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.”
Progressive
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