CNN Debate at the Reagan Library--Pre-Debate                                              Wednesday, September 16, 2015

ICYMI: Sen. Rand Paul's Debate Message

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Subject: Rand's Debate Message

 

Memorandum

 

To:          Supporters

From:    Doug Stafford, Chief Strategist

                Chip Englander, Campaign Manager

Re:         Debate Strategy

Date:     September 16, 2015

 

Tonight we've purchased advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire for the presidential debate. Our internal polling show 85% of caucus and primary voters in these states will tune-in tonight.

 

This ad lays out Senator Paul's debate game plan. The two big points he'll make tonight.

 

1. He's the candidate with the biggest, boldest tax and budget proposals. He's the only candidate with a flat tax that would gut the IRS and eliminate special deals for Wall Street. He's the only candidate who's actually authored a plan to balance the budget that eliminates $500 billion IN ONE YEAR and abolishes cabinet departments. He understands no matter which party is in power government and debt have grown - and he'll fight them.

 

2. He's the candidate who wants term limits to get rid of career politicians in both parties. He understands the Washington Machine has created a country run by lobbyists, for special interests, and politicians in both parties let it happen. We need to require Congress to read the bills before they vote on them. Congress should live under the same laws the people do.

 

Taxes, debt, and a corrupt culture in Washington is what animates the election. They're the very issues that drive Rand Paul.

 

And it's the message he will deliver tonight.

Watch the TV ad for yourself HERE.

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Marco Rubio for President
Email to supporters
September 16, 2015  12:10 p.m.

Dear ___,

I’m writing you from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where at 8 PM ET tonight Marco will join 10 other candidates for the Republican debate on CNN. In addition to watching it on TV, you can join our debate team online at marcorubio.com/debate for real-time analysis, fact-checks, and video clips during the debate.

 

At the first debate in Cleveland last month, millions of Americans got their first look at Marco — and they really liked what they saw. Marco talked about how his parents achieved the American Dream and declared, “If I am the nominee, the Republican Party will be the party of the future.” Expect more of the same tonight.

 

While our campaign has had a great couple of weeks since the first debate, the same cannot be said of the other candidates. We expect some of them will attack each other in hopes of turning around their faltering campaigns. Marco doesn’t need to do that. He isn’t coming to the Reagan Library to attack other Republicans.

 

Marco is going to talk about how this election is about what kind of country we will be in the 21st Century. We’re headed in the wrong direction —  Washington is stuck in the past. What we need now is a leader like Marco who has new ideas for a New American Century. That’s what tonight’s debate is about.

 

Sincerely,

 

Terry Sullivan

Campaign Manager

 

P.S. Please be sure to check out marcorubio.com/debate tonight for analysis, real-time fact-checking, and video clips.

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Letter from The Trump Organization to CNN

September 8, 2015

Mr. Jeff Zucker
President
CNN Worldwide
10 Columbus Circle
New York, New York 10019

Dear Jeff,

Over the weekend it was announced by numerous entertainment channels and magazines that your ad rates have gone from $5,000 to $200,000, or a 4,000% increase. Since then I have heard that your rates will go even higher. While I refuse to brag, and as you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest and advertising is due 100% to “Donald J. Trump.” You saw it on The Apprentice where it was virtually the easiest show to sell to advertisers on television, and at extraordinary rates. In fact, NBC renewed The Apprentice, even though I told them not to because I was running for President (something which did not exactly endear them to me).

As you are aware, for the first debate, FOX unexpectedly (but not to those who know), had one of the largest audiences in the history of cable television, 24 million people plus, and word is that your audience will be even larger.

I am self funding my campaign—I do not want money from lobbyists, donors or special interest groups. Likewise, you should view the second debate broadcast as a public service and not accept the massive profits that this airing will generate. I believe that all profits from this broadcast should go to various VETERANS groups, a list of which I will send to you in the near future. The veterans of our country, our finest people, have been treated horribly by our government and its “all talk and no action” politicians. In fact, some would say they are treated like third class citizens—even worse, in many cases, than illegal immigrants. It is about time that someone comes to their aid. Let’s start now!

