This is the DNC’s Battleground Brief — a weekly wrap-up of Trump’s broken promises and everything you need to know across the path to 270.
THE DNC LAUNCHES RAPID BUILD-UP OF CAMPAIGN INFRASTRUCTURE IN 6 ADDITIONAL STATES. The DNC announced the second round of our Battleground Build-Up 2020 investments — expanding the program to six additional states (GA, NH, NV, OH, TX, and VA) to continue laying the groundwork for our eventual nominee to defeat Trump and for Democrats to win at every level of the ballot.
Here’s what people are saying:
NBC: DNC adds red states Georgia and Texas to list of 2020 targets.
“The Democratic National Committee is adding the Republican strongholds of Georgia and Texas to its targets for the 2020 election, making the rapidly diversifying states slated for multimillion-dollar investments, party officials told NBC News.”
The Hill: Democrats adding six new states to 2020 target list, including Ohio and Texas.
“The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is expanding its ‘Battleground Build-Up 2020’ program to include six additional states, most notably Ohio, Texas and Georgia. The party said that it hopes to achieve three main objectives with the expansion: further lay the groundwork for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, support Democratic candidates at every level of government and to make early investments in communities of color around the country.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Why the DNC added Georgia to its list of top 2020 targets.
“The Democratic National Committee added Georgia to the list of battleground targets for the election, opening the door for a new infusion of money and resources devoted to flipping the state in November. It’s part of the DNC’s ‘Battleground Build Up 2020’ program and Georgia is among several Republican-controlled states added to the party’s priority list, reflecting an ambition to vastly expand the party’s political map this year.”
Nevada Independent: DNC announces major investment push in Nevada, other battleground states.
“The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday that it was launching a second round of a major investment initiative in key 2020 battlegrounds, including Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.”
Houston Chronicle: DNC adds Texas to 2020 targets days before Super Tuesday.
“The Democratic National Committee is adding Texas to its list of 2020 targets just days before Super Tuesday, vowing to invest heavily in the state to help Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in the latest sign that the national party is taking Texas more seriously than it has in years.”
WMUR: NHDP included in second round of DNC ‘Battleground Build-Up 2020.’
“‘Granite Staters rejected Donald Trump’s empty rhetoric in 2016, and now they’re rejecting his failed legacy of broken promises,’ Perez said. ‘By making historic early investments in our organizing infrastructure, we’re ensuring that our eventual nominee will be able to build on that advantage, grow their general election operation as quickly as possible, and lead a Democratic ticket that will win up and down the ballot in New Hampshire.’”
MORE COVERAGE HERE.
BY THE NUMBERS: NEVADA DEMS TURN OUT IN DROVES.
-
Las Vegas Review Journal: Nevada’s caucuses see big turnout. “More than 105,000 people participated in the Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses, the second best turnout since Nevada won an early spot on the nominating calendar in 2008.”
-
Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada Democratic Caucuses: Overall turnout topped 2016 totals. “‘As the party shifts from our historic First in the West caucus to the 2020 general election, Nevada Democrats are ready to harness the energy and enthusiasm to win this critically important battleground state for our next presidential nominee and candidates up and down the ticket,’ the party said in a press release.”
-
PLUS! NV Dems: “More Than 10,000 Nevadans Registered as Democratic Voters During Early Vote Caucus Period.”
MICHIGAN DEM CHAIR BLASTS GOP “RIGGING THE GAME” ON VOTING RIGHTS. At a roundtable in Detroit, Michigan Democrats blasted newly announced Republican efforts to attack voting right protections that help more Michiganders participate in our democracy. Some highlights from the Michigan Advance:
-
“During a voting rights roundtable held in Detroit on Friday, Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Lavora Barnes called out the GOP and the Republican National Committee (RNC) for ‘rigging the game.’ This comes after the RNC announced $10 million for a motion to intervene and challenge several voting-related lawsuits.”
-
“‘Well, I say, when you deny communities a voice in our political process, that’s ‘rigging the game.’ When you fight to keep laws that disproportionately deny Black and Brown voters’ access to the ballot, that’s ‘rigging the game,’ said Barnes.”
