Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Former Vice President Joe Biden is reportedly asking several key supporters for their help “lining up contributions from major donors so he can quickly raise several million dollars” after launching his likely 2020 presidential campaign.
* CNN yesterday released the results of new national poll of Democratic voters, which showed Biden leading the 2020 field with 28%, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with 20%. Two other candidates reached double digits: Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) with 12%, and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) with 11%.
* Though there was some chatter about former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) possibly running for president, the 2018 gubernatorial nominee is actually launching a voter-registration group in his home state of Florida.
* In fundraising news, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took in $11.6 million in February, which made it the best February ever for the DCCC — including those in election years.
* In a special election that generated some national attention, Eric Giddens (D) prevailed in an Iowa state Senate race yesterday. The seat was previously held a Democrat in a district that leans in a “blue” direction. * The news for Republicans was better in Minnesota yesterday, where Nathan Nelson (R) won a state House special election, keeping the seat in the GOP’s hands. * Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) presidential campaign caused a bit of a stir yesterday, announcing a couple of new staffers with provocative backgrounds. * And while a Twitter account that claims to be associated with former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) said last night that the 88-year-old former senator is eyeing another presidential campaign, the tweets are reportedly the effort of “a group of students” who want Gravel to run.
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
