thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--The other reason to restart rallies: Trump #MAGA events are voter data goldmines

Known for raucousness and bombast , President Trump 's “ Make America Great Again ” rallies are also the key driver behind a data analytics program that guides campaign strategy for voter turnout and resource deployment .
Trump ’ s high-wattage stadium rallies are intricately choreographed political revivals , with the president ’ s habit of ad-libbing provocative comments often sparking days of public discussion .
But underneath the hood , the Trump campaign is using interest in the “ # MAGA ” events to gather reams of granular data on American voters .
That information , in turn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test messaging , and decide how and where to invest in manpower and money to increase the president ’ s vote share .
“ The rally lists are an invaluable source of data that help power volunteer efforts and small-dollar fundraising , ” said Chris Wilson , a Republican pollster and data consultant who advised the Ted Cruz presidential campaign four years ago .
“ You have people who have already gone out there and taken a public action to support the president , ” Wilson explained .
“ Those folks are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than are your typical list targets who have just signed up as supporters online.
” Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally this Saturday in Tulsa , Oklahoma — his first since mid-March , when in-person political activities were suspended because of the coronavirus .
Capacity at the arena , Bank of Oklahoma Center , is just under 20,000 .
But Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale bragged Monday in a Twitter post that more than 1 million people submitted an RSVP to attend the event .
The remarkable figure is reassuring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP base remains enthusiastic to reelect the president amid a spate of polls showing him trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , particularly among suburban women and independents .
For the Trump campaign , the flood of RSVPs for Tulsa is doubling as a treasure trove , assisting to refine a voter file that assigns a score of up to 3,000 data points per individual .
Trump campaign officials estimate that 15 % to 20 % of rally goers , while inclined to vote for the president if they show up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participated in just one election over the past four years — if that .
Many more are not registered to vote at all .
So the events are used to register new voters and cement relationships with occasional voters .
The campaign also tries to use rallies to convert Trump-curious Democrats .
Among the 156,632 RSVPs for the January Trump rally in New Jersey to boost Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew , more than 26 % were registered Democrats , campaign officials said .
Ditto for more than 25 % of voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire in February and for 18 % of voters who requested tickets for a rally the same month in Phoenix .
Meanwhile , the campaign credits a decision to sink resources into New Mexico primarily on the fact that so many RSVPs for the president ’ s rally in El Paso , Texas , in the summer of last year were from people who lived across the state line .
“ No matter which city or state the president is visiting , he is always drawing new supporters into the fold — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats , ” Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager said .
In an interview Monday , DNC spokesman David Bergstein insisted the Trump rally reveals a president who is scrambling to expand a dwindling political base .
He said the strategy would fall short against a Biden campaign that is growing its support heading into Election Day .
`` Successful campaigns are all about addition , and what the Trump campaign rallies demonstrate is that he is trying to reach a narrower and narrower slice of the electorate that was probably going to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Known for raucousness and bombast, President Trump's “Make America Great Again” rallies are also the key driver behind a data analytics program that guides campaign strategy for voter turnout and resource deployment.
Trump’s high-wattage stadium rallies are intricately choreographed political revivals, with the president’s habit of ad-libbing provocative comments often sparking days of public discussion. But underneath the hood, the Trump campaign is using interest in the “#MAGA” events to gather reams of granular data on voters. That information, in turn, is used to recruit grassroots volunteers, test messaging, and decide how and where to invest in manpower and money to increase the president’s vote share.
“The rally lists are an invaluable source of data that help power volunteer efforts and small-dollar fundraising,” said Chris Wilson, a Republican pollster and data consultant who advised the Ted Cruz presidential campaign four years ago.
“You have people who have already gone out there and taken a public action to support the president,” Wilson explained. “Those folks are a lot more likely to continue doing things than are your typical list targets who have just signed up as supporters online.”
Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally this Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma — his first since mid-March, when in-person political activities were suspended because of the coronavirus. Capacity at the arena, Bank of Oklahoma Center, is just under 20,000. But Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale bragged Monday in a Twitter post that more than 1 million people submitted an RSVP to attend the event.
Over 1M ticket requests for the @realDonaldTrump #MAGA Rally in Tulsa on Saturday.
Before entering each guest will get:
✅Temperature check
✅Hand sanitizer
✅Mask
There will be precautions for the heat and bottled water as well. — Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 15, 2020
The remarkable figure is reassuring to some Republican insiders glad to see signs the GOP base remains enthusiastic to reelect the president amid a spate of polls showing him trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, particularly among suburban women and independents. For the Trump campaign, the flood of RSVPs for Tulsa is doubling as a treasure trove, assisting to refine a voter file that assigns a score of up to 3,000 data points per individual.
Trump campaign officials estimate that 15% to 20% of rally goers, while inclined to vote for the president if they show up, are low propensity voters who might have participated in just one election over the past four years — if that. Many more are not registered to vote at all. So the events are used to register new voters and cement relationships with occasional voters. The campaign also tries to use rallies to convert Trump-curious Democrats.
Among the 156,632 RSVPs for the January Trump rally in New Jersey to boost Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, more than 26% were registered Democrats, campaign officials said. Ditto for more than 25% of voters who registered to attend a Trump rally in New Hampshire in February and for 18% of voters who requested tickets for a rally the same month in Phoenix.
Meanwhile, the campaign credits a decision to sink resources into New Mexico primarily on the fact that so many RSVPs for the president’s rally in El Paso, Texas, in the summer of last year were from people who lived across the state line.
“No matter which city or state the president is visiting, he is always drawing new supporters into the fold — including formerly disengaged voters or even registered Democrats,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager said.
The Democratic National Committee rejects Republican claims of data superiority.
In an interview Monday, DNC spokesman David Bergstein insisted the Trump rally reveals a president who is scrambling to expand a dwindling political base. He said the strategy would fall short against a Biden campaign that is growing its support heading into Election Day.
"Successful campaigns are all about addition, and what the Trump campaign rallies demonstrate is that he is trying to reach a narrower and narrower slice of the electorate that was probably going to vote for him anyways," Bergstein said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--The first vice president of color was a Republican over 90 years ago

Joe Biden 's pledge to choose a woman as his running mate , and his consideration of several black female officeholders for the role , has spurred considerable chatter about diversity in the nation 's second-highest office .
`` Historic '' is a term often associated search by Biden , himself a former vice president , after 36 years as a Delaware senator .
But the United States has already elected its first minority vice president , Republican Charles Curtis , who had significant Native American ancestry .
Curtis was vice president under President Herbert Hoover for four years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's darkest economic times , the Great Depression .
Curtis , Senate majority leader when tapped by Hoover for the Republican ticket , was also the first person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to reach the highest ranks of the federal government .
Born in the Kansas Territory in 1860 , Curtis spent much of his formative years on an Indian reservation .
His mother , Ellen Pappan Curtis , who shared Kansa , Osage , and Potawatomi heritage , died when he was 3 years old .
He then moved in with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where his first language was that of the tribe .
He later learned English and French .
His father , Oren Arms Curtis , had Anglo heritage .
Historians are divided about whether Charles Curtis was one-eighth or three-eighths native Indian , although he remained a member of the Kaw Tribe his entire life .
`` He ’ d like to say ' I ’ m three-eighths Caw Indian and 100 % American , ' '' University of Kansas historian David Hamilton told the Washington Examiner .
`` And that Indian heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politician . ''
The Kansas frontier remained bloody during Curtis 's time on the Kaw reservation , so much so that constant conflicts between warring tribes forced him to live with his paternal grandfather in Topeka .
The move was hard on the young Curtis , who spoke fondly about his own `` bows and arrows . ''
At the age of 8 , he was tasked with informing the state government about a Cheyenne Indian raid .
As Curtis grew older in Topeka , so did his fondness for politics .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jockey , '' his nickname at the time , won an election for Shawnee County attorney in 1884 .
Eight years later , he was elected to Congress as a Republican in an upset election that broke the Democratic stronghold in his district .
Curtis was appointed a senator in 1907 and stayed in office through 1913 .
The next year , he won Kansas 's other Senate seat , just after the 17th Amendment created the direct election of senators .
Curtis rose to majority whip after Republicans won a Senate majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agenda of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson .
In the latter half of the 1920s , a time of Republican dominance in national politics , Curtis became Senate majority leader .
`` He was the first Republican to have the title as majority leader in Congress .
It was only in the '20s that both parties began to formally refer to their leader as the 'majority leader ' or 'minority leader , ' '' Hamilton said .
`` He ’ s the classic example of a nonideological legislator .
He played some role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress . ''
Broadly considered one of the most likable members of the Senate , Curtis 's ambitions turned toward the White House following President Calvin Coolidge 's decision in 1927 to forgo another term .
Curtis 's run for the Republican Party 's presidential nomination the following year was fairly disastrous .
At the 1928 Republican National Convention in Kansas City , Curtis earned just 64 votes on the ballot compared to 837 for Herbert Hoover , commerce secretary in GOP administrations for much of the 1920s .
The party still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though he had long been a Hoover rival .
Their ticket won the 1928 election in a landslide , with 58.2 % of the vote and carrying 40 states .
Despite the historic nature of Curtis 's vice presidency , most of the country thought little of his Indian background .
`` Had Al Smith , who was Catholic and the first Catholic on a presidential ticket , beaten Hoover , that would have been more significant at the time , '' said Hamilton , referring to the 1928 Democratic nominee , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These religious divisions carried much more weight back then .
Race was less consequential then because there were n't any real efforts to address civil rights or things of that nature .
It doesn ’ t divide the nation as it does today . ''
The stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression tanked Curtis 's reputation with the public .
His efforts at easing concerns , such as predicting that `` good times are around the corner '' in 1930 , were routinely mocked in the press as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for vice president in 1932 on the first bid , although won the spot in a runoff even after losing the confidence of Hoover , who had grown increasingly irritated by what he saw as fecklessness and incompetence .
Hoover and Curtis lost the 1932 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Garner in a landslide , with the Democratic candidates winning 57 % of the vote .
Curtis then retired from public office , opening a law practice in Washington .
Three years after his loss for a second term , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign Committee and worked to get his party back to a majority in the upper chamber in 1936 .
He died from a heart attack a year before that election and was buried in his native Kansas .

