The Trump-DeSantis brawl begins

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Jun 02, 2023 View in browser
 
POLITICO Playbook

By Ryan Lizza, Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade

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Altria

With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Clive, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Ron DeSantis is trying to balance introducing himself and his record to voters with criticizing Trump. | AP

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DRIVING THE DAY

DEFAULT ALL BUT AVERTED — The Senate passed the debt ceiling deal last night by a final vote of 63-36, sending it to President JOE BIDEN's desk. More from Daniella DiazAP ticktock

CNN BRACES FOR LICHT PIECE — The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta has a 15,000-word profile of CNN CEO CHRIS LICHT posting at 9 a.m. this morning. Alberta has been working on the article since last year and Licht granted him an extraordinary level of access, including during the planning and filming of the network’s controversial town hall with DONALD TRUMP last month in New Hampshire. CNN reporters and executives have been buzzing about the piece for weeks as it neared completion. It’s a long one but we’re told readers will want to “stick around till the end.” Hmmm.

IT BEGINS — With the debt ceiling drama behind us, the center of American politics is about to turn sharply from Capitol Hill to the 2024 presidential election, especially the GOP primary. The GOP field will soon expand, with former VP MIKE PENCE, former New Jersey Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE and current North Dakota Gov. DOUG BURGUM all preparing to formally enter the race next week.

They’ll join the cast of already declared candidates, which includes Trump, Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS, South Carolina Sen. TIM SCOTT, former South Carolina Gov. NIKKI HALEY, former Arknasas Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON and VIVEK RAMASWAMY. New Hampshire Gov. CHRIS SUNUNU and Miami Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ have both said they may also join the race.

The expanding field only serves to underscore the main dynamic that will dominate this summer: There’s Trump, the dominant frontrunner. There’s DeSantis, the diminished — but still principal — challenger. And then there’s everybody else.

Nationally, Trump holds a 31-point lead over DeSantis in the RCP polling average, but that’s down six points since May 20, as DeSantis’s official entry into the race gave the governor a bump.

It’s a little closer in Iowa, where expectations are high for DeSantis to make an initial blow against the former president, who holds a 22-point lead in the RCP average. And it’s closer still in South Carolina, where Trump’s lead is 20 points, and in New Hampshire, where Trump’s lead is 18 points.

We’re still in the early days, but with DeSantis finishing his first tour of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and Trump continuing to keep up a steady schedule of media appearances, we have some initial takeaways about the defining matchup of the 2024 GOP primaries:

TWO STATES, TWO MESSAGES: In Iowa, DeSantis, who signed a six-week abortion ban this year in Florida, has played up his pro-life credentials. Evangelicals are a large and crucial GOP voting bloc in Iowa, and some key anti-abortion leaders there have been critical of Trump recently. But in New Hampshire, which allows abortions up until 24 weeks, DeSantis adjusted his pitch:

NYT: “In Iowa on Wednesday, he talked about Florida’s six-week ban, known as the Heartbeat Protection Act, during a lengthy recounting of his record as governor. ‘We have enacted the heartbeat bill,’ he told a crowd in Cedar Rapids before being drowned out by cheers and applause. But he did not mention the bill at several stops in New Hampshire on Thursday.”

DeSANTIS HONES HIS KNIFE: DeSantis is trying to strike a balance between introducing himself to voters and criticizing Trump. His stump speech so far emphasizes his biography and his accomplishments as governor of Florida. He generally saves his anti-Trump barbs for interviews when he is inevitably pressed. So far he’s making a few related points:

— I can serve two terms; Trump would be a lame duck. "You really need to ensure that we have a two-term president to be able to see this to a conclusion,” DeSantis said in New Hampshire on Thursday, arguing that the nation’s problems are so vast that one term isn’t enough to fix them.

That shot caught Trump’s attention. In Iowa yesterday, he responded, "If it takes eight years to turn it around, you don't want him as president." Trump went on to say that need a president who can fix things in “six months.”

DeSantis, campaigning in New Hampshire, had a cutting rejoinder: “Why didn’t he do it in his first four years?”

— I’m focused; Trump is not. “You really need a very disciplined, energetic president willing to spit nails and fight the needed battles every single day for eight years,” he said about GOP desires to tame the so-called “administrative state.”

— Trump’s record as president fell short. For example, DeSantis attacked Trump for failing to fire ANTHONY FAUCI, the public health expert who has become a demonized figure on the right. He also accused Trump of moving to the “left.” (Though CNN points out that DeSantis once said Fauci is “really doing a good job.”)

— Trump is not a real Republican. WaPo: “He suggested Trump was not a team player, saying that if the former president ‘put the mission first’ he would have cheered DeSantis and other Republicans’ victories in Florida last fall.”

