GOP jockeying – GALVIN/ZAKIM debate tonight – CLINTON, BIDEN headed to Vineyard
08/14/2018 07:05 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @laurendezenski) and Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
DIEHL CONTINUES TO HAVE WACK-A-DINGS ENDORSING HIM AND FUNDRAISING
FOR HIM! PRETTY SCARY!
GOP JOCKEYING - Two of the three Republicans angling to take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren may have skipped a debate last night, but all three are working down to the wire — in their own ways — to define their bids ahead of the September 4 primary.
State Rep. Geoff Diehl, for starters, has Herman Cain in town for a fundraiser. It's set to take place at Howie Carr's home in Wellesley later today. The former presidential candidate and creator of the 9-9-9 tax plan — who quit the 2012 race amid sexual harassment allegations — is just the latest nationally connected Republican brought in by Diehl's team in the primary. And as Diehl seeks to maintain his frontrunner status among likely Republican voters, he's also brought in former White House press secretary Sean Spicer andMaine Gov. Paul LePage as fundraising draws.
John Kingston, a wealthy philanthropist who has maintained the most money in his war chest of the Republican primary contenders thanks to his own personal wealth, is out with a new TV ad today. The ad singles out Warren for "already running for president," and, "Like too many Massachusetts politicians, she'd rather skip the Fenway franks and instead eat Iowa corn dogs." Kingston officially gave notice on Friday that he'd not attend the upcoming WGBH debate, and Diehl had maintained he would not participate if all three candidates weren't involved. It now appears certain that last week's Boston Herald debate will be the only debate with all three Republicans in the primary.
Beth Lindstrom, meanwhile, was the lone candidate to sit for a debate with WGBH's Greater Boston. She's sought to hammer Diehl over accepting a pay raise in the House while also railing against it. Throughout the debate and on the campaign trail, Lindstrom has worked to walk the fine line with supporting aspects of President Donald Trump's agenda while not coming off as an unconditional Trump supporter. She spoke in support of Trump's tax cuts, and said she'd ultimately vote for Trump again in 2020.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim meet in their first televised debate, airing on WGBH's Greater Boston at 7 p.m. - Rep. Seth Moulton delivers a keynote speech at Kettle Cuisine for the groundbreaking on their $20M capital investment. Moulton will also appear on WGBH's Boston Public Radio - A replica of the new Red Line car goes on display at Boston's City Hall Plaza this afternoon (and will move at roughly the same speed as the Red Line does during peak commuting time).
ON THE STUMP -
- "Voter registration deadline for 2018 Massachusetts state primary is Wednesday, Aug. 15," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "The deadline to register to vote in the Sept. 4 Massachusetts primary is this Wednesday. That is also the last day for a voter to change their party registration. Someone registered as a Democrat can only vote in the Democratic primary, while a registered Republican can only vote in the Republican primary."
- "Baker is officially running for reelection. Here's a fact-check of his first big campaign speech," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker formally kicked off his reelection campaign over the weekend with a speech framing himself as a thrifty steward of taxpayer dollars who had spent almost four years reforming state government to better serve Massachusetts' 6.9 million residents. Thematically, the Republican didn't break any surprising ground, building on how he framed his successful 2014 campaign for the corner office."
- "GOP Senate Candidate Beth Lindstrom Distances Herself From Trump But Says She Would Vote For Him In 2020," by Maddie Kilgannon, WGBH: "Beth Lindstrom was the lone Republican vying for the nomination to challenge Senator Elizabeth Warren to accept Greater Boston's invitation to debate on-air. Appearing Monday for a discussion with Jim Braude, Lindstorm was quick to put distance between herself and President Donald Trump and stressed that she is not a 'career politician,' which is how she described her Republican opponent Geoff Diehl."
- "In Senate race, Beth Lindstrom knocks Geoff Diehl over legislative pay raise," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "U.S. Senate candidate Beth Lindstrom is calling on her Republican primary opponent state Rep. Geoff Diehl to return the money he received from a legislative pay raise last year. Diehl was one of the main opponents of the legislative pay raises, voting against them and speaking out against them in a public letter and on the House floor."
- "Ayanna Pressley Wants to Shake the Democratic Party Again," by Gabriel Debenedetti, New York Magazine: "It took almost no time for Ayanna Pressley to be proclaimed, over and over, 'the next Ocasio-Cortez.' The shoe almost fits. Almost. [Rep. Michael] Capuano is also far better prepared than Crowley, who largely wrote off his challenger until the last second. Whereas New Yorkers foresaw no trouble for Crowley and thus didn't mobilize for him, the tight race in Massachusetts is no surprise to local power-brokers who know Pressley well."