Years ago, when I built the Vietnam Memorial in Downtown Manhattan with a small group of others, I had always felt that we have to be helping our veterans far more than we do. That is why my campaign is so focused on these great people who have done so much for us. This large contribution of many millions of dollars would be a truly wonderful thing for CNN to do.

Please let me know what your decision is as soon as possible. Thank you!


Donald J. Trump

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Carly for President

From: Sue Ellspermann
Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 2:50 PM
Subject: Fw: Leaders Ask CNN to Include Carly in Debate
To: Jeff Zucker

Dear Jeff Zucker,
Carly Fiorina is a top tier candidate in this race. She won the last debate and has been in the top 10 in every poll released this month. To ensure a fair and representative process, your network should seat her alongside the other candidates polling in the top 10. A transparent effort by your network to benefit candidates from and of the political establishment will not be acceptable to conservative grassroots voters. We are the audience for this debate, and we will not tolerate a TV network inappropriately influencing our primary process.
We also call on the Republican National Committee (RNC) to encourage CNN to adjust its debate criteria.  Make no mistake, the RNC—which decided how many GOP primary debates there would be and who would host them—holds considerable influence over this process. Its continued silence is tantamount to turning its back on Republican voters who overwhelmingly want to see Carly on the debate stage. 
Carly Fiorina has already proven that she deserves to be on the main debate stage. It’s time for CNN and the RNC to recognize it as well.
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Craig and Ambassador Barbara Barrett, Former Ambassador to Finland (AZ)
Michael Minnaugh, Jr., Esq. (AZ)
Matt Mason, Esq. (AZ)
Lauren Barnett Pemberton (AZ)
David McMaster, Esq. (AZ)
Jenica McMaster (AZ)
Connie Wilhelm (AZ)
Tiffany Broberg, Esq. (AZ)
Evan Bolick (AZ)
Heidi Ganahl, CEO, Entrepreneur (CO)
Perry Buck, House Representative (CO)
Antonette Smith, President, Connect Communications & Marketing Inc. (CO)
Brita Horn, Treasurer, Routt County (CO)
Curt Henderson, Owner, The Henderson Agencies (CO)
Judy Merkel, President of Mountain Republican Women's Club (CO)
Melanie Fuller, Health & Wellness Consultant, Arbonne International (CO)
Margaret Laub, Managing Partner, MML Group (CO)
Robin Wise, CEO, Junior Achievement Colorado (CO)
Scott Schaefer President, Embrazio (CO)
Shultz Hartgrove, SVP, Noah Einstein Restaurant Group (CO)
Shayne Masden, Leader of the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group (CO)
Stacey Alexander, Information Technology Marketing and Analyst Relations Consultant (CO)
Stephanie Piko, City Council, Centennial (CO)
Sue Sharkey, Regent, University of Colorado (CO)
Tony Gagliardi, NFIB State Director (CO)
Vic Stabio, Board, Hallador Energy (CO)
John Platten, Franchise Owner (CO)
Lisa Haight, Franchise Owner (CO)
Heather Fries, Business Owner (CO)
Lisa Beals, Co-Owner Camp Bow Wow Franchise (CO)
Harvey Haight, Retired Business Owner (CO)
Keith Segura, VP Business Development (CO)
Dave Pigott, Attorney and Veteran (CO)
John Steinhauer, (CO)
Suzanne Mulet, Salt Lake City GOP Chairwoman (CO)
Jill Monds, Real Estate Broker (CO)
Betsy McCain, Executive Territory Manager (CO)
Francoise Bergan, City Council Candidate (CO)
Angie Zimmer, Teacher (CO)
