CNN Political Ticker

Inside Politics: The Political Forecast: More Democrats to retire this week

CNN's John King and other top political reporters empty out their notebooks each Sunday on "Inside Politics" to reveal five things that will be in the headlines in the days, weeks and months ahead.

1. Florida election results cause more Democratic exits: Watch in the week or so ahead for a few more retirements by veteran House Democrats.

I'm told the Florida special election results were the last straw for at least two and perhaps more House Democrats facing tough 2014 races.


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Leadership will make a run at persuading these lawmakers otherwise – but with hope of regaining the majority all but lost, watch the Capitol exits.

2. Jindal talking with power players about 2016: Be skeptical of a politician who says he isn't running for president but then courts key power players in New Hampshire. So be skeptical of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

The Republican governor recently formed a new political action committee.
His staff now routinely fills the inboxes of national political reporters with press releases.

And as CNN's Peter Hamby told us on the program, held talks with GOP and conservative power players in the first-in-the-nation primary state, including former Governors Sununu and Merrill, GOP fixer Tom Rath and Joe McQuaid from The Union Leader.

Jindal poking fun at the former 2016 GOP frontrunner at a public breakfast in NH before his private meetings:

3. Elizabeth Warren's expanding horizons: The senior senator from Massachusetts is one of the biggest attractions on the Democratic fundraising circuit. For years that could be said of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. And now of Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

She is a rising liberal star, and as Jonathan Martin of the New York Times shared Sunday, is about to expand her fundraising horizons.

4. Democrats' Blue State air strikes against the Kochs: When troops need air support, they call the Air Force. When it's a politician in need, in today's world it is more often the super PACs to the rescue.

Vulnerable Senate Democrats have been complaining for months of being pummeled by TV ads funded by Americans for Prosperity and other conservative groups. Now Politico's Manu Raju tells us some of those Democrats are about to get more help in the air war.

Here’s how much AFP spent in the last cycle:

5. The Latina who might turn Texas purple: Wendy Davis became a national Democratic sensation during last year's Texas Senate debate over new abortion restrictions. She is now the party's gubernatorial nominee.

But if you want to place a bet on a Democratic statewide victory in 2014, Nia Malika Henderson of The Washington Post suggests looking down-ballot a line - to the lieutenant governor's race.

The Texas Senate Gallery applauding state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte's call for equality on the floor last June: