DMH

Q3, 2016 (RL - 03/18/2024) Katherine McCord (R-SC) Selects Charles Walker (R-CA) As 2016 Presidential Running Mate @Fox News - BREAKING: South Carolina Senator and 2016 GOP Presidential Nominee Katherine McCord selects retired General Charles Walker of California as her running mate. @Jon Meacham - The last two high-ranking military officials to run on a prominent political party ticket was Vice Admiral James Stockdale as the 1992 running mate of independent Ross Perot and General Curtis LeMay as the 1968 running mate of George Wallace. @Sean Hannity - An inspired choice by McCord! Walker is a tell-it-like-it-is leader who doesn't put with with the crap from China and our adversaries. @Glenn Beck - I support a McCord/Walker ticket but I sure hope they have a plan to bring Rollins voters into the fold. We can't afford a broken coalition going into the fall. @Megyn Kelly - McCord has chosen a vice presidential running mate who further complements her foreign policy credentials while also bringing a more populist angle to what has generally been perceived as a standard right-of-center campaign. @Rachel Maddow - Curious how some social conservatives will respond to the Walker VP nod. While by no means a moderate, Walker's opposition to North Carolina's HB-2 targeting transgender people was viewed negatively in social conservative spheres. @Larry Sabato - Little doubt pundits and experts alike will look back to the fateful decision of Walker pulling out of the race and endorsing McCord as the key to her historic nomination victory. @Rosie O'Donnell - Gotta be awkward to forever know your running mate is more popular in your own homestate than you are. @Al Sharpton - McCord/Walker will roll back the clock on healthcare reform, criminal justice reform, and stake the bench with right-wing Koch Brother-funded judges. They must be defeated in the fall. @Jake Tapper - While the choice of Walker will likely not move the needle in his homestate of California, his conservative populist message did poll well with Republican voters. @Jim Acosta - Likely to see Walker used strategically to rally conservative voters and conservative skeptics to the ticket while McCord targets swing voters. Right-Wing Daughter of Former Dictator Keiko Fujimori Wins Peruvian 2016 Presidential Election @BBC News - Peru will once again be ruled by a member of the Fujimori family as Keiko Fujimori wins a narrow 50.1% majority to Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s 49.8% of the vote. @Fareed Zakaria - A huge moment as Keiko Fujimori and the Popular Force party puts conservatives back into government in Peru for the first time since the controversial 2000 election that saw her father win reelection under scrutiny of severe irregularities. Reports of Shots Fired at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL @Miami Herald - DEVELOPING: Reports of shots fired inside Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. @Orlando Police Department - Orlando residents are advised to avoid the surrounding area of Pulse Nightclub. Law enforcement is responding to the scene. @Governor Rick Scott - We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Orlando. Residents are encouraged to comply with local authorities at this time. @Equality Florida - Devastating news coming out of Orlando as Pulse Nightclub is a notable LGBT nightclub in the heart of city. @Fox News - Law enforcement is now investigating the ongoing mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub as a domestic terrorist attack. @Megyn Kelly - The shooter at Pulse Nightclub reportedly swore allegiance to ISIS in a now-deleted Facebook video hours before the attack began. @Donald Trump - This is what happens when Jihadists roam freely in the United States. Dangerous times! @NBC News - New details have emerged that Pulse Nightclub was hosting a ‘Latin Night’ at the time of the shooting. Victims are believed to be disproportionately Latino. SWAT Neutalize Shooter at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL @MSNBC - BREAKING: SWAT have reportedly breached Pulse Nightclub following a nearly three-hour standoff with the shooter. @Orlando Police Department - SWAT have neutralized the shooter at Pulse Nightclub. Residents are recommended to continue avoiding the area as first responders are active on the scene. @Jose Diaz-Balart - I am being told by sources on the ground that the situation at Pulse Nightclub is being considered a mass casualty event. @Jake Tapper - Law enforcement personnel have indicated that an Sig Sauer MCC semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol was utilized by the shooter to carry out the attack on Pulse Nightclub. @CNN - More than forty people are reported dead following first responders arriving on scene at Pulse Nightclub. An additional 53 have been sent to multiple hospitals in the area. @Brian Williams - The mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub is now the worst mass shooting in American history as the death toll continues to climb. It is also the worst terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11. @Human Rights Campaign - The devastating mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub, a prominent LGBT club, is the single worst attack on the LGBT community in our nation’s history. Words and actions have consequences as hate continues to be fomented against our community in the public sphere. @Sean Hannity - The radical Islamist who carried out the attack in Orlando, Florida should concern all Americans. How safe are we? @Fox News - Final estimates from first responders place the death toll at Pulse Nightclub at 49. It becomes the worst mass shooting in American history. @Governor Rick Scott - I have declared a state of emergency in Orange County as first responders continue to support victims of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub. @Jim Acosta - The White House has reportedly been briefed on the mass shooting in Orlando and have directed the FBI to assist law enforcement on the ground. Aftermath of Mass Shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL @CNN - Pulse Nightclub Shooting Becomes Worst Mass Shooting in American History: LINK @Hillary Clinton - A tragedy of unbelievable magnitute. 