp's (re)flirtation with an MI SEN bid, according to our sources, depends on a resolution to this fall's budget fights over sequester and the debt ceiling. There's an incentive for Senate GOPers to work with Dems: Get something passed and they get a decent candidate in a seat that won't otherwise be competitive.

• The spigot has opened in CO-06: With Dem and GOP outside groups already trading fire on TV, both Coffman and Romanoff already over $1M raised, and SEN and GOV races likely to drive up prices in the already expensive Denver media market, the battleground seat could be on its way to becoming '14's most expensive House race.

HAIR OF THE DOG

FRESH BREWED BUZZ

  • "In a split decision, U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning was acquitted Tuesday of aiding the enemy -- the most serious charge he faced -- but was convicted of espionage, theft and nearly every other count for giving secrets to WikiLeaks, a verdict that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison" (AP).

  • VA Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said Tuesday he would return all gifts he received from Star Scientific CEO Johnnie Williams, including an engraved Rolex watch. McDonnell: "Those gifts that I have in my possession, I'm working with my counsel to be able to return [them]" (WTOP-FM).

  • "In a moment of frustration, I used inappropriate language in what I thought was an off the record conversation. It was wrong and I am very sorry, which is what I said tonight when I called and emailed Olivia to apologize" -- Weiner comm. dir. Barbara Morgan, after TPM posted an interview with Morgan trashing ex-Weiner intern Olivia Nuzzi as "a fame hungry 'bitch' who 'sucked' at her job," in addition to other obscenities (Business Insider).

  • "A colorful mailer touting" NYC mayoral candidate/'09 nominee Bill Thompson (D) "appears to have made a flub -- including what would be the lovely image of ... Thompson greeting a smiling little girl -- were it not for the guy who seems to be giving the finger to the photographer" (Politicker.com).

  • "Carl Levin and I are as close as two people can be" -- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), asked which sens. he gets along with best (New Republic).

  • NC Gov. Pat McCrory (R) brought "a plate of chocolate chip cookies" to "the women (and a few men) protesting an abortion bill," signed by McCrory on Monday, "that opponents say restricts access to safe abortions." But the protesters "slipped them under the mansion's gate, along with a note that read: 'We want women's health care, not cookies'" (Charlotte Observer).

  • ABC's "World News With Diane Sawyer" outrated "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" among 25-to-54-year-old viewers last week, "ending a winning streak of almost five years by NBC and rekindling interest in the once-predictable ratings competition" (New York Times).

  • "Good Jill, Bad Jill: The Queen of the New York Times" (DailyBeast.com).

SWIZZLE CHALLENGE

  • Richard Nixon in '72 increased his vote percentage more than any other POTUS seeking reelection.

  • The winner is Colin Brainard, and here's his Swizzle Challenge: "Which sitting president's daughter married the namesake of a House Office Building?" The 3rd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.

NJ'S EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

SHOT...

"This is the king of bacon talking about bacon" -- Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), on NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R) (CNN).

...CHASER

"I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So, most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up, I plug in the grill. I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious. It's good for me. It's a perfect way to start the day" -- "Michael Scott" ("The Office").

Reid Wilson, Editor-in-Chief

Steven Shepard, Executive Editor