OFF TO THE RACES: Trump’s bump
A post-RNC poll from CNN shows Trump leading Clinton in a two-way matchup, 48%-45%.
But a new CBS poll shows the two candidates tied, 42%-42%.
Yesterday’s big news, from Alex Seitz-Wald: "Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been ousted as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee on the eve of the party's convention. It's an abrupt end to a chairmanship marked by controversy, which came to a head this weekend following revelations from leaked internal emails.”
Writes the Washington Post: "While the senator from Vermont calls for Democrats to unite behind Hillary Clinton — whom he endorsed two weeks ago — thousands of his supporters have arrived in Philadelphia to protest the results of the primaries. Not even the resignation of Democratic National Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, which Sanders had called for since spring, has gotten every Sanders supporter on board.”
And from the AP: "Wasserman Schultz's abrupt departure was undoubtedly an effort to keep the Democrats' gathering from devolving into the tumult that marred last week's Republican National Convention, when runner-up Ted Cruz pointedly and publicly refused to endorse nominee Donald Trump. As he demanded Wasserman Schultz's resignation, Sanders made clear he wants to see Clinton win the White House.”
"John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman – and a former top adviser to Barack Obama – broached the idea of replacing Wasserman Schultz as early as last fall, only to be rebuffed by the president’s team, according to two people with direct knowledge of the conversation,” writes POLITICO.
One of us(!) writes that it’s Clinton’s convention, but Obama might be the most important factor in how it plays out.
From the Wall Street Journal: "When Hillary Clinton accepts the Democratic nomination on Thursday, she will take command of a party that has little in common with the one she and her husband rode to the White House a quarter-century ago. The party she will inherit is less white and more liberal. It is better educated and not as willing to compromise with Republicans. Many Democrats today aren’t convinced capitalism is the best economic model or that socialism is taboo."
The New York Times, with a big question: "How Can Hillary Clinton Sell Herself to Voters Who Already Know Her?”
Some of the leaked emails paint a not-too-flattering picture of how the Democratic finance machine really works, notes the Washington Post.
Retired Marine Gen. John Allen will endorse Clinton today, per the campaign.
A reminder, from the AP. "Women in the U.S. remain significantly underrepresented at all levels of elected office."
From the New York Times: "An unusual question is capturing the attention of cyberspecialists, Russia experts and Democratic Party leaders in Philadelphia: Is Vladimir V. Putin trying to meddle in the American presidential election?”
Al Gore is skipping the DNC.
POLITICO takes a good look at Tim Kaine’s relationship with Republicans in Congress.