| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. FINAL SENATE DEBATE IS 'LACKLUSTER' AND 'LOW-BROW' — Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III met on the debate stage for the last time on Tuesday night, and the lawmakers are not receiving glowing reviews for their performances in the press this morning. The Sept. 1 primary is shaping up to be a relatively high turnout event — more than a million voters have requested mail-in ballots. The Boston Globe gave Kennedy a C+ and Markey a C in its post-debate roundup, meaning neither candidate passed with flying colors. CommonWealth Magazine panned hourlong match-up as a "lackluster" and "low-brow" affair. WBUR put it this way : The candidates are "separated by 35 years and seemingly little else." Neither would shoulder the blame for why the primary race has become so negative, and both men denied being hypocrites for their stances on super PACs. A memorable moment came early in the debate, when Kennedy pressed Markey on two Massachusetts fathers who have come forward in recent weeks to say the incumbent was not receptive when they asked for his help. Afterward, Kennedy turned the back-and-forth into a campaign video. "If Senator Markey cared as much about fathers like Dan Henry and Colin Bower as he does about mine, he wouldn’t have a primary," Kennedy captioned debate video . Markey revived his attack on Kennedy from a previous debate, criticizing his father and former Congressman Rep. Joe Kennedy II, who may shift old campaign funds to a pro-Kennedy super PAC. One policy area where the candidates disagreed slightly was the issue of life sentencing without parole. Kennedy said he supports the possibility of parole in all cases, while Markey said there ought to be an exception for terrorists like the Boston Marathon bomber. EXCLUSIVE: NEW CONGRESSIONAL POLL — Nearly half of voters in Rep. Joe Kennedy III's House district are unsure of who they will vote for to replace him in the Sept. 1 primary, according to a new poll from progressive think tank Data for Progress. Among voters who have made up their minds, Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss and Jesse Mermell, former aide to Gov. Deval Patrick, lead the pack. Each had 12 percent support from voters in the poll. Not far behind were Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman and Dr. Natalia Linos, who each had 8 percent of support, within the poll’s 5-percentage-point margin of error. Adding in voters who are leaning toward a candidate, Auchincloss, Mermell and Grossman are statistically tied for first place. The bottom line is that the crowded primary contest is still up in the air with only two weeks to go until voting day. The poll surveyed 515 likely Democratic primary voters from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14. The poll. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks at the Democratic National Convention. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss hold a press briefing. Sen. Ed Markey campaigns in Haverhill, Lowell, Lawrence and Andover. Attorney General Maura Healey is a guest on WGBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” Rep. Joe Kennedy III campaigns in Boston, Lowell, Haverhill and Dracut. | |
| | HAPPENING TOMORROW - POWERING AMERICA’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY: The economy will be a driving factor in determining the outcome of the 2020 election. How is each party approaching the prolonged recovery? What are the differences that could tip the election in either direction? Join POLITICO chief economic correspondent Ben White for a virtual discussion on how the next administration, Trump or Biden, will approach economic and labor policies after November. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts reports 6 new COVID deaths, 175 cases on Tuesday as majority of school districts prepare for some form of in-person learning,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials announced on Tuesday that six more people have died from coronavirus, bringing the statewide death toll to 8,617. Officials also confirmed another 175 cases of COVID-19, for a total of at least 114,786 across the state.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “More than 1 million Mass. voters have requested mail-in primary ballots,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “More than 1 million Massachusetts voters have requested to vote by mail in the Sept. 1 primary election, creating a potentially unprecedented deluge at a time when state and federal officials fear delays at the Postal Service could threaten the integrity of elections. The office of Secretary of State William F. Galvin said Tuesday that 162,000 voters had submitted ballots for next month’s election, and that officials had mailed out 961,000 ballots to the 1 million-plus — of the state’s 4.6 million registered voters — who had asked for them.” – “Dangerous Drivers Should Have Lost Their Licenses. They Didn't — And Others Died,” by Vernal Coleman, Matt Rocheleau, Laura Crimaldi, Evan Allen, and Brendan McCarthy, Boston Globe: “The Globe identified seven people, in addition to the seven motorcyclists, killed in recent years by drivers with past violations that should have stripped them of their driving privileges. They mark just the visible edge of a vast problem. There are unquestionably many more, but restrictive state rules on access to driver data make compiling a true tally almost impossible.” – “70% of school districts adopt some in-person learning,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: “More than two-thirds of the Massachusetts school districts that have so far reported their reopening plans to the state envision some sort of in-classroom education, while the others are poised to resume remote learning, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday.” – “State takes steps to redo virus-ravaged vets' home, The Associated Press: “Massachusetts has taken another step toward an expedited renovation project at a veterans' care center that was the site of one of the nation's deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks