Buzz: Republicans (heart) McConnell, Trump campaign in 4 new states, MRC’s ‘Socialism’ billboard – Washington Examiner

Impeachment appears to have paid off for Republicans.

Not only did President Trump’s approval ratings surge, but so did those of congressional Republicans and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Gallup said that the Kentucky senator’s approval rose to 33% and is 62% among Republicans, up from 47% before impeachment.

• The “Pence bump” has taken root throughout the federal government. The “bump” started when Vice President Mike Pence, tasked to handle the president’s response to the coronavirus, started to greet people with elbow bumps instead of a handshake. Department of Homeland Security officials immediately adopted it, as did Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

• The Trump-Pence campaign has begun to target four states it wants to add to those it nabbed in 2016 to win the Electoral College count over Hillary Clinton. Top officials said that the four were New Hampshire, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Mexico. “We think we have a good chance to add to our electoral numbers,” a campaign aide said. “Our polls are looking pretty strong there,” the aide added.

• As it has done for past national Republican conventions, the conservative Media Research Center is planning to rent billboards throughout Charlotte, North Carolina, to post its messages this August. This year, the two messages will include its motto, “Don’t Believe the Liberal Media,” and “The Media [hearts] Socialism.” The group said, “We want to rain on the leftist media’s parade.”