Pressure is building on Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union and the face of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference gathering, to run for Senate in Kansas if Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Kansas House member, doesn’t.
The Club for Growth PAC released poll results that show Schlapp in a strong position to win the upcoming Republican primary.
In the poll, Schlapp leads Rep. Roger Marshall 49% to 41%. Pompeo has ruled out a bid, but some allies are still hoping for him to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts. Others have said he is eyeing a 2024 presidential bid. …
- The nation’s leading shooting sports industry group is coming to Washington to host a trade fair at the Trump International Hotel. The 18th Annual Firearms Import/Export Conference, July 30-Aug.1, will hear from federal arms officials. And the group got a good rate, offering members a room for $265 a night. …
- NBC News is beginning work on its studios at Capitol Hill’s top media address, 400 North Capitol. According to an internal building memo, “NBC and their construction company, DPR, have permits to start their interior construction for floors — 8th, 7th, and 1st.” The builders are promising to keep the noise between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. And word is that the windows will be bulletproof. …
- The recently formed bipartisan communications firm Blue Engine Message & Media + JDA Frontline is getting an easier to digest name: “Seven Letter.” Blue Engine’s Erik Smith said “many of the words we use every day to describe the work we do for clients and the manner in which we do it are made up of seven letters.” Think content, insight, partner, he said. Last fall, he joined with Republican Jim Dyke’s firm. Dyke is now in Napa Valley starting Mira Winery. …