at a long-term care facility. The state Office of Administration and Finance announced Monday that it had selected a company to conduct a 12-week assessment of what needs to be done at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke.” – “Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announces $3.3 million in grants to address food insecurity from coronavirus pandemic,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: “The administration of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced $3.3 million in grants to address food insecurity residents have faced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the second round of a $36 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Wu recommends rejection of some zoning board nominees; Walsh says further inaction could harm development,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, chairwoman of a committee that screens nominees to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeal, is recommending that the council reject a trio of active nominees to that panel, while Mayor Martin J. Walsh said further inaction regarding board appointments could harm development in the city. The zoning board has become the newest battleground in jockeying between Wu and Walsh.” – “Mayor Walsh Says No Decision Made On How Boston Schools Will Reopen,” by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: “With the already-delayed start of Boston Public Schools just over four weeks away, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Tuesday that there has still been no final decision on whether schools will open on an all-remote learning basis, or on a ‘hybrid’ or ‘hopscotch’ model that would allow students to opt-in to returning to classrooms on a part-time basis.” – “The Race To Be Counted: Why Some Mass. Advocates Fear A Woefully Inaccurate 2020 Census,” by Shannon Dooling, WBUR: “President Trump wants to exclude undocumented immigrants from being included in the population totals counted by the census and used to apportion Congressional seats. The presidential memo is being challenged in federal courts across the country, including in Boston, as the Constitution states ‘whole number of persons in each state’ are to be used for the tabulation.” – “As students return, neighbors worry about off-campus parties, but colleges won’t deploy COVID police,” by Deirdre Fernandes and Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “With thousands of college students moving into the Boston area in the next few weeks, neighbors are growing increasingly worried about who will police large off-campus gatherings and make sure that student parties don’t turn into coronavirus super-spreader events. Local colleges planning to reopen in the coming weeks have issued rules governing off-campus students — requiring testing and asking that they follow social distancing measures and that they quarantine if exposed to the virus.” – “Almost half of Massachusetts businesses helped by federal aid,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Nearly half of the state’s businesses and nonprofits received aid from a key federal loan program meant to keep people employed amid the coronavirus downturn, according to a new analysis by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The report says data from the Small Business Administration, which oversees the Paycheck Protection Program, show 46 percent of Massachusetts firms had received funding by July.” – “State Police lieutenant, a top earner, retires amid internal probe into paid detail violation,” by Matt Rocheleau, Boston Globe: “One of the highest-paid Massachusetts State Police troopers retired last week amid an internal investigation into the scheduling of a lucrative detail shift, the latest pay-related controversy to hit the agency. Lieutenant Mark J. Lombardi, a 27-year veteran of the force, allegedly scheduled himself for an assignment without authorization and without going through proper channels internally, according to a person familiar with the probe.” | | THE SENATE SHOWDOWN |
| – “How 74-Year-Old Ed Markey is Stealing the Youth Vote from a Millennial Kennedy,” by Joanna Weiss, POLITICO Magazine: “If throwbacks are in, you can’t get much more old school than ‘The Green New Dealmaker,’ the 3-minute ad for Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey’s reelection campaign that blew up the internet last week. It’s modeled on a vintage movie trailer, complete with block-font titles and a classic-rock score. Markey, for his part, channels a ‘70s TV action hero, set to restore accountability to a Washington that broke its ‘sacred contract.’” – “As A Rising Star, Joe Kennedy Didn’t Want To Help Democrats Beat Republicans,” by Rachel M. Cohen, The Intercept: “While Kennedy acknowledges that he has not used his platform to bring national attention to policy issues like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Ayanna Pressley have, he speaks proudly of leveraging his seat ‘in a way that is most natural to me.’ Yet his eagerness to claim credit for flipping seats two years ago contrasts with how Kennedy used to talk about such partisan efforts.” | | PRIMARY SOURCES |
| – “Alan Khazei has a plan — for every single city and town in the 4th District,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Alan Khazei is running for Congress on several big ideas. A federal job guarantee. Emergency wage support. A public option for internet service. But the City Year co-founder is also trying to distinguish himself in the crowded Democratic primary race for Rep. Joe Kennedy III’s open 4th District seat through a slew of small ideas.” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: “2nd Suffolk State Rep Candidate Damali Vidot Showcases Fundraising Strength Two Weeks Before Primary,” from the Vidot campaign: “In just three short months, At-Large Chelsea City Councilor, Damali Vidot, has raised $60,000 in her bid for the Second Suffolk State Representative seat, which represents all of Charlestown and most of Chelsea, MA. In a race that easily could have been a shoe-in for an incumbent amidst a pandemic, Damali Vidot has mounted a formidable challenge through a grassroots organizing and fundraising infrastructure.” – “In Allston-Brighton rep race, a progressive showdown,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “If a winning campaign starts with a candidate who seems well-matched for the district, Jordan Meehan looks primed for success. The young gay lawyer is pushing a decidedly progressive platform — with rent control, transit improvements, and climate action at the top of the agenda — in an Allston-Brighton state representative district brimming with with tenants, MBTA riders, and young people concerned about climate and environmental issues.” | | THE WILD WEST |
