Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Right on cue, Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has launched a new fundraiser based on Attorney General Bill Barr’s summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
* The latest national Fox News poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden leading the Democrats’ presidential field with 31% support, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders at 23%. Only two other candidates — Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) — topped 5% in the poll. They each had 8% support.
* Speaking of polling, the new Emerson survey of Iowa Democrats raised a few eyebrows when it was released yesterday. If found Biden with a narrow lead over Sanders, 25% to 24%, but it also found former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in third place with 11%. Kamala Harris, with 10%, was the only other candidate to reach double digits.
* Though Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has been a presidential candidate since January, she held a formal kickoff event in New York City yesterday. Interestingly enough, she delivered her announcement speech outside the Trump International Hotel, and made multiple references to the president in her remarks.
* Kamala Harris announced a new policy proposal over the weekend, vowing to make new federal investments in improving teachers’ salaries. Historically, this has been an issue left to state and local governments. * Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) isn’t yet a top-tier contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, but based on the latest Fox News poll, he’s apparently qualified to participate in the upcoming debates. * And while there’s been considerable chatter of late about Stacey Abrams’ possible prospects as a national candidate, the Georgia Democrat met again on Friday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who apparently still hopes to persuade Abrams to run for the Senate next year.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
