Starting Lineup: A Game Changer In NV?
Good Wednesday and welcome to September. What to watch today: Sharron Angle (R) is up with an impressive ad in NV, Marco Rubio getting a big boost from the NRSC, it's Miller time in Alaska and what that means for the Tea Party Express.
A Game Changer In NV? Sharron Angle (R) is up with a very effective ad that seeks to shift the "extremist" label on to House Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D). "On Harry Reid's watch, Nevada's unemployment rate has shot past 14% -- highest in the country," Angle says. "Our foreclosure rate is highest in the nation. Home values have dropped almost 50 percent. Those aren't just numbers. They're people who've lost their jobs. Families who've lost their homes. Harry Reid has dragged Nevada down to perhaps its lowest point ever. And he wants to call me an extremist?"
Wow. A couple thoughts: First, Angle doesn't look like an extremist in the ad; she looks stone cold rational. It is, therefore, Angle's best shot at shedding the extremist label and Reid and other Dems have spent every minute since the GOP primary painting her with. Second, the ad seeks to undermine the attacks against her and calls out Reid's campaign as seeking to pull one over on Nevada voters and distract them from them what's at stake in the election.
It's still early and Angle will face an uphill battle in redefining her image. But this is a good first step. And don't forget that in spite of all the "extremist" rhetoric on the Dem side, Angle is still in striking distance in most polls. Check out the ad here: http://bit.ly/bQUKay, http://bit.ly/98a3yg
Marco Rubio: Rubio is one step closer to leveling the fundraising gap between him and Gov. Charlie Crist (I). The St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday night that the NRSC has ponied up with $2.5M for Rubio's campaign -- the max it can throw into the race that's coordinated with the Rubio campaign. Crist still has more cash-on-hand than Rubio, $8M to $4.5M. The NRSC is looking to disqualify Crist, at a time when he's been flailing to explain his changing positions since becoming an independent candidate. The committee launched a new website today: "Get Your Crist Refund."
The NRSC's moves put pressure on the DSCC: Kendrick Meek only has $2.5M in the bank coming out of his primary with Jeff Greene. It's hard to see Dems spending big money in Florida when there are so many other expensive senators in firewall states they'll have to defend - in California (Boxer), Washington (Murray) and Wisconsin (Feingold) http://bit.ly/1aLRk, http://bit.ly/agyyim, http://bit.ly/9tCi34
Miller And The NRSC: Cue the political obits for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The ballot counting into the night last night quickly showed Murkowski wasn't gaining on Joe Miller and, at about 10 p.m., Murkowski conceded. This upset will be picked apart but one thing is sure: Miller -- backed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express created a headache for the NRSC. NRSC Chairman John Cornyn(R-TX) issued a pro-forma statement late last night that said the GOP will win the seat in November and committed to supporting Miller.
Next race to watch in this story line: The Delaware Senate GOP primary on Sept. 14. The Tea Party Express tests its muscle again that day with another long shot candidate: Christine O'Donnell against Rep. Mike Castle. And, as Hotline On Call reported Tuesday, the Tea Party Express' vetting process in that race wasn't very thorough. http://bit.ly/bCvwtH
Quote Of The Day: "Clearly if somehow I lost, it would be a sign that we're getting close to the line. We won't lose, but it is something that is legitimate for me to mention -- this seat could determine things," Sen. Russell Feingold (R-WI) in an interview with the New York Times. http://nyti.ms/c3Nxuf