Joe Biden's pledge to choose a woman as his running mate, and his consideration of several black female officeholders for the role, has spurred considerable chatter about diversity in the nation's second-highest office.
"Historic" is a term often associated with the search by Biden, himself a former vice president, after 36 years as a Delaware senator.
But the United States has already elected its first minority vice president, Republican Charles Curtis, who had significant Native American ancestry. Curtis was vice president under President Herbert Hoover for four years, much of it consumed by the nation's darkest economic times, the Great Depression. Curtis, Senate majority leader when tapped by Hoover for the Republican ticket, was also the first person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to reach the highest ranks of the federal government.
Born in the Kansas Territory in 1860, Curtis spent many of his formative years on an Indian reservation. His mother, Ellen Pappan Curtis, who shared Kansa, Osage, and Potawatomi heritage, died when he was 3 years old. He then moved in with his maternal grandmother on the Kaw Indian Reservation, where his first language was that of the tribe. He later learned English and French.
His father, Oren Arms Curtis, had Anglo heritage. Historians are divided about whether Charles Curtis was one-eighth or three-eighths native Indian, although he remained a member of the Kaw Tribe his entire life.
"He’d like to say, 'I’m three-eighths Caw Indian and 100% American,'" University of Kansas historian David Hamilton told the Washington Examiner. "And that Indian heritage was important to him as a Kansas politician."
The Kansas frontier remained bloody during Curtis's time on the Kaw reservation, so much so that constant conflicts between warring tribes forced him to live with his paternal grandfather in Topeka. The move was hard on the young Curtis, who spoke fondly about his own "bows and arrows." At the age of 8, he was tasked with informing the state government about a Cheyenne Indian raid.
As Curtis grew older in Topeka, so did his fondness for politics. After graduating law school, the "Indian jockey," his nickname at the time, won an election for Shawnee County attorney in 1884. Eight years later, he was elected to Congress as a Republican in an upset election that broke the Democratic stronghold in his district.
Curtis was appointed a senator in 1907 and stayed in office through 1913. The next year, he won Kansas's other Senate seat, just after the 17th Amendment instituted the direct election of senators.
Curtis rose to majority whip after Republicans won a Senate majority in 1918. He led opposition to the agenda of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. In the latter half of the 1920s, a time of Republican dominance in national politics, Curtis became Senate majority leader.
"He was the first Republican to have the title as majority leader in Congress. It was only in the '20s that both parties began to formally refer to their leader as the 'majority leader' or 'minority leader,'" Hamilton said. "He’s the classic example of a nonideological legislator. He played some role in Indian affairs issues when he was in Congress."
Broadly considered one of the most likable members of the Senate, Curtis's ambitions turned toward the White House following President Calvin Coolidge's decision in 1927 to forgo another term. Curtis's run for the Republican Party's presidential nomination the following year was fairly disastrous. At the 1928 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Curtis earned just 64 votes on the ballot, compared to 837 for Hoover, commerce secretary in GOP administrations for much of the 1920s.
The party still gave Curtis the running mate slot, though he had long been a Hoover rival. Their ticket won the 1928 election in a landslide, with 58.2% of the vote and carrying 40 states.
Despite the historic nature of Curtis's vice presidency, most of the country thought little of his Indian background.
"Had Al Smith, who was Catholic and the first Catholic on a presidential ticket, beaten Hoover, that would have been more significant at the time," said Hamilton, referring to the 1928 Democratic nominee, who was governor of New York. "These religious divisions carried much more weight back then. Race was less consequential then because there weren't any real efforts to address civil rights or things of that nature. It doesn’t divide the nation as it does today."
The stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression tanked Curtis's reputation with the public. His efforts at easing concerns, such as predicting that "good times are around the corner" in 1930, were routinely mocked in the press as well.
He later lost his renomination bid for vice president in 1932 on the first bid, although he won the spot in a runoff, even after losing the confidence of Hoover, who had grown increasingly irritated by what he saw as fecklessness and incompetence. Hoover and Curtis lost the 1932 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Garner in a landslide, with the Democratic candidates winning 57% of the vote.
Curtis then retired from public office, opening a law practice in Washington. Three years after his loss for a second term, he became chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and worked to get his party back to a majority in the upper chamber in 1936. He died from a heart attack a year before that election and was buried in his native Kansas.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--Trump gambles on holding the line against renaming military bases

As Republican lawmakers sign on to a bipartisan push to rename military bases named after Confederate generals and protesters topple statues they perceive to have any connection to slavery , President Trump is holding firm against the idea , despite the lack of recent polling .
Trump has said he “ will not even consider ” renaming military installations such as Fort Bragg and Fort Hood as the protests following the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man , in police custody have sparked a national conversation about national symbols , customs , and artworks that are associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a position that has traditionally played well with the Republican base , especially in the South , but it is unclear where public opinion stands following the nationwide protests after Floyd died when a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes .
NASCAR has the Confederate flag from all its events , and a Republican-controlled Senate panel advanced an amendment by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren to remove Confederacy-related monuments , names , and other items from military bases over three years .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recent polling is scarce , a 2017 Fox News poll found 61 % of Americans were against taking down Confederate monuments , while 29 % were in favor .
A PBSNewshour/NPR/Marist poll taken around the same time found 62 % wanted to keep the monuments intact , while 27 % preferred to take them down , with even black respondents split 44 % -40 % on keeping versus removing Confederate statues .
This has recently been true even in Southern states that have experienced a leftward political trend .
A 2019 Elon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to keep Confederate monuments on government-owned property .
A 2018 found 57 % of Virginians also opposed getting rid of Confederate statues .
North Carolina voted for Barack Obama twice , while Virginia hasn ’ t delivered its electoral votes to a Republican presidential candidate since 2004 .
Some polls , such as the or the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling , have shown people are more likely to support removing Confederate memorabilia if it involves relocating the items in question to museums .
The public has remained divided on whether Confederate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride or racism and slavery .
But the national climate has changed rapidly in the wake of the Floyd protests .
“ If you have a military base that is named after someone that actually rebelled against the United States government , then you would want to be able to go back and look at that name , ” Sen. James Lankford , an Oklahoma Republican , told ABC ’ s This Week on Sunday .
“ That should be a pretty basic principle.
” “ It 's important that we preserve history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are cultural shifts to be aware of , ” said Dave Wilson , a Republican strategist in South Carolina , where the Confederate battle flag was removed from statehouse grounds , while Nikki Haley was governor , after a 2015 racist massacre at a black Charleston church .
Wilson points to his state ’ s Heritage Act , which requires a two-thirds majority in the state legislature to change or remove similar monuments .
“ It allows for us to have a debate and achieve a true consensus , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people as a whole , not just a select group.
” '' I think it ’ s in the DNA of native South Carolinians to care very little about the opinions of outsiders , and we all have a bit of a revolutionary streak in us , '' said Republican strategist Walter Whetsell .
`` However , with rapid growth in the Lowcountry and in the suburban counties bordering Charlotte , the demographics here are changing .
I think most South Carolinians see renaming monuments akin to remaking history — and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so part of our culture , where do you stop ?
We literally have thousands of streets , buildings , parks , towns , cities , named for historical figures . ''
Trump isn ’ t alone .
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley , an up-and-coming Republican lawmaker , has come out against renaming the military bases .
“ Now , before we vote on this floor on the National Defense Authorization Act , I will offer an amendment to undo this effort at historical revisionism , ” he said in a Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it not to celebrate the cause of the Confederacy but to embrace the cause of union , our union , shared together as Americans.
” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe , an Oklahoma Republican , has also signaled support for more local input into the base names .
The White House has gone so far as to say Trump would veto the NDAA if Warren ’ s amendment is included .
“ We must recognize the sacrifices made by these men and women , some of whom saw Fort Bragg for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said press secretary Kayleigh McEnany at a briefing last week .
Trump has warned in the past that the monument removals will not be limited to Confederate leaders .
`` I wonder : Is it George Washington next week , and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after ? ''
Trump said to reporters in 2017 .
`` You know , you really do have to ask yourself — where does it stop ? ''
Albany ’ s mayor is removing a statue of Revolutionary War Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have targeted figures as diverse as Jefferson and Winston Churchill .
“ It ’ s a very difficult issue the president is wrestling with , ” Wilson said .

