 | BY LISA KASHINSKY AND MIA MCCARTHY | With help from Kelly Garrity IT’S COMPLICATED WITH NO LABELS — No Labels is pitching a platform of political common ground. But Massachusetts could prove to be tough terrain as the group promotes its agenda — and a potential third-party presidential ticket. The centrist group rolled out its “Common Sense” policy booklet last night at a packed town hall at Saint Anselm College headlined by Sen. Joe Manchin. The West Virginia Democrat’s presence alone stoked speculation that he might mount a third-party presidential bid — and fueled Democrats’ fears that a third-party candidate could spoil President Joe Biden’s reelection . Manchin and his co-headliner, former GOP Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, laughed off questions about whether they were the faces of the potential “unity ticket” No Labels has been floating. “I’ve never been in any race I’ve ever spoiled. I've been in races to win. And if I get in the race, I’m going to win,” Manchin said. “With that being said, I haven’t made a decision.” No Labels is trying to capitalize on polls that show many Democratic and Republican voters don’t want to see a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump. Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, one of the group’s national co-chairs, said last night that No Labels will put its own ticket forward if it’s clear by Super Tuesday that Biden and Trump will be the final two candidates, public opinion of them hasn’t changed and the group sees a path to victory. But an April survey of 634 likely 2024 voters in Massachusetts showed little support for that candidate being Manchin. The poll conducted by Change Research for Northwind Strategies and shared with Playbook showed Biden with 53 percent support, Trump with 29 percent support and Manchin with just 6 percent, while 11 percent of respondents were undecided. And No Labels has already labeled Massachusetts as a “stretch” state — not one of the 23 where the group believes its unity ticket could win a plurality of the vote. “There's really no chance Joe Biden is going to lose” in deep-blue Massachusetts, Northwind Strategies founder Doug Rubin told Playbook, “especially to a third-party candidate.”
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No Labels signs. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo | No Labels could have more of a foothold in purpler New Hampshire, where Biden has angered Democrats by trying to strip the state of its prized first-in-the-nation primary to the point where some are shopping around for alternative candidates. Former New Hampshire House Speaker Steve Shurtleff told Playbook that while he’s “always supported” Biden and was one of his presidential electors in 2020, he would be open to supporting a No Labels candidate “depending on the ticket and the poll numbers between Biden and Trump.” And Chris Sununu, the state’s Republican governor, told reporters at the No Labels town hall that the group “has a shot at being viable.” But even as Manchin and others delivered No Labels’ pitch , some audience members were skeptical. New Hampshire Democrat Thalia Floras doesn’t plan to support Biden in the presidential primary over the calendar drama. But she said she would vote for him in the general election — and that a third-party candidate siphoning votes away from him “is a concern.” No Labels advertises itself as “a group that is going to bridge the divide and eliminate partisanship and I'm interested in that," New Hampshire Democrat Bruce Nest told Playbook. "But I'm not interested in … if they are a spoiler for Trump.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Sununu would fit No Labels’ consensus-governing bill. And national media outlets are pitching him for the group's potential ticket. But the New Hampshire governor said he had “no news to make” last night — including on whether he’s running for a record fifth term. He did say he wouldn't endorse a No Labels ticket: "No," he said. "I'm a Republican." TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll swear in MCCA and Massport board members at 10:30 a.m. and meet with the House Asian Caucus at 1 p.m., both at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at an ADA event at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall Plaza. Rep. Ayanna Pressley hosts a Capitol Hill press conference at 2 p.m. to reintroduce the “People’s Response Act .” Tips? Scoops? Thoughts on No Labels? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and mmccarthy@politico.com .
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| | JOIN 7/26 FOR A TALK ON THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY: Join POLITICO's lively discussion, "Powering a Clean Energy Economy," on July 26 at 5:15 PM ET. We'll explore the effectiveness of consumer-targeted policies to boost sustainability and create clean energy jobs. How are the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions faring? Which strategies truly sway consumer behavior? How are advances in technology shaking things up? And, what's the future for energy consumption reduction? Hear from featured speaker, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), among other experts. Don't miss this insightful event — register today and be part of the conversation driving America's clean energy future! REGISTER NOW. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — “Tax cuts required to compete, Healey says in urging lawmakers to take up her plan,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “The state needs to move forward with a tax cut package this year if lawmakers hope to keep the commonwealth competitive, Gov. Maura Healey said in Andover on Monday. ‘I think the three tenets of our administration have been affordability, competitiveness, and equity,’ she said. ‘It is really important we get tax relief for our competitive advantage and for making life more affordable for more people around the state.’” — “Gaps Widening Between Meetings Of Top Dems,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “The ‘Big Three’ of Beacon Hill — Gov. Maura Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano — have met in semi-regular ‘leadership meetings’ just seven times since the new session started in January.” — “Is Massachusetts’ largest state office too big? Some are discussing splitting it up,” by Jason Laughlin, Boston Globe: “Health and Human Services is the largest executive agency in the state and consumes $27.6 billion, more than half the state’s budget, to support roughly 22,000 employees, 11 departments, and MassHealth, the state’s medicaid provider. Some question whether that’s too much for one office to manage.”
