Happy Thursday. This week’s first exam can be read here. These are just minor tidbits from the campaign trail.
If there is a major story we don’t have covered in this exam, it can likely be found here.
Let’s get started.
Tim Ryan Sucks Up To ‘Future Boss’ Chuck Schumer
Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH) made it loud and clear that he wouldn’t answer to the people of Ohio if elected, but rather that he would respond first and foremost to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Ryan said at a recent speech, “Senator Schumer’s here … He’s my future boss, so I gotta suck up a little bit.”
In reaction, GOP Senate candidate JD Vance tweeted, “Tim Ryan wants Chuck Schumer to be his boss. I’d rather have a senator who knows his boss is the people of Ohio.”
Tim Ryan wants Chuck Schumer to be his boss. I’d rather have a senator who knows his boss is the people of Ohio. https://t.co/AbGEbaiC39
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 22, 2022
Vance is currently leading Ryan in the polls.
Mitch McConnell PAC Pulls $10 Million Out Of Blake Masters’ Race
A Mitch McConnell-aligned super PAC has pulled nearly $10 million out of Republican Blake Masters’ race for U.S. Senate in Arizona. Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) still plans to fundraise for Masters, but his PAC has pulled funding to reallocate resources to other states and with the belief that outside conservative groups will make up the difference in Masters’ race. So far, conservative groups are planning to spend about $7.5 million.
Kari Lake Hits Katie Hobbs Over Voting Record
Republican Kari Lake has released a new ad hitting her Democratic opponent, Katie Hobbs, over her voting record while in Arizona’s legislature. Lake is running ahead of Hobbs in the Arizona race for governor.
Watch the ad here:
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
Katie Hobbs hoped no one would find this out…
She wants to purge the Pledge, Anthem & Constitution from our schools
Let’s purge @katiehobbs from Arizona Politics on November 8th.
SHARE & RT! pic.twitter.com/35rL30HhyT
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 20, 2022
Oz Trailing In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman is attempting to increase his public appearances amid speculation about his poor health. He hosted 1,000 people at a rally in Scranton and drew a crowd of 3,000 in Philadelphia, where he partnered with Planned Parenthood executives for a series of stump speeches.
Yet recent polling shows Republican Senate nominee, Dr. Mehmet Oz, gaining ground. A survey from Morning Call and Muhlenberg College found that Oz trails Fetterman by five points. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, leads Republican State Sen. Doug Mastriano by 11 points in the gubernatorial race.
Razor Thin Margins In Tar Heel State
North Carolina’s Senate race is the closest in the country, according to Axios. Former President Donald Trump is set to visit the state on Friday.
A new Emerson College Polling/CBS17/The Hill poll showed Republican candidate, Representative Ted Budd, at 46% support and Democratic candidate Cheri Beasley at 43%.
FiveThirtyEight polling has Budd up 0.3 points.
Stacey Abrams Claims A Baby’s Heartbeat Is ‘Manufactured’
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams said in a recently surfaced video that at six weeks, unborn babies’ heartbeats aren’t real, but a “manufactured sound designed” to take away women’s rights.
Abrams is again campaigning to be governor of Georgia after a failed run in 2018. Notably, the Democrat refused to traditionally concede the race to Republican Governor Brian Kemp, suggesting “voter suppression” and a broken system.
“There is no such thing as a heartbeat at six weeks,” Abrams said while serving on a panel. “It is a manufactured sound designed to convince people that men have the right to take control of a woman’s body in place of her.”
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams: "There is no such thing as a heartbeat at six weeks. It is a manufactured sound designed to convince people that men have the right to take control of a woman's body."
REMINDER: Abrams supports NO LIMITS on abortion. pic.twitter.com/f7XxeqzfF6
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 22, 2022
Walker Running Ahead
A new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll conducted between September 5-16 reveals that the state appears to be tilting to the political Right once again.
The 2020 election was disastrous for Republicans in the state, as the Democrats won both Georgia senatorial races in runoffs and thus took control of the U.S. Senate. Some reports said that former President Trump’s claims of fraud in the November election discouraged GOP voter turnout in the run-off elections.