As Republican lawmakers sign on to a bipartisan push to rename military bases named after Confederate generals and protesters topple statues they perceive to have a connection to slavery, President Trump is holding firm against the idea, despite the lack of recent polling.
Trump has said he “will not even consider” renaming military installations such as Fort Bragg and Fort Hood as the protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody have sparked a national conversation about national symbols, customs, and artworks that are associated with racism and the Confederacy.
It’s a position that has traditionally played well with the Republican base, especially in the South, but it is unclear where public opinion stands following the nationwide protests after Floyd died when a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from all its events, and a Republican-controlled Senate panel advanced an amendment by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren to remove Confederacy-related monuments, names, and other items from military bases over three years. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden supports Warren’s proposal.
While more recent polling is scarce, a 2017 Fox News poll found 61% of Americans were against taking down Confederate monuments, while 29% were in favor. A PBSNewshour/NPR/Marist poll taken around the same time found 62% wanted to keep the monuments intact, while 27% preferred to take them down, with even black respondents split 44%-40% on keeping versus removing Confederate statues.
This has recently been true even in Southern states that have experienced a leftward political trend. A 2019 Elon University poll found 65% of North Carolinians wanted to keep Confederate monuments on government-owned property. A 2018 Quinnipiac poll found 57% of Virginians also opposed getting rid of Confederate statues. North Carolina voted for Barack Obama twice, while Virginia hasn’t delivered its electoral votes to a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.
Some polls, such as the Public Religion Research Institute or the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, have shown people are more likely to support removing Confederate memorabilia if it involves relocating the items in question to museums. The public has remained divided on whether Confederate paraphernalia is primarily a symbol of Southern pride or racism and slavery.
But the national climate has changed rapidly in the wake of the Floyd protests. “If you have a military base that is named after someone that actually rebelled against the United States government, then you would want to be able to go back and look at that name,” Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, told ABC’s This Week on Sunday. “That should be a pretty basic principle.”
“It's important that we preserve history while at the same time realizing that there are cultural shifts to be aware of,” said Dave Wilson, a Republican strategist in South Carolina, where the Confederate battle flag was removed from statehouse grounds, while Nikki Haley was governor, after a 2015 racist massacre at a black Charleston church. Wilson points to his state’s Heritage Act, which requires a two-thirds majority in the state legislature to change or remove similar monuments. “It allows for us to have a debate and achieve a true consensus,” he said. “The decision is made by the people as a whole, not just a select group.”
"I think it’s in the DNA of native South Carolinians to care very little about the opinions of outsiders, and we all have a bit of a revolutionary streak in us," said Republican strategist Walter Whetsell. "However, with rapid growth in the low country and in the suburban counties bordering Charlotte, the demographics here are changing. I think most South Carolinians see renaming monuments akin to remaking history — and they wonder that in a state where history is so part of our culture, where do you stop? We literally have thousands of streets, buildings, parks, towns, cities, named for historical figures."
Trump isn’t alone. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, an up-and-coming Republican lawmaker, has come out against renaming the military bases. “Now, before we vote on this floor on the National Defense Authorization Act, I will offer an amendment to undo this effort at historical revisionism,” he said in a Senate floor speech. “I will offer it not to celebrate the cause of the Confederacy but to embrace the cause of union, our union, shared together as Americans.”
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, has also signaled support for more local input into the base names.
The White House has gone so far as to say Trump would veto the NDAA if Warren’s amendment is included. “We must recognize the sacrifices made by these men and women, some of whom saw Fort Bragg for the last time before they went overseas,” said press secretary Kayleigh McEnany at a briefing last week.
Trump has warned in the past that the monument removals will not be limited to Confederate leaders. "I wonder: Is it George Washington next week, and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after?" Trump said to reporters in 2017. "You know, you really do have to ask yourself — where does it stop?"
Albany’s mayor is removing a statue of Revolutionary War Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler, who was a slaveholder, while demonstrators have targeted figures as diverse as Jefferson and Winston Churchill.
“It’s a very difficult issue the president is wrestling with,” Wilson said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--Warren, who crusaded against big fundraisers, headlines most successful Biden high-dollar event yet

Joe Biden 's most successful high-dollar fundraiser yet featured Elizabeth Warren , his former primary competitor who railed against big-money events and refused to hold any during her own presidential campaign .
The Monday evening digital event on Zoom that set the record raised more than $ 6 million and drew 620 people , according to the Biden campaign and event organizers .
`` There has been such high interest in this event that it was actually oversubscribed .
In fact , initially , it sold out , ” said Maya Rupert , a senior adviser for the political organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's presidential campaign called Warren Democrats , told attendees , according to a pool report .
“ Fortunately , we were able to add more tickets this morning , and as a result of that support and enthusiasm this event hosted by Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised $ 6 million for the Biden victory fund , making it the most successful fundraiser they 've ever had . ''
Warren , one of the half-dozen or so top contenders to be Biden 's running mate , refused to host high-dollar fundraisers for her own presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , Warren , 70 , took time she would have spent on calling major donors to take photos with supporters at campaign events for hours on end or surprise small-dollar donors with phone calls .
Her presidential campaign ran ads and wrote fundraising pitches based on her pledge that she would not hold big-money fundraisers , and the point was a part of her stump speech .
In October , Warren said that she would keep the pledge after the primary if she won the Democratic presidential nomination .
`` Either you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all about going behind closed doors with bazillionaires and corporate executives and lobbyists and scooping up as much money as possible .
Or you think it 's about a grassroots , let 's build this from the ground up , '' Warren told CBS in October .
Conversely , Biden heavily relied on high-dollar fundraisers throughout the primary race .
During the Monday fundraiser , Biden thanked Warren for making the event so successful .
“ Thank you for asking your friends to help me out .
It 's the biggest fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's all because of you .
Thank you , ” Biden said .
When asked about his relationship with Warren , Biden and the Massachusetts senator `` agreed that Wall Street did n't build this country , '' and he called her a `` change-maker . ''
“ It 's the cause of our time to build a stronger , more resilient middle class , and this time bring everyone along , not leave people behind , ” Biden said .
“ We believe in standing up to the abuse of power , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know I do , and I know she does.
” Also during the event , Warren praised Biden 's character by mentioning that her brother died of the coronavirus .
`` I couldn ’ t tell him one last time that I loved him .
After he died , Joe Biden called , ” Warren said .
“ He offered kindness and comfort at a time when I needed some kindness.
” Monday is not the first time that Warren 's actions seemed to violate her past pledges .
In February , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren flipped her stance on Democratic super PAC support .
She long pledged that she would disavow support from a super PAC , a type of political committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money , particularly the kind made to support a single candidate .
But when allies of Warren created a super PAC to support her in February , she refused to do so .
Earlier on Monday , the Biden campaign announced that it and the Democratic National Committee raised $ 80.8 million in May , a sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised in April .
The Biden Victory Fund distributes funds raised to the Biden campaign , the DNC , and 26 state parties .

