**Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here. ** On the roster: Poll shows Biden blowing past Bernie in New Hampshire - Klobuchar takes hard stance as a ‘proven progressive’ - I’ll Tell You What: I would wait… - Trump losing Obama voters he flipped in 2016 - Cashed out POLL SHOWS BIDEN BLOWING PAST BERNIE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE Monmouth University: “Former Vice President Joe Biden is the clear front-runner for New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Democratic primary, according to the first Monmouth University Poll of Granite State primary voters in the 2020 cycle. One-third of voters say that finding a candidate who will carry on former President Barack Obama’s legacy is very important to them… On the other hand, two-thirds of primary voters point to finding a nominee who can beat President Donald Trump as more important to them than agreement on the issues. … [Biden at 36%] is followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 18%. Other contenders include South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (9%), Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (8%), and California Sen. Kamala Harris (6%). Registering at least 1% in the poll are former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (2%), Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (2%), New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (2%), former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (1%), Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan (1%), and entrepreneur Andrew Yang (1%).” Bernie workers of the world unite - Roll Call: “Working for a campaign can be grueling, especially because staffers lack the formal human resources structure of a more traditional workplace. But hourly workers for the Bernie 2020 campaign can now count on overtime pay. That’s because the campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders ratified a collective bargaining agreement last week, the first presidential campaign in history to do so, according to the campaign. Workers will be represented by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 400. Campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in statement Wednesday that Bernie 2020 had ‘set the bar higher for the next generations of campaigners.’ ‘We are proud of our workers and proud to uphold Bernie’s commitment to collective bargaining rights and a strong labor movement,’ said Shakir. Local 400 has never represented a campaign staff before, and UFCW has never represented such a high-profile campaign.” Beto hires Obama, Hillary alum - Politico: “Beto O’Rourke has hired Jeff Berman, Barack Obama’s delegate selection director and a delegate strategist for Hillary Clinton in 2016, as senior adviser for delegate strategy, the campaign said Thursday. The hire comes as O’Rourke, after a highly unstructured U.S. Senate campaign last year, moves to piece together a more traditional operation for his presidential run. Berman was an instrumental force on Obama’s 2008 campaign, helping guide Obama's effort through the Democratic primary’s complex delegate landscape. Jen O’Malley Dillon, O’Rourke’s campaign manager, said in a statement that Berman was ‘one of the first people I reached out to when I came on board because delegate strategy is so critical to our overall strategy.’ … O’Rourke is now polling at about 5 percent nationally, according to the latest Morning Consult survey, falling back after an early burst of enthusiasm surrounding his campaign announcement in March.” Booker talks gun control - Fox News: “Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker says gun violence ‘is an everyday experience to people like me.’ As he unveiled a wide-ranging gun control proposal this week and showcased his call for federal licensing of firearms, the Democrat from New Jersey and former mayor of Newark -- one of the toughest cities in the nation -- emphasized that ‘I can’t stay away from this.’ Booker became the latest Democratic White House hopeful to make the issue of gun violence a top priority in the 2020 campaign. … The senator's sweeping proposal includes not only the license idea but a ban on assault weapons and limits on bulk purchases of firearms. Booker and other candidates doubled down on their calls in the wake of this week's Colorado school shooting.” Goldberg: ‘Voters want normalcy, and radical Dems don’t offer it’ - Boston Herald: “Right now, Joe Biden is the only major Democratic presidential contender who seems both interested in and capable of pursuing such a strategy. The rest of the field seems to think that Twitter likes and retweets will count as primary votes, and that there’s an appetite in the country for left-wing radicalism on a par with what they see as Trump’s right-wing radicalism. Rather than vow to keep the economic boom going while returning Washington to normalcy and enacting reasonable reforms with bipartisan support, they talk about socializing medicine, making slavery reparations, forgiving student loans, banning guns through executive orders and implementing a Green New Deal. And the media obsess over impeachment.” KLOBUCHAR TAKES HARD STANCE AS A ‘PROVEN PROGRESSIVE’ Fox News: “Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., defended her views and record at a Fox News town hall on Wednesday, saying progressives should support her bid for the presidency in 2020 because she is a ‘proven progressive.’ Many view Klobuchar as a more moderate Democratic presidential candidate among the nearly two dozen hopefuls in the race. During the town hall, that distinction formed the underpinnings of one question from an audience member, who asked why progressives should support the senator and noted her ‘unwillingness to support’ Medicare for all or free college for all. ‘Progressives should support me because I'm a proven progressive. The last time I checked, if you want to be a progressive and support progressives, then you are supposed to make progress. All right? And that is what I have done. That it is what I've done my whole life,’ Kobuchar told the Wisconsin audience.” She also shared her views on Trump's tax law - Bloomberg: “Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar said Wednesday she doesn’t want to fully repeal President Donald Trump’s tax law, breaking with rival and fellow Senator Kamala Harris who said it should be eliminated entirely. ‘I would’ve brought that corporate tax rate down some, but not to where they brought it,’ the Minnesota senator said at a Fox News town hall in Wisconsin. ‘There are parts of that bill that I would keep in place.’ Klobuchar didn’t say where she’d set the corporate rate — which the law brought down from 35% to 21% at a cost of roughly $1.4 trillion — or which other parts of the law she would seek to preserve as president. Other candidates have criticized the tax law as giving greater benefits to the wealthy and corporations rather than middle-income Americans.” THE RULEBOOK: SUSPICIOUS MINDS “By a curious refinement upon the spirit of republican jealousy, we are even taught to apprehend danger from the militia itself, in the hands of the federal government.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 29 TIME OUT: ANOTHER BAT-WINGED DINOSAUR? Atlantic: “Two years ago, a farmer from Wubaiding Village, in northeastern China, came across a beautiful fossil. The only animal fossils that had ever been found at this site were a pair of salamanders, but when Min Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences saw the new specimen, he was sure it was a dinosaur. Studying the beautifully preserved and nigh-complete skeleton … when [Wang] looked more closely at the left arm, he saw a thin bone coming down from its wrist—a rod as long as the entire forearm, but not jointed like a finger. … He knew he had found another bat-winged dinosaur. … He named it Ambopteryx longibranchus, from the Latin for ‘both wings, long upper arm.’ Ambopteryx is actually the second bat-winged dinosaur to be found. The first was also spotted by a farmer in northeastern China, and eventually described in 2015 by Xing Xu and Xioating Zheng.” Flag on the play? - Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM with your tips, comments or questions. SCOREBOARD Trump job performance Average approval: 43.6 percent Average disapproval: 52 percent Net Score: -8.4 points Change from one week ago: up 2.2 points [Average includes: IBD: 43% approve - 50% disapprove; NBC News/WSJ: 46% approve - 51% disapprove; Quinnipiac University: 41% approve - 55% disapprove; Gallup: 46% approve - 50% disapprove; NPR/PBS/Marist: 42% approve - 54% disapprove.] **and now, for this important commercial message** Consider yourself an Influencer? Become a trusted advisor in our FOX News community and help guide our brand’s future. Click here to find out how. Members of FOX News Influencers have the opportunity to be heard, be part of a special network of peers and influence new initiatives. What’s more, you’ll receive updates on how your input has made an impact. Fill out our qualification survey and join us. Thank you for your continued support in our company’s growth. **we now return you to our regularly scheduled political palaver** I’LL TELL YOU WHAT: I WOULD WAIT… This week Dana Perino and Chris Stirewalt discuss Democratic Presidential candidates jockeying for position in the Midwest, former President Obama's delayed memoir publication date, and why social media is like a cocktail party. Plus, Dana has some trivia for Chris: I'll give you the cause of death, you give me the President. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE TRUMP LOSING OBAMA VOTERS HE FLIPPED IN 2016 The Hill: “A key pillar of President Trump’s winning 2016 coalition, voters in the Midwest who backed President Obama but then reversed course to support the GOP presidential nominee in 2020, is beginning to lose faith in his job performance. Two-thirds of Obama-Trump voters say they see Trump favorably heading into his reelection campaign — but that number has fallen by 19 percentage points since 2016, according to a new survey by the Voter Study Group. Obama-Trump voters tend to be disproportionately located in the Midwest, and they likely helped Trump eke out victories in the key states of Michigan and Wisconsin. … Trump won those three states by just a handful of votes… The slightest erosion in support could cost him those states in 2020. Robert Griffin, the Voter Study Group’s research director, said the Obama-Trump voters are most likely to be members of the white working class who never attained a college degree.” Team Trump sets huge fundraising goal - Politico: “President Donald Trump’s outside political machine is setting a $300 million fundraising goal and is pitching