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President Donald Trump is back in Tennessee, trying to push U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s Senate bid over the finish line.

Trump headlined a high-dollar, closed-door fundraiser for Blackburn in Johnson City before appearing at a packed rally at the Freedom Hall Civic Center.

Blackburn is in a tight race against the state’s Democratic ex-Gov. Phil Bredesen, who, like other Democratic candidates across Trump country, has painted himself as a pragmatist willing to work with the president on certain issues. The Tennessee campaign is among several closely watched races expected to determine control of the Senate, and Republicans are desperate to defend a narrow two-seat majority in the face of surging Democratic enthusiasm.

And the stakes couldn’t be clearer. The rally comes as the FBI is continuing to investigate sexual misconduct allegations against Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh — an FBI investigation that was forced by a small group of undecided senators who could sink the nomination. Trump earlier Monday disputed reports that his White House has tried to narrow the scope of the investigation and limit which witnesses the FBI could interview, saying he wants them “to do a very comprehensive investigation, whatever that means.”

Trump is planning a busy week of campaign travel, with trips to a handful of states including Mississippi, Minnesota and Kansas as he tries to boost Republican turnout for the midterm elections.

Blackburn’s contest, in a state that Trump won by 26 points, has drawn especially heavy interest from the White House, with repeat visits by both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Bredesen has tried to distance himself from the national Democratic Party, presenting himself as an independent thinker who will support Trump’s policies when they’re beneficial to the state.

“I need to make clear to everybody my independence from all of the national Democratic stuff,” the former two-term governor recently told The Associated Press.

Blackburn and Bredesen are seeking the seat of Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring.

Bredesen, who would be the first Democrat to win a Senate campaign in Tennessee since Al Gore in 1990 if he’s victorious, has run TV ads in which he says that he’s “not running against Donald Trump” and learned long ago to “separate the message from the messenger.” He was holding an event in Chattanooga on Monday night that he’d hoped would be a debate with Blackburn, and he has been needling her for not agreeing to one.

Trump, as he has in other states, is expected to argue Bredesen is not the centrist he says he is and will wind up voting with Democratic leaders including Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi if he gets to Washington.

Blackburn, meanwhile, has stressed her ties to Trump, running ads that feature footage of his last rally in the state in May.

“Phil, whatever the hell his name is, this guy will 100 percent vote against us every single time,” Trump said at the time.

Trump offered an early endorsement of Blackburn in April, tweeting that she is “a wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her. Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime.”
…

The image of the United States has deteriorated further among its traditional allies after a year in which President Donald Trump ratcheted up his verbal attacks on countries like Canada and Germany, a leading survey showed.

The survey of 25 nations by the Pew Research Center also showed that respondents from across the globe have less confidence in Trump’s ability to lead than they do in Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

Since taking office in January 2017, Trump has pulled the United States out of international agreements like the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal, cozied up to authoritarian leaders like Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and criticized his neighbors and NATO allies.

In June, after a G7 summit in Canada, Trump refused to sign a joint statement with America’s allies, deriding his host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as “very dishonest and weak”. He has repeatedly attacked Germany for its trade surplus, low defense spending and reliance on Russian gas.

Last week, when giving a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Trump drew laughter from world leaders when he claimed to have achieved more in his two years in the White House than almost any other U.S. administration in history.

The survey showed that America’s image, which took a big hit in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, continued to deteriorate in many countries in 2018, particularly in Europe.

Just 30 percent of Germans have a favorable view of the United States, down five points from last year and the lowest score in the entire survey after Russia, on 26 percent.

Only 38 percent of French and 39 percent of Canadians said they had a positive view of the United States, both down from last year. Mexico inched up slightly to 32 percent.

Faith in Merkel Highest

The countries with the most positive views of the United States were Israel, the Philippines and South Korea, all at 80 percent or above. Across all countries, the U.S. got positive marks, with 50 percent saying they had a positive view, compared to 43 percent who were negative.

Just 7 percent of Spanish, 9 percent of French and 10 percent of Germans said they had confidence in Trump’s leadership. In 20 of the 25 countries surveyed, a majority said they had no confidence in Trump.

Across all countries, an average of 27 percent of respondents said they had confidence in Trump. That compared unfavorably to Putin, on 30 percent, and Xi, on 34 percent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the only leader in which a majority of those surveyed, 52 percent, expressed confidence.

French President Emmanuel Macron was just behind at 46 percent.

Despite Trump’s low ratings, 63 percent of respondents said the world was better off with the United States as the leading power, compared to 19 percent who preferred China in that role.

Allies took a dim view of the Trump administration’s position on civil liberties, with majorities in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and Mexico saying the government did not respect the personal freedoms of its people.

Reflecting Trump’s “America First” stance, substantial majorities in 19 of the 25 countries surveyed said the United States did not take their interests into account when making international policy.

The survey was conducted between May and August, and based on interviews with over 900 people in each of the surveyed countries.
…

The image of the United States has deteriorated further among its traditional allies after a year in which President Donald Trump ratcheted up his verbal attacks on countries like Canada and Germany, a leading survey showed.

The survey of 25 nations by the Pew Research Center also showed that respondents from across the globe have less confidence in Trump’s ability to lead than they do in Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

Since taking office in January 2017, Trump has pulled the United States out of international agreements like the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal, cozied up to authoritarian leaders like Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and criticized his neighbors and NATO allies.

In June, after a G7 summit in Canada, Trump refused to sign a joint statement with America’s allies, deriding his host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as “very dishonest and weak”. He has repeatedly attacked Germany for its trade surplus, low defense spending and reliance on Russian gas.

Last week, when giving a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Trump drew laughter from world leaders when he claimed to have achieved more in his two years in the White House than almost any other U.S. administration in history.

The survey showed that America’s image, which took a big hit in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, continued to deteriorate in many countries in 2018, particularly in Europe.

Just 30 percent of Germans have a favorable view of the United States, down five points from last year and the lowest score in the entire survey after Russia, on 26 percent.

Only 38 percent of French and 39 percent of Canadians said they had a positive view of the United States, both down from last year. Mexico inched up slightly to 32 percent.

Faith in Merkel Highest

The countries with the most positive views of the United States were Israel, the Philippines and South Korea, all at 80 percent or above. Across all countries, the U.S. got positive marks, with 50 percent saying they had a positive view, compared to 43 percent who were negative.

Just 7 percent of Spanish, 9 percent of French and 10 percent of Germans said they had confidence in Trump’s leadership. In 20 of the 25 countries surveyed, a majority said they had no confidence in Trump.

Across all countries, an average of 27 percent of respondents said they had confidence in Trump. That compared unfavorably to Putin, on 30 percent, and Xi, on 34 percent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the only leader in which a majority of those surveyed, 52 percent, expressed confidence.

French President Emmanuel Macron was just behind at 46 percent.

Despite Trump’s low ratings, 63 percent of respondents said the world was better off with the United States as the leading power, compared to 19 percent who preferred China in that role.