49 lives lost and a community in mourning. Anti-LGBT hate foamenting in the public sphere made this attack possible. @Glenn Beck - Radical Islamic terrorism played a direct role in motivating this terrorist to gun down innocent people. We must do more to combat this scourge! @Kyle Kulinski - Maybe actually tackling how the shooter got access to firearms in the first place, in spite of reported mental health issues, would actually be a good use of time instead of pathetic thoughts and prayers. @President Barack Obama - Michelle and I mourn the loss of innocent life at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. We must do more to prevent innocent loss of life as the direct result of gun violence. When will enough be enough? @Megyn Kelly - Even now, this President refuses to call out radical Islamic terrorism. Americans are dying Mister President. Do something about it! @Steve Bannon - Kuykendall has a point. We need a ban on those coming from terrorist-sponsored countries to keep out those who wish to harm Americans. @Norah O'Donnell - Buried within the political discourse is an emerging conversation around Pulse is the usage of social media platforms like Facebook. Tough questions lie ahead for tech giants as social media is increasingly being used as a medium to radicalize and strategize by extremists groups. Corruption Scandal Shakes Up Haitian 2016 Presidential Election @BBC News - Potential significant corruption scandal has emerged in Haiti as presidential frontrunner Jovenel Moïse and allies have been implicated in a decades-long embezzlement scheme. @Fareed Zakaria - The emerging scandal in Haiti dates back to a 2001 deal with U.S.-based Culligan Water corporation to build a water treatment facility. Public reaction has reportedly been overwhelmingly negative. Britain Heads to the Polls to Determine EU Membership Status @BBC News - Britain goes to the polls in historic referendum on membership in the European Union. @Boris Johnson - BREXIT! Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) Selects Doug Murphy (D-WI) As 2016 Presidential Running Mate @MSNBC - BREAKING: Democratic Presidential nominee Xiomara de la Cruz of Texas taps Wisconsin Senator and 2016 Democratic primary rival Doug Murphy to serve as Vice President. @Rachel Maddow - Super Tuesday proved that while de la Cruz has some appeal in the Rust Belt, Murphy’s dominance in the region could be critical to holding the blue wall. @Donna Brazile - de la Cruz/Murphy is a ticket I’ll be proud to vote for this fall! Fighting for working Americans and protecting the ACA. @Jesse Watters - A schmuck like Doug Murphy is gonna rail against corporations like your angry neighbor screams at the postman! de la Cruz and Murphy are not a serious ticket. @Larry Sabato - Murphy will no doubt be a boon for de la Cruz in the much-needed Rust Belt. Too early to say whether he will serve as an attack dog against McCord/Walker or if he will be primarily used to rally skeptical Democrats. Post-Super Tuesday Fundraising Hauls @POLITICO - de la Cruz wins a financial edge over McCord, collecting $82 million to McCord's $76 million, highlighting a fiercely competitive race fueled by diverse donor strategies and signaling a potentially strategic advantage for de la Cruz as the general election approaches. LINK @Rachel Maddow - Every donation to de la Cruz's campaign is a dollar upholding the value of a more equitable, just, and sustainable America. This is what democracy looks like. @Joy Ann Reid - Michael Bloomberg, Daniel Bu and other visionaries are investing in a future that includes everyone. It's clear they see a leader in De la Cruz who can make that future a reality. @Donna Brazile - It's not just about the numbers; it's about what they represent. De la Cruz's fundraising success signals a hungry demand for change; a better and brighter future for all Americans. @Laura Ingraham - Interesting to see big names like Bloomberg throwing weight behind our opponent. But remember, it's not the size of the donation that counts, but the conviction behind it. McCord's campaign is powered by the people, for the people. @Charlie Kirk - In this election, the contrast couldn't be clearer. One side leans on the elite for support, while McCord draws her strength from the heartbeat of America. @Chris Hayes - For what it's worth, McCord has a real chance of narrowing down her focus on key states whereas de la Cruz will have to be more controlled on not spreading her money to far; too wide. 2016 Elections Major Primary Victories @CNN Politics - Major primary elections taking place across the country in the coming days. Will be decisive in determining which party controls the House, Senate, and governorships. @The Arizona Republic - Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton will face Senator and 2008 Republican Presidential nominee John McCain in the fall. @Denver Post - Study Committee Congressman Doug Lamborn defeats Freedom Caucus-backed Ken Buck to take on incumbent Michael Bennet in Colorado. @Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Georgia Democrats nominate Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, to challenge Senator Johnny Isakson. @Miami Herald - Tampa Congresswoman Kathy Castor will face off against Republican Daniel Mina in the closely-watched Sunshine State. @Chicago Tribune - In a major upset causing shock within the state Democratic Party, conservative