Booker, Lonegan Advance to NJ SEN Special; De Blasio Boomlet; Remembering the Legendary Jack Germond

National Journal

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WHAT'S NEWS

  • In Tuesday's NJ SEN Special Dem primary, Newark Mayor Cory Booker defeated Rep. Frank Pallone, 59-20%, with Rep. Rush Holt at 17% and state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver at 4%. In the GOP primary, Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan defeated physician Alieta Eck, 79-21% (AP results, 98% reporting).

  • A new Quinnipiac Univ. poll of NYC mayor Dem primary LVs, conducted 8/7-12, shows Public Advocate Bill de Blasio leading City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, 30-24%, with '09 nominee Bill Thompson at 22%, ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner at 10%, Comp. John Liu at 6% and ex-Councilor Sal Albanese at 1%. In the previous poll, conducted 7/24-28, Quinn led de Blasio, 27-21%, with Thompson at 20%, Weiner at 16%, Liu at 6% and Albanese at 2% (release). "Shortly after the poll was released," the top five Dems "tangled Tuesday in a debate." The candidates "acted as if Quinn were still in first place," though "for the first time in the campaign, de Blasio found himself the target of attacks" (New York Daily News).

  • In VA GOV, ex-DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe (D) released a new TV ad, highlighting an IG investigation of AG Ken Cuccinelli's (R) office (release).

  • The American Chemistry Council, a DC-based "association of chemical companies" led by ex-Rep. Cal Dooley (D-CA), "is spending" $400K on TV ads "boosting" Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in KY SEN (Politico).

  • SC state Sen. Lee Bright (R) "announced his candidacy Tuesday" for SC SEN, calling Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) "a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood" (Columbia State).

  • "A new petition" from WY SEN candidate Liz Cheney's (R) camp "calls on" Sen. Michael Enzi (R) "to renounce" an Obama admin. "move that could give members of Congress and their staff special treatment under the Affordable Care Act's health exchange programs" (Casper Star-Tribune).

  • CA-52 candidate/'12 San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio (R) "said his focus has shifted" from his House campaign "to ousting" San Diego Mayor Bob Filner (D) from office. "DeMaio did not directly answer questions about whether he would run for mayor if Filner leaves office" (KGTV-TV).

  • AR state House Maj. Leader Bruce Westerman (R) "announced his bid" on Tuesday for AR-04, "one day after" LG Mark Darr (R) "announced he would seek the seat" (Roll Call).

  • Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME) "is expected to make his run" for ME GOV "official this week" (Portland Press-Herald).

  • Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton (R) "is expected to announce plans Wednesday to form" a CT GOV exploratory cmte (Danbury News Times).

  • "Though speculation is still rampant" on TX state Sen. Wendy Davis's (D) "possible run" for TX GOV, Annie's List, a group that supports Dem women, "announced the launch of WeWantWendyDavis.com Tuesday after reserving the domain name earlier this week" (Texas Tribune).

OUR CALL

Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day

• The New Jersey Senate special election between Booker and Lonegan will be a snoozer, but Christie's desire to stay away from the GOP nominee is fascinating. For politicos of opposing parties, Christie and Booker are as close to allies as anyone. Booker's decision not to run for GOV enhanced Christie's WH prospects; Christie's return gift in scheduling the special gave Booker a glide path to the Senate.

• Idaho could be the battleground for tea party challengers next Nov., if Rep. Raul Labrador decides to challenge Gov. Butch Otter in the GOP primary. (He's announcing his plans Wednesday.) The state is already home to one of the few serious House tea party challenges, to GOP Rep. Mike Simpson.

HAIR OF THE DOG

FRESH BREWED BUZZ

  • The legendary Jack Germond, "a curmudgeonly chronicler of American politics for a half-century, died early Wednesday morning at his home" in WV, "according to his widow, Alice Germond" (USA Today).

  • Germond "had recently finished his first novel, 'A Small Story for Page Three,' about a reporter investigating political intrigue, being published Friday" (AP).

  • "To his many friends, he appreciated the great company, story, scoop, competition and laughter. He fit his life and times so very well. I love him and it's been great" -- Alice Germond, in a statement released Wednesday via the Gridiron Club (via Jack Farrell).

  • "Great, tough-minded reporter who knew politics and pols in every state ... One of the very best. RIP" -- Washington Post's Dan Balz (Twitter).

  • "Jack Germond was one of the great happy warriors of political reporting. Great sense of humor and a man who loved the ponies" -- NBC News pol. dir./ex-Hotline EiC Chuck Todd (Twitter).

  • "Timothy Crouse in 'Boys on the Bus' said Jack Germond didn't just love journalism, he was, 'addicted to it as a way of life'" -- CNN's John Berman (Twitter).

  • For many years, Germond contributed his horse racing picks for The Hotline before each of the Triple Crown races. Prior to this year's Belmont Stakes, he warned that if he missed with his selection, he was "going back to the monastery for future guidance ... worked like a charm last year." Here at The Hotline, we're saddened to lose his sharp wit and insights.

  • "Unease at Clinton Foundation Over Finances and Ambitions" (New York Times).

  • "We have absolutely no clue what he was talking about. Maybe his campaign does. Doubt it though" -- Hillary Clinton spokesperson Nick Merrill, on Weiner's statement that "he knew what role his wife Huma Abedin would play" in a Clinton WH '16 camp (Politico).

  • "She's not the best host I've ever had, let's put it that way" -- "Big John," owner of Headquarters Gentlemen's Club in NYC, where Weiner virtual mistress Sydney Leathers "was supposedly 'hosting'" Tuesday night, "but she appeared to be doing nothing more than texting" (New York Daily News).

  • "Utah's Hatch officially ends White House bid" (Salt Lake Tribune).

SWIZZLE CHALLENGE

  • JFK once needled Tip O'Neill during a SOTU address because he performed better in a particular election precinct than O'Neill did.

  • That one stumped the Wake-Up Call! community, so here's a bonus Swizzle Challenge, in honor of Jack Germond: "Who is the only jockey to ride two Triple Crown winners in all six races?" The 3rd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.

NJ'S EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

SHOT...

"Oh, he's a both. He's a Yankees and a Mets. He's a Bills and a Jets. And he's red, and he's white -- and rosé" -- NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), asked whether he is a red or white wine "connoisseur" during an awards ceremony for wineries in the Finger Lakes region (WMHT-TV).

...CHASER

"A bottle of white / A bottle of red / Perhaps a bottle of rosé instead” -- Billy Joel, ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant").

Josh Kraushaar, Editor-in-Chief

Steven Shepard, Executive Editor