major GOP donors on a plan to target six swing states that are likely to decide the 2020 election, according to people familiar with the group’s blueprint. The news comes after weeks of questions — some voiced by Republicans close to the president — about whether the organization is prepared for the presidential campaign. … The pressure is high: America First Action super PAC and its allied non-profit, America First Policies, are part of a broader Trump political apparatus that Republican officials say will need to raise roughly $1 billion. … America First Action President Brian Walsh said in an interview Wednesday that he's secured more than $40 million in pledges and that an array of major GOP givers have expressed interest. Many of them are deeply turned off by the Democratic field, he said.” President’s team also hired nine regional directors - WSJ: “President Trump’s re-election team is building out its political infrastructure with a round of hires that underscores the importance the Midwest and Florida are expected to have in the 2020 election. The campaign has carved the nation into nine regions as it decides how best to spend its resources on contacting voters, motivating supporters and, eventually, getting them to the polls on Election Day, according to campaign officials. Each area will be overseen by a newly hired regional political director.” THE JUDGE’S RULING: DID AG BARR DECEIVE CONGRESS? This week Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano weighs in on Attorney General William Barr's testimony under oath: “When Barr was testifying before a House subcommittee about his budgetary requests for the Department of Justice in the next fiscal year, he was asked by a member of the subcommittee if he knew anything about any criticisms by members of Mueller's team about his four-page summary of Mueller's conclusions. He replied, ‘No, I don't.’ But of course, Barr did know because Mueller told him in his letter of the complaints his office had about the four-page letter. Did the attorney general deceive Congress?<doc-sep>Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenAmerican held in Russia contracts COVID-19 after denied vaccine Biden defends waiving sanctions against Nord Stream Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE leads Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate competitiveness bill includes B authorization for Bezos space company Sanders wants government to get 'piece' of US semiconductor companies in exchange for aid Poll: 51 percent oppose Sanders-led resolution to block weapons sales to Israel MORE (I-Vt.) by a two-to-one margin in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire, according to a new poll. The Monmouth University survey released Thursday found Biden winning 36 percent support, followed by Sanders at 18 percent. South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Uber - One year later — has George Floyd's killing changed the world? Bipartisan infrastructure talks on life support Buttigieg acknowledges 'daylight' between White House, GOP on infrastructure MORE (D) is at 9 percent support, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOn The Money: Biden administration launches trade dispute against Canadian dairy industry | Warren urges Biden to replace Fed's Quarles Warren urges Biden to replace Fed's Quarles in testy exchange Warren offers bill to increase IRS budget to .5 billion MORE (D-Mass.) at 8 percent and Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisBiden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Biden, Harris condemn surge in antisemitic incidents Mexican president: FAA safety downgrade meant to benefit US carriers MORE (D-Calif.) at 6 percent. Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (Texas) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharDemocrats to introduce bill to prevent default recurring political donations Are the Supreme Court and Biden ready to rumble over Roe? Bottom line MORE (Minn.) and Cory Booker Cory BookerBiden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduces bill to give inmates Medicaid access Bass: 'Essential' for police reform bill to address qualified immunity MORE (N.J.) are each at 2 percent support, followed by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperDC statehood bill picks up Senate holdout Lobbying world DNC taps veteran campaign hands for communications staff MORE, Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanTim Ryan: GOP getting 'twisted up in knots, trying to figure out how to spin' Jan. 6 Tim Ryan gives incensed speech on House floor slamming GOP over Jan. 6 commission Improving college affordability for National Guardsmen and reservists MORE (Ohio) and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang Andrew YangNY Daily News editor defends Yang cartoon: 'This is not a racial stereotype or racist caricature' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Greene faces backlash over Holocaust comment Andrew Yang's wife Evelyn rips 'racist disfiguration' of husband in New York Daily News cartoon MORE at 1 percent each. ADVERTISEMENT Biden also has the best favorability rating in the survey, at 80 percent positive and 15 percent negative. Sanders rings in at 73 percent favorable and 15 percent unfavorable. Biden is mopping up among older voters, with 53 percent of those 65 and older backing the former vice