Impact2020: July 8, 2020
In Wednesday’s Impact2020 briefing, we get a sneak peek at an interview with President Trump, comments from a new book that landed a Pence top aide in hot water with some Floridians, and a new interview with Karen Bass on her potential running mate status.
On the Ground
Bass: ‘I’m willing to step up’
In an interview, McClatchy’s David Catanese asked Rep. Karen Bass, who recently appeared on Joe Biden’s public shortlist of vice presidential contenders, outright if she would like to be vice president.
“I’m willing to step up to do anything to right this ship that has gone so far off course,” the five-term California congresswoman and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus said. “I just can’t say it any other way.”
Right now the congresswoman is trying to gain Republican support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, her reform bill that passed the House but stands less of a chance passing the Senate.
Credit: Carolyn Kaster, AP
When asked where she might stand in the running mate process, Bass told Catanese he’d have to ask the Biden campaign.
A former political adviser to Bass insisted that her late addition to the shortlist might actually be a good thing for her. “Any time they reopen something, nine times out of ten they’re extending it because they may not have what they want,” said the former adviser.
Even if the Biden campaign passes, there’s the possibility that Bass could become Nancy Pelosi’s successor as House Speaker. Catanese has her reaction to that possibility as well in the full interview.
Uproar in Florida
A few days before President Donald Trump visits Florida, a new book reports a top aide to Vice President Mike Pence once made comments that are sure to anger many Cuban immigrants.
Alex Daugherty and Sarah Moreno report that NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff’s book “Separated” quotes Katie Miller, saying, “I believe that if you come to America, you should assimilate. Why do we need to have Little Havana?”
The comments -- which reportedly happened during the Department of Homeland Security push to separate families who sought asylum in the U.S. by crossing the border illegally -- aired on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show Monday.
Miami Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala and her Republican challenger, Maria Evira Salazar, both called Miller’s remarks ignorant. Shalala said in a statement, “Though seeing children ripped from their families did not move Ms. Miller, I invite her to visit Little Havana so our diverse community can teach her about the tremendous contributions its residents have made to America.”
And Salazar stated, “Little Havana is the epitome of what immigrants can do for this country. It’s people like her who are blind to see it.”
Daugherty and Moreno note that “older Cuban-American voters in Miami are a key part of Trump’s strategy to win Florida.” Both campaigns see the state as a must-win in the general election, where Joe Biden narrowly leads Trump in the polls.
Flexibility for the convention?
Less than a month after Republicans switched venues for their national convention from Charlotte, N.C. to Jacksonville, Florida, Trump says he’s now “flexible” on his original plans to hold a large convention, reports Bianca Padró Ocasio for the Miami Herald, who obtained a transcript of a soon-to-air interview of the president with Greta Van Susteren.
Van Susteren asked the president whether he would consider a smaller convention in light of Florida’s newly imposed restrictions on gatherings and COVID-19 surge.
While Trump said the final decision depends on what’s happening in the state in the weeks before the Aug. 24-27 event, Trump said, “Look, we’re very flexible. We can do a lot of things, but we’re very flexible.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s unwillingness to commit to a full-fledged convention in a crowded arena was a sticking point for Trump and a reason the RNC decided to change venues last month . Trump noted in the interview that Florida “looked good” at the time. In the past two weeks, the number of Florida’s confirmed COVID-19 cases has doubled, but Trump told Van Susteren “that’s going to go down.”
As it stands now, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said that major political events would have to follow state orders and fill no more than 50% of its full capacity. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to answer questions from a reporter Tuesday on whether he would lift current capacity restrictions for the convention, reports Padró Ocasio.
Trail Mix
Election wrap
NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant reports that “progressive challengers failed to oust any of New Jersey’s veteran House Democrats” on Tuesday, mirroring results from 2018.
Amy Kennedy won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District and will face Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who became a Republican last year, in the general election, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg reports.
Delaware saw a record number of votes by absentee ballot, Craig Anderson and Katie Redefer report for the Delaware State News.
Election preview
Voting rights advocates are suing Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and Gov. Andy Beshear in an attempt to keep expanded absentee voting through the Nov. 3 election, report Daniel Desrochers and Morgan Eads for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Battle for Congress
The father of a candidate for Kansas’ 3rd congressional district has steered more than $100,000 into a super PAC airing ads attacking one of her rivals, reports Bryan Lowry for the Kansas City Star.
Lowry also reports that Kansas Democrat Barbara Bollier -- with nearly $4 million collected during the last fundraising quarter -- set a money-raising record for a candidate of either party in her bid for Senate.
All the top contenders for the U.S. Senate in Kansas are millionaires, but businessman Bob Hamilton would be among the richest members of the Senate if elected, Bryan Lowry and Matthew Kelly report for the Kansas City Star.
EMILY’s List is adding money to a massive television ad campaign supporting Air Force veteran M.J. Hegar in her race against state Sen. Royce West of Dallas, reports the Texas Tribune’s Abby Livingston and Patrick Svitek.
Battleground state moves
Both Biden and Mike Pence will be campaigning in Pennsylvania on Thursday. WGAL’s Corinne Lillis has a breakdown of where both will be visiting and what the focus of both men’s stops.
COVID action
“Michigan will join four other states in a lawsuit against U.S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over how to distribute pandemic relief money to schools,” reports Detroit Free Press’ John Wisely.
Number of the Day
66
The number of voters who dislike both presidential candidates who found Trump “very unfavorable” in the latest Morning Consult poll. That’s compared to 44 percent who found Biden “very unfavorable.”
For Planning Purposes
July 8
Biden holds virtual event for high school students with Karine Jean-Pierre
Biden speaks at IBEW’s 2020 virtual political conference
July 9
Jill Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren hold a roundtable discussion hosted by the American Federation of Teachers
Joe Biden visits Dunmore, Pa.
Vice President Mike Pence travels to Lancaster and Philadelphia, Pa.
You can listen to a new episode of the Beyond the Bubble podcast on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts
July 10
Trump visits Florida
Biden and the Texas Democratic Party host call with Beto O’Rourke
Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Tammy Duckworth host virtual roundtable in Wisconsin for the Biden campaign
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Andy Levin will host a virtual Biden for President roundtable in Michigan
Pete Buttigieg will host a virtual Biden for President roundtable in New Hampshire
Senator Amy Klobuchar participates in a Biden roundtable in Arizona
July 11
Louisiana primary
Trump holds rally in New Hampshire
July 12
Puerto Rico Democratic primary
“Bullying, intimidation and retaliation”
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the Trump impeachment witness who told his father “dad… do not worry” in his testimony, announced he’s retiring from the U.S. military.
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This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 1:04 PM.