Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos… The political world laughed at Lincoln Chafee after his wife asked on Facebook if any former staffers remember the password to his account. To be fair, several presidential candidates are running solely because they forgot their Monster.com login.
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’16 AT 30 THOUSAND
It’s the alumni club! Tomorrow, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to become the third declared 2016 Republican candidate to mount a reprise bid for the presidency. Perry attributes his 2012 flameout to a mix of unpreparedness, late entry to the race, hubris and a nasty back problem. The big change for him this time (other than his nifty new philosophy-professor-meets-artisan-quinoa-purveyor glasses) is a pledge that he’s learned from those mistakes. He’s studied up on foreign policy, gotten healthy and decided to push hard on his credentials as one of the rare GOP candidates who have worn a military uniform.
The other two GOP presidential candidates producing a campaign sequel are Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. In Santorum’s case, the 2012 runner-up is trying to deemphasize the lightning-rod social issues that defined his last campaign, instead tailoring his message to the middle class. He has championed his populist message in Iowa while trying to talk less about gay marriage and abortion and more about working families. The same holds true for former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. The Southern Baptist pastor is a favorite among evangelical voters for his strong conservative values. But he too is trying to focus more on middle class America.
POPPING ON NBC POLITICS
- NBC’s Leigh Ann Caldwell writes that Martin O’Malley is attempting to court Hispanics as he works to eat into Hillary Clinton’s support within the important constituency.
- Presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal will make it official on June 24 in New Orleans.
- Alex Moe reports that the House is slated to vote on several pro-pot amendments aimed at tackling the issue of conflicts between DOJ and the implementation of local marijuana laws.
- NBC’s Dante Chinni writes, Patriot Act or not, somebody’s watching you. And a large part of that is your own fault.
- First Read looks at how Lindsey Graham is vying for a spot as a truth-teller candidate (think of John McCain 3.0.) But he’s got competition.
CAMPAIGN QUICK READS
CHAFEE: On the day of hispresidential announcement, Bloomberg reports that Chafee’s wife wrote a public Facebook post asking if anyone on her husband’s staff remembered the password to his account.
CLINTON: The top political story in the New York Times: Democrats allied with Hillary Clinton are gearing up for a huge legal battle to try to nix GOP-backed restrictions to voting rights.
WALKER: Here’s a soundbite for the Democratic oppo file: Via WKOW: Scott Walker said he’s willing to sign a 20-week abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest because women affected by those circumstances are usually concerned about access to abortion “in the initial months.” The DNC is already out with a statement slamming him for the comment.
He said in an interview that he hopes the United States will “reestablish” the Patriot Act.
FOR THE RECORD…
“There will NO opportunities to interview Hillary Clinton; her speech will be her interview"
Texas Southern University, on hosting Clinton for an event on Thursday
TOMORROW’S SKED
Rick Perry kicks off his second presidential bid in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 pm ET.
Hillary Clinton receives the Barbara Jordan Public-Private Leadership Award in Houston, Texas.
Donald Trump holds an event in Mason City, Iowa.