Lesley Hollywood, Business Owner (CO)
Brandon Pipkin, Author/Entrepreneur (CO)
Jeff Patterson, Owner, SteelVisions (CO)
Brad Beck, Sales Executive (CO)
Kevin Warman, Sales Executive (CO)
Lori Frasier, Bank Executive (CO)
Colleen Dooley Haight (CO)
William Hoagland, Founder (CO)
Jean Anne Magness, Business Owner, Hoopla Brands (CO)
Mitchell Rasmussen, Small Business Owner (CO)
Stephanie Muth, Executive (CO)
Kyle Forti, Co-Founder / Partner, D/CO Consulting (CO)
Brett Gereau, General Manager (CO)
John Eddy (CO)
John Ewing, Director Product Development (CO)
Donald Trent Poole, Teacher (CO)
Jordan Poole, Student (CO)
Grace Poole, Executive (CO)
Diana Petrak, CRBC Director (CO)
Karen Jackson, Retired (CO)
Lloyd Jackson, Retired (CO)
Kelly D Stein, Business Owner (CO)
Susan Haight, Retired Business Owner (CO)
Jason Ganahl, Business Owner (CO)
Kait Buck, EnCana Oil and Gas (CO)
Heather Somers, Republican Lt Governor Candidate 2014, Mayor Groton 2009-2011 (CT)
Sarah F. White, retired U. S. Air Force Reserve, former Pentagon Senior Executive (CT)
Robert Steele, Former Congressman (CT)
Brian Pettyjohn, Senator, Delaware Co-Chair (DE)
Deborah Hudson, House Republican Whip, Delaware Carly Co-Chair (DE)
Charlie Copeland, Chairman, DE GOP (DE)
Danny Short, House Republican Leader (DE)
Carol Bodine, Party Secretary, DEGOP (DE)
Cathy Cloutier, Senator (DE)
Greg Lavelle, Senate Republican Whip (DE)
Paula Manolakus, President, Delaware Federation of Republican Women (DE)
Mary Spicer, Past President, Delaware Federation of Republican Women (DE)
Michael Smith, President Delaware Young Republicans (DE)
John Fluharty, Executive Director DEGOP (DE)
David Gilefski, chair of the western region GOP (DE)
Lieutenant Colonel Allen B West, Member 112th US Congress (FL)
The Honorable Jennifer Carroll - Former LT. Gov (FL)
The Honorable Sandra Morthan - Former Sec of State (FL)
Missy Shorey, Ex Dir Maggie's List (FL)
Loretta Lepore, Georgia Co-Chair & Principal, Lepore Associates (GA)
Donna Sheldon, Former Congressional Candidate and Former Chair, Georgia House Majority Caucus (GA)
Rep. Earl Ehrhart, Representative (GA)
Carolyn Meadows, Board of NRA and ACU (GA)
Rep. Penny Houston, Representative (GA)
Liz Hausmann, Vice Chairman, Fulton County Commission (GA)
Katie Reeves, Board of Education, Fulton County Schools (GA)
Jef Fincher, Republican Grassroots Activist (GA)
Ron Goodbub, Republican Grassroots Activist (GA)
Lelia Hagood, Human Resource Manager, Contract Business Interiors (GA)
Jennifer Hazelton, Owner, CROCUS (GA)
Mere Jones, Georgia Young Republican (GA)
Kathleen Kennedy, Music Talent Manager and Former CNN Headline News Anchor (GA)
Patrick Moore, Managing Partner, Set Consulting (GA)
Cory Ruth, Managing Partner, Mergence Global and Former Candidate for Fulton County Commission (GA)
Lavin Gartland, Georgia Republican Activist (GA)
Jeanne Billa, Georgia Republican Activist (GA)
Joyce Stevens, President, The Stevens Group and former executive director of the GA GOP (GA)
Victoria Braden, President/CEO, Braden Benefit Strategies, Inc. (GA)
Risa Kaplan, Attorney (GA)
Karen Handel, Business Consultant and Former Secretary of State (GA)
Connie Engel, Partner, Childress Klein Properties (GA)
Kathy Betty, Business Owner (GA)
Char Fortune, Principal, Avison-Young (GA)
Pete Watson, President, Lantree Properties (GA)
Suzi Voyles - Georgia Maggie's List Chair (GA)
Tom and Catherine Sands, Representative (IA)
Josh Byrnes, Representative (IA)
Terry Baxter, Representative (IA)
Megan Jones, Representative (IA)
Scott and Martha Raecker, former State Representative (IA)
