Today’s episode with campaign-related news items from across the country.
* President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign announced a $50 million ad buy this morning, and as part of the investment, the Democratic incumbent is promoting this new spot, titled “Character Matters.” The commercial takes after Donald Trump’s criminal record and refers to the former president as a “convicted felon.”
NEW AD: Donald Trump is a convicted felon who has been found liable for sexual assault and committed financial fraud.
This election is between a convicted criminal who is only out for himself and a president who fights for your family. pic.twitter.com/dSG1uUpBJY
— Biden-Harris Headquarters (@BidenHQ) June 17, 2024
* Tomorrow there are some interesting congressional primaries in Virginia and Oklahoma. Among the key questions: Will Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good become the first incumbent to lose in a primary this year?
* Although Rep. Garret Graves recently pushed to seek re-election in the fall, the Louisiana Republican changed course Friday and announced he would resign this year. Graves’ decision was the result of a redistricting fight that was resolved in court.
* In keeping with Trump’s usual temperament, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee released a Father’s Day statement taking aim at “RADICAL LEFT DEGENERATES WHO RAPIDLY BRING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE STATUS OF A THIRD WORLD NATION.”
* Iowa may have been a swing state in the recent past, but that status is now gone: A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found Trump with a wide lead over Biden, 50% to 32%, among likely voters.
* Speaking of polls, the latest national survey from Monmouth University shows that Trump’s felony conviction has very little effect on his political support. Equally notable, the same poll showed Republicans leading Democrats on the overall congressional vote, 48% to 45%.
* And in Florida, Trump in March called for someone to run against Rep. Laurel Lee in a Republican primary because the congresswoman supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign. When the former president’s call was ignored, Trump changed course and supported Lee’s re-election bid.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