Blue Dog Dan Lipinski defeats Tammy Duckworth and Robin Kelly to challenge incumbent Senator David Williams. @Indiannapolis Star - Former Governor and Senator Evan Bayh will run against incumbent Republican John Miller in the state of Indiana. @Des Moines Register - Former Lt. Governor Patty Judge, boosted by now-VP nominee Doug Murphy, wins the Democratic nomination to face long-time incumbent Chuck Grassley in Iowa. @The Courier-Journal - Democrats successfully recruit former Governor Steve Beshear to run for Senate against Congressman James Comer in Kentucky. Senator Rand Paul's decision to not run for reelection shocked many in the state. @Baltimore Sun - Progressive leader Nolan Stokes will face off against Republican challenger Kathy Szeliga in Maryland. @St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Veteran Jason Kander set to take on incumbent Republican Roy Blunt in the state of Missouri. Early polling shows this could be a key race to watch. @Las Vegas Review Journal - Freedom Caucus secures a victory as Attorney General Adam Laxalt defeats Barbara Cegavske to face off against Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada. This could be a top pickup opportunity for the GOP. @New Hampshire Union Leader - Democrats get their wish as Governor Maggie Hassan squares off with incumbent Kelly Ayotte in the critical state of New Hampshire. @The News & Observer - Senator Richard Burr will face former Blue Dog Congressman and NFL quarterback Heath Schuler in the state of North Carolina. @Columbus Dispatch - Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman defeats former Governor Ted Strickland and Nina Turner to challenge Senator Rob Portman in Ohio. @Pittsbourgh Post Gazette - New Democrat Katie McGinty triumphs over Joe Sestak and John Fetterman to take on Senator Pat Toomey in the fall. @Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Freedom Caucus Senator Ron Johnson will face a 2010 rematch as former Senator Russ Feingold hopes to reclaim his old seat. @LA Times - Republicans score a spot in the California Senate Election as Phil Wyman faces off against state Attorney General Kamala Harris. Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez and Barbara Lee are eliminated. @The Advocate - New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu takes on John Kennedy in the fall for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana. @RealClearPolitics - Congressional/Gubernatorial General Election Round One Polling: LINK Britain Votes to Remain in the European Union @BBC News - By a 52-48 vote, the United Kingdom has voted ro remain in the European Union. @Prime Minister David Cameron - The people of the United Kingdom have made their voices heard today. While a closer outcome than some may have expected, the victory today is a victory for a strong future. @Boris Johnson - 48% of the nation made clear tonight that they wish to end our membership with the European Union. This simply cannot be ignored. @Nigel Farage - David Cameron and George Osborne corruptly used the power of government to tip the scales against Brexit. They must be held accountable for this abuse.

Q2, 2016 (RL - 03/16/2024) 2016 Presidential Nominees Declare Historic Victories @Real Clear Politics - TOTAL DELEGATES: McCord - 455 | Rollins - 450 | Kuykendall - 213 @Real Clear Politics - TOTAL DELEGATES: de la Cruz - 1,085 | Murphy - 1,056 @Jake Tapper - Voters make history tonight as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Katherine McCord of South Carolina will take on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Xiomara de la Cruz of Texas. @Rachel Maddow - This is the first time in American history that two women have been nominated for President of the United States. America will have it's first female President on January 20, 2017. @Bret Baier - Doug Murphy and David Rollins, in spite of not gaining enough delegates for the nomination, now hold outsized influence over the campaigns going into the fall. Despite a muted affair in both primaries on the ground, it is now incumbent on both campaigns to bring their voters into the fold. @Megyn Kelly - Can't forget Kuykendall voters either. Kuykendall has still captured a segment of the GOP base and increased attacks on his campaign could hurt future party unity. @Jose Diaz-Balart - It's entirely fair to acknolwedge that while McCord herself has generally refrained from criticizing Rollins or Kuykendall, supporters of her campaign did make entitlement spending a issue against Rollins in particular in the press. @Kyle Kulinski - Democrats can paint a sunshine and rosy picture but they just nominated a candidate from the moderate wing. A lot of work to be done to bring us progressives into the fold. @Brian Williams - America has never elected a sitting Mayor as President of the United States. Will be a significant achievement if de la Cruz can pull this campaign off. Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) Receives National Endorsements @President Barack Obama - Xiomara de la Cruz is a testament to the power of the American Dream. I am proud to support her campaign as a worthy successor to our eight years of change. @Vice President Joe Biden - Xiomara de la Cruz being nominated as the Democratic nominee for President is a BFD. Glad to throw my support behind her historic campaign. @Hillary Clinton - Bill and I are proud to support the historic campaign of Xiomara de la Cruz. Onward to November! @Atlanta Journal-Constitution - A spokesperson for former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter has stated that they intend to support Xiomara de la Cruz for President. Katherine McCord (R-SC) Receives National Endorsements @Former President George W. Bush - My father and I are both proud to lend our support to the next Republican nominee for the