The 'Inside Politics' forecast: Recruiting Sink to run again
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. RECRUITING SINK TO RUN AGAIN: Alex Sink is suddenly back in vogue as Democrats look to try again in a Florida House district they lost in a special election last month.
Sink was their candidate then, and a lot of Democrats blamed a subpar campaign on her narrow loss. But Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee leaders remain convinced she is their best candidate in November.
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The DCCC chairman, New York Rep. Steve Israel, has said so publicly. But he is also directing an aggressive private campaign to help Sink get over her reservations about running again. That effort includes bringing Sink to a recent DCCC strategy session in New York, and sending staff to the district this past week.
Why the optimism about a candidate many in the party believe should have been able to win in the special?
Democrats are hopeful that Charlie Crist on the ballot helps them in FL-13 because he has always run strong in that district.
2. CHRISTIE’S MENTOR MIGHT ENDORSE ANOTHER GOVERNOR FOR 2016: The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza joined us to offer a sneak peak at his in-depth profile of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The article traces the arc of Christie’s career with a special emphasis of the toll the so–called Bridgegate scandal is taking on the 2016 GOP prospect.
Among the highlights: former Gov. Tom Kean volunteered to Ryan that he might shop elsewhere for a 2016 presidential contender. Kean mentioned three other current and former GOP governors as intriguing: Jeb Bush of Florida, John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
And the hits from Christie's former mentor didn't stop there.
"Kean also talked about the bigger problem for Christie is not necessarily Bridgegate or the legal inquiry but the 'culture of intimidation' is what Tom Kean called it, that is suggested by Bridgegate and suggested by some other episodes in Christie's rise through New Jersey politics," said Lizza.
3. RAND RAMPS UP 2016 TRAVEL SCHEDULE: Jonathan Martin of The New York Times shared fresh reporting on the accelerating presidential exploration by Kentucky’s junior Republican senator, Rand Paul.
Criticism is mounting in GOP circles, Jonathan notes, that Paul is not assembling a top-tier team of campaign staff and advisers.
In any event, Paul shows no signs of slowing down his aggressive outreach. To the contrary, Jonathan reports an aggressive Paul travel schedule in the coming weeks includes a handful of state Republican conventions (one of them Iowa in June) – a great place to not only meet activists but also veteran campaign hands.
4. MCCUTCHEON CASE A CAMPAIGN FINANCE “GARDEN HOSE”: The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter is a prized guest because her top-tier reporting is paired with a colorful and humorous way of communicating big political news.
What does the Supreme Court have to do with a garden hose? Amy answers that question with some unique campaign finance comparisons.
“So if the Citizen’s United case opened up a fire hose of money into the process, this most recent case, the McCutcheon case that came out of the Supreme Court, is more like a garden hose,” said Walter.
Sources tell Amy that this decision will add more money to the system but they still expect that the candidates and parties are going to get outspent by the big outside groups.
A chart of outside spending by cycle from OpenSecrets.org:
5. COLLINS A DEAL BROKER ON RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE?: Legislating, it seems, is a lost art in election year Washington. Democrats and Republicans could agree on some things if they tried, but it is beyond rare that they do because of political pressures.
Nia-Malika Henderson is watching moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine to see if she can strike a deal on raising the minimum wage.
I wouldn’t bet on success, but just the effort is news in DC these days.
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Floridian old fools are the ones directly depending on SS, Medicare, now Healthcare Law and donut hole benefit. I bet the bottom dollars, GOP will ban all these things to please Koch brothers, Fox idiocy, Sheldon Adelson etc. Florida better wake up get rid off all republican fools that sack SS, etc. God bless.
PS: shhhh, Sheldon Adelson from Las Vegas is calling to NV to spend your dollar, be careful....
Gurgyl, old fools have paid INTO SS and MEDICARE all their working lives, still pay for their healthcare (at least 10% of their SS) not like those who just hold their hand out and ask how much more can you give me FREE.
Dems didn't feel that they should come out twice , all will come OUT iN November to HAND the seat to a DEMOCRAT for a FULL TERM in November . The GOP is delusional if they think their going to keep their KOCH LOBBYIST Jolly in office for more then a couple of months!!!!!
-–that your republicans want eradicate, watch out....
Noted Democrat Stratigist "Axhead" says electing democrats next election will be tough sell. Not if they can shuck and jive the low information voters. Of course jobs will still be scarce except for the ones that are at the 29 hour level. Just imagine, you have invented the 29 hour work week, all by yourselves! Congratulations!
Hey Lizzie, then I imagine you are against gutting SS like your Republican gods want to do?
Lizzie, yes, people have been paying into ss and medicare for years and years. Nevertheless these are two of the programs repubs want to slash, and will if given the oppurtunity. Don't take my word for it, google Paul Ryan's budget.
Anybody whos votes repub next cycle should be whacked on the head with a ball peen hammer oh and next time u make fun of people on unemployment make sure u dont have ur hand out in the future cause the rupugs will cut it off just to let u know the average unemployed person spends more time in a week looking for a job than you work and most these people are vets so just remember make fun of unemployed people u also make fun of vets
Why do you attack people that paid into SS and Medicare? These group fought for your freedom to run your mouth and take their money when you can't pay your overspending bills. This group is more important than your useless self.
McBlaine – Your question should be directed to the elected republicans, as Ryan's budget puts our seniors programs in jeopardy. Ryan benefitted from government programs after his father passed away, and he wants to gut the same programs that helped him.
Yes, Tampa Tim .. Paul Ryan wants to tear into the very programs that helped his mom, and himself, after his father passed on. But now that Paul Ryan doesn't need Social Security or Medicare any more, and his mom is all right now, he sure doesn't see any reason for anybody else to have them.
BS. Democrats are only for the lefty hipsters. They could care less about old people in Florida. Get ready for shellacking round 2. I cannot wait to read the shellacking article in November. You guys will blame Koch's even though dem donors like soros and buffet out spend the Koch's by billions.