Peggy Toft, Audubon County Republican Chair (IA)
Cindy Golding, Linn County Republican Chair (IA)
Will Rogers, Polk County Republican Chair (IA)
Mark Lundberg, Sioux County Republican Chair (IA)
Becky Kepler, Hamilton County Republican Chair (IA)
Barb Hovland, Cerro Gordo County Republican Chair (IA)
Crystal Bruntz, business woman (IA)
Mark W. Leonard, farmer and business owner (IA)
Dr. Rob White, Iowa State (IA)
Jessica Maldonado, business woman (IA)
James Thompson, business owner (IA)
Ann Trimble - Ray, business woman (IA)
Kellie Paschke, business woman (IA)
Sue Ellspermann, Indiana Lt. Governor and Co-Chair (IN)
Marlin Stutzman, U.S. Congressman (IN)
Erin Houchin, Senator (IN)
Anne Hathaway, Maggie’s List Board of Directors (IN)
Christy Stutzman (IN)
Kelly Mitchell, State Treasurer (IN)
Jim Merritt, Senator (IN)
Jean Leising, Senator (IN)
Jon Ford , Senator (IN)
Representative Sharon Negele (IN)
Becky Johnson, Kansas Maggie's List Chair (KS)
Leslie Saunders, Member of the Board of Directors of Maggie's List (KS)
Shane French, Chair, Maggie’s List Louisiana (LA)
Kevin Kuros, Representative (MA)
Beth Lindstrom, Chair, MotivIndex.com (MA)
Amy Volk, Senator (ME)
Linda L. Bean (ME)
Lynn Fitch, Treasurer (MS)
Ryan Zinke, U.S. Congressman (MT)
The Honorable Sue Lowden, Nevada Co-chair, former NV State Senator, Nevada Chair of Maggie's List (NV)
Sandy Reeves (NH)
Jan Face Glassman, NH Maggie's List Chair (NH)
Jeanie Forrester, Senator (NH)
Sharon Carson, Senator (NH)
Carol Holden, Hillsborough County Commissioner (NH)
Valerie Fraser, State Representative and Belknap County Commissioner (NH)
Dr. David Lundgren, State Representative (NH)
Robin Lundgren (NH)
Hanna Lundgren, Student (NH)
Gerardine Ferlins, President CEO Cirtronics (NH)
Ruth Ward, State Representative candidate (NH)
Will Infantine, business owner, State Representative (NH)
Tom Boucher, business owner, Cooper Door Restaurant (NH)
Marilinda Garcia, former Congressional Candidate (NH)
Kim Rice, State Representative (NH)
Sandy Reeves (NH)
Greg Carson (NH)
Jim Segalin (NH)
Beth Perlo (NH)
Sandy Reeves (NH)
Lauren Carney, former State Representative (NH)
Shaun Marie Levine, Executive Director NYS Conservative Party (NY)
Michael R. Long, State Chairman, New York State Conservative Party (NY)
Shaun Marie Levine, Executive Director, New York State Conservative Party (NY)
Rob Astorino, County Executive, Westchester County (NY)
Kevin Byrne, Vice Chairman, Putnam County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
G. Yvonne H. Chavez, Town of Canandaigua, New York Republican Committee Chair (NY)
Douglas Colety, Chairman, Westchester County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Courtney Canfield Greene, Chairman, Orange County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Lisa Grey, Esq., First Vice Chair, Richmond County, New York Republican Party (NY)
John G. Gress, Jr., Town of Southeast, New York Republican Committee District Leader (NY)
Howard Hellwinkel, North Salem Republican District Leader (NY)
John Jay LaValle, Chairman, Suffolk County, New York Republican Committee and Regional Vice Chairman, New York Republican State Committee (NY)
Michael T.J. McCormack, Chairman, Dutchess County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Marcus Molinaro, County Executive, Dutchess County (NY)
William Monti, Chairman, North Salem, New York Republican Town Committee (NY)
Kimberly Morella, Republican District Leader and Activist (NY)
Mary Reilly, Former Chair, Richmond County (NY)
