POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: PRESSLEY’s in against CAPUANO — MASSIE hires TRIPPI — JKIII’s response reviews
01/31/2018 07:14 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
PRESSLEY'S IN, PLUS A LOOK AT THAT POLL - It's officially happening. Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley is officially mounting a primary challenge to Rep. Michael Capuano to represent the 7th congressional district, which covers Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, Randolph, most of Boston, half of Cambridge, and one-third of Milton.
- I got an exclusive look at the internal poll conducted by Pressley's team back in December that put Pressley's impending run on the radar. According to her campaign, a plurality of MA-7 voters say that more primary elections with "candidates that represent the diversity of the Democratic party" are good.
Capuano has a "significant" lead on a generic Democrat for his re-election, but Pressley's campaign says when those polled learned more about Pressley, that Capuano's lead went down to 7 points. There's also what the campaign described as a "huge margin" of undecided voters, and an 11 percent unfavorable rating for Pressley.
Among the 677 likely Democratic primary voters polled, the quality that people most look for in a candidate to represent them in Congress is that they stand up for what they believe in when it's not politically convenient.
Pressley still has a significantly uphill battle. She's waging a rare primary challenge to a member of her own party in Massachusetts, against a progressive Democrat who's been in the House since 1999. Capuano also has a sizable $760,000 in his campaign account as of the end of 2017. To attempt to counter that, Pressley's campaign has also brought on Boston-based philanthropist Georgia Murrayas finance chair.
Team Capuano, meanwhile, has already begun to circle the wagons. The largest Teamsters union in the state, Boston's Teamsters Local 25, issued an endorsement for Capuano early Tuesday evening.
Pressley's long-anticipated announcement even reached Hollywood, where actress Amber Tamblyn and comedian Amy Schumer posted their support for Pressley on social media. Tamblyn and Pressley met while on the campaign trail supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016. Capuano has his own connection to celebrity - Captain America star Chris Evans is the congressman's nephew. The actor has even helped out on previous Capuano campaigns.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker heads to the Park City area of Utah for a family ski trip until Saturday. Asked if Baker has plans to meet with or talk to Mitt Romney while in the state, Baker's office said they'll advise if he does - Rep. Richard Neal holds a press conference to respond to President Trump's State of the Union address in Springfield just after noon - Back from Puerto Rico, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joins volunteers for the city's annual homeless census.
ON EVERYONE'S LIPS: REVIEWS OF JKIII's RESPONSE -
THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Kennedy rebuttal showed what Fall River can teach the country," by Will Richmond, the Herald News: "Every day, students cram into Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School with goal of learning a skill that will take them further in life. Kennedy's lesson on Tuesday night was to remind the nation that there are people behind these words, and that they don't just live as single topics that make up the latest Tweet or White House press briefing."
THE OFFICIAL REVIEW - "Kennedy calls Trump a 'bully' - though not by name," by Matthew Nussbaum, POLITICO: "[Rep. Joe] Kennedy, speaking from Fall River, Mass., sought to paint the president as a bully set on division, though he did not once mention Trump by name. Kennedy also sought to revive the Democrats' "better deal" - an on-again, off-again slogan from last year and a play on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, among the party's signature 20th-century achievements."
HOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA - "Was that drool coming out of Joe Kennedy's mouth?" by Matthew Nussbaum, POLITICO: "Marco Rubio had his awkward pause for a gulp of water. Joe Kennedy had his ... drool? The Democratic congressman's mouth corners appeared especially shiny during his response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address - and many online were quick to accuse him of drooling during his address. The alternative theory was an overzealous application of lip balm."
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Considering Massachusetts As A 'Sanctuary State' For Pot," by Antonio Caban, WGBH News:"Massachusetts would become a so-called sanctuary state for marijuana under a new proposal filed on Beacon Hill, but the idea could be a hard sell for some. The bill would bar local and state law enforcement officials from reporting and assisting federal authorities in cases that deal with marijuana that would otherwise be legal under state law."
- "Maura Healey's Trump Card," by David S. Bernstein, Boston Magazine: "The Massachusetts attorney general, after all, spent just about all of 2017 as a thorn in the side of Trump and his administration. ... Is Healey using Trump as a convenient political punching bag to raise her profile for higher office? Is she standing up to the White House to protect the citizens of the state? Or is she merely advancing her own ideological and political agenda? And, perhaps most important of all, is there some reason it can't be a little of all three?"
- "Lots Of Uncertainty As Mass. Bump Stock Ban Takes Effect Feb. 1," by Alden Bourne, New England Public Radio: "Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that Massachusetts officials don't know how many bump stocks may be out there. But as of Feb. 1, people caught with them could face a sentence of at least three years."
- "Bill prompted by Hernandez verdict dismissal after suicide," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "At times pausing to fight back tears, [Ursula Ward, mother of Odin Lloyd, who was killed by Aaron Hernandez] joined Rep. Evandro Carvalho to testify in support of his bill (H 3835) that would end the practice known as abatement ab initio - where a conviction is wiped out if the defendant dies before exhausting the appeals process - in cases when the defendant dies by suicide. Hernandez, a former New England Patriots player, was found guilty of murder more than two years after the 2013 death of Lloyd, a semi-professional football player."
- "Baker plans energy audit for Swampscott home," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: " As governor, Charlie Baker has overseen the biggest renewable energy procurement in Massachusetts history and touted the state's longstanding top ranking for energy efficiency. As the owner of a 19th century six-bedroom home near the shore's edge in Swampscott, Baker plans to see what more he can do within his four walls to save on heating and electricity."
- "Departed advocates claim Baker officials froze them out," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Two longtime human services advocates who left their posts late last year say they departed amid tensions with the Baker administration that made it difficult for them to do their jobs. Their stories contrast with experiences recounted by others involved in advocacy who praised Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders for an approach they said includes transparency and engagement."