president, compared to only 9 percent for Sanders. Biden also leads Sanders 36 percent to 19 percent among those between the ages of 50 and 64. Sanders does better with younger voters, leading Biden 27 to 20 among those under the age of 50. Fifty-eight percent of likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire describe themselves as moderates or conservatives, and Biden leads Sanders 45 percent to 10 percent among this group. Sanders leads Biden 29 percent to 23 percent among self-described liberals. Biden has sought to highlight his time as vice president under former President Obama, and the Monmouth poll provides evidence that could help him win over New Hampshire Democrats. Thirty-four percent said nominating someone who will build on Obama’s legacy is very important to them, while 38 percent said it is somewhat important. Just 21 percent said it is not important at all. The poll also suggests Democrats are focused on picking the candidate who can defeat Trump. Sixty-eight percent of voters said they want to nominate someone who can beat Trump, even if they disagree with the candidate on the issues. The Monmouth University survey of 376 likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire was conducted from May 2 to May 7 and has a 5.1 percentage point margin of error.<doc-sep>
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden made his first visit to New Hampshire as a 2020 presidential candidate on Monday and took on several of his vulnerabilities, vowing an upcoming speech on environmental policy and tackling the issue of unwanted touching. Mr. Biden, whose handsy approach to politicking has rubbed some voters the wrong way, said no man has the right to touch women without their consent, as he lamented the perils of “abuse of power.” He also said his environmental speech is in the works, answering the complaint from Sen. Bernard Sanders and others that he has not been aggressive enough in his approach to combating climate change. Leading in the polls, Mr. Biden is looking to fend off the first round of attacks and address lingering concerns about whether his decadeslong record holds up to scrutiny in the #MeToo era. Mr. Biden, who has tried to distance himself from other parts of his legislative record, rushed Monday to embrace his role in the passage of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, aimed at combating domestic violence. The act was part of a broader crime bill he helped write. He said he was criticized in the past for theorizing that abuse of women can result in post-traumatic stress disorder akin to how it afflicts soldiers on a battlefield but added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has research backing up his claim. “If every time you come home and the meal’s not ready on time and your husband smacks your head against a wall, guess what? It’s the same thing,” Mr. Biden said while speaking at a pizza parlor in Hampton. He also cited wisdom from his father, who said abuse of power is the “greatest sin of all” and that a “cardinal sin” is for a man to raise his hand to a child or a woman. Mr. Biden said men have a duty to act and speak out when they see potential abuse. He used the example of a college student seeing a fraternity member try to lead an inebriated coed upstairs. “If you don’t go over and say, ‘No, no, no — not in this house,’ then you’re a damn coward. I don’t want to hear it,” he said. While preparing to enter the race last month, Mr. Biden faced accusations from a number of women that he had hugged, sniffed or touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. While polling suggests Mr. Biden is in control of the Democratic primary and President Trump has seemed eager to get through the primaries and begin his campaign, the former vice president took a more circumspect approach at the Hampton event. He didn’t spend much time invoking Mr. Trump directly. Instead, he talked up other policy priorities such as rolling back Republican tax cuts, shoring up Obamacare and investing in education. Mr. Biden said Americans should be allowed to buy into a Medicare-type plan but retain private insurance if they choose. That contrasts with Mr. Sanders’ demand for a government-run “Medicare for All” plan. Mr. Sanders is pressing Mr. Biden on climate change, saying there can be no “middle ground” on the issue. That was a response to a Reuters report that Mr. Biden was looking for a middle-ground policy between the social upheaval strategy of the left and the confusion on the right. Mr. Biden said Monday that he has been a leader. “We need an environmental revolution,” he said. “We do need to finish this green revolution in a way that’s rational, and we can do it, afford it and get it done now.” Mr. Sanders was scheduled to appear at a Green New Deal rally Monday evening at Howard University in the District of Columbia, as was liberal heartthrob Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. An official with the group behind the Monday event said Mr. Biden could lose support among younger voters if he doesn’t follow through with a sufficient plan to tackle climate change. “If Joe Biden wants to be relevant right now with young voters … he should back the Green New Deal and say that he won’t take oil and gas money,” Varshini Prakash, executive director of the Sunrise Movement, said on MSNBC. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.