President of the United States, Katherine McCord. Her steady hand is exactly what we need to keep America safe. @Donald Trump - I can't say I don't love the LATINAS but de la Cruz is not serious about our border. A lot of bad hombres coming through. McCord is our only hope! @Mitt Romney - The time is now for Republicans to come together and rally behind Katherine McCord. We have a chance to finally take back the White House, let's not waste it. @Speaker Paul Ryan - Katherine McCord is a fierce advocate for American values and conservative principles. Supporting her in the fall is a no-brainer. @Bob Dole - Bob Dole is proud to support Katherine McCord. Bobe Dole believes McCord will keep America safe and bring back small government values to Washington. Democratic VP Option Speculation @James Carville - I think given his strong performance along the East Coast and Rust Belt, Doug Murphy is the clear favorite to serve as de la Cruz's VP. They kept the race clean and have a good rapport. @Donna Brazile - Diego Everhart, despite serving as a top surrogate for Murphy, could be useful in mobilizing support in the key state of Pennsylvania and with African American voters. @Kyle Kulinski - It has to be deSonido or Stokes. If de la Cruz wants progressives to get out the vote for her in real numbers, the Vice President must be a progressive. @Rosie O'Donnell - de la Cruz could make even more history selecting Washington Senator Heather James as her running mate! @Jim Acosta - de la Cruz could always turn to one of her own supporters like Alex Fakhouri of Michigan, John Carlsen of Indiana, or Andrew Clarke of Missouri. @Kal Penn - Julius Tuck is always just a phone call away! @Jose Diaz Balart - de la Cruz has a broad number of potential running mates, including potential dark horses not talked about actively in the media. Will be a critical decision for the campaign. Republican VP Option Speculation @Glenn Beck - So we're all in agreement the VP has to be Rollins right? A McCord/Rollins ticket would unify the party and make Democrats fight in their own backyward in the Northeast and Rust Belt. @Sean Hannity - The clear favorite for the VP nod has to be Walker. His endorsement was a decisive factor in McCord securing the Republican nomination. He's a tough SOB who tells it like it is! @Jesse Watters - George Kuykendall is not someone to be ignored. He's an attack dog ready to hit the ground running. A strong potential choice if you ask me. @Megyn Kelly - McCord clearly needs to shore up the conservative wing of her party. People like Cliff Flemming of Alabama, Douglas Butcher of Louisiana, or John Miller of Indiana would do just that. @Charles Krauthammer - McCord can always also look more towards her own wing of the party with prominent leaders like Beau Goodwin of North Carolina or David Williams of Illinois. @George Will - Ultimately, McCord could tap numerous leading conservatives to serve as her running mate, including some who may not even be on our radar yet. A big choice for McCord to wrestle with in the coming days. Celebrity National Endorsements @Beyonce - From one Houston girl to another, it’s time to put Xiomara de La Cruz in the White House. @Jason Aldean - McCord speaks for the struggles of working Americans just tryin to make a living. She’s got my vote. @Jimmy Buffett - de la Cruz is the only candidate that wants to keep our oceans blue and our skies clear. She’s welcome at any Margaritaville. @Kid Rock - Only one candidate is willing to stick it to the America haters out there and her name is Katherine McCord. TIME Magazine Article on 2016 Democratic Presidential Nominee Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) @TIME - The Woman from Del Rio Blazes a Historic Trail | 2016 Democratic Nominee Xiomara de la Cruz: LINK @Ana Navarro - A historic campaign by Xiomara de la Cruz as she looks to become the first woman and first Latina President of the United States. Her conciliatory vision is exactly what America needs. @Sean Hannity - A wolf in sheep's clothing! de la Cruz and her allies are going to spend months claiming shes a moderate when she'll make Barack Obama look like the second coming of Reagan! Speculation Grows of Charles Walker (R-CA) Being 2016 Republican VP Nominee @Fox News - Katherine McCord has been spotted meeting with former General and primary rival Charles Walker at her family compound in Greenville, South Carolina. @Jose Diaz Balart - Could a McCord/Walker ticket be on the horizon? No doubt a lot of speculation within the political world has begun following this meeting. @Sean Hannity - A McCord/Walker ticket would dominate in the general election against de la Cruz and her lefty loons! @Charles Krathammer - While Walker's endorsement no doubt played a major role in McCord's primary victory, he may have to mend bridges with David Rollins and his camp that has gained influence within the wider Republican Party should he be the pick. @Rosie O'Donnell - McCord and Walker would make two peas in a pod for the right-wing crazy train. Anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, anti-environment, and anti-gun safety. Reaction to Proposed Direct Election of Judges Proposal by Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) and Camilo deSonido (I-CA) @ACLU - It is our belief that electing justices would lead to the rapid deterioriation of freedoms and rights that are fundamental, if not particularly popular in certain circumstances. We firmly oppose this proposed amendment. @Glenn Beck - The amendment proposed by Commie Fakhouri and and keyboard warrior deSonido is a danger to our democratic institutions. Making the Supreme Court elected is insane! @Rachel Maddow - There’s no denying that Americans view SCOTUS in historically-low terms. Uncertain how appealing elected Justices are to the general electorate.

