Feb. 2, 2018, 10:20 a.m.
“Funny or Die and Billy Eichner are launching a nonprofit ‘Glam Up The Midterms’—a campaign focused on under-40-year-old voters in the midterm election.” The group “will spend $8 million on the most competitive congressional districts. Their plan: use online mobilization tactics and an analytics program to engage younger voters and hold live comedy events. The team includes: political strategists Lou Frillman and Tim Lim and Funny or Die’s Brad Jenkins and David Litt.” (Politico)
LANDSCAPE. “Despite facing a difficult House map predicted for the 2018 midterms,” NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers “thinks the GOP will hold onto its majority. One big reason?” Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and her her tendency to say “outrageous things.” Stivers: “Nancy Pelosi has stayed in the spotlight. Her ‘crumbs’ comment is something I think we can use pretty effectively.” (USA Today)
MONEY MATTERS. The NRCC “broke its record for fundraising in an off-year and had more money in the bank—$43.6 million to the Democratic committee’s $38.9 million — those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Under federal election law, party committees can accept contributions of as much as $101,700 from big donors, but there’s a catch. That money, for the parties’ legal and headquarters accounts, can’t be used to influence federal elections. The NRCC has raised more than $20 million in money it can’t use to influence elections, but that still counts as money in the bank on its FEC filings. The DCCC has raised less than $5 million for those accounts, meaning more of its money can be spent trying to actually win seats in November.” (Bloomberg)