Joe Biden's most successful high-dollar fundraiser yet featured Elizabeth Warren, his former primary competitor who railed against big-money events and refused to hold any during her own presidential campaign.
The Monday evening digital event on Zoom that set the record raised more than $6 million and drew 620 people, according to the Biden campaign and event organizers.
"There has been such high interest in this event that it was actually oversubscribed. In fact, initially, it sold out,” said Maya Rupert, a senior adviser for the political organization that grew out of the Massachusetts senator's presidential campaign called Warren Democrats, told attendees, according to a pool report. “Fortunately, we were able to add more tickets this morning, and as a result of that support and enthusiasm this event hosted by Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised $6 million for the Biden victory fund, making it the most successful fundraiser they've ever had."
Warren, one of the half-dozen or so top contenders to be Biden's running mate, refused to host high-dollar fundraisers for her own presidential campaign or actively solicit high-dollar donations. Instead, Warren, 70, took time she would have spent on calling major donors to take photos with supporters at campaign events for hours on end or surprise small-dollar donors with phone calls.
Her presidential campaign ran ads and wrote fundraising pitches based on her pledge that she would not hold big-money fundraisers, and the point was a part of her stump speech. In October, Warren said that she would keep the pledge after the primary if she won the Democratic presidential nomination.
"Either you think democracy works and electing a president is all about going behind closed doors with bazillionaires and corporate executives and lobbyists and scooping up as much money as possible. Or you think it's about a grassroots, let's build this from the ground up," Warren told CBS in October.
Conversely, Biden heavily relied on high-dollar fundraisers throughout the primary race.
During the Monday fundraiser, Biden thanked Warren for making the event so successful.
“Thank you for asking your friends to help me out. It's the biggest fundraiser we've ever had. And it's all because of you. Thank you,” Biden said.
When asked about his relationship with Warren, Biden and the Massachusetts senator "agreed that Wall Street didn't build this country," and he called her a "change-maker."
“It's the cause of our time to build a stronger, more resilient middle class, and this time bring everyone along, not leave people behind,” Biden said. “We believe in standing up to the abuse of power,” he added. “And I know I do, and I know she does.”
Also during the event, Warren praised Biden's character by mentioning that her brother died of the coronavirus.
"I couldn’t tell him one last time that I loved him. After he died, Joe Biden called,” Warren said. “He offered kindness and comfort at a time when I needed some kindness.”
Monday is not the first time that Warren's actions seemed to violate her past pledges.
In February, as her presidential campaign began to struggle, Warren flipped her stance on Democratic super PAC support. She long pledged that she would disavow support from a super PAC, a type of political committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money, particularly the kind made to support a single candidate. But when allies of Warren created a super PAC to support her in February, she refused to do so.
Earlier on Monday, the Biden campaign announced that it and the Democratic National Committee raised $80.8 million in May, a sharp spike from the $60.5 million it raised in April.
The Biden Victory Fund distributes funds raised to the Biden campaign, the DNC, and 26 state parties.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--Joe Biden collecting twice as many small-dollar donations as Hillary Clinton did in 2016

More evidence has emerged that Joe Biden enjoys significantly more grassroots support than the last Democratic presidential nominee .
In the month of May , Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in $ 81 million , the largest amount of donations by any candidate so far in the 2020 race .
A significant chunk of that came from small-dollar donations , with the average amount given by supporters at $ 30 .
Those small donations to Biden compare favorably to the last time he was on a national ticket , in 2012 , running , successfully , for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of small donors to Biden , previously a 36-year Delaware senator , is more than Obama got during May 2012 , or Hillary Clinton four years later .
That means even as Democratic super-donors largely remain on the sidelines for now , Biden is able to build a campaign infrastructure that 's beginning to rival President Trump 's massive operation .
The month of April tells much of the same story .
Although Biden raised just over half as much as he did in May , $ 42 million , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from small donations .
Clinton , who constantly faced attacks that she was out of touch with the average voter , saw 18 % of donations to her campaign and super PAC being under $ 200 .
Trump , whose 2016 primary run was almost entirely funded by small donations , raised $ 9 million out of $ 16 million in the month of April from donors giving less than $ 200 .
Fundraising watchdog Open Secrets estimates that 64 % of all of Trump 's campaign cash comes from small donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a departure from Biden 's fundraising strategy in the primary .
During that cycle , as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders fueled his second White House run entirely from those donating in the double-digits , Biden focused on courting the wealthy .
That strategy led Biden to have a consistent fundraising deficit compared to Sanders , often in the tens of millions of dollars .
Biden 's digital fundraising apparatus was weak compared to his former rivals , leading him to focus on closed-door fundraisers with the wealthy .
The meet-and-greet cocktail party and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders that he was courting the rich .
In May , Biden 's team hired a number of new staffers to beef up its digital team out of fears it was losing its edge to Trump .
As the coronavirus pandemic has largely kept Biden in his home , online fundraising is more important than ever .
Despite his strong fundraising numbers from average voters since clinching the nomination , Biden is still hoping to get as many maxed-out , $ 2,800 donations as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama will headline a fundraiser later this month .

More evidence has emerged that Joe Biden enjoys significantly more grassroots support than the last Democratic presidential nominee.
In the month of May, Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in $81 million, the largest amount of donations by any candidate so far in the 2020 race. A significant chunk of that came from small-dollar donations, with the average amount given by supporters at $30.
Those small donations to Biden compare favorably to the last time he was on a national ticket, in 2012, running, successfully, for a second term with President Barack Obama. The number of small donors to Biden, previously a 36-year Delaware senator, is more than Obama got during May 2012, or Hillary Clinton four years later. That means even as Democratic super-donors largely remain on the sidelines for now, Biden is able to build a campaign infrastructure that's beginning to rival President Trump's massive operation.
The month of April tells much of the same story. Although Biden raised just over half as much as he did in May, $42 million, about 37% of all his money raised came from small donations. Clinton, who constantly faced attacks that she was out of touch with the average voter, saw 18% of donations to her campaign and super PAC being under $200. Trump, whose 2016 primary run was almost entirely funded by small donations, raised $9 million out of $16 million in the month of April from donors giving less than $200. Fundraising watchdog OpenSecrets estimates that 64% of all of Trump's campaign cash comes from small donors.
The surge in small donations marks a departure from Biden's fundraising strategy in the primary. During that cycle, as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders fueled his second White House run entirely from those donating in the double-digits, Biden focused on courting the wealthy.
That strategy led Biden to have a consistent fundraising deficit compared to Sanders, often in the tens of millions of dollars. Biden's digital fundraising apparatus was weak compared to his former rivals, leading him to focus on closed-door fundraisers with the wealthy. The meet-and-greet cocktail party and dinner fundraisers often led to attacks from candidates such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders that he was courting the rich.
In May, Biden's team hired a number of new staffers to beef up its digital team out of fears it was losing its edge to Trump. As the coronavirus pandemic has largely kept Biden in his home, online fundraising is more important than ever.
Despite his strong fundraising numbers from average voters since clinching the nomination, Biden is still hoping to get as many maxed-out, $2,800 donations as possible. On Monday, his campaign announced that Obama will headline a fundraiser later this month.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--Trump plunges to 16 points below Biden in Michigan poll

President Trump rapidly lost support in the critical swing state of Michigan as protests and civil unrest swept the nation at the beginning of June , sinking to 16 percentage points behind former Vice President Joe Biden , according to a statewide poll .
A survey from Lansing , Michigan , pollster EPIC-MRA that was conducted on 600 likely Michigan voters from May 31 to June 4 found that Biden had 55 % support , while Trump had 39 % .
That is a slightly bigger lead than what the firm found in another poll conducted from May 30 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan voters , which it did separately due to its clients commissioning too many questions to fit in one poll .
That poll found that Trump was 12 points behind the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee : 53 % to 31 % .
Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points .
The polls show a major shift from January , when the firm found that Trump was 6 points behind Biden .
Most other recent polls compiled by RealClearPolitics found that Trump was only a few points behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a pollster for EPIC-MRA , said that the change in numbers was related to major nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd , a black man from Minneapolis , after being held under a white police officer 's knee .
`` Things that happen in the news are what typically cause changes like this , and the only thing you can point to that happened in the news was what happened on June 1 , '' he told the Detroit Free Press .
`` I attribute the dramatic slide to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

