Sanford Moves On To General Election; Cassidy Announces In LA SEN; Rauner Raises $1.3M In IL GOV
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WHAT'S NEWS
Pres. Obama will continue his gun control push in Denver today, before heading to CA to attend fundraisers for the DCCC this evening and the DNC tomorrow (CNN).
SC-01 Special: Ex-Gov. Mark Sanford (R) defeated ex-Charleston Co. Councilor Curtis Bostic (R) in the GOP runoff (On Call). Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) is already fundraising for Stephen Colbert sister Elizabeth Colbert Busch (D) ahead of the May 7 special election (BuzzFeed).
L.A. Mayor '13: Obama will not endorse in the Dem-on-Dem contest, "a blow" for Councilor Eric Garcetti (D), who has played up "his ties to Obama" (Los Angeles Times).
St. Louis Mayor '13: Mayor Francis Slay (D) was elected to a historic fourth term, "easily defeating Green Party candidate James McNeely, as expected." He'll "become the city’s longest-serving mayor if he serves eight days of the term" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
LA SEN: Rep. Bill Cassidy (R) announced his candidacy in a web video today, becoming the first GOPer to do so. But Rep. John Fleming (R) says he "hasn't ruled anything out" (On Call).
MI SEN: Mitt Romney niece Ronna Romney McDaniel (R) said that she has "decided it's not the right time" to run, after discussing a potential bid with her family (Detroit News).
CA-31: Atty Eloise Reyes (D) said she is "absolutely" thinking of launching a campaign against Rep. Gary Miller (R) and Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar (D), despite her support for Aguilar's candidacy last year (On Call).
PA-13: State Sen. Daylin Leach (D) "became the first candidate to publicly announce a bid" for Rep. Allyson Schwartz's (D) seat (PoliticsPA).
AR GOV: Ex-Rep. Mike Ross (D), who is considering a bid, has resigned from his job to pursue an opportunity in "public service," a spokesperson confirmed (On Call). Ex-Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R) said he would "'be open to expanding background checks'" for gun purchasers (CNN).
IL GOV: Businessman Bruce Rauner (R) raised $1.3M in less than a month and ended the first quarter with $1.2M CoH (release).
NUMBER BRUNCHING
A new Quinnipiac Univ. poll of nat'l RVs, conducted 3/26-4/1, shows Dems leading GOPers on the House generic ballot, 43-35% (release).
OUR CALL
Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day
• Regardless of what happens in the general election, in some ways Democrats can already claim victory in South Carolina. Once again, they'll be able to fundraise off of a GOP candidate who exemplifies the party's problems with female voters. And there's no downside to them losing such a heavily GOP district, where a victory would allow them to claim momentum going in 2014 (regardless of how unique this special election may be). Of course, the more internals Elizabeth Colbert Busch releases showing her ahead, the less effective those arguments will be.
• Rep. Allyson Schwartz remains the early frontrunner to emerge as the Democratic nominee against PA Gov. Tom Corbett, but she's going to have a real fight on her hands in the primary. Tom Wolf's pledge to spend $10 million of his own money instantly makes him a serious contender, and Treasurer Rob McCord still looms as the only likely candidate who's won statewide.
• Internal polls may be dismissed in some quarters, but let us offer a partial defense. In some races -- particularly House races -- there may not be any reliable, independent polling to examine. It's easy (and usually accurate) to dismiss internal polling memos as glorified press releases, since many of the numbers therein are cherry-picked. But it's been our experience that most major campaign pollsters are accessible and forthcoming when asked for additional info -- and have disincentive to lie or juice their results.
• As the Chicago Tribune notes, Sen. Mark Kirk's support of gay marriage comes as his state's legislature is weighing legislation to legalize it. The bill is believed to be a few votes short of passage, but Kirk's announcement may provide enough political cover for some moderate GOPers to get on board.
HAIR OF THE DOG
FRESH BREWED BUZZ
"When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others" -- Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), becoming the second GOP senator and 50th overall to endorse marriage equality (BuzzFeed).
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is raising money for the National Association of Gun Rights, which is "targeting fellow Republicans, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor" (Politico).
"They don't tolerate dissent within the party. That's why they find themselves in trouble" -- ex-Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), on the GOP (AP).
On April 25, Obama "will be united with his four living predecessors in Dallas for the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. ... The last time all five met was in January 2009 before Obama was sworn in, in a meeting and lunch hosted by Bush in the Oval Office for the members of the 'world's most exclusive club'" (Time).
"Unfortunately, they were barbecued" -- Sanford, on the pigs he brought into the SC state House to protest pork barrel spending ("Morning Joe").
Monica Lewinsky atty William Ginsburg died Monday at his home in Sherman Oaks, CA. He was 70 (Los Angeles Times).
"That's politics in New York. It's all about the f--king money" -- today's New York Post cover, on the alleged scheme to rig the NYC mayoral election.
DC Councilmember/ex-Mayor for Life Marion Barry (D) was admitted to the hospital "after the 77-year-old diabetic said he experienced a drop in blood sugar." Barry, in a tweet: "I was taken to the hospital by the fire dept., but nothing life-threatening" (Washington Post).
"Sen. Flake will return to deserted island this summer, but this time with his kids" (The Hill).
The AP "has dropped the phrase 'illegal immigrant' from its stylebook, a victory for immigrant advocates who argue that the term is biased against the people it describes" (Washington Post).
SWIZZLE CHALLENGE
In 1983, the Philadelphia Phillies had both the Cy Young Award recipient (John Denny) and the player with the most home runs hit in the same season (Mike Schmidt).
That last one stumped the Wake-Up Call! Community, so here's a toss-up: "To whom is T.S. Eliot's 'The Wasteland' (from which we draw the line 'April is the cruellest month') dedicated?" The 3rd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.
NJ'S EARLY BIRD SPECIALS
SHOT...
"It's kind of like marriage when you say it's not a man and a woman any more, then why not have three men and one woman, or four women and one man, or why not somebody has a love for an animal?" -- Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), on limiting gun magazines (Think Progress).
...CHASER
"I got no problem with people marrying snakes, as long as they're not marrying gay snakes" -- comedian Stephen Colbert ("The Colbert Report").
Sarah Mimms, Editor
