Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Though some recent polling suggests Democrats have lost much of their lead on the generic congressional ballot, the new Quinnipiac poll shows Dems leading Republicans by 15 points, 53% to 38%. Two weeks ago, Quinnipiac found Dems ahead by nine points.
* Republican officials in the state of Washington had scheduled a fundraiser with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) in which they’d auction off an AR-15 rifle. The party has since changed its mind.
* For reasons I don’t fully understand, Our Revolution, the progressive activist group that grew out of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, endorsed Dennis Kucinich yesterday in Ohio’s Democratic gubernatorial primary.
* Rep. Steven Fincher (R) ended his Senate campaign in Tennessee the other day, and instead urged incumbent Sen. Bob Corker (R) to un-retire in order to seek another term. Corker is reportedly weighing his options, and will announce a final decision this week.
* Donald Trump yesterday lashed out at Rachel Crooks, a Democratic state House candidate in Ohio, who’s accused the president of sexual misconduct. Crooks responded via Twitter, “Please, by all means, share the footage from the hallway [in Trump Tower] outside the 24th floor residential elevator bank on the morning of January 11, 2006. Let’s clear this up for everyone.” * The progressive Save My Care campaign launched a new television ad yesterday slamming Republicans over health care. The commercial is part of a “six-figure” ad buy. * And in New York’s 21st congressional district, former MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan this morning launched a congressional campaign against Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Though Barack Obama carried this district twice, Donald Trump won it easily in 2016.
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