President Trump rapidly lost support in the critical swing state of Michigan as protests and civil unrest swept the nation at the beginning of June, sinking to 16 percentage points behind former Vice President Joe Biden, according to a statewide poll.
A survey from Lansing, Michigan, pollster EPIC-MRA that was conducted on 600 likely Michigan voters from May 31 to June 4 found that Biden had 55% support, while Trump had 39%.
That is a slightly bigger lead than what the firm found in another poll conducted from May 30 to June 4 that surveyed another 600 likely Michigan voters, which it did separately due to its clients commissioning too many questions to fit in one poll. That poll found that Trump was 12 points behind the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee: 53% to 31%.
Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.
The polls show a major shift from January, when the firm found that Trump was 6 points behind Biden. Most other recent polls compiled by RealClearPolitics found that Trump was only a few points behind Biden in the state.
Bernie Porn, a pollster for EPIC-MRA, said that the change in numbers was related to major nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, after being held under a white police officer's knee.
"Things that happen in the news are what typically cause changes like this, and the only thing you can point to that happened in the news was what happened on June 1," he told the Detroit Free Press. "I attribute the dramatic slide to more saturation of that news coverage."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--A Neil Gorsuch ruling is not going to hurt Trump's Religious Right support

Monday 's groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling that workers can not be fired for being transgender or gay was a surprise to many social conservatives for one reason : The majority opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch .
In the eyes of Republicans , Gorsuch was one of the first successes of the Trump administration .
The death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016 meant the outcome of that November 's presidential election would be more important than ever .
No matter what , either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be appointing at least one individual to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to make sure the court balance remained the same .
If any Republican voter was initially reluctant to support Trump , their fears were eased by the assurance of a forthcoming Supreme Court appointment .
As expected , some conservatives are frustrated with the ruling , including Gorsuch 's involvement .
In fact , some may feel betrayed .
But while the outcome and Gorsuch 's authorship does n't please them , it certainly wo n't dampen their interest in voting to reelect Trump this fall despite the Democratic Party 's wishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how this new Title VII decision will affect religious liberty in the future .
However , they are n't enough to deflect any meaningful support into the waiting arms of former Vice President Joe Biden .
Apart from the Supreme Court considerations exist a vast number of reasons the GOP will continue to support the president , regardless of how Gorsuch may have greatly disappointed some in the party .
It goes without saying that the justices appointed by a president are entirely separate from the president himself .
Chief Justice John Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has joined the left-leaning justices so often that conservatives have lost faith in him .
On the other hand , Justice Samuel Alito , also a Bush appointee , is one of the most conservative members of the high court .
How a justice decides is not necessarily a reflection of the president who selects them .
But while legal outcomes are important to the GOP , Trump administration victories away from the bench matter more to the average voter .
Those in the Republican Party who have supported the president are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most of all , Republicans know that despite any disappointment with Trump , a Biden presidency would do nothing to fulfill their conservative desires .
At The Week , author Damon Linker wrote , `` Neil Gorsuch fired a torpedo at President Trump 's re-election campaign . ''
Regarding social and religious conservatives , he wrote , `` The Trump campaign needs to anticipate these voters are now far more likely to sit this one out . ''
This comes across as nothing but wishful thinking .
The Supreme Court decision and Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but voters on the Right are far more interested in the country 's current crises .
Not only are we still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic , but societal unrest and racial tensions are at an all-time high .
The desire for a `` law and order '' president who supports the nation 's law enforcement outweighs specially designated legal concerns .
Additionally , Republicans view the administration 's pandemic response as appropriate and the Left 's reaction to it as continuously hypocritical .
A disappointing mid-June decision by Trump 's first nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the background long before Election Day .
If there is anything the Democratic Party and its supporters should expect , it 's that Trump 's overwhelming support within the Republican Party is a guarantee .
GOP voters may be discouraged by some of what they see , but in their minds , the Biden alternative is far worse than the status quo .
Kimberly Ross ( @ SouthernKeeks ) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner 's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital .

Monday's groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling that workers cannot be fired for being transgender or gay was a surprise to many social conservatives for one reason: The majority opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch.
In the eyes of Republicans, Gorsuch was one of the first successes of the Trump administration. The death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016 meant the outcome of that November's presidential election would be more important than ever. No matter what, either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be appointing at least one individual to the highest court in the land. Conservatives wanted to make sure the court balance remained the same. If any Republican voter was initially reluctant to support Trump, their fears were eased by the assurance of a forthcoming Supreme Court appointment.
As expected, some conservatives are frustrated with the ruling, including Gorsuch's involvement. In fact, some may feel betrayed. But while the outcome and Gorsuch's authorship doesn't please them, it certainly won't dampen their interest in voting to reelect Trump this fall despite the Democratic Party's wishes. There are plenty of questions concerning how this new Title VII decision will affect religious liberty in the future. However, they aren't enough to deflect any meaningful support into the waiting arms of former Vice President Joe Biden. Apart from the Supreme Court considerations exist a vast number of reasons the GOP will continue to support the president, regardless of how Gorsuch may have greatly disappointed some in the party.
It goes without saying that the justices appointed by a president are entirely separate from the president himself. Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, has joined the left-leaning justices so often that conservatives have lost faith in him. On the other hand, Justice Samuel Alito, also a Bush appointee, is one of the most conservative members of the high court. How a justice decides is not necessarily a reflection of the president who selects them. But while legal outcomes are important to the GOP, Trump administration victories away from the bench matter more to the average voter.
Those in the Republican Party who have supported the president are still pleased with his first-term accomplishments. Most of all, Republicans know that despite any disappointment with Trump, a Biden presidency would do nothing to fulfill their conservative desires.
At The Week, author Damon Linker wrote, "Neil Gorsuch fired a torpedo at President Trump's re-election campaign." Regarding social and religious conservatives, he wrote, "The Trump campaign needs to anticipate these voters are now far more likely to sit this one out."
This comes across as nothing but wishful thinking.
The Supreme Court decision and Gorsuch's involvement may sting for now, but voters on the Right are far more interested in the country's current crises. Not only are we still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but societal unrest and racial tensions are at an all-time high. The desire for a "law and order" president who supports the nation's law enforcement outweighs specially designated legal concerns. Additionally, Republicans view the administration's pandemic response as appropriate and the Left's reaction to it as continuously hypocritical. A disappointing mid-June decision by Trump's first nominee to the Supreme Court will fade into the background long before Election Day.
If there is anything the Democratic Party and its supporters should expect, it's that Trump's overwhelming support within the Republican Party is a guarantee. GOP voters may be discouraged by some of what they see, but in their minds, the Biden alternative is far worse than the status quo.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--The other reason to restart rallies: Trump #MAGA events are voter data gold mines

Known for raucousness and bombast , President Trump 's “ Make America Great Again ” rallies are also the key driver behind a data analytics program that guides campaign strategy for voter turnout and resource deployment .
Trump ’ s high-wattage stadium rallies are intricately choreographed political revivals , with the president ’ s habit of ad-libbing provocative comments often sparking days of public discussion .
But underneath the hood , the Trump campaign is using interest in the “ # MAGA ” events to gather reams of granular data on voters .
That information , in turn , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging , and decide how and where to invest in manpower and money to increase the president ’ s vote share .
“ The rally lists are an invaluable source of data that help power volunteer efforts and small-dollar fundraising , ” said Chris Wilson , a Republican pollster and data consultant who advised the Ted Cruz presidential campaign four years ago .
“ You have people who have already gone out there and taken a public action to support the president , ” Wilson explained .
“ Those folks are a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are your typical list targets who have just signed up as supporters online.
” Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally this Saturday in Tulsa , Oklahoma — his first since mid-March , when in-person political activities were suspended because of the coronavirus .
Capacity at the arena , Bank of Oklahoma Center , is just under 20,000 .
But Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale bragged Monday in a Twitter post that more than 1 million people submitted an RSVP to attend the event .
The remarkable figure is reassuring to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP base remains enthusiastic to reelect the president amid a spate of polls showing him trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , particularly among suburban women and independents .
For the Trump campaign , the flood of RSVPs for Tulsa is doubling as a treasure trove , assisting to refine a voter file that assigns a score of up to 3,000 data points per individual .
Trump campaign officials estimate that 15 % to 20 % of rally goers , while inclined to vote for the president if they show up , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in just one election over the past four years — if that .
Many more are not registered to vote at all .
So the events are used to register new voters and cement relationships with occasional voters .
The campaign also tries to use rallies to convert Trump-curious Democrats .
Among the 156,632 RSVPs for the January Trump rally in New Jersey to boost Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew , more than 26 % were registered Democrats , campaign officials said .
Ditto for more than 25 % of voters who registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire in February and for 18 % of voters who requested tickets for a rally the same month in Phoenix .
Meanwhile , the campaign credits a decision to sink resources into New Mexico primarily on the fact that so many RSVPs for the president ’ s rally in El Paso , Texas , in the summer of last year were from people who lived across the state line .
“ No matter which city or state the president is visiting , he is always drawing new supporters into the fold — including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager said .
In an interview Monday , DNC spokesman David Bergstein insisted the Trump rally reveals a president who is scrambling to expand a dwindling political base .
He said the strategy would fall short against a Biden campaign that is growing its support heading into Election Day .
`` Successful campaigns are all about addition , and what the Trump campaign rallies demonstrate is that he is trying to reach a narrower and narrower slice of the electorate that was probably going to vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-16--The first vice president of color was a Republican elected over 90 years ago

