White House Talks Go Nowhere; Grand Bargain on the Table?; Mont. Dem LG Walsh Will Run for Senate
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WHAT'S NEWS
"The fight over the government shutdown quickly moved on Wednesday to a bigger showdown over raising the nation's debt ceiling, as the first White House talks to solve the fiscal standoff failed to make any progress toward a deal." (Washington Post)
House Speaker John Boehner "wants to craft a 'grand bargain' on fiscal issues as part of the debt-limit deliberations, and during a series of meetings on Wednesday, he urged colleagues to stick with him." (National Review)
In the NJ SEN Special, Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) announced Wednesday he raised $2.85 million in the pre-general reporting period (July 25-Sept. 26) and has $2.63 million cash on hand.(Hotline reporting)
In VA GOV, former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe (D) released a new TV ad on Thursday, highlighting the effects of the government shutdown and hitting Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) for a scheduled appearance with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). (release)
A new Quinnipiac University poll of New York City mayor LVs, conducted Sept. 25-Oct. 1, shows Public Advocate Bill de Blasio (D) leading former MTA chairman Joe Lhota (R), 71-21%. In the previous poll, conducted Sept. 15-18, de Blasio led Lhota, 66-25%. (release)
"In a clear play for the city's moderate Democratic vote ... Lhota released his first TV ad titled 'Only' that played up something of a Libertarian bent in his platform." (State of Politics)
Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) "plans to tell supporters Thursday that he will run" for MT SEN, "giving Democrats the high-profile candidate they've been scrambling for in a bid to keep the seat they've held for decades." (AP)
In AL-06, Alabama state Sen. Cam Ward (R) said Wednesday he won't run to replace retiring Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL). (Birmingham News)
In CA-52, former San Diego city Councilor Carl DeMaio (R) "raised more than $325,000 in the third quarter, his campaign announced Wednesday," and has "more than $700,000 in the bank." (Roll Call)
In MI-11, businessman David Trott (R) announced Wednesday he raised "more than" $425,000 between entering the race on Sept. 4 and the end of the third quarter for his primary campaign against Rep. Kerry Bentovolio (R-MI). (Hotline reporting)
Former George W. Bush aide/Hamilton Place Strategies co-founder Taylor Griffin (R) "has moved back home to eastern North Carolina and on Thursday will announce" a primary challenge to Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) in NC-03. (Politico)
OUR CALL
Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day
• Don't discount the Montana Senate race -- even with Schweitzer out -- now that Democrats have landed a promising recruit in Walsh. Walsh is a political novice, but his military background and outsider credentials could be an effective contrast against GOPer Steve Daines, a freshman member of Congress. If Republicans tactics over the government shutdown backfire, this is the type of race that could pop.
• New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Wednesday appeared alongside state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D) at a groundbreaking at Rowan University, where the pair touted their ability to work together on important issues. Last week, Christie and Booker both attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for a Newark education initiative, and Booker, citing his cooperation with Christie on the project, said he wanted to "give some guv love." Both Democrats are supporting state Sen. Barbara Buono's (D) longshot challenge of Christie, but their appearances touting their work with the governor aren't exactly helping Buono's argument that Christie is more partisan than his TV ads suggest.
• Cuccinelli's not officially campaigning with Cruz -- that's the line from his staff -- but his joint appearance with Cruz at the Family Foundation this weekend comes at the worst possible time. McAuliffe is already jumping at the connection with a tough new TV ad today, tying Cuccinelli to the shutdown and Cruz, its leading architect.
HAIR OF THE DOG
FRESH BREWED BUZZ
"I think I'm pretty well known for being a calm guy. Sometimes people think I'm too calm. And am I exasperated? Absolutely I'm exasperated. Because this is entirely unnecessary." -- President Obama, in an interview Wednesday with CNBC's John Harwood (CNBC)
"It was very evident to everyone in the room that Cruz doesn't have a strategy -- he never had a strategy, and could never answer a question about what the end-game was. ... I just wish the 35 House members that have bought the snake oil that was sold could witness what was witnessed today at lunch." -- An anonymous GOP senator, on Wednesday's closed-door caucus lunch (Politico)
"He now blows me kisses." -- Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), on Boehner, whom Farenthold said "couldn't pick me out of a lineup" 18 months ago. "The blown kiss is one of the speaker's trademark gestures, delivered to allies and journalists alike with the same sentiment of snapping a towel in a locker room." (Washington Post)
"GOP Donors Revolt Against Republican-Led Government Shutdown" (Daily Beast)
Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson (R) "resigned from office Wednesday ... just hours after an independent investigator delivered a damning report" to the state Senate Ethics Committee, "which has been investigating his conduct for several months. ... The report found 'probable cause' that Sorenson broke ethics rules by accepting payments from a political action committee associated with" Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) WH '12 campaign. (Des Moines Register)
"[RNC Chairman Reince] Priebus's perilous, and probably thankless, task is to rally a fraying party behind rules that will solve two entangled problems: the delegate-selection calendar and the number of candidate debates." -- Washington Post's George Will, on the RNC's efforts to reshape the WH '16 nominating calendar (Washington Post)
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) "met privately Monday night with veteran Democratic operative Robby Mook, one of her well-regarded 2008 campaign aides who's currently managing" McAuliffe's VA GOV bid. Mook is "the operative cited most often by former Clinton aides and Obama aides as someone who could manage" a Clinton WH '16 campaign. (Politico)
"We are no longer going to outsource the Republican brand to the folks in Washington." -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), RGA chairman, announcing the RGA's new digital campaign, the "American Comeback project" (release)
PLAY OF THE DAY!
ROOSTER'S CROW
Today's weather, from the National Weather Service: Mostly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming south this afternoon. The House returns at 10 a.m., while the Senate is back at 10:30 a.m.National Journal's "Countdown to Transformation: A Roadmap to Health Care's Next Era" is underway, streaming live. (Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center) Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) addresses the National Chicken Council's annual conference. (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 9:15 a.m.) The NL Division Series gets started with St. Louis hosting Pittsburgh. (TBS, 5 p.m.) The Caps host the Calgary Flames in their home opener. (Verizon Center, 7 p.m.) Have an event for us to highlight? Email us!
SWIZZLE CHALLENGE
The original London Bridge is located in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
The winner is Jared Small, and here's his Swizzle Challenge: "Recently, a study was conducted on the correlation between cars and aggressive driving. What make -- and color -- car was found to be driven by the most aggressive drivers?" The 2nd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.
NJ'S EARLY BIRD SPECIALS
SHOT...
"We're not going to be disrespected. ... We have to get something out of this. And I don't know what that even is." -- Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) (Washington Examiner)
...CHASER
"They could at least lie to us. You know, call us and lie! We don't want to sit here like schmucks. A lie is a gesture, it's a courtesy, it's a little respect. This is very disrespectful." -- Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm")
Josh Kraushaar, Editor-in-Chief
Steven Shepard, Executive Editor
