Impact2020: April 10, 2020

Welcome to your Impact2020 briefing for Friday, April 10. Political campaigns are wielding new digital tools, PACs are spending millions in swing states and more states eye mail-in ballots and election day moves.

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On the Ground

A new playbook

Similar to other campaigns, President Donald Trump’s campaign is adapting its messaging and fundraising tools for the “era of social distancing,” write McClatchy’s Francesca Chambers and Michael Wilner. “But adjusting the core argument of his reelection bid – that the economy is stronger than it was four years ago – is proving to be a much greater challenge.”

The pandemic has caused markets to plummet and “erased all of the economic gains made since Trump took office.” No longer able to point to strong employment numbers, the messaging has had to transition to explaining Trump’s response to unemployment levels unseen since the Great Depression. In fact, his team is having to create an “entirely new playbook based on an unpredictable crisis that could last well into the general election race,” report Chambers and Wilner.

“We don’t know how this is going to look on the other end. But what we do know is that the president has a message and is working on the right solution,” Rick Gorka, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said.

Chambers and Wilner have more on how senior officials are using digital tools to get the president’s message out.

Big money still spent

Political campaigning may look differently than years past amid the coronavirus pandemic, but Democrats and Republicans continue to spend millions on TV ads in the swing state of Florida, reports Alex Daugherty for the Miami Herald.

“... the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC announced plans to spend $3.3 million in the Miami media market, home to Democratic Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala. And on Thursday, the Trump-aligned America First Action PAC announced an $18.5 million broadcast television ad buy in Florida, split between the Tampa and Orlando media markets.”

Credit: Associated Press

Though ad spending has decreased nationwide, deep-pocketed super PACs are reserving TV time “at cheaper rates” ahead of Election Day, explains Daughtery. America First plans to spend $36.6 million between Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with Florida getting the largest share. It’s “a state that Trump almost assuredly must win if he wants a second term in the White House,” reports Daugherty.

Priorities USA, a super PAC backing Joe Biden, is spending $8 million in Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania on digital ads that criticize Trump’s coronavirus response. Another pro-Biden super PAC Unite The Country “plans to raise at least $175 million to defeat Trump in partnership with American Bridge, a liberal advocacy group,” writes Daugherty.

About today’s primary

Alaskans had to return their mail ballots by today. Results of the primary are expected late Saturday.

Alaska Democrats switched their format for this year’s primary from a caucus to ranked choice voting. If a voter’s first choice candidate does not get a high enough percentage of votes, then the vote goes to the second choice candidate. Some Democratic leaders say the change allows more voters to participate, reports Peter Zampa with Gray DC.

“It levels the playing field,” said Casey Steinau, the chair of the Alaska Democatic Party.

Bernie Sanders remains on the ballot and hopes to get enough delegates to help influence policies at the Democratic National Convention. Fifteen delegates are at stake in the Alaska primary, Anchorage Daily News’ James Brooks reports. A candidate needs 1,991 pledged delegates to become the Democratic nominee. Biden stands at 1,217 and Sanders at 914.

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Trail Mix

Election disruption

• Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson called for an investigation into missing absentee ballots in Wisconsin. They wrote to the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service that USPS “had an out-sized role in ensuring Wisconsinites could safely exercise the right to vote and participate in our democracy” but “there have been numerous accounts from the state that USPS failed to fulfill that critical function for some voters.” Mary Spicuzza with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.

• Speaking of safety, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services and local public health officials are “monitoring” the relationship between new cases of coronavirus in the coming weeks and voting in person, reports Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Molly Beck.

• Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said the upcoming June 2 primary “doesn’t make sense” in light of Sanders dropping out and says she hopes the remaining candidates with no chance of winning will “act accordingly” reports Claire Bessette with The Day. Gov. Ned Lamont indicated he would consider moving the primary to July, but that canceling it would set a bad precedent, writes WVIT-TV.

• “Democratic officials in Minnesota are floating the idea of mail-in ballots should the pandemic remain a threat through election time,” writes Sarah Meraahoff with the Forum News Service.

Governor watch

• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper tightened rules for skilled nursing homes in his latest executive order as more COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care settings, report Tammy Grubb and Virginia Bridges for the News & Observer.

• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is suing to stop Republican lawmakers from overturning her executive order limiting church gatherings, reports Jonathan Shorman for the Wichita Eagle. The state Supreme Court will take up the issue on Saturday.

LISTEN

A new episode of McClatchy’s political podcast Beyond the Bubble is ready for you to download. Hear Alex Roarty, Adam Wollner, and David Catanese discuss the beginning of the general election. Download it on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts Or watch a clip here.

Need another option? Try the Raleigh News & Observer’s Domecast. It just published its 199th episode! Get it on: Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Stitcher

Number of the Day

72%

The number of Americans who support a requirement for mail-in ballots in November if the spread of COVID-19 continues later this year. That’s according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that shows 79% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans supporting voting by mail.

For Planning Purposes

April 11

Alaska election results reported

April 13

Wisconsin election results reported

April 17

Wyoming primary (done by mail)

“Oh my gosh, it’s Sean Spicer”

Reporter Yamiche Alcindor was just as surprised as you were that Sean Spicer was in the press area during a White House briefing. She tells the story to Seth Meyers.

This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 12:25 PM.