Welcome to THE TRAIL 2016, your daily rundown from The Hill on all the latest news in the White House, Senate and House races.
Yet another Donald Trump reset has gone by the wayside as the GOP nominee appeared to joke that someone could shoot his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. His comment came just one day after a highly-touted economic speech meant to put Trump back on message.
While discussing the possibility that Clinton would appoint liberal justices to the Supreme Court if she wins in November, Trump took a rhetorical detour.
“If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks. Though, the Second Amendment people, maybe there is,” he said.
After the comment gained steam on social media, the Trump campaign raced to clarify that Trump only meant political resource, not violence. But it’s the kind of diversion that drives on-the-fence Republicans crazy. And it’s one that threatens any goodwill he earned from Monday’s scripted speech on the economy.
Just hours before, Republican Sen. Susan Collins declared that she wouldn’t back Trump because he would “make a perilous world even more dangerous.”
Stay with The Hill for more stories tonight and tomorrow, including a look at the plan B for Republicans if Trump loses and those in the GOP bucking their party’s nominee.
RACE TO 1600 PENN
NAT SEC CONCERNS: The Hill’s Jordain Carney reports: While Republicans typically hold the upper hand on national security concerns, there are five reasons why Donald Trump is losing ground to Hillary Clinton on the issue.
ALL IN, EXCEPT: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Donald Trump said he’s in for three debates against Hillary Clinton, but floated the possibility of him negotiating some of the terms.
ENEMY TERRITORY: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Hillary Clinton’s campaign will boost its investment in Arizona and Georgia as the Democratic presidential nominee continues to push into territory previously seen as safe Republican ground, according to The Washington Post.
MR. ROGERS BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky reports: Former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers will reportedly take a senior role on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s transition team, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
RELIGIOUS AWAKENING: The Hill’s Harper Neidig reports: Donald Trump will head to Orlando Thursday to address a meeting of evangelical leaders.
FRIENDS AND FOES: The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda reports: Hillary Clinton is debuting a new line of attack on Donald Trump, accusing his tax plan of promoting a “friends and family discount.”
ODDS AND ENDS
CARLY FOR CHAIR: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports: Multiple reports Tuesday pegged Carly Fiorina as angling to be the GOP’s next chair.
THIRD SPOT?: The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes reports: The three venues slated to host the presidential debates are reportedly being asked to prepare for the possibility that more than two candidates will appear on stage.
SOUNDING ALARM: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: California Democratic lawmaker Eric Swalwell called on the Secret Service to investigate Donald Trump’s comments directed at Hillary Clinton.
POOR ADVANCE: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: The father of the man who shot and killed 49 people earlier this year in Orlando was spotted at a Hillary Clinton rally in Florida and said he’s backing Clinton. The campaign said he was not invited and it was not aware he would be attending.
POLL POSITION
SWINGING TO CLINTON: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports:Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio and is virtually tied with him in Florida, according to a new polls Tuesday. She also leads in a new poll out of North Carolina, as well as NBC’s battleground poll that showed her leading Iowa, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AGREE: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: The new North Carolina poll also found that about 7 out of 10 Trump supporters believe the presidential election will have been rigged against him if he loses.
THE DAILY TRUMP
FRAIDY CATS: The Hill’s Caitlin Yilek reports: Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, cast aside her father’s critics as “scared” because they didn’t expect him to win.
MVP: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Donald Trump labeled Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s “most valuable player,” accusing her foreign policy of creating the terror group.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: Billionaire investor Carl Icahn says Donald Trump will win voters resembling the blue-collar protagonist of the ’70s sitcom “All in the Family.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“My temperament has gotten me here…I certainly don’t think it’s appropriate to start changing all of a sudden when you’ve been winning.”
–Donald Trump, dismissing calls to change his strategy despite falling behind Hillary Clinton at the polls.
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
ALL IN: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Bernie Sanders emailed his list of supporters to raise money for the Florida lawyer trying to unseat former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in her congressional primary. The email came hours before Hillary Clinton stumped for Wasserman Schultz during a swing through Florida.
MISSOURI RED: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports: Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) holds a 7-point lead over Democratic challenger Jason Kander, a new poll shows.
KEEPING HIS DISTANCE: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports: Former Sen. Evan Bayh released a new TV ad touting the Indiana Democrat’s willingness to break from his own party and work across the aisle.
MONEY WATCH
OUTSPENT: The Hill’s Jonathan Easley reports: Less than 100 days before the general election, Donald Trump has still not spent a dime on television advertising, even as Hillary Clinton floods the airwaves with tens of millions of dollars in ad spending.
GOP DONOR READY FOR HILLARY: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: A Republican donor on Tuesday announced he is supporting Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the presidential race.
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
(All times Eastern)
Donald Trump holds a rally in Fayetteville, N.C., today at 6 and then will be a guest on “Hannity,” which airs at 10 p.m. On Wednesday, he’ll make remarks at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abington, Va., at 3 p.m. and then hold a rally Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Running mate Mike Pence campaigns in Pittsburgh, Pa., at 7 p.m. today. On Wednesday, he holds a town hall in Dayton, Ohio, at 3 p.m. and a rally in Cambridge, Ohio, at 7 p.m.
Hillary Clinton will discuss jobs and the economy at an Iowa Democratic Party rally in Des Moines, Iowa, at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
There are primaries today in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin. With a handful of races, the most interesting will likely be House Speaker Paul Ryan’s heavily favored primary against Paul Nehlen.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Write us with tips, suggestions and news: Jonathan Easley, Ben Kamisar, Jonathan Swan, Lisa Hagen.
Sign up to receive The Trail | 2016 overnight newsletter here.