Q2, 2016 (RL - 03/15/2024) Political Fight Rages Over Possible Scalia SCOTUS Replacement @CNN - Justice Antonin Scalia Dead at 79, Political Fight Rages for Supreme Court Vacancy: LINK @Kyle Kulinski - Progressives like Keith Ellison are right, now is not the time to pretend like this is politics as normal. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight Democrats. Fight back with a real nominee! @Glenn Beck - Conservative patriots like Cliff Fleming and Douglas Butcher get it. The will of the voters should fill this seat and the pearl clutching from the destructionist Democrats is political theater. @Rachel Maddow - Democrats like Heather James are making the point that I think will resonate well with voters. Every single SCOTUS nominee since 1916 has been acted upon. To deny Obama's potential nominee even a hearing is nothing short of obstruction. @Megyn Kelly - Democrats nuked the filibuster and expect us all to pretend like they care about the institution? Give me a break! @Charles Krauthammer - Perhaps both parties can take a page out of the friendship between Antonin Scalia and RBG and acknowledge that we can still reach out to one another in good faith. Seems to be getting nastier on the Hill by the day. @Jim Acosta - The White House has announced that they have settled on a nominee and will make an announcement later today. Seems like the shortlist floating around D.C. was accurate. @Larry Sabato - While a narrow 52% majority of Americans do support President Obama being allowed to fill the SCOTUS vacancy, it is incumbent on both parties to make use of the airwaves to make their case. @Bret Baier - Early pollings has indicated that Republicans concentrating on conservative news outlets have hardened many of their own voters against supporting an Obama nominee along ideological lines. This may give more credibility for Republican Senators within their own base to oppose movement on a potential nominee. White House Announces Nomination of Paul Watford for SCOTUS @CNN - BREAKING: President Obama nominates Judge Paul Watford to replace the late-Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. @NBC News - Judge Paul Watford becomes the third African American nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in the court’s history. @MSNBC - Judge Watford has served as a member of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals since 2012. He was previously confirmed by the Senate in a 61-34 vote and did receive support from conservative legal figures like Orin Kerr and Eugene Volokh at the time. @Fox News - Judge Watford previously served as a law clerk for liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1995 to 1996 and worked in various public and private law capacities before his judicial appointment. @American Bar Association - The American Bar Association Standing Committee has given Judge Paul Watford a unanimous “well-qualified” rating. @Jake Tapper - The White House’s decision to nominate Paul Watford is a clear signal that they intend to make this an ideological battle. While well-respected in the legal community, Watford’s record is to the left of Garland or Srinivasan. @Sean Hannity - Paul Watford is a Trojan horse who will make great pals with RBG and the leftists on the Supreme Court. Stand strong Republicans! @Al Sharpton - A historic nomination in every sense of the word. Paul Watford is immensely qualified to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. @George Will - While Watford’s nomination may excite Democrats, there is little doubt that his nomination will harden conservative opposition further. Many Americans remain undecided but the White House has given Republicans a possible opening to shift momentum with an ideological pick. @Rachel Maddow - Democrats still need to make a compelling case to swing voters as to why they should support the Watford nomination in spite of him clearly not being the expected moderate many assumed would be nominated. There is a lot of material to work with given his background and record. @Steve Bannon - Everyone knows why Obama picked Watford. Cynical campaign ploy to drive out African American turnout. Disgraceful. @Jesse Watters - Paul Watford is heavily involved with the American Bar Association. Something fishy about the “well-qualified” rating he received despite barely being on the bench! @Donna Brazile - While Judge Watford began his time on the bench in 2012, there is little question that he is an astute and capable legal mind. Attempts to claim otherwise are simply false, if not motivated in part by his race. Paul Watford was nominated because he’s a good jurist, full stop. @Sean Hannity - Of course liberals want to play the race game now. UNAMERICAN! President Obama Makes Historic Visit to Cuba @BBC News - U.S. President Barack Obama is set to visit Cuba in the coming days in a historic meeting between the two adversaries. He will be the first U.S. President to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. @Secretary John Kerry - Normalizing relations with the Republic of Cuba has been a years-long process. I am thankful to our Canadian and Papal partners for helping facilitate this historic moment. @Sean Hannity - Meeting with the communist regime in Cuba is a capitulation! A absolute failure of leadership! 2016 Presidential Primary Super Tuesday @CNN - Super Tuesday has officially begun as the first round of states finish casting their ballot for the potential next President of the United States. @Election Watch 2016 - Big, tough, decisive day for voters. Will it be Doug Murphy or Xiomara de la Cruz beat the other to the Democratic nomination for President? Will Rollins outshine McCord and Kuykendall? Stay tuned for updates throughout the day! @RealClearPolitics - 2016 Super Tuesday State Results: LINK

U.S. House of Representatives Composition 115th Session of Congress (232 GOP - 202 DEM)

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R18 Game Calendar: LINK

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2017 Mar 30th - 115th Congress convenes; Q1 2017 begins Apr 1st - Inauguration Day Apr 6th - 2017 Munich Security Conference Apr 9th- CPAC, Netroots Nation Apr 13th - Q2 2017 begins Apr 21st - 43rd G7 Summit April 24th - WI Special Election Apr 28th - Q3 2017 begins Apr 29th - 4th of July May 10th - 2017 Elections = Primary Election May 12th - Q4 2017 begins May 16th - 2017 Elections = General Election May 20th - 2017 UN Climate Change Conference

Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Love the Miracle of Christmas) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.] Due by March 29th, at 11:59 PM EST.