Trump’s post-presidency activities are unsavory. This one is subtle, but the DeSantis team has advertised it to the press. Boston Herald: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is teeing up former President Donald Trump over golf. DeSantis hosted 9/11 Families over the Memorial Day weekend just as Trump National in Washington, D.C., was the site of the Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament.”

Trump is kind of a jerk. WaPo: “‘I think it’s so petty,’ he told New Hampshire radio host Jack Heath on Thursday, speaking of Trump’s habit of name-calling. ‘I think it’s so juvenile. I don’t think that’s what voters want, and honestly I think that — that his conduct, which he’s been doing for years now, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s not in the White House now.’”

TRUMP UNLOADS THE KITCHEN SINK: The former president, his campaign and his allies have attacked the Florida governor over Social Security, Medicare, abortion, a national sales tax, book bans, overusing the word “woke,” his fight with Disney, and how he pronounces his name.

But there is a notable difference between the more surgical attacks ofTrump’s paid consultants and the former president’s wide-ranging riffs.

"The most damaging position for DeSantis among Swing State voters is his record on cuts to Social Security and Medicare where DeSantis goes from leading [President Joe] Biden by 4 points to trailing Biden by 10 points at 50%/40% — a net swing against DeSantis of 14 points," Trump pollster TONY FABRIZIO wrote in a memo to donors, according to Axios.

Trump is reveling in more personal criticisms. “You don’t change your name in the middle of an election,” he said in Iowa. “He changed his name in the middle of the election. You don’t do that, you do it before or after, but ideally you don’t do it at all.”

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Ross and Yoon will join WME as partners. Their clients, which include many writers well-known in D.C., such as MOLLY BALL, SHERROD BROWN, DAVID CORN, E.J. DIONNE, GARRETT GRAFF, JOSHUA GREEN, ERIC HOLDER, MIKE ISIKOFF, VAN JONES, CARLOS LOZADA, JOY REID, CONNIE SCHULTZ, JIM SCIUTTO, BEN TERRIS, KAREN TUMULTY, KENNETH VOGEL, DAVID WEIGEL (and Ryan!), will now be part of WME’s roster of talent.

Happy Friday. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.

 

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NEW MUST-READ MICHAEL SCHAFFER COLUMN — “‘Disgusting’: Autism Advocates Decry Insinuations About DeSantis”

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS MORNING — “Jobs Report Expected to Show Unemployment Still Historically Low,” by WSJ’s Gabriel Rubin

THE FRIDAY READ — “‘We Want Total War’: Inside the Republican Rebound in New York,” by David Freedlander: “Democrats are suddenly losing in one of the bluest states in America. What’s going on?”

A TRIO OF 2024 SENATE RACE DEVELOPMENTS …

— In Wisconsin: Could Rep. MIKE GALLAGHER oust Democratic Sen. TAMMY BALDWIN in 2024? This morning, Ally Mutnick reports that a poll commissioned in late May by the NRSC found Gallagher — who has flirted with a bid and not yet closed the door on one — trailing Baldwin by just 1 point: 46 percent to 47 percent, with 7 percent undecided.

— In Delaware: Democratic Rep. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER will launch a campaign this month for the open seat being vacated by retiring Sen. TOM CARPER (D-Del.), who has endorsed her effort, write Ally Mutnick and Holly Otterbein. Blunt Rochester has begun to hire campaign staff, and her expected nomination makes it likely she’ll become the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate.

In California: “Former Los Angeles Dodgers icon STEVE GARVEY is considering running for the open U.S. Senate seat in California as a Republican, a move that would immediately upend the 2024 race,” reports the L.A. Times’ Seema Mehta. “The 74-year-old has never held elected office but has been meeting with GOP donors and leaders around the state as he weighs a bid and is expected to make a decision within the next month or so.”

 

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BIDEN’S FRIDAY:

1:45 p.m.: The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief, with VP KAMALA HARRIS attending.

7 p.m.: Biden will address the nation about the debt ceiling bill and avoiding default.

8:10 p.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Marine Barracks Washington, where he’ll attend the Friday Evening Parade at 8:45 p.m.

10:45 p.m.: Biden will arrive back at the White House.

HARRIS’ FRIDAY — The VP will also head to Springfield, Va., at 3:50 p.m. with Education Secretary MIGUEL CARDONA to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day with remarks about the administration’s efforts.

Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE will brief at 2 p.m.

THE SENATE is in. THE HOUSE is out.

 

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW.

 
 

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Former President Donald Trump visits with campaign volunteers at the Grimes Community Complex Park.

