Progressive Breakfast: Does Hillary Clinton Need To Distance Herself From Obama?

MORNING MESSAGE
Republican operative Ed Rogers writes in The Washington Post that “Hillary Clinton is the most miscast character in the 2016 race” because “this is shaping up to be a change election, and nothing about a Clinton candidacy offers change.” ... In presuming 2016 will be a “change election,” Rogers points to poll questions that ask if the nation is heading in the “right direction” or on the “wrong track,” and concludes “Poll after poll indicates voter dissatisfaction…” But the Real Clear Politics average of right direction/wrong track numbers, to which Rogers links, tells a more complicated story...

Clinton, Sanders Work Grassroots...

Clinton bets on Iowa ground game. The Hill: “The front-runner has spent twice as much time in Iowa as New Hampshire over the first week of 2016 — with more visits expected early next week — and is deploying top surrogates Bill Clinton and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to the state beginning on Thursday.”
While Sanders eyes Nevada surprise. Politico: “He has now hired almost twice the number of staffers on the ground in Nevada — 40 to Clinton’s 22, as of July … And he has opened nine field offices across the state compared to Clinton’s six…”
Marco Rubio turns “pessimist” says W. Post: “The youthful Florida senator launched his campaign for president on a more uplifting theme than perhaps any other Republican hopeful, promising a ‘new American century’ and a new generation of leadership. But Rubio is now increasingly turning to outrage and fear as a motivator, raising the question: Can the optimism candidate win as a pessimist?”

... And Battle Over Banks

Clinton and Sanders debate who would tackle shadow banking best. The Atlantic: “The dispute centers on the regulation of so-called ‘shadow banks’—large institutions like AIG, Lehman Brothers, and Bear Stearns … [The Clinton campaign said,] ‘Unfortunately, Senator Sanders has so far taken a hands-off approach to some of the riskiest institutions and activities in our economy’ … but Sanders’s policy director, Warren Gunnels [said the] new Glass-Steagall Act that Sanders supports … ‘would strike at the heart of shadow banking’…”
Campaigns fight over Clinton’s Wall Street aide Gary Gensler. WSJ: “…Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs chided Mr. Gensler and the Clinton campaign, saying, ‘Sen. Sanders won’t be taking advice on how to regulate Wall Street from a former Goldman Sachs partner and a former Treasury Department official who helped Wall Street rig the system.’ … [Barney] Frank, who also advises the Clinton campaign[, said,] ‘He is an example of how this notion that anybody who ever served in the industry can’t do a good job regulating is entirely wrong … He was by far the toughest regulator.'”
Obama aims to complete Wall Street reform. The Hill: “Of 390 rulemaking mandates contained in the sweeping Dodd-Frank financial reform law enacted more than five years ago, about 70 percent — 267 rules — have been finalized … [Obama] has just one year left to either cement the unfinished pieces of Dodd-Frank or risk seeing those regulations die on the vine in a possible Republican administration.”

Breakfast Sides

Obamacare repeal clears Congress. The Hill: “Obama is certain to veto the measure, but Republicans touted the vote as important step toward reversing the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of government it created … Asked why a replacement was not put forward on Wednesday, [Speaker Paul] Ryan responded: ‘Just wait.'”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce backs TPP. W. Post: “The Chamber joins the National Association of Manufacturing and the Business Roundtable in issuing formal endorsements this week. Though the support of all three groups was not unexpected, their roles in helping the Obama White House lobby Congress to pass the deal is considered crucial, particularly in convincing Republican leaders to move forward with a final ratification vote this year.”
Southern Democrats move left. TNR’s Michael Cooper: “…a new coalition of unapologetically liberal Democrats like [Charlotte Mayor Jennifer] Roberts have taken control of their party. They may be nearly powerless outside urban, cosmopolitan areas in the South, but these Democrats believe the demographics are on their side to build a liberal Southern majority in the future.”

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