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Approved! for electoral consistency, you can note that the Democratic nominee IG in 2016 was Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman as Strickland was defeated in the primary.

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The Pride of Greenville Enters Stage Left | 2016 Republican Nominee Katherine McCord South Carolina - The rise of Katherine McCord as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee marks the culmination of a long-standing career in public service that can be traced all the way back to her roots in the Palmetto State. Seen by many at the federal level as a rising star within the GOP, Senator McCord's path to the Republican nomination was one of bridge building and coalition growing, two things she has been an expert at throughout her career. Faced with eight years out of power following the election and subsequent reelection of Barack Obama, Katherine McCord looks now to wrestle back control of the White House and the last lever of power needed by Republicans to hold a trifecta. Katherine McCord was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. A consistent GOP stronghold since 1960, Greenville would prove to be fertile ground for now-Senator McCord's future political career. With an astute mind and strong credentials, McCord would go on to earn a bachelor's degree from Columbia International University in Business Administration and a minor in Communications. Both of these skills would be critical in subsequent decades throughout McCord's professional career. Joining the United States Air Force in 1994, McCord would attend the United States Air Force Academy and earn a double major in Military & Strategic Studies and Management. As a member of the 10th Intelligence Support Squadron, McCord and her fellow soldiers would be critical to the Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia as a key pillar of nation's intelligence support. Senator McCord would eventually attain the rank of Major within the U.S. Air Force before retiring from active duty in 2004. Shifting to the private sector, McCord would work as Executive Director of Global Business Development & Strategy for Lockheed Martin. It was in this role that her past experience with military intelligence and business would come together to prove useful to the aerospace and defense company that saw record growth throughout the 2000s. The job also allowed McCord to gain connections with various power brokers in South Carolina and nationally through her engagement with Congress and the federal government. McCord's husband, Andrew Purchase, and their two children Marie and Clayton would stand by her side throughout her entire career. Eventually, McCord would make her foray into elected politics at the urging of friends and family to run for South Carolina's 4th Congressional District in 2008. The retirement of moderate incumbent Republican Bob Inglis left an opening for the Greenville-area seat that McCord would go on to win with over 60% of the vote. Following a successful reelection during the Tea Party wave of 2010, McCord would set her sights on the U.S. Senate. Following the retirement of incumbent Senator Jim DeMint, Republicans across South Carolina were looking towards who the next possible replacement could be. With the backing of key political figures like Governor Nikki Haley and Congressman Tim Scott, Katherine McCord would secure her place as the next U.S. Senator from South Carolina. Always a supporter of the party, McCord would serve as Campaign Co-Chair for the Republican National Committee Campaign in South Carolina during the 2014 cycle that saw Republicans win decisive victories across the state. The center-right coalition at the heart of McCord's previous electoral victories would be the crux of her presidential campaign as she sought the Republican nomination in 2016. Seeing shifting tides within the Republican Party, McCord angled herself as the candidate that could best unify traditional conservatives with the growing populist wing. Despite a devastating, albeit narrow, loss in the South Carolina GOP Primary to her future running mate, former General Charles Walker of California, McCord would win a decisive victory in the Nevada primary that maintained her competitiveness, while also making similar history to her Democratic Presidential counterpart as the first Republican woman to win a presidential state primary. The decision of Charles Walker to suspend his campaign and endorse McCord in the primary proved to be the decisive moment of the campaign. Following a bitterly-fought campaign against Nebraska Senator David Rollins and Colorado Senator George Kuykendall, Katherine McCord would emerge as the 2016 Republican Presidential nominee with a narrow majority. If elected, McCord would become the first woman to serve as President of the United States. With a Republican Party more unified than any time in the last eight years, Senator McCord could finally take back the White House for the GOP following years in the wilderness. A campaign of traditional Republicans, populist conservatives, fiscal conservatives, religious voters, white working-class voters, and strong overtures to Cuban and conservative Hispanic Americans and even some inroads with African Americans, Senator McCord is building a coalition that could become the future base of the Republican Party in a post-Obama America.