- "Political Notes: Clinton, Biden plan Vineyard appearances," by Geoff Spillane, Cape Cod Times: "Martha's Vineyard is earning its reputation as a Democratic power island this summer. Former President Bill Clinton will take the stage Aug. 22 at the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs as part of the Martha's Vineyard Author Series. Joe Biden, Obama's vice president, also is heading to the island to headline a fundraiser for the Protecting Our Vote PAC, according to Buzzfeed News."
- "Two candidates bucking the incumbents-rule rule," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "When it comes to the Massachusetts Legislature, voters won't have a lot of choice this fall, either during the primary on September 4 or the general election in November. Seventy-eight percent of the 200 candidates running for the House and Senate will face no opposition in the primary. In today's Codcast, we talk to two Democrats challenging incumbents from their own party - Samantha (Sam) Hammar of Melrose, who is taking on Sen. Jason Lewis of Winchester, and Ted Steinberg of Needham, who is running against Rep. Denise Garlick of Needham."
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "In Bryon Hefner case, Senate said witnesses would be confidential. Judge says confidential means just that," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "A Superior Court judge on Monday blocked prosecutors' bid for the names of witnesses who cooperated with an internal probe of the state Senate's former president, Stanley C. Rosenberg, saying he respects the chamber's promise to protect their identities. The decision is a blow to Attorney General Maura T. Healey's office, which argued the records could provide a window into additional potential victims as it prosecutes Rosenberg's husband, Bryon Hefner, on multiple charges of sexual assault."
GEE, CHARLIE! LOOK AROUND AND LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, LOOK AT THE RATES OF INCARCERATION.....
OR TRY SITTING IN A COURTROOM WHERE THE WHITE KID GETS A LOWER BAIL, LOWER SENTENCE THAN THE BLACK KID.
AWAITING A MOTION ON A CIVIL CASE, I WATCHED AS THE WHITE KID GOT PROBATION FOR HIS 2ND DUI WHILE ON PROBATION FOR HIS FIRST DUI - HE HAD JUST TURNED 21.
IT'S NOT JUST A SINGLE JUDGE WHO ERRED - IT'S THE SYSTEM!
- "Gov. Charlie Baker defends cops from Sen. Liz Warren's 'racist' remark," by Sean Philip Cotter and Books Sutherland, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker became the latest politician to push back on U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's comments that the criminal-justice system is "racist ... front to back," giving a full-throated defense of police. 'They absolutely feel like they've been on the wrong end of a lot of the rhetoric that's gone on in this country for quite a while,' Baker said when pressed by the Herald yesterday about Warren's statements."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "3rd District candidates unveil policies," by Lisa Kashinsky, Eagle-Tribune: "With less than a month until the 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary, candidates are pushing out out policy plans and ramping up efforts to reach voters. The past week has seen the roll-out of an affordable housing platform from Democrat Dan Koh, an environmental plan addressing climate change from state Rep. Juana Matias, D-Lawrence, and a policy for meeting the care and financial needs of seniors from state Sen. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover."
- "3rd District Dems hit N.H. for vacationers' votes," by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "At least one desperate Democratic candidate is prepared to target voters across state lines — campaigning in New Hampshire if she has to — as rivals in the 3rd Congressional District scramble to drum up interest for a primary election set for the day after Labor Day. 'A fair amount of voters from Greater Lowell, and not just Lowell but the surrounding towns, will be spending that last summer weekend up in Hampton and Seabrook,' said Lori Trahan, who was an aide to former U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan. "
- "Congressional Hopeful Chandler Opens Haverhill Campaign Office," by Allison Corneau, WHAV: "Haverhill native Alexandra Chandler is counting down the days until the September 4 congressional primary, opening the doors to her city campaign headquarters over the weekend on Main Street. Vying to succeed Niki Tsongas to represent the 3rd district, which includes Haverhill, Chandler joined supporters and campaign staff on Saturday to open Team Chandler's HQ in the Walgreens Plaza at 306 Main St."