Former President Donald Trump visits with campaign volunteers at the Grimes Community Complex Park, Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

PLAYBOOK READS

POLICY CORNER

DEBT DEAL’S IMPACT — “U.S. debt-ceiling deal dooms Biden’s revolutionary tax plans,” by Reuters’ David Lawder

FORGIVE ME NOT — “Senate rejects Biden’s student loan forgiveness program,” by WaPo’s Danielle Douglas-Gabriel: “While Biden has promised to veto the bill, the vote in the Senate, in which two Democrats and an independent sided with Republicans, shows the divisiveness of the student loan policy and the difficulty of getting any future plan through Congress.”

MEET THE NEW BOSS — Former North Carolina health secretary MANDY COHEN is Biden’s pick for the next CDC director, WaPo’s Dan Diamond and Lena Sun scoop. Cohen will replace outgoing director ROCHELLE WALENSKY, who steps down on June 30. She previously served in the Obama administration as a senior official at CMS, and oversaw North Carolina’s Covid response in 2020 and 2021.

THE WHITE HOUSE

COMING SOON TO GOP ADS — “Biden says he got ‘sandbagged’ after he tripped and fell onstage at Air Force graduation,” by AP’s Darlene Superville

2024 WATCH

THE WHIFF OF SCANDAL — “RFK Jr. advised firm that pitched investments to business tied to Venezuela scandal,” by Semafor’s Liz Hoffman, Gina Chon and Bradley Saacks

MORE POLITICS

KARI-ED INTEREST — If KARI LAKE runs for Senate in Arizona, the Republican likely won’t make it official until September or October, because she has a national book tour first, Time’s Eric Cortellessa reports. “Complicating matters for Arizona Republicans has been Lake’s unwillingness to firmly commit to the race, even in private.” Lake insists she’s almost certain to run, but some wonder if it’s a tactic to maintain relevance. In the meantime, however, much of the rest of the field remains frozen, awaiting her decision.

DEMS UNDER ATTACK — The NRCC is launching a campaign attacking House Democrats for wanting to raise the debt ceiling without spending cuts, the Washington Examiner’s Cami Mondeaux reports. “The messaging refers to a discharge petition signed by all 213 Democrats earlier this month that sought to force a vote on a debt limit increase without spending cuts, even without McCarthy’s approval. The motion ultimately failed, but the NRCC is hoping to use it as campaign fodder” — even though many of the Dems ultimately voted for the compromise bill.

CONGRESS

MR. SMITH LEAVES WASHINGTON — “Utah Rep. Chris Stewart eyes September exit,” by Roll Call’s Justin Papp and Paul Fontelo

JUDICIARY SQUARE

SCOTUS WATCH — “In blow to unions, Supreme Court rules company can pursue strike damage claim,” by NBC’s Lawrence Hurley: “The 8-1 decision written by Justice AMY CONEY BARRETT means the company, Glacier Northwest Inc., can pursue a lawsuit against the union in state court over an August 2017 strike … Organized labor advocates had raised concern that a ruling in favor of the company could stifle strike actions.” In dissent: KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

A different framing: “Unions are relieved as the Supreme Court leaves the right to strike intact,” by NPR’s Nina Totenberg: “The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed a victory to business interests in a labor dispute, but the win was more of a whimper than a roar.”

 

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BEYOND THE BELTWAY

OUR BLEAK CLIMATE FUTURE — “Arizona will halt new home approvals in parts of metro Phoenix as water supplies tighten,” by the Arizona Republic’s Brandon Loomis: “The groundwater aquifers currently serving 4.6 million people across metro Phoenix are lagging behind growth on a trajectory that would run just short of projected needs in 100 years, according to a new state groundwater model released Thursday by Gov. KATIE HOBBS. As a result, the state’s water agency will stop approving new development that relies solely on groundwater.”

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

THIS MORNING IN EUROPE — “Blinken finishes his Nordic trip in Finland, NATO’s newest member, with a focus on the war,” by NYT’s Michael Crowley

JUST POSTED — “White House wants to engage Russia on nuclear arms control in post-treaty world,” by AP’s Aamer Madhani: “White House national security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN will make clear the Biden administration’s desire for talks on building a new framework during an address to the Arms Control Association on Friday, according to two senior administration officials.”

Related read: “US retaliates for Russia’s suspension of New START treaty by revoking visas of nuclear inspectors,” by AP’s Matthew Lee

IMMIGRATION FILES — “End of Title 42 changes calculus of migrants at U.S.-Mexico border,” by WaPo’s Arelis Hernández and Danielle Villasana in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico: “Some are trying to get appointments on the CBP app with middling success. Many said their preference is not to enter the United States illegally but to try to apply for asylum. But frustration is growing. … [C]onfused migrants are languishing in shelters, sleeping on streets and going door to door among businesses asking for jobs, food and, sometimes, medicine. Some are biding their time, knowing that conditions at the border evolve with each lawsuit … Others are wondering how long they should wait.”