Congressional/Gubernatorial General Election Round Two Polling

2016 Presidential General Election Round Two Polling October, 2016 | President: General Election, National OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 47% Katherine McCord . . . 45% MoE of 4% (+/-) Sample of Recent Polls Fox News: de la Cruz +1 Ipsos: Even ABC/WaPo: de la Cruz +3 October, 2016 | President: General Election, Florida OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 48% Katherine McCord . . . 46% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Iowa OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 47% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Michigan OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 49% Katherine McCord . . . 45% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Nevada OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, New Hampshire OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 45% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, North Carolina OCTOBER TO NOVEMEBR Katherine McCord . . . 47% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Ohio OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 47% Katherine McCord . . . 46% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Pennsylvania OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 47% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 47% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Texas OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 46% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) October, 2016 | President: General Election, Wisconsin OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 46% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% MoE of 4% (+/-) A Quick Look at the Map Lean Republican Texas North Carolina New Hampshire Iowa Lean Democrat Michigan True Swings Florida Nevada Ohio Pennsylvania Wisconsin

President Obama Nominates Paul Watford to Supreme Court; McConnell a No on Hearing - Q3, 2016 Washington D.C. - In what is expected to be a major showdown between the White House and the Republican-led Congress, President Barack Obama has nominated 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Paul J. Watford to succeed the late-Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Judge Watford is the third African American to be nominated to the Supreme Court. The nomination marks a leftward shift compared to the other two names in the running, Judge Merrick Garland and Judge Sri Srinavasan. This comes after Senate Republicans have openly stated that they would not consider any nominee put forward by the President in an election year. "I have fulfilled my constitutional duty," said President Barack Obama while delivering remarks at the Rose Garden. "Now it’s time for the Senate to do theirs. Presidents do not stop working in the final year of their term. Neither should a senator." The President highlighted Judge Watford's extensive legal background during the ceremony, with emphasis on his tenure as a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals since his 61-34 confirmation in 2012, as well as his prior legal work in the private sector and as an assistant U.S. Attorney in California. In response to the nomination, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has reaffirmed that Senate Republicans will not consider the nomination of Judge Watford. "It is unfortunate that President Obama has decided to put forward a nominee in spite of the clear signal that such a nominee will not be considered," said McConnell. "The American People should have their choice in November regarding who will nominate a successor to the late-Antonin Scalia. We have been consistent on this and the nomination of Judge Watford does not change that." Fellow Senate Republicans, such as Senator Cliff Fleming of Alabama, echoed the sentiment of Majority Leader McConnell on mainstream news networks. "Throughout this whole affair you've seen members of our side of the aisle, or I guess I should say mine rather, who have said this is about the process," said Senator Fleming during a primetime interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN. "This is about following a precedent that then-Senator Joe Biden tried to establish decades ago and became even more necessarily when Senate Democrats cranked the divisiveness up to 10 by eliminating the Judicial filibuster for SCOTUS nominees. We didn't do this, Harry Reid did this." Democrats in Congress have been quick to criticize Senate Republicans for refusing to hold a hearing for Judge Watford. Much of their criticism has centered around the possibility of a conservative successor being nominated, should 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee Katherine McCord of South Carolina win in the fall, and how that successor could rule against reproductive access, LGBT rights, and other key social issues of interest to center-left and left-wing Americans. 2016 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Doug Murphy of Wisconsin similarly went onto Anderson Cooper 360 to make the case of the dangers of a conservative SCOTUS nominee. "These chickenloaf games McConnell is playing with the Supreme Court, he's doing it for reasons that neither he nor any of the Republican presidential candidates will publicly admit: they're gunning for Roe, Obergefell, and Windsor," stated Murphy when asked about the long-term goal of blocking Judge Watford's nomination. "They view this not as an opportunity to confirm a highly qualified justice who will serve the people. Rather it's a tawdry attempt by them to legislate from the bench what they could never get done at the ballot box or in Congress. Why? Because the American people would never stand for it." Other leading Democrats have been more blunt in their approach to criticizing Senate Republicans for refusing to consider Judge Watford's nomination. Senator Alex Fakhouri of Michigan, while speaking to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, stated, "From 2013 to 2014 alone, the FBI reported hate crimes related to gender identity grew by more than 200%. Clearly, there is rabid fomenting of hatred out there, and the GOP is in the center of it. You better believe if they get their Supreme Court pick, it will lead to the overturning of Windsor, Obergefell, and, ultimately their long-stated target, Roe v. Wade." Caught in the middle of an increasingly vitriolic public clash surrounding the Supreme Court vacancy are various moderate Democrat and Republican Senators who have expressed desire for compromise to prevail. Senator John Carlsen of Indiana, a prominent Blue Dog Democrat in the chamber, made that desire known during an appearance on Meet the Press. "My own preference was for the President and Senate Majority Leader to sit down together and find a list of nominees they could both live with," said Senator Carlsen when asked about the state of the nomination. "...Presidents Taft, Wilson, Hoover, Roosevelt, Johnson and Reagan have all had their nominees considered in a Presidential election year... My recommendation is still that the President and Senate Majority come together to find a way forward." Progressive Democrats threw a major curveball into the conversation around the SCOTUS vacancy debate as Independent Senator Camilo deSonido of California and Senator Alex Fakhouri of Michigan spoke to the press at a briefing in the Senate and put forward a joint resolution that would allow for the direct election of the Judges of the United States Supreme Court. "I think the bill says it all, said Senator deSonido during the briefing. "Direct democracy takes Progressives, and historically Republicans back to their Bull Moose roots. Direct democracy was part of the agenda of the 1912 US Progressive Party Convention. Despite praise within some progressive circles, the idea was quickly panned by Republicans across the party, as well as various moderate and center-left Democrats. "It's clear that the joint resolution by deSonido and Fakhouri was not received well by not only the Republican Party but many members of the Democratic Party," said Professor