ON THE STUMP -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Democratic gubernatorial contender Bob Massie has hired strategist Joe Trippi's shop to assist with the campaign's fundraising and online communications. Trippi recently was involved in Doug Jones' successful Senate bid in Alabama, as well as the campaigns of California Gov. Jerry Brown and 2004 presidential contender Howard Dean.
- JAYGO ENDORSED BY STATE SEN. CINDY FRIEDMAN - from Democratic gubernatorial contender Jay Gonzalez, whose campaign will announce this later this morning: "I'm Cindy Friedman, State Senator from the 4th Middlesex district, and I am supporting Jay Gonzalez for Governor. ... Jay is a true progressive who won't settle for the status quo."
- "Battenfeld: Beth Lindstrom fills war chest," by Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald: "Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Beth Lindstrom raised more than $400,000 during the last quarter of 2017, outpacing her two GOP rivals in a sign that her bid to challenge Democrat Elizabeth Warren is gaining some traction, new reports show. Lindstrom's fourth-quarter totals surpassed those of her two Republican opponents, state Rep. Geoff Diehl and businessman John Kingston."
- "Storming the Castle: Springfield progressive Amatul-Wadud challenges entrenched Congressman Neal," by Dave Eisenstadter, the Valley Advocate: "... Despite her words, winning will not be easy for Amatul-Wadud. The African-American Muslim woman is taking on longtime and well-funded Congressman Richard Neal in the September 4 Democratic Primary for the First Congressional District of Massachusetts. In an interview in her office in Chicopee, Amatul-Wadud said she admired Neal as she was growing up in Springfield and said she bore no ill feelings against him personally, but that he had not delivered results for the vulnerable people, both in rural areas and the inner city, in his district."
- "Tough campaign awaits state Rep. Mom," by Todd Feathers, Lowell Sun: "... Local political watchers say Mom is in for a tougher re-election bid this year than he faced in 2016. Challengers for his 18th Middlesex district seat are already emerging, including at least one who previously campaigned for him. Sam Meas, Mom's former campaign chairman, said in a statement that he and other residents of the district have found Mom to be unresponsive."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Local 4 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) today endorsed Dan Koh in the race for the 3rd Congressional District. IUOE Local 4 represents over 5,000 members, including heavy equipment operators, apprentices, mechanics, surveyors, equipment house employees, as well as waste water technicians and certain public sector employees.
- "Westford's Terry Ryan officially begins congressional campaign," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "School Committee Chairman Terry Ryan formally kicked off his campaign for Congress last week as the crowded race for the 3rd Congressional District heats up. Ryan has served on the School Committee in Westford for six years, and he is also the director of the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center based in Lowell."
- "3rd District candidates raking in cash," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "More than half of the candidates running to succeed U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas announced their latest fundraising figures ahead of the Jan. 31 deadline. Six of the 12 Democrats in the race raised $200,000 or more in their first quarters of fundraising. Three of them have raised half a million or more."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "GRONK: I'M IN," "A study in contrast." - Globe: "'A new American moment,'" "T riders say rush hour is now the crush hour," "Pressley to challenge Capuano in the 7th district," "In party's rebuttal, Kennedy portrays a fractured nation," "Message of unity in speech a stark contrast to reality," "TO KEEP PHILLY'S CURSE DOWN, THEY'VE GOT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "North Andover rejects proposal for pot farm," by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: " After more than two hours of heated debate, residents here voted to ban recreational marijuana facilities, effectively killing a contentious plan to turn part of the former Lucent Technologies plant into one of the world's largest cannabis-growing and research facilities."
- "Local owners bought this newspaper back from a cost-cutting national chain. Next step: Bringing back the readers," by Shan Wang, Nieman Lab: "The new owners laid out a guiding strategy - if you build it up, they will come back - and promised to stay in the business of local news for the long haul. Producing better, local-focused news, and more of it, they surmised, would be the straightest path to bringing back subscribers, raising more revenue - more to invest in digital products and, finally, sustainability."
- "Amtrak set to increase North-South train service," by Richie Davis, Greenfield Recorder: "A pilot rail shuttle is expected to launch between Greenfield and New Haven, Conn., sometime after May, with stops in Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield as well as Hartford and connections to New York and potentially Bradley International Airport. The bad news is that while the new Amtrak service will make a round trip to New York and back in a single day for the first time, the proposed schedule - with two early-morning new trains southbound from Greenfield and two nighttime trains back to Greenfield - would require a long day in New York, from about 10:30 a.m. to about 7:30 p.m., according to Franklin Regional Council of Governments Transportation Planning Manager Maureen Mullaney."
- "Holyoke residents, leaders, activists buoyed by listening session with governor's Latino Advisory Commission; press barred from attending," by Elizabeth Roman, MassLive.com: "'I felt like we were able to express many of the concerns that have been the same in this community for 40 years,' said Holyoke City Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez. Lebron-Martinez spoke with a reporter from The Republican outside the school after the meeting because the commission barred members of the press from the listening session."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Kathi Reinstein, Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs for Treasurer Deb Goldberg.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! - The Bruins lost to the Ducks 3-1.
- LAST CHANCE TO LISTEN BEFORE TOMORROW'S NEW EP: We've got veteran State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy in the Horse Race podcast bunker this week breaking down Governor Charlie Baker's State of the Commonwealth address. Plus Maureen McInerney, public affairs associate at MassINC fills in for host Steve Koczela to talk fundraising in the governor's race, the election for Suffolk County Register of Deeds (it's wonky, we know) and the upcoming forum featuring the Democrats -- all thirteen -- running for the MA-3. Subscribe and listen on iTunes andSound Cloud
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