Harris tries to build a big tent

Aug 20, 2024

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HEADS UP — NICOLE SHANAHAN said she and ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. have to choose whether to stay in the race or drop out and join forces with DONALD TRUMP to stop VP KAMALA HARRIS. “Not an easy decision,” she said on Tom Bilyeu’s “Impact Theory” podcast.

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives for the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.

Recreating a version of Barack Obama’s broad 2008 coalition would be the ultimate political dream for Kamala Harris. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

NIGHT TWO — Having already amassed momentum with the Democratic Party base, Harris still needs to build a broad enough backing to win what remains a very tight race. And tonight’s lineup of speakers at the Democratic National Convention — which, yes, will begin earlier than last night — reflects an effort to build a big tent.

There will be a notable Republican presence at the convention, with prominent GOP leaders and former officials breaking ranks to back Harris. That includes Mesa, Arizona, Mayor JOHN GILES speaking tonight, along with former Georgia Lt. Gov. GEOFF DUNCAN, former Rep. ADAM KINZINGER (R-Ill.) and OLIVIA TROYE throughout the week, CNN’s Isaac Dovere reports. Former Trump White House press secretary STEPHANIE GRISHAM will deliver remarks too, NBC’s Monica Alba reports.

Their places in the lineup, despite policy disagreements with Harris, are meant to convince Americans that Trump poses a unique threat to the country’s democracy, even though Harris has emphasized that narrative less than President JOE BIDEN did.

Second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF is also speaking tonight, and his emphasis on his Jewish identity could provide a bridge to some Democrats who have gotten worried about antisemitism on the left, NYT’s Adam Nagourney reports. “Mr. Emhoff’s emerging role seemed intended to try to keep Jewish Democrats on board”: Emhoff is talking up the fight against antisemitism and making clear that he’d emphasize it as first gentleman.

Also expanding the tent: Sen. BERNIE SANDERS’ (I-Vt.) speech tonight will be a beacon for progressives, while Harris’ ascent has unleashed a crush of donations from women, Bloomberg’s Amanda Gordon reports.

And then of course there’s BARACK and MICHELLE OBAMA, both of whom will speak tonight. Recreating a version of Obama’s broad 2008 coalition would be the ultimate dream for Harris, as WaPo’s Dan Balz reports. “He is in a position to do for her what former president BILL CLINTON did for him at the 2012 Democratic convention,” especially given the Obamas’ continued status as two of the most popular Democrats in the country.

Elsewhere on the docket for tonight: Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER, Illinois Gov. JB PRITZKER, Sen. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-Ill.) and New Mexico Gov. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM.

As Harris continues walking the tightrope of getting more specific — but not too specific — about her policy plans, WaPo’s Jacob Bogage and Jeff Stein report that her team is considering imposing some restrictions on the proposal to end taxes on tips. The limits could include implementing the policy only for workers who make up to $75,000 in the service and hospitality sectors, and only doing away with federal income tax, not payroll tax. The discussions reflect uncertainty around the proposal, which has quickly gained steam as Harris sought to match Trump on the idea but drawn skepticism from economists.

NBC’s Sahil Kapur has a reality check reminder: Most of the big economic ideas Harris has set forth would essentially require Democrats to win both chambers of Congress. (Republicans are already opposed, and she can’t implement them on her own.) That’s a tall order.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Sabato’s Crystal Ball is shifting its rating of North Carolina from leaning Republican to toss-up in the presidential race, per Kyle Kondik. It’s the first time the UVA outlet has moved any state from the GOP column into too-close-to-call territory all cycle.

SURVEY SAYS — Polling has been scarce in Nebraska’s swingy 2nd Congressional District, whose single electoral vote could matter in a tight race. But a new Remington Research Group survey finds Harris jumping out to an 8-point lead, per the Nebraska Examiner’s Aaron Sanderford, while GOP Rep. DON BACON is up by 2. … There’s better news for Trump in Virginia, where Roanoke College finds Harris ahead by just 3 points in a state that should be safer for Democrats.

Good Tuesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@politico.com.

TUNE IN: TODAY AT THE CNN-POLITICO GRILL — 3 p.m. CDT: Rep. MAXWELL FROST (D-Fla.), with Ankush Khardori … 3:30 p.m.: Pritzker, with Jonathan Martin … 4:30 p.m.: ANITA DUNN, with Lauren Egan and Eli Stokols … 4:50 p.m.: ROB FLAHERTY, Harris deputy campaign manager, with Eugene … 5:10 p.m.: Ambassadors KAREN PIERCE of the U.K., KIRSTEN HILLMAN of Canada and KRISTJAN PRIKK of Estonia, with Paul McLeary … 5:30 p.m.: Rep. JIM HIMES (D-Conn.), with Kevin Baron … 5:45 p.m.: Sen. MARK WARNER (D-Va.), with Anita Kumar … 6:05 p.m.: House Democratic Caucus Chair PETE AGUILAR (D-Calif.), with Nicholas Wu … 6:30 p.m.: Colorado Gov. JARED POLIS, with Victoria Guida

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6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

New ads from Bernie Moreno focus on immigration. | Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

1. BIG MONEY: Having spent little on TV ads so far, Ohio Senate Republican candidate BERNIE MORENO is finally making a big plunge, setting down a massive $25 million across multiple platforms, Ally Mutnick scoops. Moreno is leading with messaging focused on immigration, as he tries to tie Democratic Sen. SHERROD BROWN to Harris and himself to Trump.