Allies took a dim view of the Trump administration’s position on civil liberties, with majorities in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and Mexico saying the government did not respect the personal freedoms of its people.

Reflecting Trump’s “America First” stance, substantial majorities in 19 of the 25 countries surveyed said the United States did not take their interests into account when making international policy.

The survey was conducted between May and August, and based on interviews with over 900 people in each of the surveyed countries.
…

Former President Barack Obama is expanding his influence ahead of November’s midterm elections. On Monday, he released a second slate of endorsements for Democrats running for offices ranging from local to national, bringing the total to more than 300.

Among the most prominent candidates to win Obama’s support are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congressional candidate who won an upset primary victory this summer in New York; Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor who is running for governor in Florida; and Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona.

While the candidates that Obama endorsed stretch up and down the ballot — from gubernatorial hopefuls to aspiring state lawmakers — he notably declined to wade into several races that have captivated national attention. Obama did not endorse Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat challenging Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, or Phil Bredesen, a former Democratic governor of Tennessee who is now running for Senate against Republican Rep. Marcia Blackburn.

Obama’s endorsement might not be helpful to Democrats competing in southern states, where the former president isn’t popular. Bredesen said last month he wouldn’t welcome Obama or other party leaders campaigning for him in Tennessee.

Obama favored Democrats in close races across the country, veterans of his administration and past campaigns, and he also prioritized diversity. In a statement, Obama described the candidates as “Americans who aren’t just running against something, but for something.”

“The Democratic Party has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we lead with conviction, principle and bold, new ideas. Our incredible array of candidates up and down the ticket, all across the country, make up a movement of citizens who are younger, more diverse, more female than ever before,” Obama said.

The former president’s engagement in the political fray since leaving office has been limited and carefully crafted. He returned to the political stage last month with a speech in Illinois, in which he made a sharp break from the deference that past presidents typically show their successors, offering a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump’s tenure.

Since then, as he has campaigned on behalf of Democrats in states like California, Ohio and Pennsylvania, he has largely shied away from as explicit indictments of the Trump presidency, instead imploring voters — particularly young Americans — to vote.

Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic presidential nominee, also tweeted words of encouragement for a slew of Democrats backed by Run For Something, a group launched in the aftermath of the 2016 elections to encourage young Democrats to enter politics.

“Pitch into their campaigns if you can, reach out to friends in their districts to encourage their support, or start with a like or a follow,” Clinton tweeted. “November 6th is only 36 days away, so there’s no time to waste.”
…

Former President Barack Obama is expanding his influence ahead of November’s midterm elections. On Monday, he released a second slate of endorsements for Democrats running for offices ranging from local to national, bringing the total to more than 300.

Among the most prominent candidates to win Obama’s support are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congressional candidate who won an upset primary victory this summer in New York; Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor who is running for governor in Florida; and Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona.

While the candidates that Obama endorsed stretch up and down the ballot — from gubernatorial hopefuls to aspiring state lawmakers — he notably declined to wade into several races that have captivated national attention. Obama did not endorse Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat challenging Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, or Phil Bredesen, a former Democratic governor of Tennessee who is now running for Senate against Republican Rep. Marcia Blackburn.

Obama’s endorsement might not be helpful to Democrats competing in southern states, where the former president isn’t popular. Bredesen said last month he wouldn’t welcome Obama or other party leaders campaigning for him in Tennessee.

Obama favored Democrats in close races across the country, veterans of his administration and past campaigns, and he also prioritized diversity. In a statement, Obama described the candidates as “Americans who aren’t just running against something, but for something.”

“The Democratic Party has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we lead with conviction, principle and bold, new ideas. Our incredible array of candidates up and down the ticket, all across the country, make up a movement of citizens who are younger, more diverse, more female than ever before,” Obama said.

The former president’s engagement in the political fray since leaving office has been limited and carefully crafted. He returned to the political stage last month with a speech in Illinois, in which he made a sharp break from the deference that past presidents typically show their successors, offering a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump’s tenure.

Since then, as he has campaigned on behalf of Democrats in states like California, Ohio and Pennsylvania, he has largely shied away from as explicit indictments of the Trump presidency, instead imploring voters — particularly young Americans — to vote.

Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic presidential nominee, also tweeted words of encouragement for a slew of Democrats backed by Run For Something, a group launched in the aftermath of the 2016 elections to encourage young Democrats to enter politics.

“Pitch into their campaigns if you can, reach out to friends in their districts to encourage their support, or start with a like or a follow,” Clinton tweeted. “November 6th is only 36 days away, so there’s no time to waste.”
…

In years past, Democrats largely steered clear of campaigning on gun control for fear of alienating voters in conservative districts. That line of thinking appears to have changed in the wake of recent mass killings, including a deadly shooting at a Florida high school in February.

From Florida to Republican-leaning Southern California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in toss-up races critical for their takeover of Congress. They’re betting that growing public support for more stringent gun measures will help them win votes in these districts.

In Virginia, for example, state Sen. Jennifer Wexton is taking on Barbara Comstock, a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun rights advocacy organization.

In Texas, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a progressive Democrat, is challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a conservative who has received an A+ rating from the NRA. O’Rourke champions expanded background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

And in California’s conservative Orange County, liberal Democrats with pro-gun control platforms are contesting four seats long held by Republicans with close ties to the gun lobby.

Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Democrats used to face “significant risk” in running on the guns issue in a state like Florida. Now, nearly every Democrat (plus a handful of Republicans) competing in Florida’s 27 House races has embraced one form or another of gun control.

“Not only is it not a dangerous political position, in some ways … if you’re on the wrong side of it, you could be punished for it,” said Schale, who headed former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida.

The emergence of guns as a campaign issue in competitive districts reflects changing voter attitudes in the age of mass shootings. While not among voters’ top concerns, the issue has nonetheless given Democrats an edge as they court voters disaffected by Republican inaction on gun policy.

Public sentiment was turning in favor of greater gun restrictions well before the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 high school students and staff members and injured others.

Epidemic of mass shootings

Over the past two years, there have been a stunning 608 mass shootings that killed 698 peopel and injured 2,881, according the Gun Violence Archive. The data collection group defines a mass shooting as the shooting or killing of four or more people in one incident.

But the mass killing at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, carried out by a teenager who legally obtained the rifle used in the massacre, was something of a tipping point in the simmering public outrage over gun violence.

It sparked a wave of student activism and led to the passage of dozens of new state gun laws.

In Florida, a state pejoratively nicknamed the “Gunshine State” — a play on its state nickname of the Sunshine State —  conservative Republican Gov. Rick Scott, an ardent champion of the NRA, signed a new law that raises the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for their purchase.

In Vermont, another state with an entrenched gun culture, Phil Scott, the NRA-backed Republican governor, signed a law with some of the same provisions, angering the gun lobby.

Despite these and more than 50 other state laws, passed since the Parkland shooting, Congress notably failed to take action at the federal level.

House and Senate Republican leaders and President Donald Trump voiced sympathy for the victims and their families but did little else to respond to the tragedy or seek ways to prevent future shootings.

Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, argued that the gun violence was a manifestation of mental health problems and that there already were adequate gun control laws on the books.

This congressional inaction has given Democratic candidates a prominent campaign issue.

WATCH: Gun control

​A Gallup poll conducted after the Parkland shootings showed that 67 percent of Americans favored stricter gun laws, the highest level of support in a quarter century. And a June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that guns are a major issue for a quarter of voters in the midterm elections.

Seeing gun control as a winning strategy, many Democrat candidates have embraced it in districts where raising the issue once risked turning off voters. And it’s not just progressive candidates who are campaigning on gun control, but also many of the 61 military veterans who are running as Democratic candidates for House races.

A recent NBC News analysis found that 71 percent of Democratic candidates for House seats mentioned the issue on their campaign websites.

“I can’t tell you how often my phone rings with a candidate calling us cold, saying, ‘Could I please get Brady to endorse me?’” said Avery Gardiner, co-president of the Brady Campaign, a leading gun advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., named for James Brady, the late press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was seriously wounded during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. “That kind of thing didn’t happen in the past.”

Single-issue voters

Historically, elections have energized gun rights advocates far more than gun control proponents, with many so-called “single-issue voters” casting ballots based solely on a candidate’s position on guns, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Now, a new crop of single-issue voters is emerging: citizens who’ll vote for their favorite candidates on the basis of their support for stricter gun laws.

“It’s almost a litmus-test-type issue for many voters right now,” Rozell said.

The Parkland students who are leading the push for greater gun control hit the road this summer to mobilize these new voters. The 60-day bus tour, billed “Road to Change,” took them to more than 65 cities. Organizers say tens of thousands of people registered to vote at their events.

“We want politicians who pass legislation that will actively save lives within our country,” said Jamal Lenny, a 2016 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who serves as creative director of March for Our Lives. “Our main call to action is registering, educating and voting.”

There are large swaths of the country where support for gun rights runs deep and advocating for gun restrictions is anathema. That is why Democrats are largely avoiding the issue in pro-gun states such as North Dakota and West Virginia. 

“These are places where, if the Democrats embraced gun control, the Republican opponents can paint them as out of touch with their states, catering to the far left base of their party, which would jeopardize their chances,” said Republican strategist Ryan Williams,who served as a spokesman for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 

Overall, however, Democrats see the gun issue as a winner for them.

“These days you’re seeing real energy on the side of people who want to vote for people to have gun safety proposals in their platform,” said Schale, the Democratic strategist.
…

In years past, Democrats largely steered clear of campaigning on gun control for fear of alienating voters in conservative districts. That line of thinking appears to have changed in the wake of recent mass killings, including a deadly shooting at a Florida high school in February.

From Florida to Republican-leaning Southern California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in toss-up races critical for their takeover of Congress. They’re betting that growing public support for more stringent gun measures will help them win votes in these districts.

In Virginia, for example, state Sen. Jennifer Wexton is taking on Barbara Comstock, a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun rights advocacy organization.

In Texas, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a progressive Democrat, is challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a conservative who has received an A+ rating from the NRA. O’Rourke champions expanded background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

And in California’s conservative Orange County, liberal Democrats with pro-gun control platforms are contesting four seats long held by Republicans with close ties to the gun lobby.

Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Democrats used to face “significant risk” in running on the guns issue in a state like Florida. Now, nearly every Democrat (plus a handful of Republicans) competing in Florida’s 27 House races has embraced one form or another of gun control.

“Not only is it not a dangerous political position, in some ways … if you’re on the wrong side of it, you could be punished for it,” said Schale, who headed former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida.

The emergence of guns as a campaign issue in competitive districts reflects changing voter attitudes in the age of mass shootings. While not among voters’ top concerns, the issue has nonetheless given Democrats an edge as they court voters disaffected by Republican inaction on gun policy.

Public sentiment was turning in favor of greater gun restrictions well before the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 high school students and staff members and injured others.

Epidemic of mass shootings

Over the past two years, there have been a stunning 608 mass shootings that killed 698 peopel and injured 2,881, according the Gun Violence Archive. The data collection group defines a mass shooting as the shooting or killing of four or more people in one incident.

But the mass killing at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, carried out by a teenager who legally obtained the rifle used in the massacre, was something of a tipping point in the simmering public outrage over gun violence.

It sparked a wave of student activism and led to the passage of dozens of new state gun laws.

In Florida, a state pejoratively nicknamed the “Gunshine State” — a play on its state nickname of the Sunshine State —  conservative Republican Gov. Rick Scott, an ardent champion of the NRA, signed a new law that raises the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for their purchase.

In Vermont, another state with an entrenched gun culture, Phil Scott, the NRA-backed Republican governor, signed a law with some of the same provisions, angering the gun lobby.

Despite these and more than 50 other state laws, passed since the Parkland shooting, Congress notably failed to take action at the federal level.

House and Senate Republican leaders and President Donald Trump voiced sympathy for the victims and their families but did little else to respond to the tragedy or seek ways to prevent future shootings.

Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, argued that the gun violence was a manifestation of mental health problems and that there already were adequate gun control laws on the books.

This congressional inaction has given Democratic candidates a prominent campaign issue.

WATCH: Gun control

​A Gallup poll conducted after the Parkland shootings showed that 67 percent of Americans favored stricter gun laws, the highest level of support in a quarter century. And a June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that guns are a major issue for a quarter of voters in the midterm elections.

Seeing gun control as a winning strategy, many Democrat candidates have embraced it in districts where raising the issue once risked turning off voters. And it’s not just progressive candidates who are campaigning on gun control, but also many of the 61 military veterans who are running as Democratic candidates for House races.

A recent NBC News analysis found that 71 percent of Democratic candidates for House seats mentioned the issue on their campaign websites.

“I can’t tell you how often my phone rings with a candidate calling us cold, saying, ‘Could I please get Brady to endorse me?’” said Avery Gardiner, co-president of the Brady Campaign, a leading gun advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., named for James Brady, the late press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was seriously wounded during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. “That kind of thing didn’t happen in the past.”

Single-issue voters

Historically, elections have energized gun rights advocates far more than gun control proponents, with many so-called “single-issue voters” casting ballots based solely on a candidate’s position on guns, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Now, a new crop of single-issue voters is emerging: citizens who’ll vote for their favorite candidates on the basis of their support for stricter gun laws.

“It’s almost a litmus-test-type issue for many voters right now,” Rozell said.

The Parkland students who are leading the push for greater gun control hit the road this summer to mobilize these new voters. The 60-day bus tour, billed “Road to Change,” took them to more than 65 cities. Organizers say tens of thousands of people registered to vote at their events.

