NotedDC — Republicans pushing for an upset in Colorado

Joe O’Dea (R) could also be a long-shot in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado this fall, however the race has taken on elevated significance amid lagging numbers for a number of Senate GOP hopefuls in different races throughout the nation.

Plenty of high-profile Republicans together with former President George W. Bush are throwing their weight behind the political newcomer, hoping he can assist the social gathering carve a path to a Senate majority with simply 5 weeks to go till the election.

Republicans have their work minimize out for them.

Whereas sometimes a extra purple state, Colorado has trended blue in current cycles. The state went to the Democratic nominee the previous 4 presidential elections, together with in 2020 when President Biden received with 55 p.c of the vote to former President Trump‘s 42 p.c. Main statewide workplaces are additionally held by Democrats.

“I feel it’s very aggressive going into October,” Dick Wadhams, a former Colorado GOP chair, informed NotedDC. “I feel this race may be very winnable for [O’Dea].” 

For his or her half, Democrats have sought to color the GOP businessman as a doable swing vote for Republicans within the higher chamber, serving to them clinch the Senate majority and enact sweeping laws.

“Joe O’Dea is operating to offer Mitch McConnell a [Senate] majority that will enact a nationwide abortion ban, verify right-wing judges and oppose widespread sense gun security legal guidelines – and that it’s why Colorado voters are going to reject him this November,” Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee spokesman Patrick Burgwinkle mentioned in an announcement to The Hill. 

And in the case of their marketing campaign warfare chests, Bennet has the monetary benefit over O’Dea within the remaining stretch.

“O’Dea is being outspent proper now — there’s little doubt about it,” Wadhams mentioned. 

Marketing campaign finance data filed final month confirmed O’Dea ending the quarter with $840,988 money readily available. Bennet’s report for a similar time interval hasn’t but made it to the Federal Elections Fee‘s web site, however Politico reported Tuesday, based mostly on figures given to the outlet, that Bennet can have $4.5 million money in his coffers for the reporting interval. The newest figures present O’Dea had raised $3.5 million, whereas Bennet had already topped $14.5 million months earlier.

Bush, the final Republican to win the presidential vote in Colorado in 2004, will probably be elevating cash for O’Dea’s marketing campaign at an upcoming occasion in Texas. GOP political advisor Karl Rove and Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell (Ky.) even have thrown their assist behind him as a extra mainstream Republican different to Trump’s MAGA wing of the social gathering.

O’Dea notably is certainly one of few Republicans operating within the midterms who hasn’t sought out an endorsement from Trump, and O’Dea has publicly mentioned he hopes that Trump received’t run in 2024.

Current polls have proven Bennet with a wholesome lead at round 10 share factors forward of O’Dea. Notably, there was little motion on both aspect since Emerson Faculty Polling/The Hill launched outcomes from a survey three weeks in the past.

Learn extra on the race from The Hill’s Caroline Vakil.

Welcome to NotedDC, your information to politics, coverage and other people of consequence in D.C. and throughout the U.S. In the present day’s publication comes from The Hill’s Liz Crisp. 

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🍑 October shock

The Georgia Senate race has been rocked by a bombshell report claiming GOP candidate and former soccer star Herschel Walker inspired and paid for an ex-girlfriend to get an abortion in 2009.

• The Each day Beast printed the report on Monday night, citing an abortion receipt from the clinic that the lady supplied in addition to a financial institution deposit receipt with a picture of a signed verify.
• The Hill has not independently confirmed the report. Walker — who has campaigned as a staunch opponent of abortion — has vehemently denied the accusations and threatened to sue the Beast.

Sen. Raphael Warnock (Ga.), the Democratic incumbent who faces Walker on the November poll, informed reporters shortly after the story went reside: “I’ll let the pundits determine how they assume it can affect the race. However I’ve been constant in my opinion {that a} affected person’s room is simply too slender and cramped for area for a lady and the federal government. My view on that has not modified.”

GOP RALLIES: Republicans have shortly provided assist for Walker following the report, with the nationwide social gathering infrastructure vowing to press ahead within the race.

• “[Democrats] know they’re on the verge of shedding the Senate, and so they know that Herschel Walker is profitable,” Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) mentioned in an announcement. “Herschel has denied these allegations and the NRSC and Republicans stand with him, and Georgians will stand with him too.”
• “Georgia may determine the Senate majority, so determined Democrats and liberal media have turned to nameless sources and character assassination,” tweeted Republican Nationwide Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, promising the social gathering would “proceed to put money into the Senate race.”
• Former President Trump claimed Walker “is being slandered and maligned by the Pretend Information Media and clearly, the Democrats,” including, “Herschel has correctly denied the fees towards him, and I’ve little doubt he’s appropriate.”