MEDIAWATCH

FOX NEWS SHUFFLE — “Fox News New Weekend Lineup Revealed,” by The Messenger’s Zachary Leeman

MUSK READ — “Twitter’s Top Content Moderation and Safety Executive Leaves,” by WSJ’s Alexa Corse: “[ELLA IRWIN,] Twitter’s top official for monitoring safety and content moderation[,] said she resigned Thursday, the second time an executive with that role has departed since Elon Musk bought the social-media company in October.”

Earlier in the day: “Elon Musk Says Twitter Rejection of Daily Wire’s ‘What Is a Woman?’ Doc Over Misgendering Was ‘a Mistake by Many People at Twitter,’” by Variety’s Todd Spangler

BOWLING A STRIKE — “Journalists at country’s largest newspaper chain will walk off the job,” by WaPo’s Elahe Izadi: “Hundreds of staffers at Gannett newspapers across seven states are protesting their company’s leadership and job cuts.”

TV TONIGHT — PBS’ “Washington Week,” guest-moderated by William Brangham: Peter Baker, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Asma Khalid and Nikole Killion.

SUNDAY SO FAR …

FOX “Fox News Sunday”: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds … Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) … Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) … Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and William Ostan. Panel: Vince Coglianese, Marie Harf, Josh Holmes and Josh Kraushaar.

CBS “Face the Nation”: Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova … Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Panel: Caitlin Huey-Burns, Ed O’Keefe and Robert Costa.

ABC “This Week”: Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus, Mary Bruce and Dan Balz.

MSNBC “Inside with Jen Psaki”: James Comey … Gisele Barreto Fetterman.

 

GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE.

 
 
PLAYBOOKERS

Laura Wagner, the WaPo’s new media reporter, recently called upon WaPo owner Jeff Bezos to “eat sh*t you clown f*ck.”

Mary Trump and E. Jean Carroll are writing a romance novel.

Rupert Murdoch dropped $35.2 million on a new bachelor pad overlooking Central Park.

For Michael Bennet, it’s still 2022 somewhere.

Jamie Dimon “wants to be president,” but “doesn’t want to run for president,” Charlie Gasparino said on Fox News.

Angie Craig’s attacker pleaded guilty.

Guy Benson stood up for Pride.

IN MEMORIAM — “George Watson, Longtime ABC News Washington Bureau Chief, Dies at 86,” by The Hollywood Reporter’s Mike Barnes: “Watson returned to the U.S. in 1975 as ABC News’ White House correspondent. A year later, he was named Washington bureau chief and vice president, a role he held two different times, spanning 12 years total. … He also developed and produced Viewpoint … He was also director of the Committee to Protect Journalists from 1982-93.”

OUT AND ABOUT — The Kidsave Miracles Gala last night at the Hall of States honored Andrea Mitchell for her reporting in Ukraine and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) for her work on child welfare and foster children. Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich emceed, and the honorees joined virtually. Also SPOTTED: Beth Dresing, Craig Goodman, Bill Novelli, Nadia and Robert McConnell, Kateryna Smagliy, Randi Thompson and Shannon Scott-Paul.

— SPOTTED at the launch of Changemakers PAC to fund flipping the Virginia state Senate to Republicans, at the home of Emily Lampkin last night: Bruce Blakeman, Sarah Bovim, Sara Fagen, Courtney Geduldig, Kristen Gullott, Barry Jackson, Alison Jones, Greta Joynes, Colleen Litkenhaus, Elizabeth Maier, Dan Meyers, Will Moschella, Lisa Nelson, Kristi Remington, Chris Ullman and Ellen Walter.

WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Katie Petrelius is leaving the White House, where she’s been deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of personnel, FT’s James Politi scooped. She previously led fundraising for the Biden campaign.

TRANSITIONS — Albert Morales will be director of sales for services at TargetSmart. He previously was VP at GQR. … Raquel Velazco is joining the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association as finance director. She previously worked for the Latino Victory Project and the DSCC. …

… Dorian Greer Karp is now policy director at the National Domestic Violence Hotline. She previously was policy director at Jewish Women International. … Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is joining No Labels as a national co-chair.

WEDDING — Tim Hagood, VP of comms and advocacy at Navigators Global, and Katie Furtado, a data analyst at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, got married recently at Meridian House. They met at a concert at Black Cat. Pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) (4-0) … DNC’s Alex HornbrookMia Heck ... Mike Lynch of the DPCC and Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) office … Jeanine Pirro … Crooked Media’s Jon FavreauIan Byrne Rich Ashooh ... former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) (6-0) … Jen TumminioBen Cassidy of the BLC Group … Reason’s Elizabeth Nolan BrownClarence Page Vanessa Day … POLITICO’s Katie WojcikJP Schnapper-CasterasChris Lehane Alex Joyce of the American Conservation Coalition … Zach Isakowitz of Rep. Michael McCaul’s (R-Texas) office … Jason Rosenbaum

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