Apr 7, 2015 6 min read

Wake Up To Politics - April 7, 2015

To read today's edition of Wake Up To Politics in a PDF format, click here. Continue reading to find the text of the Wake Up in the body of the email!

Tuesay, April 7, 2015
581 Days Until Election Day 2016It's Tuesday, April 7, 2015, I'm Gabe Fleisher for Wake Up To Politics, and reporting from WUTP world HQ in my bedroom - Good morning: THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!!!
To send me questions, comments, tips, new subscribers, and more: email me at wakeuptopolitics@gmail.com. To learn more about WUTP or subscribe, visit the site: wakeuptopolitics.com, or read my tweets and follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/Wakeup2Politics or read stories on Wake Up To Politics by clicking the media logos at the bottom.
Race to 45

Rand Paul to Launch Presidential Bid Today Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul will launch his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Louisville today.
Paul’s announcement rally will take place at the Galt House Hotel Grand Ballroom; the theme will be Paul’s status as a “different kind of Republican,” as he attempts to brand himself as the race’s anti-establishment candidate.
This can be seen in the slogan he unveils today: “Defeat the Washington machine. Unleash the American dream”.
“Different kind of Republican” can also apply to the new candidate’s father Ron Paul, a former Texas congressman and past presidential candidate. In setting a contrast from his father, Rand Paul is attempting to appeal to a wider electorate than the elder Paul’s libertarian base.
The junior Paul has been traveling the country doing just that, going to liberal colleges and places that don’t normally see GOP presidential candidates, saying things you don’t normally hear from GOP presidential candidates.
Ron Paul will attend his son’s announcement rally, but will not play a large role in the campaign.
Following the campaign launch, Rand Paul will head to New Hampshire to start his five-day, five-state announcement tour, which will also hit South Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and California.
Tonight, Paul will go on a media blitz including an appearance on Fox’s “Hannity”. Paul will also be answering questions on Facebook after the Louisville rally and will livestream part of the Q&A on Periscope, a sign that social media will be a touchstone of his campaign.
As Paul becomes the second to join what is expected to be a crowded primary field, the question that could determine the success of his campaign is the smoothness with which it is rolled out in the days ahead.
Where Are They Now: 2016 Travel Tracker Rand Paul Louisville, Kentucky (see above)
Jeb Bush Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado for breakfast with veterans at IHOP and a town hall with representatives of the oil and gas industry, making fracking the expected focus.
Marco Rubio Tallahassee, Florida for a fundraiser at the Governors Club. According to Politico, tickets are $1,000 per-plate, and the event will be hosted by “former staffers/lobbyists [of] casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, [and] pro-Israel…Republicans.”

Election Central

Emanuel Faces Garcia in Chicago Mayoral Runoff Today Chicagoans go to the polls today in the runoff mayoral election.
Incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel failed to take 50% of the vote in the February election against Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, forcing today’s runoff.
Garcia has been attacking Emanuel from the left, setting up a progressive vs. establishment primary in the Democratic Party. Emanuel is expected to win, with polls showing a victory for the former White House chief of staff.
McCain to Run for Re-Election Arizona Sen. John McCain will announce plans today to run for a sixth term.
McCain, 78, will announce at an event this afternoon at the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and he first made his intentions public with an interview Monday night with NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell.
The 2008 GOP presidential nominee will likely face a conservative primary challenge in 2016. State Sen. Kelli Ward is already running against McCain; many hope Rep. Matt Salmon also jumps in.
If he wins the primary, McCain will have no trouble winning re-election in the red state of Arizona. One issue that could plague his campaign: his age. On Election Day 2016, the Arizonan will be 80 – placing him at 86 at the end of a sixth term. He is, however, a skilled fundraiser, having taken in $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2015, with $3.6 million on hand.
McCain told O’Donnell that his re-election effort will be focused on local issues, “including Arizona's drought, his work to benefit a local copper mine and his bipartisan legislation to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs after scandal at Phoenix VA Medical Center,” according to NBC.
The Arizonan currently sits atop the Senate Armed Services Committee.

White House Watch

The President’s Schedule At 9:30 AM, President Obama will host Christian leaders for an Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House.
At 12:30 PM, Obama will have his weekly lunch with Vice President Joe Biden.
At 2:35 PM, the President will participate in a roundtable on the impact of climate change on public health at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Also today, President Obama’s interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep will air on “Morning Edition”.
Following the First Lady Today, First Lady Michelle Obama will participate in a United States Postal Service “First Day of Issue” ceremony for the new “forever” stamp honoring Maya Angelou.

From the Editor's Desk

Presidential Madness Franklin Delano Roosevelt has won the 2015 Wake Up To Politics Presidential Madness bracket competition, beating out defending champion Abraham Lincoln!!! Hundreds of votes were cast (and more in the final than any other round); thank you all for playing! Below, you can examine the bracket with results from all five rounds, and see Mr. Roosevelt’s award…
FDR, crowned Champion-in-Chief, wins a…framed picture and plaque in Wake Up To Politics for one day. Congratulations!

Also, the bracket:

EMK Institute Special Report Yesterday, I sent out my special report on the dedication ceremony of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, which I attended. In the special, I take you on a tour of the Institute, guided by my experience there and quotes from the dedication ceremony from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and others. Read it here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/4946817b18454973fb1cd7ecc/files/emk_institute_01.pdf
Also, some of the comments I received from subscribers on the report:
Janice Goodman: “Thank you for your enlightening report from the EMK Institute. I am hoping to bring my 10 and 13 year old grandsons there....your report has made me more enthusiastic.”
Marllee Millman: “I felt as if I were there...thanks for sending a wonderfully detailed report.”
Lyle Hendricks: “The summary of your visit was very personal and enjoyable.”
Lee Scissors: “This is just fascinating!! I learned so much!! I admired Ted Kennedy too!!!!”
Nancy Weigley: “You are becoming such a talented writer. Sounds like an amazing experience.”
Joe Bookman: “Thanks for a great report. It must have been an exciting trip.”
Amy Fleisher (my mom, for context): “Beautiful!!! Love you so very much…even when your room is messy J”
Kelly Hynes: “This is an amazing post. You are so good at what you do.”
Marilyn Schapiro: “Thanks very much for your great report on the Ted Kennedy Institute. You made me feel like I was there with you.”