Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), one of Congress’ strongest immigration advocates, has reportedly decided to retire at the end of his term. His Chicago-area congressional district is one of the “bluest” in the nation, and will almost certainly stay in Democratic hands.
* In Alabama’s U.S. Senate special election, which is two weeks from today, Roy Moore (R) has a new ad claiming that the sexual misconduct allegations he’s facing were cooked up “by liberal elites and the Republican establishment.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is featured on screen alongside Democratic leaders.
* On a related note, Doug Jones (D) also has a new ad that focuses on education policy and Roy Moore’s radicalism on the issue.
* Alabama’s senior senator, Republican Richard Shelby, said yesterday that he’s already voted by way of an absentee ballot. Though he won’t say exactly whom he voted for, Shelby said he wrote in a Republican’s name, rather than backing Moore.
* The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee yesterday launched a new television ad criticizing the Republican tax plan. The spot is reportedly part of a “six-figure” ad buy. * In still more news about ads, the progressive Not One Penny campaign launched a new television commercial this morning on the GOP tax plan, focusing on the benefits Donald Trump and his family will enjoy. In an interesting twist, Not One Penny announced in its press statement that the spot “will mostly be running on Fox News, including “Fox and Friends.” * Lee Busby, a retired Marine colonel, is launching a write-in campaign in Alabama. The Washington Post reported yesterday that he’s “lacking any formal campaign structure or even a working website as of Monday morning.” * Apparently worried about a primary challenge from the far-right, Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.) is launching a new ad campaign, touting his support for putting “the true meaning of Christ back into Christmas.”
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