Joanne Rosamond, President, Westchester County, New York Women's Republican Club (NY)
Anthony Scannapieco, Jr., Chairman, Putnam County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Don Scott, Town Councilman Bedford, New York; Former Bedford Republican Town Chair; Westchester County Republican District Leader (NY)
Steve Shapiro, President, Intrepid Family Office (NY)
Alana Sweeny, Former State Commissioner, New York State Council on Children and Families (NY)
Craig Eaton, Chairman, Kings County, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Claire Simonelli, Former District Leader, Chappaqua, New York Republican Town Committee (NY)
Joan Illuzzi, Republican Candidate for District Attorney, Richmond County, New York (NY)
Lydia Biskup, former Town of Poughkeepsie Republican Chair (NY)
John Faso, former assembly GOP minority leader (NY)
Brian Kolb, NYS Assembly Republican Leader (NY)
John Faso, Former Assembly Republican Leader (NY)
Claudia Tenney, Assembly Member (NY)
Nicole Malliotakis, NYS Assembly Member (NY)
Joseph Giglio, NYS Assembly Member (NY)
Kieran Michael Lalor, NYS Assembly Member (NY)
Thom Kraus, Executive Director NYS Republican Assembly Campaign Committee (NY)
Robert Weiss, Dutchess County Legislator (NY)
Joseph Incoronato, Dutchess County Legislator (NY)
Gerald Hutchings, Dutchess County Legislator (NY)
Robert LaColla, Town of Fishkill Supervisor (NY)
Ori Brachfeld, Town of Fishkill Councilman (NY)
Mary Covucci, Former Secretary Poughkeepsie Womens GOP Club of Dutchess County (NY)
Kaye Surman, Town of Dover Republican Chair (NY)
John Murtagh, Former Yonkers City Council Minority Leader (NY)
Nanci Itzla, 2nd Vice Chair, Orange County Republican Committee (NY)
Nancy Magliari, Co-District Leader, Yonkers, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Patrick Magliari, Co-District Leader, Yonkers, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Robert M. Phillips, Acting Treasurer, Scarsdale, New York Republican Town Committee (NY)
Robin Fusiak, Member, Philipstown, New York Republican Committee (NY)
Gary Jones, Oklahoma State Auditor and former OK GOP Chairman (OK)
Charlie Gerow, Board Member ACU (PA)
Donna Hicks, House Representative (SC)
Phyliss Henderson, House Representative (SC)
Bonnie Loomis, Principal, Palladian Group Public Affairs, LLC (SC)
Deborah Long, House Representative (SC)
Mary Jean Jensen - South Dakota Maggie's List Chair (SD)
Barb Stork (FD)
Suzanne Veenis (SD)
Jon Veenis (SD)
Mary Littleton, Representative (TN)
Dawn White, Representative (TN)
Tilman Goins, Representative (TN)
Randan Steinhauser, Texas Maggie's List Chair (TX)
Paula Mann, former CEO of Sunbelt Communications (TX)
Susan Combs, Former Comptroller and former state legislator (TX)
Jeffrey M. Frederick, Former Chairman, Republican Party of Virginia (VA)
Fred Thompson, CFA, Thompson Hospitality (VA)
Jay McConville, Former Chairman, Fairfax County Republican Committee (VA)
Diane Tebelius, Washington Maggie's List Chair (WA)
Penny Nance, President and CEO Concerned Women PAC
Millie Hallow
Bob McEwen, Former MOC
Janine Turner, Actress and Author
Jeri Thompson
Kristan Hawkins, President, Students for Life
Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List
Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund, Chairman
Elaine Donnelly, President, Center for Military Readiness
Bill Walton, VP Council for National Policy
Willes K. Lee, Vice President, National Federation of Republican Assemblies
Andrea Lafferty, President Traditional Values Coalition
Dan Schneider, Executive Director of American Conservative Union
 