“We want politicians who pass legislation that will actively save lives within our country,” said Jamal Lenny, a 2016 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who serves as creative director of March for Our Lives. “Our main call to action is registering, educating and voting.”

There are large swaths of the country where support for gun rights runs deep and advocating for gun restrictions is anathema. That is why Democrats are largely avoiding the issue in pro-gun states such as North Dakota and West Virginia. 

“These are places where, if the Democrats embraced gun control, the Republican opponents can paint them as out of touch with their states, catering to the far left base of their party, which would jeopardize their chances,” said Republican strategist Ryan Williams,who served as a spokesman for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 

Overall, however, Democrats see the gun issue as a winner for them.

“These days you’re seeing real energy on the side of people who want to vote for people to have gun safety proposals in their platform,” said Schale, the Democratic strategist.
…

In years past, Democrats largely steered clear of campaigning on gun control for fear of alienating voters in conservative districts. That line of thinking appears to have changed in the wake of recent mass killings, including a deadly shooting at a Florida high school in February.

From Florida to Republican-leaning Southern California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in toss-up races critical for their takeover of Congress. They’re betting that growing public support for more stringent gun measures will help them win votes in these districts.

In Virginia, for example, state Sen. Jennifer Wexton is taking on Barbara Comstock, a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun rights advocacy organization.

In Texas, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a progressive Democrat, is challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a conservative who has received an A+ rating from the NRA. O’Rourke champions expanded background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

And in California’s conservative Orange County, liberal Democrats with pro-gun control platforms are contesting four seats long held by Republicans with close ties to the gun lobby.

Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Democrats used to face “significant risk” in running on the guns issue in a state like Florida. Now, nearly every Democrat (plus a handful of Republicans) competing in Florida’s 27 House races has embraced one form or another of gun control.

“Not only is it not a dangerous political position, in some ways … if you’re on the wrong side of it, you could be punished for it,” said Schale, who headed former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida.

The emergence of guns as a campaign issue in competitive districts reflects changing voter attitudes in the age of mass shootings. While not among voters’ top concerns, the issue has nonetheless given Democrats an edge as they court voters disaffected by Republican inaction on gun policy.

Public sentiment was turning in favor of greater gun restrictions well before the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 high school students and staff members and injured others.

Epidemic of mass shootings

Over the past two years, there have been a stunning 608 mass shootings that killed 698 peopel and injured 2,881, according the Gun Violence Archive. The data collection group defines a mass shooting as the shooting or killing of four or more people in one incident.

But the mass killing at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, carried out by a teenager who legally obtained the rifle used in the massacre, was something of a tipping point in the simmering public outrage over gun violence.

It sparked a wave of student activism and led to the passage of dozens of new state gun laws.

In Florida, a state pejoratively nicknamed the “Gunshine State” — a play on its state nickname of the Sunshine State —  conservative Republican Gov. Rick Scott, an ardent champion of the NRA, signed a new law that raises the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for their purchase.

In Vermont, another state with an entrenched gun culture, Phil Scott, the NRA-backed Republican governor, signed a law with some of the same provisions, angering the gun lobby.

Despite these and more than 50 other state laws, passed since the Parkland shooting, Congress notably failed to take action at the federal level.

House and Senate Republican leaders and President Donald Trump voiced sympathy for the victims and their families but did little else to respond to the tragedy or seek ways to prevent future shootings.

Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, argued that the gun violence was a manifestation of mental health problems and that there already were adequate gun control laws on the books.

This congressional inaction has given Democratic candidates a prominent campaign issue.

WATCH: Gun control

​A Gallup poll conducted after the Parkland shootings showed that 67 percent of Americans favored stricter gun laws, the highest level of support in a quarter century. And a June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that guns are a major issue for a quarter of voters in the midterm elections.

Seeing gun control as a winning strategy, many Democrat candidates have embraced it in districts where raising the issue once risked turning off voters. And it’s not just progressive candidates who are campaigning on gun control, but also many of the 61 military veterans who are running as Democratic candidates for House races.

A recent NBC News analysis found that 71 percent of Democratic candidates for House seats mentioned the issue on their campaign websites.

“I can’t tell you how often my phone rings with a candidate calling us cold, saying, ‘Could I please get Brady to endorse me?’” said Avery Gardiner, co-president of the Brady Campaign, a leading gun advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., named for James Brady, the late press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was seriously wounded during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. “That kind of thing didn’t happen in the past.”

Single-issue voters

Historically, elections have energized gun rights advocates far more than gun control proponents, with many so-called “single-issue voters” casting ballots based solely on a candidate’s position on guns, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Now, a new crop of single-issue voters is emerging: citizens who’ll vote for their favorite candidates on the basis of their support for stricter gun laws.

“It’s almost a litmus-test-type issue for many voters right now,” Rozell said.

The Parkland students who are leading the push for greater gun control hit the road this summer to mobilize these new voters. The 60-day bus tour, billed “Road to Change,” took them to more than 65 cities. Organizers say tens of thousands of people registered to vote at their events.

“We want politicians who pass legislation that will actively save lives within our country,” said Jamal Lenny, a 2016 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who serves as creative director of March for Our Lives. “Our main call to action is registering, educating and voting.”

There are large swaths of the country where support for gun rights runs deep and advocating for gun restrictions is anathema. That is why Democrats are largely avoiding the issue in pro-gun states such as North Dakota and West Virginia. 

“These are places where, if the Democrats embraced gun control, the Republican opponents can paint them as out of touch with their states, catering to the far left base of their party, which would jeopardize their chances,” said Republican strategist Ryan Williams,who served as a spokesman for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 

Overall, however, Democrats see the gun issue as a winner for them.

“These days you’re seeing real energy on the side of people who want to vote for people to have gun safety proposals in their platform,” said Schale, the Democratic strategist.
…

In years past, Democrats largely steered clear of campaigning on gun control for fear of alienating voters in conservative districts. That line of thinking appears to have changed in the wake of recent mass killings, including a deadly shooting at a Florida high school in February.

From Florida to Republican-leaning Southern California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in toss-up races critical for their takeover of Congress. They’re betting that growing public support for more stringent gun measures will help them win votes in these districts.

In Virginia, for example, state Sen. Jennifer Wexton is taking on Barbara Comstock, a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun rights advocacy organization.

In Texas, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a progressive Democrat, is challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a conservative who has received an A+ rating from the NRA. O’Rourke champions expanded background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

And in California’s conservative Orange County, liberal Democrats with pro-gun control platforms are contesting four seats long held by Republicans with close ties to the gun lobby.

Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Democrats used to face “significant risk” in running on the guns issue in a state like Florida. Now, nearly every Democrat (plus a handful of Republicans) competing in Florida’s 27 House races has embraced one form or another of gun control.

“Not only is it not a dangerous political position, in some ways … if you’re on the wrong side of it, you could be punished for it,” said Schale, who headed former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida.