2. BUTLER INVESTIGATION: “Trump assassination attempt shows long-standing flaws in Secret Service protections,” by Spotlight PA’s Danielle Ohl, ProPublica’s Jessica Lussenhop and The Butler Eagle’s Irina Bucur, Tracy Leturgey and Eddie Trizzino: “He’d warned them. Butler Township Police Officer DREW BLASKO paced angrily along the AGR building, where just minutes before a gunman had clambered atop the roof … ‘I told them that fucking Tuesday,’ he said. ‘I told them to post fucking guys over here.’ … [T]he weaknesses that led to the assassination attempt were not unique to the July rally, but the inevitable breakdown of an already vulnerable system.”

3. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT: DHS IG JOSEPH CUFFARI warned in a new report in Congress that under the Trump and Biden administrations, ICE hasn’t been able to keep track of many unaccompanied minors released into the U.S., ABC’s Mike Levine, Lucien Bruggeman, and Laura Romero report. The number of kids who didn’t show up in immigration court from 2019 to 2023 surpasses 32,000 — and perhaps way higher. ICE can’t account for some of their whereabouts, raising concerns that they could be vulnerable to exploitation.

Follow ongoing storylines on how the election will shape policy debates beyond 2024. Our nonpartisan insights prepared our subscribers to navigate a changed political landscape. Learn more about POLITICO Pro.

4. JD VANCE’S WORLD: “Tech donor network co-founded by JD Vance seeks to push America to the right,” by Reuters’ Alexandra Ulmer and Aram Roston: “Founded in 2019, Rockbridge Network seeks to influence U.S. politics through a centrally controlled network of right-wing political groups backed by some of the same deep-pocketed tech investors who helped bankroll Vance’s political rise. … [New reporting reveals] the scale of its ambitions, its roughly $75 million budget for 2024 and its role in seeking to influence November’s presidential election.”

5. FED UP: As we get ready for a big speech from Fed Chair JEROME POWELL later this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, new government data out tomorrow could increase the pressure to lower interest rates, Bloomberg’s Augusta Saraiva reports. Forecasters are predicting that revised statistics could show the U.S. added about 600,000 fewer jobs in the first quarter of the year than was previously estimated. If the numbers shift by that much, it would be the biggest drop in 15 years — and a sign that the labor market really has been cooling down under the weight of high rates.

6. MUCK READ: “He Regulated Medical Devices. His Wife Represented Their Makers,” by NYT’s Christina Jewett: “While [retiring FDA official JEFFREY] SHUREN regulated the booming medical device industry, his wife, ALLISON W. SHUREN, represented the interests of device makers as the co-leader of a team of lawyers at Arnold & Porter … [I]t’s not clear how rigorously the ethics agreements were actually enforced. … The Times identified some clients and several instances in which the Shurens’ roles intersected.”

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PLAYBOOKERS

Chuck Schumer said Robert Caro called him “the Jewish LBJ.”

Josh Shapiro’s family is vacationing in South Carolina.

Nancy Pelosi is the convention’s “Godmother.”

PLAYBOOK FASHION SECTION — “Kamala Harris’s Tan Suit Surprise,” by NYT’s Vanessa Friedman

OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at a “BOLD Night” event honoring Latinos in government, with performances by Los Texmaniacs and Gina Chavez, at Offshore Rooftop in Chicago: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Veronica Duron, Adrian Saenz, Colin Rogero, Halle Mayes, Amy Strathdee, Sara Conrad, Victoria McGroary, Carlos Paz and Yuri Beckelman.

TRANSITIONS — Kirin Kennedy is now senior adviser at the Southern Environmental Law Center, covering climate, energy and ag issues. She previously was a senior professional staff for Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and is a Sierra Club alum. … National Council of Jewish Women is adding Ellen Buchman as chief field engagement officer and Amy Aronoff Blumkin as chief growth officer. Buchman previously was president of the Opportunity Agenda. Aronoff Blumkin is a longtime Jewish philanthropy executive.

ENGAGED — Sarah Horning, digital director at Cavalry LLC and an RNC and Stand Together alum, and Michael Bloomfield, senior policy analyst for the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, got engaged over the weekend on the Sconset Bluff Walk in Nantucket near Michael’s family home. Pic

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