Joe Biden 's pledge to choose a woman as his running mate , and his consideration of several black female officeholders for the role , has spurred considerable chatter about diversity in the nation 's second-highest office .
`` Historic '' is a term often associated with the search by Biden , himself a former vice president , after 36 years as a Delaware senator .
But the United States has already elected its first minority vice president , Republican Charles Curtis , who had significant Native American ancestry .
Curtis was vice president under President Herbert Hoover for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's darkest economic times , the Great Depression .
Curtis , Senate majority leader when tapped by Hoover for the Republican ticket , was also the first person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to reach the highest ranks of the federal government .
Born in the Kansas Territory in 1860 , Curtis spent much of his formative years on an Indian reservation .
His mother , Ellen Pappan Curtis , who shared Kansa , Osage , and Potawatomi heritage , died when he was 3 years old .
He then moved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian Reservation , where his first language was that of the tribe .
He later learned English and French .
His father , Oren Arms Curtis , had Anglo heritage .
Historians are divided about whether Charles Curtis was one-eighth or three-eighths native Indian , although he remained a member of the Kaw Tribe his entire life .
`` He ’ d like to say ' I ’ m three-eighths Caw Indian and 100 % American , ' '' University of Kansas historian David Hamilton told the Washington Examiner .
`` And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Kansas politician . ''
The Kansas frontier remained bloody during Curtis 's time on the Kaw reservation , so much so that constant conflicts between warring tribes forced him to live with his paternal grandfather in Topeka .
The move was hard on the young Curtis , who spoke fondly about his own `` bows and arrows . ''
At the age of 8 , he was tasked with informing the state government about a Cheyenne Indian raid .
As Curtis grew older in Topeka , so did his fondness for politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Indian jockey , '' his nickname at the time , won an election for Shawnee County attorney in 1884 .
Eight years later , he was elected to Congress as a Republican in an upset election that broke the Democratic stronghold in his district .
Curtis was appointed a senator in 1907 and stayed in office through 1913 .
The next year , he won Kansas 's other Senate seat , just after the 17th Amendment created the direct election of senators .
Curtis rose to majority whip after Republicans won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to the agenda of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson .
In the latter half of the 1920s , a time of Republican dominance in national politics , Curtis became Senate majority leader .
`` He was the first Republican to have the title as majority leader in Congress .
It was only in the '20s that both parties began to formally refer to their leader as the 'majority leader ' or 'minority leader , ' '' Hamilton said .
`` He ’ s the classic example of a nonideological legislator .
He played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was in Congress . ''
Broadly considered one of the most likable members of the Senate , Curtis 's ambitions turned toward the White House following President Calvin Coolidge 's decision in 1927 to forgo another term .
Curtis 's run for the Republican Party 's presidential nomination the following year was fairly disastrous .
At the 1928 Republican National Convention in Kansas City , Curtis earned just 64 votes on the ballot compared to 837 for Herbert Hoover , commerce secretary in GOP administrations for much of the 1920s .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slot , though he had long been a Hoover rival .
Their ticket won the 1928 election in a landslide , with 58.2 % of the vote and carrying 40 states .
Despite the historic nature of Curtis 's vice presidency , most of the country thought little of his Indian background .
`` Had Al Smith , who was Catholic and the first Catholic on a presidential ticket , beaten Hoover , that would have been more significant at the time , '' said Hamilton , referring to the 1928 Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` These religious divisions carried much more weight back then .
Race was less consequential then because there were n't any real efforts to address civil rights or things of that nature .
It doesn ’ t divide the nation as it does today . ''
The stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression tanked Curtis 's reputation with the public .
His efforts at easing concerns , such as predicting that `` good times are around the corner '' in 1930 , were routinely mocked in the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renomination bid for vice president in 1932 on the first bid , although won the spot in a runoff even after losing the confidence of Hoover , who had grown increasingly irritated by what he saw as fecklessness and incompetence .
Hoover and Curtis lost the 1932 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Garner in a landslide , with the Democratic candidates winning 57 % of the vote .
Curtis then retired from public office , opening a law practice in Washington .
Three years after his loss for a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and worked to get his party back to a majority in the upper chamber in 1936 .
He died from a heart attack a year before that election and was buried in his native Kansas .


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Trump Midwest challenges escalate as Iowa goes from sure-bet to swing state

Iowa is back on the map as a top-tier battleground , with President Trump moving to rebuff surging presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden with early television advertising and campaign appearances by Vice President Mike Pence .
The Trump campaign has been on the air in Iowa since mid-May , and Pence has deployed there twice in five weeks , including Tuesday for lunch at a local diner with Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds and then a tour of manufacturer Winnebago Industries .
The attention comes amid fresh polling showing Trump and Biden in a dead heat for Iowa ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to the president ’ s reelection Iowa Republicans take seriously .
“ It just comes down to which side ends up a little more fired up than the other , ” a senior Iowa Republican operative said .
In 2016 , Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Iowa by nearly 10 percentage points , carrying 94 of 99 counties , a remarkable outcome for what is a traditional battleground .
Even after Democrats flipped two congressional districts in the midterm elections , the president ’ s overwhelming victory in the last White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was little to worry about this fall .
But that has changed .
During a swing through Forest City , in rural north-central Iowa , Pence lunched at Sally ’ s , a restaurant he touted as reopening Tuesday for the first time since shuttering because of the coronavirus .
Following a tour of nearby RV manufacturer Winnebago , the vice president delivered a wide-ranging stump speech to employees , praising Trump for his handling of the pandemic and efforts to revive the recession-stricken economy .
“ It ’ s great to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this great American comeback , ” Pence said .
“ Thanks to leadership of President Trump and Gov .
Kim Reynolds and all the good people of the Hawkeye State , I ’ m proud to report to you , here and across America : We slowed the spread , we flattened the curve , we saved lives , and that ’ s why we ’ re opening up America again . ''
Declining support for Trump prompted his campaign to purchase $ 420,000 in broadcast and cable television time in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sioux City media markets — a sizable airing that ran from May 11 to June 10 .
Since Thursday , the Trump campaign has remained on broadcast television in Des Moines , Iowa ’ s dominant media market , with a $ 63,000 buy .
The data was confirmed by Medium Buying , which tracks political advertising .
The investment was validated by the new Des Moines Register poll publicized on Monday .
In the June 7-10 survey , Trump led Biden , the former vice president , by a statistically insignificant 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s job approval was 45 % .
In the same poll , Republican Sen. Joni Ernst narrowly trailed Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield 46 % to 43 % .
That these high-profile contests are toss-ups is not surprising everyone .
“ The outlier was the 9.5 % margin in 2016 .
There was a real antipathy to Hillary Clinton , and voters wanted an outsider , ” said David Kochel , a Republican strategist in Iowa .
“ That mood wasn ’ t a wholesale change in partisanship .
Just look at 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Gov .
Reynolds won by 3 points .
Iowa will be competitive again.
” Experienced Iowa Republicans say Trump ’ s big victory there nearly four years ago created unreasonable expectations for 2020 .
Reynolds 's close reelection in 2018 saw her win rural and exurban counties but lose in the suburbs .
That ’ s what some Republican insiders are expecting in the Trump-Biden race .
The question is whether the president can hold down his losses in the suburbs and block Biden from making inroads with voters elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign , these Republicans believe Trump is positioned to pull it off .
Some are predicting Iowa might yet revert to a second-tier battleground if the president can put recent struggles behind him and shift the focus to Biden .
The Trump campaign is expressing confidence , although recent investments suggest concern .
Campaign officials attribute their optimism to the strong vote for Trump in the Republican nominating caucuses in January — for which voters showed despite that he was a shoo-in .
And , they cited one additional statistic : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has identified 81,184 Iowa voters who likely voted for Clinton in 2016 but are planning to vote for the president this November .
“ Whether it be the ratification of the USMCA trade deal or the China phase one trade deal , Iowans know that President Trump ’ s tough-as-nails , get-the-job-done attitude is a win for them , ” Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said .
“ In contrast , Biden ’ s support for job-killing NAFTA , China appeasement , and embrace of the Green New Deal would only plunge Iowa @ @ @ @