Organizations listed for identification purposes only

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Carly for President
August 26, 2015

CNN, the RNC, and how to cater to the political establishment

Carly won the debate[s] on August 6th. In the three national polls that have been released since the debate, Carly is between 4th and 7th place. Her name ID and net favorability have risen by double digits. And she has continued to impress crowds during her most recent trips to Iowa, New Hampshire, Georgia, and Nevada.
 
The state polling since the first debate is even more stark—and relevant, since that’s actually how we pick presidential nominees in this country. Here’s how Carly ranks in every state poll since the first debate: New Hampshire: 3rd; South Carolina: 4th; Wisconsin: 5th; Florida: 5th; Ohio: 6th; Pennsylvania: 4th; Nevada: 2nd; North Carolina: 6th; Arizona: 3rd; Iowa: 5th; Michigan: 2nd;Missouri: 7th; New Hampshire: 5th; Iowa: 5th; Iowa: 5th.
 
Despite being solidly in the top 10 by every measure, the political establishment is still rigging the game to keep Carly off the main debate stage next month.
  
The RNC has chosen CNN to host the next debate, and CNN has decided that they will average polls going back to July 16th. Carly would easily make this debate if there were a consistent number of polls from one week to the next, but that’s not the case. In the three weeks before the first debate, CNN will be counting nine polls. In the three weeks since the debate, they will only be counting two. By simply averaging these polls together, CNN will be weighting the three weeks of polling before the debate more than three times as heavily as the three weeks of polling after Carly won the first debate.

 

The RNC should ask CNN to treat the polling in July the same as the polling that comes after. Because there were nine polls released in the three weeks before the last debate, one would expect 18 polls released in the six weeks between the two debates. If that does not happen, the polling average of those six weeks should be treated as the equivalent of 18 polls. Assuming the numbers remain consistent with current polling, Carly would easily place in the top 10 for the main debate.

​

To be clear, if Carly isn’t on the main stage, it will not be because her rise in the polls can't overcome lower polling from July, but because only two of CNN’s chosen polling companies have released polls at all since the first debate. If the RNC won’t tell CNN to treat post-debate polling consistently with pre-debate polling, they are putting their thumb on the scale and choosing to favor candidates with higher polling for three weeks in July over candidates with measurable momentum in August and September.
 
We’re proud of Carly’s debate performance. We’re excited that grassroots voters around the country want to hear more from her. It will be interesting to see if CNN has no qualms excluding someone who is polling in the top 5 in Iowa and New Hampshire, in second place in multiple states, and well within the top 10 nationally. And it will be disappointing if Reince Priebus and the Republican establishment stand by and let a TV network keep Carly off the main stage…again.
 
It’s a simple question: Will we have a fair debate process or will the political establishment keep ignoring grassroots Republicans?
 
***

Sarah Isgur Flores

Carly for President

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Gilmore for America
For Immediate Release: September 11, 2015

    Jim Gilmore Skewers CNN for Excluding Him from Reagan Library Debate

   Alexandria, VA -- Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore today skewered CNN's decision to exclude him from the Sept. 16th at the Ronald Reagan Library in California as "arbitrary and capricious and an obvious attempt to silence someone who is critical of the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination."

   "CNN's decision to keep me, and only me, out of the Reagan Library debate is an attempt to muzzle someone who forcefully opposes the candidates preferred by CNN and by the Republican leadership."

    CNN has said their decision is poll based, but Gilmore pointed out that he is polling as well or better than several other candidates appearing in the debate including Sen. Lindsey Graham, former New York Gov. Pataki, and Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.  Several recent polls have had Gilmore at or above the 1 percent polling threshold that CNN said was its standard for debate participants.

   "CNN claims to be adhering to a policy that they threw out the window last week when they bumped Carly Fiorina from the second tier debate to first tier principally because the RNC wants to showcase her gender," said Gilmore.  "You either have standards or you don't and CNN doesn't."

   "Along with the RNC, they are trying to narrow the Republican field to their chosen frontrunners and they don't want to allow me the debate time to critically question Donald Trump's ridiculous proposal to eliminate birthright citizenship or Jeb Bush's head-in-the-clouds support for Common Core," Gilmore said.

   "What the voters of this country need is an open and full participation debate of all the substantive candidates for President, not a hand-picked discussion by CNN's preferred candidates," Gilmore declared.   "I am the one candidate with actual experience who is taking on the Republican leadership in Washington.”

For more information: Contact: dan@gilmoreforamerica.com