Takeaway: 5 weeks out from Election Day, the social gathering is tied to Walker and faces no different possibility however to stay it out with him for an opportunity to flip the Senate seat.

CURVEBALL: Walker’s social media influencer son, Christian, has unleashed a barrage of assaults on his father amid the previous 24 hours of drama.

• In a single video posted Tuesday morning, the youthful Walker confirmed his father’s handwriting on a greeting card the lady mentioned she acquired from Walker after the alleged abortion.
• “He has 4 youngsters, 4 completely different girls, didn’t elevate certainly one of them. He was out having intercourse with different girls,” Christian Walker mentioned. “Every thing has been a lie!” 

Herschel Walker hasn’t immediately addressed his son’s claims, besides to tweet: “I LOVE my son it doesn’t matter what.”

>> What’s subsequent? October surprises are nothing new. Whereas the Walker report has been essentially the most seismic to this point—keep in mind, it’s solely Oct. 4—there’s been a gradual drip of damaging tales concentrating on different candidates.

A narrative broke this week claiming Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz had backed medical analysis that killed canines, bunnies and different animals. And Oz’s opponent, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), is being hit with an advert that retells the story of him pulling a gun on a neighborhood jogger who was Black.

🎤 Debate season heats up

Fall festivities and soccer could garner many of the consideration in October, but it surely’s additionally formally debate season as management of Congress hangs within the stability.

• A number of of this 12 months’s Senate debates will probably be hosted by The Hill’s dad or mum firm, Nexstar, and can air on native associates. C-SPAN additionally has a sturdy checklist of debates it can air nationally within the coming weeks.
• A lot of the main target has been on the handful of Senate races that might finally make or break President Biden’s agenda within the second half of his time period.

A fast look on the upcoming Senate debate schedule: 

ARIZONA: Thursday, Oct. 6

• The one anticipated debate between Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly and GOP challenger Blake Masters will air on PBS stations and C-SPAN.

NORTH CAROLINA: Friday, Oct. 7

• Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Democrat Cheri Beasley are battling for North Carolina’s open Senate seat. Their Raleigh debate will air on Spectrum Information 1 and C-SPAN. 

OHIO: Monday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 17

• Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Republican J.D. Vance can have in Cleveland the primary of two debates within the tight race. It’ll air on Ohio Nexstar stations. Ryan and Vance will once more face off in Youngstown in a debate hosted by WFMJ on native channels. 

WISCONSIN: Thursday, Oct. 13 

• Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes will debate at Marquette College airing statewide on TMJ4. 

GEORGIA: Friday, Oct. 14 

• Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and GOP challenger Herschel Walker will face one another in Savannah. The Nexstar-hosted debate will air on WSAV-TV. 

FLORIDA: Tuesday, Oct. 18 

• Incumbent GOP Sen. Marco Rubio faces Democratic challenger Rep. Val Demings in a debate from Palm Seashore State Faculty that can air on WESH 2.

PENNSYLVANIA: Tuesday, Oct. 25 

• Democratic Lt. Gov John Fetterman (D) and GOP movie star physician Mehmet Oz will debate in Harrisburg. Nexstar channels all through the state will carry it.

BIDEN HITS FUNDRAISING CIRCUIT

President Biden will journey to New York and New Jersey later this week to fundraise for Democrats, together with Senate Democrats’ marketing campaign arm.

• Biden will take part in a reception for the Democratic Nationwide Committee in Purple Financial institution, N.J., on Thursday and can take part in a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee in New York Metropolis.
• The journey — which features a cease at IBM to tout his financial agenda — is slated for the day after Biden visits hurricane-battered southwest Florida to survey harm from Hurricane Ian and meet with residents and first responders.
• On Wednesday night after he returns from Florida, Biden can be scheduled to attend a Democratic Governors Affiliation reception in D.C.

What to anticipate from Biden’s Florida journey: The president is slated to meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), however the White Home is enjoying down the potential of fireworks between the potential 2024 election rivals.

“There will probably be loads of time to debate variations between the president and the governor — now will not be that point,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned. “That is going to be above politics.”

ONE NUMBER TO KNOW

397,000 

Florida properties and companies nonetheless with out energy Tuesday — six days after Hurricane Ian made landfall within the Sunshine State.

Price Noting

Presidential photographer Pete Souza, the person behind a number of the most memorable pictures from the Obama administration, will maintain an occasion this weekend highlighting his newest e book, “The West Wing and Past: What I Noticed Contained in the Presidency.”

• The occasion will happen this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Sixth & I. Tickets will be bought right here.  
• The occasion is being billed as an in-person presentation with the photographer’s perception, adopted by a Q&A session with a digital possibility as effectively.

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