Iowa is back on the map as a top-tier battleground, with President Trump moving to rebuff surging presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden with early television advertising and campaign appearances by Vice President Mike Pence.
The Trump campaign has been on the air in Iowa since mid-May, and Pence has deployed there twice in five weeks, including Tuesday for lunch at a local diner with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and then a tour of manufacturer Winnebago Industries. The attention comes amid fresh polling showing Trump and Biden in a dead heat for Iowa’s six Electoral College votes, revealing a threat to the president’s reelection Iowa Republicans take seriously.
“It just comes down to which side ends up a little more fired up than the other,” a senior Iowa Republican operative said.
In 2016, Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Iowa by nearly 10 percentage points, carrying 94 of 99 counties, a remarkable outcome for what is a traditional battleground. Even after Democrats flipped two congressional districts in the midterm elections, the president’s overwhelming victory in the last White House contest suggested to many Republicans there was little to worry about this fall. But that has changed.
During a swing through Forest City, in rural north-central Iowa, Pence lunched at Sally’s, a restaurant he touted as reopening Tuesday for the first time since shuttering because of the coronavirus. Following a tour of nearby RV manufacturer Winnebago, the vice president delivered a wide-ranging stump speech to employees, praising Trump for his handling of the pandemic and efforts to revive the recession-stricken economy.
“It’s great to be back in the Hawkeye State to talk about this great American comeback,” Pence said. “Thanks to leadership of President Trump and Gov. Kim Reynolds and all the good people of the Hawkeye State, I’m proud to report to you, here and across America: We slowed the spread, we flattened the curve, we saved lives, and that’s why we’re opening up America again."
Declining support for Trump prompted his campaign to purchase $420,000 in broadcast and cable television time in the Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Sioux City media markets — a sizable airing that ran from May 11 to June 10. Since Thursday, the Trump campaign has remained on broadcast television in Des Moines, Iowa’s dominant media market, with a $63,000 buy. The data was confirmed by Medium Buying, which tracks political advertising.
The investment was validated by the new Des Moines Register poll publicized on Monday. In the June 7-10 survey, Trump led Biden, the former vice president, by a statistically insignificant 44% to 43%. The president’s job approval was 45%. In the same poll, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst narrowly trailed Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield 46% to 43%.
That these high-profile contests are toss-ups is not surprising everyone. “The outlier was the 9.5% margin in 2016. There was a real antipathy to Hillary Clinton, and voters wanted an outsider,” said David Kochel, a Republican strategist in Iowa. “That mood wasn’t a wholesale change in partisanship. Just look at 2018. The GOP lost two congressional seats, and Gov. Reynolds won by 3 points. Iowa will be competitive again.”
Experienced Iowa Republicans say Trump’s big victory there nearly four years ago created unreasonable expectations for 2020. Reynolds's close reelection in 2018 saw her win rural and exurban counties but lose in the suburbs. That’s what some Republican insiders are expecting in the Trump-Biden race. The question is whether the president can hold down his losses in the suburbs and block Biden from making inroads with voters elsewhere.
While worried about the recent trajectory of the campaign, these Republicans believe Trump is positioned to pull it off. Some are predicting Iowa might yet revert to a second-tier battleground if the president can put recent struggles behind him and shift the focus to Biden. The Trump campaign is expressing confidence, although recent investments suggest concern.
Campaign officials attribute their optimism to the strong vote for Trump in the Republican nominating caucuses in January — for which voters showed despite that he was a shoo-in. And, they cited one additional statistic: The Trump campaign’s data analytics operation has identified 81,184 Iowa voters who likely voted for Clinton in 2016 but are planning to vote for the president this November.
“Whether it be the ratification of the USMCA trade deal or the China phase one trade deal, Iowans know that President Trump’s tough-as-nails, get-the-job-done attitude is a win for them,” Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said. “In contrast, Biden’s support for job-killing NAFTA, China appeasement, and embrace of the Green New Deal would only plunge Iowa into depression.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Bolton: Trump called Xi 'the greatest leader in Chinese history'

President Trump showered Chinese President Xi Jinping with praise during a 2019 trade negotiation meeting , calling him `` the greatest Chinese leader in three hundred years , '' according to former national security adviser John Bolton 's book .
The remarks allegedly came during the 2019 G-20 Summit in Osaka , Japan , when members of the Trump administration met with the Chinese president and trade negotiators .
After Trump agreed to no new tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for prioritizing discussions around potentially increasing the purchase of U.S. agricultural products , Bolton wrote that Trump `` exulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're the greatest Chinese leader in three hundred years ! ''
Trump exclaimed , according to a leaked copy of The Room Where It Happened obtained by the Washington Examiner .
Bolton said Trump later amended his statement to `` the greatest leader in Chinese history . ''
Despite Trump 's kind words for the Chinese leader , Bolton said he quickly soured on the negotiations altogether .
`` You should n't have gone there .
It makes us look weak , '' he allegedly told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese president to assist in his reelection efforts .
“ He then , stunningly , turned the conversation to the coming U.S. presidential election , alluding to China ’ s economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns , pleading with Xi to ensure he ’ d win , ” Bolton wrote in his unreleased book .
“ He stressed the importance of farmers , and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome .
I would print Trump ’ s exact words but the government ’ s prepublication review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied that conversation ever took place .
`` Absolutely untrue , never happened .
I was there ; I have no recollection of that ever happening .
I do n't believe it 's true .
I do n't believe it ever happened , '' he said Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing .
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Bolton on Tuesday , asking a judge to stop its release , set for June 23 , because it contains classified material .

President Trump showered Chinese President Xi Jinping with praise during a 2019 trade negotiation meeting, calling him "the greatest Chinese leader in three hundred years," according to former national security adviser John Bolton's book.
The remarks allegedly came during the 2019 G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, when members of the Trump administration met with the Chinese president and trade negotiators. After Trump agreed to no new tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for prioritizing discussions around potentially increasing the purchase of U.S. agricultural products, Bolton wrote that Trump "exulted" praise on Xi.
"You're the greatest Chinese leader in three hundred years!" Trump exclaimed, according to a leaked copy of The Room Where It Happened obtained by the Washington Examiner. Bolton said Trump later amended his statement to "the greatest leader in Chinese history."
Despite Trump's kind words for the Chinese leader, Bolton said he quickly soured on the negotiations altogether.
"You shouldn't have gone there. It makes us look weak," he allegedly told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
During those same negotiations, Trump allegedly asked the Chinese president to assist in his reelection efforts.
“He then, stunningly, turned the conversation to the coming U.S. presidential election, alluding to China’s economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win,” Bolton wrote in his unreleased book. “He stressed the importance of farmers, and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome. I would print Trump’s exact words but the government’s prepublication review process has decided otherwise.”
Lighthizer forcefully denied that conversation ever took place.
"Absolutely untrue, never happened. I was there; I have no recollection of that ever happening. I don't believe it's true. I don't believe it ever happened," he said Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Bolton on Tuesday, asking a judge to stop its release, set for June 23, because it contains classified material.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Hesitant Schumer endorses Eliot Engel in difficult primary battle

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed 16-term New York Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel Wednesday for another term in Congress .
Engel is facing a tough primary challenge from an opponent backed by Democratic liberals .
“ I have a longtime , close friendship with Eliot Engel and have worked with him on many issues .
From taking on Donald Trump , to standing up for women ’ s right to choose to expanding affordable health care , to fighting for civil and human rights , Eliot Engel has been a strong and effective fighter for the people of his district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud to endorse him , ” Schumer said in a statement first reported by Jewish Insider .
Schumer , when first asked at a press conference on June 9 if he would endorse Engel , hesitated .
Schumer , who is also a New York Democrat , told reporters , “ I haven ’ t endorsed in that race , ” adding , “ I ’ m busy with Senate races.
” The endorsement comes on the heels of left-leaning polling outfit Data for Progress releasing a survey Wednesday showing Bowman with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York primary , scheduled for Tuesday , has Engel up against Jamaal Bowman , a public school principal endorsed by New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
Schumer 's initial hesitation was attributed to the senator being `` afraid of an AOC primary in 2022 , '' a New York City-based consultant told the Washington Examiner .
Engel , 73 , recently was able to round up a slew of endorsements from Democrats in key leadership posts , including House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Clyburn , and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff .
Engel , who represents southern Westchester County and the northwest Bronx , also scooped up the endorsement of New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who lives in the nearby district represented by New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed 16-term New York Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel Wednesday for another term in Congress. Engel is facing a tough primary challenge from an opponent backed by Democratic liberals.
“I have a longtime, close friendship with Eliot Engel and have worked with him on many issues. From taking on Donald Trump, to standing up for women’s right to choose to expanding affordable health care, to fighting for civil and human rights, Eliot Engel has been a strong and effective fighter for the people of his district and all Americans — and I am proud to endorse him,” Schumer said in a statement first reported by Jewish Insider.
Schumer, when first asked at a press conference on June 9 if he would endorse Engel, hesitated. Schumer, who is also a New York Democrat, told reporters, “I haven’t endorsed in that race,” adding, “I’m busy with Senate races.”
The endorsement comes on the heels of left-leaning polling outfit Data for Progress releasing a survey Wednesday showing Bowman with a 10-point lead over Engel.
The New York primary, scheduled for Tuesday, has Engel up against Jamaal Bowman, a public school principal endorsed by New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Schumer's initial hesitation was attributed to the senator being "afraid of an AOC primary in 2022," a New York City-based consultant told the Washington Examiner.
Engel, 73, recently was able to round up a slew of endorsements from Democrats in key leadership posts, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.
Engel, who represents southern Westchester County and the northwest Bronx, also scooped up the endorsement of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lives in the nearby district represented by New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Bolton: Trump told Treasury secretary to 'go after' Bitcoin