The emergence of guns as a campaign issue in competitive districts reflects changing voter attitudes in the age of mass shootings. While not among voters’ top concerns, the issue has nonetheless given Democrats an edge as they court voters disaffected by Republican inaction on gun policy.

Public sentiment was turning in favor of greater gun restrictions well before the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 high school students and staff members and injured others.

Epidemic of mass shootings

Over the past two years, there have been a stunning 608 mass shootings that killed 698 peopel and injured 2,881, according the Gun Violence Archive. The data collection group defines a mass shooting as the shooting or killing of four or more people in one incident.

But the mass killing at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, carried out by a teenager who legally obtained the rifle used in the massacre, was something of a tipping point in the simmering public outrage over gun violence.

It sparked a wave of student activism and led to the passage of dozens of new state gun laws.

In Florida, a state pejoratively nicknamed the “Gunshine State” — a play on its state nickname of the Sunshine State —  conservative Republican Gov. Rick Scott, an ardent champion of the NRA, signed a new law that raises the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for their purchase.

In Vermont, another state with an entrenched gun culture, Phil Scott, the NRA-backed Republican governor, signed a law with some of the same provisions, angering the gun lobby.

Despite these and more than 50 other state laws, passed since the Parkland shooting, Congress notably failed to take action at the federal level.

House and Senate Republican leaders and President Donald Trump voiced sympathy for the victims and their families but did little else to respond to the tragedy or seek ways to prevent future shootings.

Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, argued that the gun violence was a manifestation of mental health problems and that there already were adequate gun control laws on the books.

This congressional inaction has given Democratic candidates a prominent campaign issue.

WATCH: Gun control

​A Gallup poll conducted after the Parkland shootings showed that 67 percent of Americans favored stricter gun laws, the highest level of support in a quarter century. And a June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that guns are a major issue for a quarter of voters in the midterm elections.

Seeing gun control as a winning strategy, many Democrat candidates have embraced it in districts where raising the issue once risked turning off voters. And it’s not just progressive candidates who are campaigning on gun control, but also many of the 61 military veterans who are running as Democratic candidates for House races.

A recent NBC News analysis found that 71 percent of Democratic candidates for House seats mentioned the issue on their campaign websites.

“I can’t tell you how often my phone rings with a candidate calling us cold, saying, ‘Could I please get Brady to endorse me?’” said Avery Gardiner, co-president of the Brady Campaign, a leading gun advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., named for James Brady, the late press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was seriously wounded during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. “That kind of thing didn’t happen in the past.”

Single-issue voters

Historically, elections have energized gun rights advocates far more than gun control proponents, with many so-called “single-issue voters” casting ballots based solely on a candidate’s position on guns, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Now, a new crop of single-issue voters is emerging: citizens who’ll vote for their favorite candidates on the basis of their support for stricter gun laws.

“It’s almost a litmus-test-type issue for many voters right now,” Rozell said.

The Parkland students who are leading the push for greater gun control hit the road this summer to mobilize these new voters. The 60-day bus tour, billed “Road to Change,” took them to more than 65 cities. Organizers say tens of thousands of people registered to vote at their events.

“We want politicians who pass legislation that will actively save lives within our country,” said Jamal Lenny, a 2016 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who serves as creative director of March for Our Lives. “Our main call to action is registering, educating and voting.”

There are large swaths of the country where support for gun rights runs deep and advocating for gun restrictions is anathema. That is why Democrats are largely avoiding the issue in pro-gun states such as North Dakota and West Virginia. 

“These are places where, if the Democrats embraced gun control, the Republican opponents can paint them as out of touch with their states, catering to the far left base of their party, which would jeopardize their chances,” said Republican strategist Ryan Williams,who served as a spokesman for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 

Overall, however, Democrats see the gun issue as a winner for them.

“These days you’re seeing real energy on the side of people who want to vote for people to have gun safety proposals in their platform,” said Schale, the Democratic strategist.
…

From Florida to California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in the midterm elections. They’re betting that growing public support for tighter gun laws in the wake of recent mass shootings will help them win votes. Masood Farivar reports on changing voter attitudes in the current election cycle.
…

From Florida to California, Democratic candidates for Congress are campaigning on gun control in the midterm elections. They’re betting that growing public support for tighter gun laws in the wake of recent mass shootings will help them win votes. Masood Farivar reports on changing voter attitudes in the current election cycle.
…

The White House said Sunday that it is not “micromanaging” the new FBI investigation into Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh..

“The White House counsel has allowed the Senate to dictate terms and what the scope of the investigation is,” Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News Sunday, referring to the FBI’s probe of sexual assault allegations against the judge by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford.

Both Kavanaugh and Ford testified separately before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday. Ford told the Committee she was “100 percent” sure Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were both high school teenagers in 1982, while the Supreme Court nominee angrily denied the allegations.

Trump ordered the new probe into Kavanaugh Friday at the request of the committee. The consent for a fresh probe was a concession by the Trump administration and Republicans who had strongly contended that Kavanaugh had been thoroughly vetted numerous times.

Amid the new probe, Trump has maintained his support for Kavanaugh, saying that “hopefully at the conclusion, everything will be fine.”

Trump, speaking to reporters Saturday, noted that the FBI “is all over, talking to everybody” — including women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault and “I would expect it’s going to turn out very well for the judge.”

News reports had said the White House may be limiting the scope of the FBI’s investigation — such as not permitting scrutiny of the claims of another woman, Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at parties while he was a prep school student

“Look at the end of the day the FBI is going to go through this process… the Senate is going going to have to make a determination to vote for Brett Kavanaugh or not,” Press Secretary Sanders said while not commenting specifically on the claims on Swetnick.

Late Saturday, Trump tweeted: “NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!”

FBI is reported to have reached out to the second woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, Deborah Ramirez. But it is not immediately clear if FBI agents have yet interviewed her. She alleged in a report published on September 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away.

Ramirez said the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party line vote in favor of Kavanaugh’s nomination from Republican Jeff Flake, who requested a delay and investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, said she agreed with Flake in wanting an FBI investigation. Because Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate, they had little choice now but to slow the confirmation process.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he will continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of “background” calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the Senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” Kavanaugh said.

Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the 100-member Senate. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate is evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would also have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Also watch:

Steve Herman contributed to this report.

 
…

The White House said Sunday that it is not “micromanaging” the new FBI investigation into Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh..

“The White House counsel has allowed the Senate to dictate terms and what the scope of the investigation is,” Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News Sunday, referring to the FBI’s probe of sexual assault allegations against the judge by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford.

Both Kavanaugh and Ford testified separately before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday. Ford told the Committee she was “100 percent” sure Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were both high school teenagers in 1982, while the Supreme Court nominee angrily denied the allegations.

Trump ordered the new probe into Kavanaugh Friday at the request of the committee. The consent for a fresh probe was a concession by the Trump administration and Republicans who had strongly contended that Kavanaugh had been thoroughly vetted numerous times.