| | FROM THE HUB |
| — “Mayor Michelle Wu rejects City Council budget override as a ‘clear cut violation’ of city, state law,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Hundreds of thousands of dollars the Boston City Council set aside to give raises to municipal police officers ‘will not be used for that purpose,’ Mayor Michelle Wu told the council on Monday, dismissing their change to her budget proposal as a ‘clear cut violation of the City Charter and state law.’" — “How Boston’s biggest investment bank was reborn after SVB collapsed,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe.
| | DAY IN COURT |
| — “State to pay $40M to settle police exam bias suit,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle Tribune: “ After more than 15 years of litigation, the state will pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit filed by hundreds of black and Hispanic law enforcement officers who claimed they were forced to take a racially biased promotional exam.” — “Citing Trump case, Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira urges judge to release him while he awaits trial,” Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press: “The Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of leaking secret military papers challenged a judge’s decision that he remain behind bars, pointing Monday to the pretrial release of former President Donald Trump and others charged in high-profile classified documents cases.”
| | KENNEDY COMPOUND |
| — “Kennedys denounce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over ‘deplorable’ antisemitic comments,” by Tal Kopan, Boston Globe: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew strong criticism from several members of his own family on Monday for remarks he made suggesting COVID-19 was ethnically targeted.’ … The remarks, captured by the New York Post at a private event, contained multiple false claims and reference common antisemitic tropes about global conspiracies that benefit Jewish people. They sparked quick condemnation from prominent Jewish groups and others.” — “Watchdog calls for House committee to uninvite RFK Jr. after his comments are blasted as antisemitic,” by Ali Swenson, The Associated Press.
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| — “Avangrid agrees to pay $48m to terminate offshore wind deal,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Avangrid and the state’s three major utilities on Monday agreed to terminate a power purchase agreement they signed just last year, with the offshore wind developer agreeing to pay a total of $48 million to put the contract for Commonwealth Wind behind it."
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Effort to recall Easthampton mayor dies; nomination papers now available for fall election,” by Maddie Fabian, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A group of residents attempting to recall Mayor Nicole LaChapelle for her role in the failed superintendent search this spring did not file their petition by last Thursday’s deadline, according to City Clerk Barbara LaBombard.” — "Kathleen Keresey wins select board seat in West Stockbridge after voters break tie," by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: "Voters broke a tie Monday and sent incumbent Kathleen Keresey back to the Select Board by a solid margin. Keresey took 324 votes to Jon Piasecki’s 236, according to results posted to the town website at around 7:15 p.m. Polls closed at 7 p.m. ... It’s been more than two months since Keresey and Piasecki were tied 202-202 after the May 8 election."
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — "‘Straight Pride’ parade organizer withdraws from reappointment to Salisbury housing board," by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "A right-wing organizer in Salisbury who led a 2019 'Straight Pride' parade in Boston and coordinated buses to Washington, D.C., for the rally that led to the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, has withdrawn his request for reappointment to the board overseeing the town’s affordable housing. ... Samson Racioppi said he would no longer seek to return to the board he has served on since 2018, claiming 'defamation' by a group opposing his reappointment, who he described as 'bullies.'”
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| — “Chris Christie’s New Hampshire gambit,” by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Chris Christie planned to run a New Hampshire-centric campaign in his pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination. … Yet the only time he’s come face to face with a Granite State voter over the past three weeks is through a TV screen. … The problem is that candidates must clear a 40,000-donor threshold to qualify for the August 23 debate and a small state like New Hampshire isn’t where the money’s at. So instead of hitting the trail these past three weeks, Christie hit the television and radio circuit.”
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND |
| — “R.I. to terminate development contract with company that accused state officials of inappropriate behavior,” by Alexa Gagosz, Boston Globe: “Governor Dan McKee’s administration is terminating its contract with Scout Ltd., the Philadelphia-based developer that submitted plans to redevelop the historic Cranston Street Armory. The move comes after a consulting firm hired by the state determined the project would not be 'in the financial interest of the state taxpayers' — and just months after the developer accused two Rhode Island state officials of inappropriate conduct during a business trip to visit a Scout property in Philadelphia.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| TRANSITIONS — Rufus Gifford is now finance chair for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign. The former MA-03 congressional candidate most recently was chief of protocol and was previously U.S. ambassador to Denmark. — Veda Beltran is now a professional staff member with the oversight team for Senate Judiciary Dems. She previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Ed Markey. — Thomas Dalton is now communications director for Medford Public Schools. Dalton was most recently deputy press secretary in the AG’s office. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Paul Schmid, former Rep. Bill Delahunt , former state Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez , Nate Everett , Sarah Iselin, Michael Bakshi, Emerson College lecturer Keri Thompson, Amy Sweeney, and Playbook fans Eddie Flannery and Sarah Kashinsky . Happy belated to Wade Blackman , Rep. Katherine Clark's district director for policy, who celebrated Monday. 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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