| – “'It Has A Chilling Effect': Some In LGBTQ Community Say Scrutiny Of Alex Morse Is Harmful,” by Callum Borchers, WBUR: “Congressional candidate Alex Morse appeared on a debate stage Monday for the first time since the University of Massachusetts began investigating a sexual misconduct complaint leveled against him by a student group. Dozens of state Democratic committee members are calling for an independent investigation into what role state party leaders may have played in spreading the misconduct allegations.” | | YOU'VE GOT MAIL |
| – “Maura Healey is suing Trump Administration for changes to US postal service which she says is meant to ‘rig’ the 2020 presidential election,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday called President Donald Trump’s changes to the United States Postal Service illegal and a means to ‘rig’ the 2020 presidential election. In a series of tweets posted Tuesday, Healey said she is suing the Trump Administration for its modifications to the USPS.” – “Massachusetts members of Congress call on postmaster general to step down,” by Jeremy C. Fox and Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Several members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation called for the ouster of President Trump’s postmaster general Tuesday, questioning Louis DeJoy’s assurances that he would ‘suspend’ some changes to mail delivery until after the November election.” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “Baker applying for Trump unemployment funds,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker doesn’t like the way President Trump’s $400 enhanced unemployment insurance benefit is funded, but he’s getting in line for the money with nothing else coming along from Congress. Baker said the state has submitted a letter to the Trump administration indicating the administration intends to apply for funding for the $400 supplemental unemployment insurance benefit proposed by Trump in an executive order.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Theoharides softens stance on Charles River a bit,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The state secretary of energy and environmental affairs on Tuesday appeared to soften her stance a bit on incursions into the Charles River in connection with a massive Allston project that involves the reconstruction of transportation infrastructure on a narrow strip of land between Boston University and the river.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “GONE IN 60 SECONDS,” “SOLD OUT,” — Globe : “Director halts cuts at Postal Service,” “BLIND SPOT.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Medford now allows confidential civil rights complaints,” by John Laidler, Boston Globe: “Medford residents have another way to notify the city when they believe their civil rights have been violated. Officials recently announced that community members can now submit confidential civil rights complaints to the city’s Office of Diversity. That new reporting option is in addition to the existing process in which residents can file complaints with the Police Department’s civil rights unit.” – “Central Mass. public higher education employees joining statewide protests Wednesday,” by Scott O’Connell, Telegram & Gazette: “Public higher education union members from Central Massachusetts will join statewide protests Wednesday of threatened layoffs and other budget cuts at public campuses. While in the region some public colleges have yet to see significant personnel reductions, according to those union representatives, members will still take part in the demonstrations out of solidarity, as well as uneasiness about what the immediate future could hold for them.” – “Cape Cod delegates make best of virtual convention,” by Geoff Spillane, Cape Cod Times: “They are not partying in Milwaukee this week because of the coronavirus pandemic, but local delegates to the Democratic National Convention are making the best of it from home. Of the 114 delegates representing Massachusetts, eight hail from the 9th Congressional District, which includes Cape Cod and the Islands and a swath of the South Shore and south coast.” – “Political leaders, unions endorse Reynolds for North state rep,” by Stephen Peterson, Sun Chronicle: “Democrat Patrick Reynolds has been endorsed by 10 area political leaders and five labor unions in his bid to replace Republican Betty Poirier as state representative for the 14th Bristol District. Reynolds is running in the Sept. 1 primary against Town Councilor Adam Scanlon.” – “Outside chief pick quits as Lowell firefighters protest,” by Robert Mills, The Lowell Sun: “Shortly after about 150 firefighters gathered in front of City Hall Tuesday night to protest the city’s decision to offer the fire chief’s job to a deputy chief from Arlington — instead of an internal candidate from Lowell — the man who was offered the job withdrew himself from consideration, according to City Manager Eileen Donoghue.” SPOTTED: State Rep. Claire Cronin delivering the votes from Massachusetts in front of the State House during the Democratic National Convention roll call. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY – to CommonWealth Magazine’s Sarah Betancourt, who celebrated Tuesday (h/t Shira Schoenberg). HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Winslow Elliot and John Sasso. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | |
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