Larry Sabato. "While some Americans have expressed increasing openness to term limits for Supreme Court Justices, something that is present in the joint resolution, direct election of Justices simply is not a mainstream position with a heck of a lot of logistical problems." Pundits are in general agreement that Republicans have maintained fairly consistent messaging around the SCOTUS vacancy. "At the end of the day, Republicans made clear they would not see a nominee made by President Obama and they're sticking to it," said Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer during Fox News Sunday. "While the argument around the Vice President's words from 1992 has hit its peak with voters, the overall message of Republicans has stayed the same: voters should pick who nominates this next nominee. Whether voters actually want that versus allowing President Obama to pick a nominee is another story but that consistency no doubt helps." Democrats, while effectively rallying their own voters to support filling the vacancy, have struggled to appeal to independent and swing voters. "I think there is little question that Democratic voters want this vacancy filled, probably more than any nominee in recent memory," said MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell during an opening monologue. "I do think the emphasis on ideology, as we've seen various Democrats do in the press, doesn't land nearly as well when Republicans are by-and-large not making an ideological case. Republican voters as a result aren't as enthused but it makes their case feel less blatantly partisan, despite how clearly partisan their opposition is." Other prominent Democrats have been critical of the joint resolution put forward by Senator deSonido and Senator Fakhouri. "I think it was a mistake to put forward this resolution in the way it was," said former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile. "Republicans have been calling out Democrats for being overly ideological on SCOTUS and calling for direct election of judges, in what I'd expect would be very partisan political campaigns, only exacerbates that criticism. I do think the actions of two Senators is overblown by the press but this is the climate we live in." In spite of large swaths of the Democratic Party expressing hesitancy around the joint resolution proposal, progressive Democrats have expressed support for the idea. "deSonido and Fakhouri are seeing what progressive voters on the ground want and running with it," stated progressive strategist Jeff Weaver. "While I may have focused more on term limits themselves and not direct election, anyone would be an idiot to not see how historically unpopular SCOTUS is across the board. Americans want change in the Supreme Court, even if establishment Democrats and Republicans don't." Polling following the nomination of Judge Watford indicate that a 48 percent plurality of Americans, down from 52 percent, believe the President should be able to make the nomination and that Watford should be confirmed. The support continued to overwhelmingly come from Democrats, with 91 percent of them saying they supported Obama nominating Scalia's successor. Among Republicans, support for Obama has dropped to only 16 percent that have said they either strongly or somewhat supported Obama making the pick. 77 percent of Americans have stated they do not support the joint resolution proposal put forward by Senator deSonido and Senator Fakhouri, but a 65 percent majority of progressive-identifying Americans have expressed support. Priorities of both major parties among their bases have changed drastically in recent weeks. 64 percent of Democrats now say they want someone ideologically pure as their nominee, and they find that in Judge Watford. This is a major shift from a majority of Democrats who wanted a more conciliatory choice prior to the Watford nomination. Nearly 75 percent of Republicans have expressed strong or somewhat strong support of Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans blocking the nomination of Judge Watford. Polling has also indicated that a 54 percent majority of Americans view the Watford nomination as ideologically-motivated, in spite of a nearly 65 percent majority of Americans holding a favorable personal view of Judge Watford. Democrats do hold an enthusiasm lead over Republicans with their base voters regarding how the nomination is motivating potential voting patterns. Despite struggling with swing and conservative voters, Democrats have animated their base around the Watford nomination with many potential liberal voters citing threats to LGBT rights, reproductive rights, environmental protections, and other key priorities. The increasingly ideological nature of the public conversation has motivated more ideological conversations among conservative talk radio and podcasts, which could provide enthusiasm against Judge Watford among conservative voters.

Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Love Election Season) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.] Due by March 23rd, at 11:59 PM EST.

2016 Presidential General Election Round One Polling September, 2016 | President: General Election, National AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% Katherine McCord . . . 42% MoE of 4% (+/-) Sample of Recent Polls Fox News: de la Cruz +1 Ipsos: Ross de la Cruz +2 ABC/WaPo: de la Cruz +3 September, 2016 | President: General Election, Arizona AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Colorado AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 48% Katherine McCord . . . 42% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Georgia AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Florida AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 45% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Iowa AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 44% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 42% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Indiana AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Maine AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% Katherine McCord . . . 42% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Minnesota AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% Katherine McCord . . . 41% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Michigan AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% Katherine McCord . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 47% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Nevada AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% Katherine McCord . . . 44% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, New Hampshire AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 44% Katherine McCord . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, New Mexico AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 48% Katherine McCord . . . 41% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, North Carolina AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 46% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Ohio AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 45% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Pennsylvania AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% Katherine McCord . . . 45% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Texas AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Katherine McCord . . . 48% Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 42% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Virginia AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 48% Katherine McCord . . . 43% MoE of 4% (+/-) September, 2016 | President: General Election, Wisconsin AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 46% Katherine McCord . . . 44% MoE of 4% (+/-) A Quick Look at the Map Lean Republican Arizona Georgia Indiana Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District Texas Lean Democrat Colorado Minnesota New Mexico Virginia True Swings Florida Iowa Maine Michigan Nevada North Carolina New Hampshire Ohio Pennsylvania Wisconsin