President Trump told Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to clamp down on the trading and selling of the internet currency Bitcoin , according to John Bolton 's book about his time in the Trump administration .
`` Do n't be a trade negotiator , '' Trump allegedly said , as was written in The Room Where It Happened , a copy of which was provided to the Washington Examiner .
`` Go after Bitcoin [ for fraud ] . ''
`` If you do n't want me on trade , fine , your economic team will execute whatever you want , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over upcoming trade sanctions and tariffs on China .
The comment to Mnuchin happened in May 2018 , according to Bolton .
The Trump administration has long been skeptical of cryptocurrencies and released new guidelines for the trading and selling of the currencies earlier this year .
“ We want to make sure that technology moves forward , but on the other hand , we want to make sure that cryptocurrencies are n't used for the equivalent of old Swiss secret number bank accounts , ” Mnuchin said in February .
The Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former national security adviser on Tuesday , asking a judge to stop its release , set for June 23 , because it contains classified material .

President Trump told Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to clamp down on the trading and selling of the internet currency Bitcoin, according to John Bolton's book about his time in the Trump administration.
"Don't be a trade negotiator," Trump allegedly said, as was written in The Room Where It Happened, a copy of which was provided to the Washington Examiner. "Go after Bitcoin [for fraud]."
"If you don't want me on trade, fine, your economic team will execute whatever you want," Mnuchin responded in a tense exchange over upcoming trade sanctions and tariffs on China.
The comment to Mnuchin happened in May 2018, according to Bolton. The Trump administration has long been skeptical of cryptocurrencies and released new guidelines for the trading and selling of the currencies earlier this year.
“We want to make sure that technology moves forward, but on the other hand, we want to make sure that cryptocurrencies aren't used for the equivalent of old Swiss secret number bank accounts,” Mnuchin said in February.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Trump's former national security adviser on Tuesday, asking a judge to stop its release, set for June 23, because it contains classified material.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Biden ratchets up pressure on Trump over Tulsa rally

Joe Biden is continuing his attacks on President Trump 's plans to go ahead with campaign rallies , calling the actions reckless and a threat to public health .
The presumptive Democratic nominee 's latest remarks on the issue came during a speech in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon , in which Biden blasted the president 's response to the coronavirus epidemic and claimed the country was unprepared for a second wave .
`` They have to sign a paper saying if they get the virus , they wo n't sue .
He knows the problem , but he 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the former vice president said , referring to the legal waiver all attendees have to sign if they wish to attend the president 's scheduled event in Tulsa , Oklahoma , next week .
`` Donald Trump wants to style himself a wartime president against an invisible enemy — the coronavirus , '' said Biden , vice president from 2009-2017 after 36 years as a Delaware senator .
`` But unlike any other wartime leader , he takes no responsibility , he exercises no leadership , and now he 's surrendering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president 's rally is still in the planning stages , with both Republicans and Democrats sharing concerns about the spread of the virus .
On Tuesday , Vice President Mike Pence said the rally was `` a work in progress '' and boasted about the million-plus supporters who have requested tickets for the June 20 event .
Earlier on Wednesday , Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said supporters with underlying health conditions should not attend the rally and pleaded with supporters to wear masks .
`` We are advising people if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have comorbidities , don ’ t come , '' Lankford , a Republican , said in an interview on MSNBC 's Morning Joe .
`` Watch it on TV . ''
The upcoming rally would be the first the president has held since March .
Oklahoma has seen a five-day rise in coronavirus cases , which health officials have blamed on the opening up of restaurants and the protests in reaction to the death of George Floyd .

Joe Biden is continuing his attacks on President Trump's plans to go ahead with campaign rallies, calling the actions reckless and a threat to public health.
The presumptive Democratic nominee's latest remarks on the issue came during a speech in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, in which Biden blasted the president's response to the coronavirus epidemic and claimed the country was unprepared for a second wave.
"They have to sign a paper saying if they get the virus, they won't sue. He knows the problem, but he's not doing a damn thing about it," the former vice president said, referring to the legal waiver all attendees have to sign if they wish to attend the president's scheduled event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next week.
"Donald Trump wants to style himself a wartime president against an invisible enemy — the coronavirus," said Biden, vice president from 2009-2017 after 36 years as a Delaware senator. "But unlike any other wartime leader, he takes no responsibility, he exercises no leadership, and now he's surrendering the fight."
Despite Biden's criticism, the president's rally is still in the planning stages, with both Republicans and Democrats sharing concerns about the spread of the virus. On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence said the rally was "a work in progress" and boasted about the million-plus supporters who have requested tickets for the June 20 event.
Earlier on Wednesday, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said supporters with underlying health conditions should not attend the rally and pleaded with supporters to wear masks.
"We are advising people if you are coming to the rally, if you have comorbidities, don’t come," Lankford, a Republican, said in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe. "Watch it on TV."
The upcoming rally would be the first the president has held since March. Oklahoma has seen a five-day rise in coronavirus cases, which health officials have blamed on the opening up of restaurants and the protests in reaction to the death of George Floyd.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-17--Majority opposes police cuts even if funds would boost social services: Poll

A majority of voters oppose budget cuts to local law enforcement , rejecting calls from some liberal activists to “ defund the police.
” The Quinnipiac University survey revealed that 54 % of registered voters are against the notion of “ cutting some funding from police departments in [ their ] community and shifting it to social services , ” with 41 % expressing support .
Proposals to reduce police funding and provide more resources for social programs are under consideration in municipalities across the United States .
“ Voters come out very strongly against defunding , ” Quinnipiac University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks .
According to the Quinnipiac poll , 80 % of Republicans are against such measures , with just 10 % expressing support .
By comparison , 70 % of Democrats back efforts to shift some police resources to social services , with 24 % opposed .
Meanwhile , a majority of independent voters are opposed — 56 % are against reducing police funding , while 40 % are supportive .
Suburban voters were relatively split on the issue , with 48 % opposed and 46 % favorable .
Among city voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters opposed to reductions in funding for the police in favor of spending more on social services , while 44 % were opposed .
Backing for maintaining police funding was the most pronounced with voters in rural communities , with 68 % of such voters registering opposition to cuts and 28 % giving the thumbs up .
The Quinnipiac survey was conducted Thursday through Monday and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points .

A majority of voters oppose budget cuts to local law enforcement, rejecting calls from some liberal activists to “defund the police.”
The Quinnipiac University survey revealed that 54% of registered voters are against the notion of “cutting some funding from police departments in [their] community and shifting it to social services,” with 41% expressing support. Proposals to reduce police funding and provide more resources for social programs are under consideration in municipalities across the United States.
“Voters come out very strongly against defunding,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in prepared remarks.
Democrats and Republicans view the matter differently.
According to the Quinnipiac poll, 80% of Republicans are against such measures, with just 10% expressing support. By comparison, 70% of Democrats back efforts to shift some police resources to social services, with 24% opposed. Meanwhile, a majority of independent voters are opposed — 56% are against reducing police funding, while 40% are supportive.
Suburban voters were relatively split on the issue, with 48% opposed and 46% favorable. Among city voters, the poll found 51% of registered voters opposed to reductions in funding for the police in favor of spending more on social services, while 44% were opposed. Backing for maintaining police funding was the most pronounced with voters in rural communities, with 68% of such voters registering opposition to cuts and 28% giving the thumbs up.
The Quinnipiac survey was conducted Thursday through Monday and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.