Amid the new probe, Trump has maintained his support for Kavanaugh, saying that “hopefully at the conclusion, everything will be fine.”

Trump, speaking to reporters Saturday, noted that the FBI “is all over, talking to everybody” — including women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault and “I would expect it’s going to turn out very well for the judge.”

News reports had said the White House may be limiting the scope of the FBI’s investigation — such as not permitting scrutiny of the claims of another woman, Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at parties while he was a prep school student

“Look at the end of the day the FBI is going to go through this process… the Senate is going going to have to make a determination to vote for Brett Kavanaugh or not,” Press Secretary Sanders said while not commenting specifically on the claims on Swetnick.

Late Saturday, Trump tweeted: “NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!”

FBI is reported to have reached out to the second woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, Deborah Ramirez. But it is not immediately clear if FBI agents have yet interviewed her. She alleged in a report published on September 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away.

Ramirez said the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party line vote in favor of Kavanaugh’s nomination from Republican Jeff Flake, who requested a delay and investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, said she agreed with Flake in wanting an FBI investigation. Because Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate, they had little choice now but to slow the confirmation process.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he will continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of “background” calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the Senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” Kavanaugh said.

Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the 100-member Senate. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate is evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would also have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Also watch:

Steve Herman contributed to this report.

 
…

When a Democrat with Palestinian-Mexican ancestry who had never before run for office was elected to challenge a Republican incumbent in a staunchly conservative southern California congressional district, few gave him much of a chance.

But five-term U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter, who has been criminally charged with misusing campaign funds, is concerned enough about Ammar Campa-Najjar to issue a YouTube ad accusing his Democratic rival of trying “to hide his family’s ties to terrorism.”

It was a reference to his Palestinian grandfather, who was involved in a 1972 plot to kill Israeli athletes at the Olympics and was killed the following year by Israeli commandos.

The ad, released Wednesday, shows Hunter, a former U.S. Marine who followed his father into Congress, dressed in camouflage and saying he approved the message.

​Democrat responds

Campa-Najjar told Reuters on Saturday Hunter’s ad was “racist, xenophobic and rooted in lies.”

He noted he had security clearances to work in the White House and the Labor Department under former President Barack Obama.

“If Hunter applied for that clearance under indictment, he would be denied, which is why (House of Representatives Speaker) Paul Ryan stripped him of his seat on the Armed Services Committee, because he would have access to confidential materials. That’s the irony of this,” Campa-Najjar said.

“I think he’s trying to tap into dark emotions and I don’t think people will rise to that,” Campa-Najjar said.

Hunter’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

Hunter’s once-safe seat

Democrats need to pick up 23 House of Representatives seats in the Nov. 6 congressional elections if they wish to take a majority and serve as a more effective counter to U.S. President Donald Trump. Republicans can ill afford to lose normally safe seats like Hunter’s, in a district including San Diego, as they look to keep control of that chamber.

Polls show Hunter maintaining a comfortable lead over Campa-Najjar, though not as wide as his 27 percentage point margin of victory in 2016.

A Monmouth University Poll of 401 voters conducted between Sept. 22 and 26, found 53 percent of likely voters supported Hunter versus 38 percent for Campa-Najjar. The poll had a 5.3 percentage point margin of error.

Campa-Najjar’s campaign says its polling shows a much closer race.

Family blame game

The 29-year-old Democratic challenger is the son of a Mexican-American mother and a Palestinian father who immigrated from the Middle East. He stresses his Christian faith on the campaign trail and has tried repeatedly to distance himself from his Palestinian grandfather.

He responded to Hunter’s ad by pointing to the Republican’s own family troubles: “He knows I’m not responsible for my family’s actions, just like his wife isn’t responsible for his.”

Hunter, 41, and his wife pleaded not guilty Aug. 23 to charges of misusing $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for their children’s private school tuition, lavish travel including a trip to Italy and restaurant meals that cost hundreds of dollars. He has said the charges were politically motivated.

Criminal charges

Hunter is not the only Republican congressman running for re-election while fighting criminal charges. U.S. Representative Chris Collins is also campaigning in a normally solidly Republican western New York state district while awaiting trial on insider trading charges that he has denied.

Both Hunter and Collins were early supporters of Trump, who early this month criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for allowing federal prosecutors to charge Republican candidates in an election year.

Campa-Najjar’s fundraising has outpaced Hunter’s, according to Federal Election Commission data through June 2018. Hunter’s campaign had reported contributions of $854,787, while Campa-Najjar had reported nearly $1.1 million
…

The FBI has reached out to the second woman who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault as part of its new investigation into the Supreme Court nominee, The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the investigation.

It was not immediately clear whether the FBI had yet interviewed Deborah Ramirez, who alleged in a report published Sept. 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken dormitory party. She said he shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away. 

Ramirez said the the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students.

The Post said the FBI was also following up on accusations by Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman who accused Kavanaugh. Her story dated to 1982, when they were both teenagers. She said he sexually assaulted her at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation.

Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately Thursday in lengthy hearings.

President Donald Trump ordered the additional FBI investigation Friday at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump posted on Twitter Friday night:

​Trump said in a statement that the additional investigation “must be limited in scope” and “completed in less than one week.”

The decision was a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh already was vetted.

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch 

Earlier Friday, the Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party-line vote in favor of the nod, but Arizona Republican Jeff Flake requested a delay in the floor vote and the additional investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said Friday that she agreed with Flake’s call for additional FBI investigation.

Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to have his nomination confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate was evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he would continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, said he was willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI, because Ford contends he was present when Kavanaugh assaulted her at the suburban Washington party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.
…

The FBI has reached out to the second woman who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault as part of its new investigation into the Supreme Court nominee, The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing people familiar with the investigation.

It was not immediately clear whether the FBI had yet interviewed Deborah Ramirez, who alleged in a report published Sept. 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken dormitory party. She said he shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away. 

Ramirez said the the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students.

The Post said the FBI was also following up on accusations by Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman who accused Kavanaugh. Her story dated to 1982, when they were both teenagers. She said he sexually assaulted her at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation.

Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately Thursday in lengthy hearings.

President Donald Trump ordered the additional FBI investigation Friday at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump posted on Twitter Friday night:

​Trump said in a statement that the additional investigation “must be limited in scope” and “completed in less than one week.”

The decision was a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh already was vetted.

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch 

Earlier Friday, the Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party-line vote in favor of the nod, but Arizona Republican Jeff Flake requested a delay in the floor vote and the additional investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said Friday that she agreed with Flake’s call for additional FBI investigation.

Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to have his nomination confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate was evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he would continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, said he was willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI, because Ford contends he was present when Kavanaugh assaulted her at the suburban Washington party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.
…

Amid a new investigation of his Supreme Court nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump maintained his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday, saying that “hopefully, at the conclusion, everything will be fine.” 

Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn prior to his departure for a political rally in nearby West Virginia, noted that the FBI “is all over, talking to everybody,” including women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and “I would expect it’s going to turn out very well for the judge.” 

The president also accused opposition Democrats of acting terribly and dishonestly during the Kavanaugh confirmation process. He expressed anger about the leak of Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation against Kavanaugh, which she sent to a congresswoman but had previously requested remain confidential. 

Despite what Trump told reporters, news reports indicated the White House might be limiting the scope of the FBI’s investigation — such as not permitting scrutiny of the claims of another woman, Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at parties while he was a prep school student. 

Trump administration officials also denied they were restricting areas of inquiry.

“The scope and duration has been set by the Senate,” according to a statement by White House spokesman Raj Shah. “The White House is letting FBI agents do what they are trained to do.”

News reports said the FBI had contacted Deborah Ramirez, the second of Kavanaugh’s accusers. The Associated Press reported that Ramirez’s lawyer, John Clune, said she had agreed to cooperate with agents. 

Ramirez alleged in a report published Sept. 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party and shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away. She said the the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students.

The FBI was also following up on accusations by Ford, the first woman who accused Kavanaugh. Her story dated to 1982, when they were teenagers. She said he sexually assaulted her at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation.

Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately Thursday in lengthy hearings.

Trump ordered the new investigation Friday at the request of the Judiciary Committee. The consent for a fresh probe was a concession by the Trump administration and Republicans, who had strongly contended that Kavanaugh was thoroughly vetted numerous times. 

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch 

The Judiciary Committee voted Friday to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party-line vote in favor of the nod, but Arizona Republican Jeff Flake requested a delay in the floor vote and the additional investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said Friday that she agreed with Flake’s call for additional FBI investigation.

Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to have his nomination confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate was evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he would continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, said he was willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI, because Ford contends he was present when Kavanaugh assaulted her at the suburban Washington party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.
…

Amid a new investigation of his Supreme Court nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump maintained his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday, saying that “hopefully, at the conclusion, everything will be fine.” 

Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn prior to his departure for a political rally in nearby West Virginia, noted that the FBI “is all over, talking to everybody,” including women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and “I would expect it’s going to turn out very well for the judge.” 

The president also accused opposition Democrats of acting terribly and dishonestly during the Kavanaugh confirmation process. He expressed anger about the leak of Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation against Kavanaugh, which she sent to a congresswoman but had previously requested remain confidential. 

Despite what Trump told reporters, news reports indicated the White House might be limiting the scope of the FBI’s investigation — such as not permitting scrutiny of the claims of another woman, Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at parties while he was a prep school student. 

Trump administration officials also denied they were restricting areas of inquiry.

“The scope and duration has been set by the Senate,” according to a statement by White House spokesman Raj Shah. “The White House is letting FBI agents do what they are trained to do.”

News reports said the FBI had contacted Deborah Ramirez, the second of Kavanaugh’s accusers. The Associated Press reported that Ramirez’s lawyer, John Clune, said she had agreed to cooperate with agents. 

Ramirez alleged in a report published Sept. 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party and shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away. She said the the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students.

The FBI was also following up on accusations by Ford, the first woman who accused Kavanaugh. Her story dated to 1982, when they were teenagers. She said he sexually assaulted her at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation.

Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately Thursday in lengthy hearings.

Trump ordered the new investigation Friday at the request of the Judiciary Committee. The consent for a fresh probe was a concession by the Trump administration and Republicans, who had strongly contended that Kavanaugh was thoroughly vetted numerous times. 

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch 

The Judiciary Committee voted Friday to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party-line vote in favor of the nod, but Arizona Republican Jeff Flake requested a delay in the floor vote and the additional investigation.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said Friday that she agreed with Flake’s call for additional FBI investigation.

Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to have his nomination confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate was evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would have to do the same to block his confirmation.

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he would continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate.

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, said he was willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI, because Ford contends he was present when Kavanaugh assaulted her at the suburban Washington party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.
…

The FBI has launched a new investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

President Donald Trump ordered the investigation at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump posted on Twitter Friday night:

Trump said in a statement the updated investigation, which follows sexual misconduct allegations, “must be limited in scope” and “completed in less than one week.”

The decision is a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh had been vetted.

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch

​Due diligence

Earlier Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a vote in favor of Kavanaugh’s nomination from Republican Jeff Flake, who requested a delay and investigation.

The committee of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats voted along party lines to move the nomination forward.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, said Friday she agrees with Flake in wanting an FBI investigation. Because Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate, they have little choice now but to slow down the process to confirm Kavanaugh.

Republican leaders said Friday they still plan to move ahead with a procedural vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination Saturday.

​Kavanaugh to cooperate

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he will continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate. 

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

The developments come one day after dramatic testimony by Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who has accused him of sexual assault when they were teenagers in 1982. Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately in lengthy hearings.

Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation that he sexually assaulted Ford at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington.

Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the 100 member Senate. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate is evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would also have to do the same to block his confirmation.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, says he is willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI as Ford claims he was present when Kavanaugh allegedly attacked her at a party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.

WATCH: Personal and Political Debates Collide in Emotional US Supreme Court Fight

How key senators will vote

Also Friday, several Democrats from states that Trump won announced they would vote against Kavanaugh.

Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly from Indiana said he would vote against the appellate court judge. Donnelly said Ford’s sexual assault accusation against Kavanaugh was “disturbing and credible” and repeated a Democratic call for the FBI investigation.

Senator Doug Jones, a first-term Democrat from Alabama, a state in which President Donald Trump won by a wide margin, said Thursday he is voting ‘no’ on Kavanaugh’s bid for the Supreme Court. 

“The Kavanaugh nomination process has been flawed from the beginning,” he said, adding that Ford was credible and courageous.

Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of swing state Florida also said Thursday he would vote against Kavanaugh. Republicans are trying to gain the vote of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a state that Trump won comfortably, along with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota, also said she needs time to decide how she will vote. She is running for re-election in a state that voted heavily for Trump.

​Bar association request

The American Bar Association late Thursday called on the Judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the FBI has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women.

“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,’’ the ABA letter to committee leadership said. “Each appointment to our nation’s highest court [as with all others] is simply too important to rush to a vote.”

Earlier Friday, committee Chairman Charles Grassley flatly dismissed the ABA’s request, saying, “I’ve explained many times an FBI investigation is not necessary. The ABA is an outside organization like any other that can send us letters and share their advice, but we’re not going to let them dictate our committee’s business.”
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The FBI has launched a new investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

President Donald Trump ordered the investigation at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump posted on Twitter Friday night:

Trump said in a statement the updated investigation, which follows sexual misconduct allegations, “must be limited in scope” and “completed in less than one week.”

The decision is a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh had been vetted.

WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch

​Due diligence

Earlier Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a vote in favor of Kavanaugh’s nomination from Republican Jeff Flake, who requested a delay and investigation.

The committee of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats voted along party lines to move the nomination forward.

“This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence,” Flake said.

Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, said Friday she agrees with Flake in wanting an FBI investigation. Because Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate, they have little choice now but to slow down the process to confirm Kavanaugh.

Republican leaders said Friday they still plan to move ahead with a procedural vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination Saturday.

​Kavanaugh to cooperate

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he will continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate. 

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate,” he said.

The developments come one day after dramatic testimony by Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who has accused him of sexual assault when they were teenagers in 1982. Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately in lengthy hearings.

Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation that he sexually assaulted Ford at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington.

Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the 100 member Senate. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate is evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would also have to do the same to block his confirmation.

In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, says he is willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI as Ford claims he was present when Kavanaugh allegedly attacked her at a party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place.

WATCH: Personal and Political Debates Collide in Emotional US Supreme Court Fight

How key senators will vote

Also Friday, several Democrats from states that Trump won announced they would vote against Kavanaugh.

Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly from Indiana said he would vote against the appellate court judge. Donnelly said Ford’s sexual assault accusation against Kavanaugh was “disturbing and credible” and repeated a Democratic call for the FBI investigation.

Senator Doug Jones, a first-term Democrat from Alabama, a state in which President Donald Trump won by a wide margin, said Thursday he is voting ‘no’ on Kavanaugh’s bid for the Supreme Court. 

“The Kavanaugh nomination process has been flawed from the beginning,” he said, adding that Ford was credible and courageous.

Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of swing state Florida also said Thursday he would vote against Kavanaugh. Republicans are trying to gain the vote of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a state that Trump won comfortably, along with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota, also said she needs time to decide how she will vote. She is running for re-election in a state that voted heavily for Trump.

​Bar association request

The American Bar Association late Thursday called on the Judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the FBI has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women.

“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,’’ the ABA letter to committee leadership said. “Each appointment to our nation’s highest court [as with all others] is simply too important to rush to a vote.”

Earlier Friday, committee Chairman Charles Grassley flatly dismissed the ABA’s request, saying, “I’ve explained many times an FBI investigation is not necessary. The ABA is an outside organization like any other that can send us letters and share their advice, but we’re not going to let them dictate our committee’s business.”
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The trial of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, is sending shockwaves across the multibillion dollar lobbying industry in Washington. Many lobbyists in Washington fear his guilty verdict on bank and fraud charges and his guilty plea on obstruction charges will make lobbying a much more risky business. Daria Dieguts has the story.
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The trial of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, is sending shockwaves across the multibillion dollar lobbying industry in Washington. Many lobbyists in Washington fear his guilty verdict on bank and fraud charges and his guilty plea on obstruction charges will make lobbying a much more risky business. Daria Dieguts has the story.
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The Republican chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Friday subpoenaed a U.S. research firm founder to give a deposition on his hiring of a former British spy to compile a dossier on alleged links between U.S. President Donald Trump’s associates and Russia.

Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, announced the move on Twitter a day after receiving a letter in which lawyers for Glenn Simpson, the founder of Fusion GPS, said that their client “will not agree to an interview” requested earlier this week.

“As part of our joint investigation into decisions made by DOJ in 2016, today I subpoenaed Glenn Simpson to appear for a deposition,” Goodlatte posted on Twitter.

Goodlatte said in a separate Twitter post that former FBI Director James Comey, former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other former Justice Department officials have been invited “as witnesses. Will subpoena them if necessary.”

Simpson’s lawyers also sent their letter to House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, who is conducting with Goodlatte a probe into the Justice Department’s decision to investigate possible collusion between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

The top Democrats on the committees, Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler, in a statement accused the Republicans, who control Congress, of continuing “to abet the president as the walls close in around him.”

Fusion GPS was hired by lawyers for the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign to conduct research on Trump, her opponent.

The firm in turn hired Christopher Steele, a former officer of MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency, to produce a dossier that outlined alleged Russian financial dealings with Trump, a longtime real estate developer, and included salacious personal details that remain unconfirmed.

The dossier was sent to the FBI, which already had launched an investigation into whether Russia interfered with the election and whether Trump campaign officials worked with Moscow to try to sway the outcome.

The Kremlin denies meddling in the election. Trump, who denies his campaign colluded with Russia, has called Steele’s work an “unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier” and has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia.

In their letter, seen by Reuters, Simpson’s lawyers said Simpson already had been interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee, of which Gowdy is a member, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which like all committees are led by Trump’s fellow Republicans.

“Part and parcel of this concerted effort by the president’s congressional allies has been a campaign of retaliation against the government’s whistleblowers, including our client Mr. Simpson, for their willingness to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement and for their exercise of their constitutional rights to free speech and political activity as American citizens,” the lawyers wrote.

 
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The Republican chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Friday subpoenaed a U.S. research firm founder to give a deposition on his hiring of a former British spy to compile a dossier on alleged links between U.S. President Donald Trump’s associates and Russia.

Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, announced the move on Twitter a day after receiving a letter in which lawyers for Glenn Simpson, the founder of Fusion GPS, said that their client “will not agree to an interview” requested earlier this week.

“As part of our joint investigation into decisions made by DOJ in 2016, today I subpoenaed Glenn Simpson to appear for a deposition,” Goodlatte posted on Twitter.

Goodlatte said in a separate Twitter post that former FBI Director James Comey, former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other former Justice Department officials have been invited “as witnesses. Will subpoena them if necessary.”

Simpson’s lawyers also sent their letter to House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, who is conducting with Goodlatte a probe into the Justice Department’s decision to investigate possible collusion between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

The top Democrats on the committees, Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler, in a statement accused the Republicans, who control Congress, of continuing “to abet the president as the walls close in around him.”

Fusion GPS was hired by lawyers for the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign to conduct research on Trump, her opponent.

The firm in turn hired Christopher Steele, a former officer of MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency, to produce a dossier that outlined alleged Russian financial dealings with Trump, a longtime real estate developer, and included salacious personal details that remain unconfirmed.

The dossier was sent to the FBI, which already had launched an investigation into whether Russia interfered with the election and whether Trump campaign officials worked with Moscow to try to sway the outcome.

The Kremlin denies meddling in the election. Trump, who denies his campaign colluded with Russia, has called Steele’s work an “unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier” and has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia.

In their letter, seen by Reuters, Simpson’s lawyers said Simpson already had been interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee, of which Gowdy is a member, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which like all committees are led by Trump’s fellow Republicans.

“Part and parcel of this concerted effort by the president’s congressional allies has been a campaign of retaliation against the government’s whistleblowers, including our client Mr. Simpson, for their willingness to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement and for their exercise of their constitutional rights to free speech and political activity as American citizens,” the lawyers wrote.

 
…