My must read of they day is "In a first, Republicans claim early vote lead in Iowa," in the Washington Examiner:
The Republicans closed the day with an advantage of 305 of combined early votes and absentee ballot returns, giving them an advantage they have never held in any Iowa campaign. An overhauled ground game that prioritizes early voting is a key part of the Republican strategy to boost state Sen. Joni Ernst over Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley in their close race for an open Senate seat.
Republicans also believe they are winning the battle to expand the electorate, something the Democrats have focused on to diminish the GOP’s historic turnout advantage in midterm elections. On Monday, among the best days for absentee-ballot requests for the Democrats, only 13 percent came from voters who did not participate in the 2010 elections; compared to 28 percent of GOP absentee requests who didn’t vote four years ago. […]
If the Republicans maintain this level of performance with early voters, particularly those considered less likely to vote this year, it could signal that the GOP is headed for victory in a host of competitive races across the country. Winning a tough Iowa Senate race would also be another blow to the Democrats’ hopes of maintaining Senate control in the next Congress. Democrats have long been considered the early vote experts, as born out by their past success — particularly in Iowa.
This really is a big deal. It’s seemingly happening because Republicans restructured their ground game after 2012, and that could mean a lot for other races this cycle and even in 2016.
Ground games are fascinating and whenever people talk about it the conversation tends to be in awe of the one Democrats have, and rightly so. Democrats have a phenomenal ground game and in many ways we saw it pummel Republicans in 2012. When I have these types of discussions with Republican staffers, they usually point out that Democrats began building their ground game after the publication of a book by two political scientists called "Get Out the Vote!" in 2004. Republicans had a late start and didn’t start building theirs until after 2012, but they argue that Republicans are improving and have a dramatically different ground game this cycle.
I spoke to some committee staffers earlier this week and they told me the best example of their improved ground game is in Iowa.It was a state that initially was not considered winnable, but because of their new tactics they’ve been able to make the race a close toss-up.
It seems like they’re right.
Republicans emphasized early voting and absentee ballots, which is something they didn’t care about in the past. They began targeting peripheral voters, and started using a "social pressure" messaging tactic in pamphlets and email to encourage individuals to vote. Voters have responded well, according to the RNC staffers I spoke with.
Conservatives are typically Election Day voters. But this time Republicans have reached out and encouraged early voting. Their numbers in Kansas are also significantly improved from prior years. Whether they flip Iowa or not, when you look at their early voting last cycle compared to now, Republicans have clearly done something impressive.