- "Release: Pepperell Selectmen endorse Rick Green for Congress," from the Green campaign: "Pepperell Selectmen Lisa Ferolito, Roland Nutter, and Bill Greathead endorse Rick Green, candidate for Congress in the Third District of Massachusetts, saying that he is a proud Pepperell native and family man, a successful entrepreneur who can create jobs here at home, and a man of character who is running to serve the people of his community. Nutter, Greathead, and Ferolito said that Green, a Pepperell native and the co-founder of 1A Auto, is a skilled businessman who has experience creating jobs for Third District residents. They also praised his character and his strong history of community involvement in Pepperell. They noted that he is running for the right reasons: to advocate for the needs of the men and women of the Third District."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Two Elizabeth Warren aides are headed for N.H. Does this mean something?" by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "US Senator Elizabeth Warren will stand for re-election in Massachusetts in less than three months, but two of her aides have already decamped to New Hampshire — home of the first-in-the-nation primary — for key roles with state Democrats. Warren's former campaign press secretary, Gabrielle Farrell, and a former regional director with her Senate office, Adrienne Viarengo, have recently started jobs at the New Hampshire Democratic Party, stoking speculation that Warren may be preparing for a presidential run in 2020."
LOOK AT THE FACTS AND STATISTICS THAT DEFINE RACISM.
RATHER THAN ATTACKING REALITY, EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT REDUCING
RECIDIVISM AND INTERCEPTING AT-RISK YOUTHS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE 'SYSTEM.' THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON SOLUTIONS.
- "Sen. Elizabeth Warren's 'uninformed rhetoric' on American criminal justice doesn't help, Essex DA Jonathan Blodgett says," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett joined state law enforcement officials in decrying Sen. Elizabeth Warren's description of the US criminal justice system as 'racist' from 'front to back.' Blodgett, the prosecutor for northeastern part of Massachusetts and the president of the National District Attorneys Association, said in a Facebook post that he has reached out to Warren, a fellow Democrat."
- "Campaign Notebook: Warren's campaign sidesteps abortion tweet," by Mark Sullivan, Telegram & Gazette: 'Abortion is not 'killing babies,' unless you have a kindergartener's comprehension of basic biology.' That was the tweet posted Sunday morning by Lauren Duca, a Teen Vogue columnist who is scheduled to share the stage with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., at a 'Rise Up for Roe' rally in Boston on Monday."
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "Seth Moulton: Not planning for 2020 run for president," by Brooks Sutherland, Boston Herald: "Despite speculation driven in part by increased involvement in 2018 congressional races nationally and endorsements from military leaders, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton says he's not planning a run for president in 2020. Moulton (D-Salem) told the Herald yesterday that he's simply focused on winning back the House."
WOOD WAR — Herald: "BRING IN THE FEDS!" "ANGEL ABOVE" — Globe: "Agencies set 'trap' to deport, suit says," "Study. Study. Study. Then call a consultant," "A lifeline, frayed in VA dispute," "Dueling images for the MBTA," "US Gymnastics seeks to regain balance."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "For the first time in 10 years, the MBTA balanced its operating budget," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "The fiscal year that ended in June was projected to carry a $30 million deficit within the MBTA's $2 billion operating budget. But with the books closed on fiscal year 2018, officials with the public transit agency say that deficit is gone, through cost controls and revenue growth, despite declining ridership. The victory lap could be short-lived since the next fiscal year just started - FY 2019 began in July 2018 - and could end with a return of what they call a structural deficit. "
- "The mayor of Somerville says he's never again drinking Sam Adams beer after company founder met with President Donald Trump," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone says he plans to never again touch Sam Adams beer after Jim Koch, the founder of Boston Beer Co., met with President Donald Trump. Koch was among 13 executives who had dinner with Trump last week at the president's New Jersey golf resort, according to the Boston Business Journal."
- "Home-health provider cuts off services to veterans when the VA fails to pay its bills," by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe: "Homebound with diabetes, heart disease, and other ailments, the 68-year-old Army veteran finally found a lifeline three months ago from a private home health provider recommended by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Then on Friday, the veteran was on his own again. The health care provider discontinued its services for Ron and 15 other New Hampshire veterans who are housebound or cannot venture outside without assistance."
MAZEL! - Kate Kelly, chief of staff for state Rep. David Linsky, was married on Friday August 10 to Jesse Craddock.
THE HOME TEAM DID NOT PLAY YESTERDAY
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE HORSE RACE: Democrats are taking on Democrats in this week's episode of The Horse Race. First, Andy Metzger of State House News Service details some tension between Senate President Karen Spilka and Speaker of the House Bob DeLeo in the wrap up of legislative loose ends.
Then the Dorchester Reporter's Jennifer Smith returns to breakdown this week's debate between incumbent Congressman Mike Capuano and his primary challenger Ayanna Pressley. Plus, State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy checks back in on the race for secretary of state, and whether or not challenger Josh Zakim has sustained any momentum against incumbent Bill Galvin.
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et me tell you a story about Stephen Miller and chain migration.
