OFF TO THE RACES: Hillary down 16 points in New Hampshire
A new CNN/WMUR poll from New Hampshire finds Carly Fiorina in second place, with Marco Rubio in third.
And Clinton trails Sanders in the New Hampshire race, even without Joe Biden on the ballot.
Republicans will seek to woo evangelicals at the Values Voters Summit -- but the calculation is different with Trump in the mix this time.
BUSH: He told a crowd in South Carolina when asked about how the GOP will reach out to African-Americans: "Our message is one of hope and aspiration. It isn’t one of division and get in line and we’ll take care of you with free stuff. Our message is one that is uplifting — that says you can achieve earned success."
He talked to John Harwood about the economy, Pope Francis, and race.
In the CNBC interview: "I don't think people are inherently racist in this country. In fact, I think that we have a pretty noble tradition of the opposite. But people are deeply disaffected right now. So rather than prey on their angst and fears, I'm taking a risk of trying to appeal to their hopes and dreams."
Jeb Bush is set to unveil a national energy plan next week.
CLINTON: A good explanation from the New York Times on the complicated questions about the federal laws around the handling of intelligence information.
From POLITICO: "Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greenlighted paperwork that changed her top aide Huma Abedin’s job status to “special government employee” — a classification that allowed Abedin to work for an outside consulting firm and the Clinton Foundation at the same time she was advising Clinton at State. According to documents obtained by conservative group Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, Clinton was the immediate supervisor who approved the title change that came with the new post on March 23, 2012, permitting her then-deputy chief of staff to work several jobs at once."
The Des Moines Register's assessment of her ed board appearance: "The Iowa caucuses are still four months off. Hillary Clinton needs to use that time to continue to connect with voters on a personal level while demonstrating that she has learned from past mistakes."
CRUZ: Keep the Promise I, one of the super PACs supporting Ted Cruz, is out with its first radio ad.
FIORINA: The Des Moines Register has a good look at how her organization in the state isn't keeping up with her poll numbers.
HUCKABEE: During a FOX News appearance, he asked: "What kind of Christian" is Obama?
RUBIO: He'll propose a tax break for employers who give their workers paid family leave.
TRUMP: He's lashing out at an AP photographer who took photos of empty seats at a campaign event in South Carolina.
The National Review vs. Donald Trump, another round: "Donald Trump Is a Yuuuuuuuge Wuss"
CONGRESS: Trying to avoid a shutdown
POLITICO outlines John Boehner's next move to prevent a shutdown: "House Republican leaders will move next week to approve a "clean" government spending bill — and avert a shutdown — but only after they hold a vote on a measure to bar federal funding for Planned Parenthood, according to multiple sources familiar with the GOP's plan."
And more, from Roll Call: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday began laying the groundwork for the chamber to advance a “clean” continuing resolution in the coming days after Democrats and some Republicans banded together to block consideration of a stopgap with Planned Parenthood defunding language."
OBAMA AGENDA: Here Xi comes
The Washington Post, with a preview of the visit between the Chinese president and Obama: "Observers said there is little personal warmth, and even less trust, between Xi and Obama as the White House prepares to roll out the red carpet with a pomp-filled arrival ceremony Friday. Xi has aggressively sought to expand China’s influence in Asia, and his assertiveness has caught the Obama administration off guard, often making the White House appear indecisive in its responses."
The New York Times outlines a unique problem with President Xi Jinping's administration. "In past decades, foreign officials could speak with senior Chinese officials or aides and trust that those people were proxies for their leaders... With Mr. Xi, those channels do not exist."
Global markets are back up Friday after Janet Yellen laid out a case for raising interest rates later this year.