READ OF THE WEEK: PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC CHAIR RIPS TRUMP FOR HIS BROKEN PROMISES ON INFRASTRUCTURE IN PA. Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Nancy Patton Mills in the Times Leader:
-
“He promised that he would fix our roads, airports and bridges. In rallies across Pennsylvania, he would repeat those promises with guarantees to fix the Turnpike and grow jobs…But these families are still waiting on Donald Trump to honor his promise.”
-
“Two years later, Donald Trump’s plans to improve our nation’s infrastructure are still just a fantasy. Not only has Trump failed to deliver on his promises, but he has actively worked to sabotage the programs that do have success. Nowhere is this more clear than in his annual spending proposals.”
-
“All of these broken promises are part of the same pattern we’ve seen from Donald Trump since the moment he took office. He is far more interested in working for his biggest donors and wealthy friends than working families in Pennsylvania. This budget is just another attempt to stick you with the bill.”
-
“Infrastructure is a central part of Democrats’ vision for the country. We are fighting for safe, modern schools, and reliable roads and bridges. Our vision puts the families of Northeastern Pennsylvania first. And we’re doing the work here in Wilkes-Barre — not just firing off tweets from Florida resorts or Manhattan high-rises.”
BIG NEWS! FLORIDA DEMS CELEBRATE 5 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS! As reported by Florida Politics: “There are now 5,076,000 registered Democrats to 4,821,000 registered Republicans. Democrats have a two-point advantage with 37 percent of registered voters with 35 percent of voters registered as Republican.” Read all about the Florida Democratic Party’s plans to defeat Trump here.
LIVE FREE AND VOTE: NH DEMS OUTREGISTER GOP. Following a surge of nearly 50,000 voter registrations during New Hampshire’s presidential primary, WMUR reports that registered Democrats now outnumber registered Republicans in the Granite State. “These numbers provide more evidence of our superior grassroots organization in New Hampshire,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley.
WHEREVER TRUMP OR HIS REPUBLICAN CRONIES GO, WE’LL BE THERE TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE:
In South Carolina: “Donald Trump has spent three years working to undermine our health care, raise taxes, and cut the safety net programs that South Carolina families depend on. We deserve better than Trump’s broken promises and gross incompetence,” said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson. “That’s why hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians will cast votes for Democratic leaders on Saturday, it’s why we’re going to send Lindsey Graham home in November, and it’s why we’re going to finally put an end to this disastrous, immoral, moronic presidency.”
In Tennessee: “Tennessee families and children deserve officials who will advocate to improve their lives,” said Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini. “Donald Trump promised to fight for every child’s right to an education. Instead, his administration has siphoned money away from our schools and threatened the resources our kids need most. Betsy DeVos can’t spin three years of broken promises—Tennessee families deserve better.”
In Michigan:
Michigan Democrats: “‘Donald Trump and Mike Pence have been a disaster for Michigan farmers, breaking promise after promise to us as they launched erratic trade wars and threatened our livelihood. While Donald Trump tells farmers they’re ‘over the hump’ and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue mocks farmers as ‘whiners’, we see the reality: farm bankruptcies are at great recession highs, health care costs are soaring, and the economy only works for the rich and well-connected. The Trump administration offers cheap bailouts while our customers find new sellers and our trade relations are irreversibly damaged. When farmers do well, their rural communities do well. While this president dismisses us, we play a critical role in our communities and are on the frontlines combatting critical issues like climate change. This president’s administration can’t buy us off with false promises and empty words after getting rolled by China and Turkey, and selling us out for political gain. Vice President Pence will have pretty words, but what has his administration delivered?”
In Florida: “The vice president will then be heading to the west coast of Florida to speak at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Longboat Key. Democrats in the state are going after Trump for this trip, saying just days after Pence was assigned to lead the task force against the virus, he’s in Florida fundraising instead.”
**TRUMP’S BUDGET IS STILL A DISASTER. JUST LOOK AT THESE HEADLINES**
CNN: Trump’s budget will wreak havoc on the American economy
The Hill: Housing advocates decry Trump budget cuts
(PA) Altoona Mirror: Trump budget hits health care hard
Morning Call: Commentary: How Trump broke his safety net promise
(MO) Daily Journal Online: Trump budget plans would hurt rural America
JUST A REMINDER ABOUT WHAT WINS ELECTIONS….
Make sure to follow the DNC’s War Room (@DNCWarRoom) to get real-time updates on Trump’s abuses of power and broken promises.
Happy Friday!
The DNC Comms Team
