Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - August 13, 2019

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August 13, 2019

Buttigieg hires former DNC national political director   August 13, 2019: Five candidates are on the bubble for the next Democratic primary debate with at least one qualifying poll. Pete Buttigieg hired former DNC national political director Brandon Neal. Share the latest from the campaign trail.           Since 1900, which state other than Ohio has the best record of backing winning presidential candidates? a. Illinois→ b. Pennsylvania→ c. New Mexico→ d. Florida→ Notable Quote of the Day “But, while eating every major food group from a stick can be fun, Iowa hasn’t been all that kind to national frontrunners. Part of it is the composition of the electorate. On the GOP side, it’s heavily evangelical and rural. On the Democratic side, it’s overwhelmingly white and liberal. Iowans also pride themselves on putting the candidates through their paces. Candidates are expected to invest heavily on field programs and do lots of retail politicking. They aren’t ‘wowed’ by big names or fancy titles. Both Democratic and Republican caucus voters seem to enjoy sticking it to the establishment. Hillary Clinton came into Iowa in 2008 and 2016 as the frontrunner. She left battered and political bruised — losing it in 2008 and narrowly winning in 2016. The last time a so-called ‘establishment’ candidate won the Democratic caucus was 2004 when then Sen. John Kerry beat Gov. Howard Dean, the more liberal outsider.” – Amy Walter, The Cook Political Report Democrats Nine candidates have qualified for the third presidential primary debate and five more candidates are on the cusp with at least one qualifying poll. Julián Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, and Tom Steyer have each met the fundraising threshold. Castro and Steyer are missing one poll and Gabbard three. Kirsten Gillibrand and John Hickenlooper both have one qualifying poll and have not crossed the fundraising threshold. Michael Bennet met with The Des Moines Register editorial board Monday for a video interview. Bill de Blasio said he would remain in the presidential race even if he did not qualify for the third primary debate. “I’m going to look at all the pieces and look, again, six months until anyone votes,” de Blasio said. Cory Booker held a low-dollar fundraiser at a bar in New York City Monday, calling it a grassroots happy hour. Pete Buttigieg hired Brandon Neal, a former Democratic National Committee political director, as a senior adviser. Buttigieg also released a rural economy plan focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and education, ahead of his seventh visit to Iowa as a presidential candidate. Castro returns to Iowa, campaigning in Des Moines and Marshalltown Tuesday. Gabbard reported for active duty Monday with the Hawaiian Army National Guard in Indonesia, where she will be away for two weeks. She will return to the campaign trail Aug. 25. Gillibrand spent $232,000 on an ad buy set to air in Iowa and New Hampshire over the next week. Kamala Harris made the final stop of her five-day bus tour of Iowa Monday. Seth Moulton campaigned in New Hampshire Monday, speaking to the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Beto O'Rourke wrote an op-ed for CNN.com Tuesday about the El Paso mass shooting and racism. Tim Ryan criticized the grassroots fundraising threshold for the third primary debate, saying that “need[ing] 135,000 low-dollar donors where most people are spending $50-$70 to get a $1 contribution to get yourself going I think is inconsistent with where we should be as Democrats.” The Washington Post profiled Bernie Sanders’ focus on Medicare for All and campaign strategy around healthcare. Joe Sestak appeared on This Week in Iowa, where he discussed his military career and presidential campaign. In an interview with NPR Politics Podcast, Elizabeth Warren spoke about trade, racism, gun violence, faith, and the DNA test she took last year. Marianne Williamson will hold a town hall at the East Bay Church of Religious Science in California Wednesday. Republicans The Donald Trump administration issued a new rule Monday expanding the factors an official can consider when evaluating whether an immigrant applying for admission or adjustment of status could become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. The rule goes into effect Oct. 15. On the Cusp: Tracking Potential Candidates Mark Sanford released another campaign-style video Monday on how to address the federal deficit. “Some have suggested starting an advocacy group. Others have suggested running in the Republican primary against the president as a way of elevating the issue and changing the debate,” he said. What We’re Reading The Cook Political Report: The Iowa Caucus Is a Frontrunners' Nightmare RealClearPolitics: What Dem Debate Hosts Can Learn From Fox's 2015 Tack Reuters: As 2020 race heats up, growing worries Warren and Sanders will split leftist vote Flashback: August 13, 2019 The Cook Political Reported shifted Pennsylvania’s presidential race rating, categorizing it as a Toss Up from Leans Democratic.