Overnight Campaign: What do you call a debate without a Trump?

by Ben Kamisar - 10/15/15 6:55 PM ET

Welcome to OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN, your daily rundown from The Hill on all the latest news in the White House, Senate and House races.

The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: The two candidates at the top of the Republican polls, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, are threatening to skip the next GOP debate later this month over CNBC’s planned format.The campaigns both warn in a letter first obtained by NBC News that they will not participate unless the debate is no longer than two-hours, including commercials, and includes opening and closing statements.

A bevy of other candidates agreed with calls to include those statements from the candidates, according to a source on the call, but only Carson and Trump have publicly threatened to sit out.

RACE TO 1600 PENN:

MONEY BAGS:The Hill’s Jonathan Swan reports: Our campaign finance guru has been hard at work for the third quarter filing deadline, digesting the flurry of numbers into analysis. Check out whose stock is rising and whose stock is falling in light of the new reports.

OUTREACH: The HIll’s Jonathan Easley reports: Hillary Clinton looked to build on her support among Latinos at a forum with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio on Thursday. She ripped Republicans on immigration reform, and singled out Donald Trump for his controversial remarks on illegal immigrants.

ANOTHER BENGHAZI OOPS: The Hill’s Jonathan Easley reports: A House Republican has handed Hillary Clinton another political gift, claiming that the Benghazi Select Committee was designed to go after her. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who heads the committee, admonished the Republican for the remarks, reports The Hill’s Julian Hattem.

HOLD ON, MR. PRESIDENT: The Hill’s Jordain Carney reports: Marco Rubio wants the president to hold current troop levels in Afghanistan until his successor takes office.

IN GOOD HEALTH: The Hill’s Sarah Ferris reports: Jeb Bush’s doctor has given him a clean bill of health. Bush has brought his blood pressure and blood sugar to normal levels after previously struggling with his weight.

ODDS AND ENDS:

HOW DO YOU SAY ‘I’M RUNNING’ IN KOREAN?: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: Vice President Joe Biden told reporters he’d rather answer the repeated questions on his possible presidential bid in Korean. CNN reports that Biden’s family has given him the go-ahead to run.

CRANKY HOBBIT 2016: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: Karl Rove didn’t feel the Bern at Tuesday’s debate, bashing Bernie Sanders for sounding like a “cranky hobbit.” Donald Trump, meanwhile, called Sanders a “maniac.”

BERNIE MEETS ELLEN: The Hill’s Caitlin Yack reports: Bernie Sanders opened up in an appearance on the Ellen show, joking about his preference for boxers or briefs.

POLL POSITION:

CHRISTIE’S NEW JERSEY BALAD: The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes reports: Support for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) presidential campaign has dropped to single digits in his home state in a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.

KEYSTONE STATE BATTLE : The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R) reelection margin is down in the single digits against each of his three major Democratic opponents, a new poll from Public Policy Polling shows. These numbers are a stark difference from a poll by Quinnipiac University late last month, as well as the race’s general trend lines, which show Toomey in a stronger position.

THE DAILY TRUMP:

LIVE FROM NEW YORK: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: A Latino group is protesting Trump’s appearance on Saturday Night Live next month.

WARMED OVER: The Hill’s Caitlin Yilek reports: An Atlanta radio host has been suspended for repackaging an old Donald Trump interview and playing it as if it was new.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“He is a man that does not lose,” — Eric Trump about his father to host Greta Van Susteren on Fox News’ “On the Record.”

CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS:

SHOW ME THE MONEY: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: It was a busy day for Senate candidates as campaign finance reports were due. While not all are public, as the Senate still relies on snail mail instead of electronic filing that presidential candidates use, war chests are beginning to come into focus.

MONEY WATCH:

MORE MONEY: On top of the fundraising totals listed above, here are a few more from a crazy day in the world of campaign finance.

Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) raised $1.4 million for her likely showdown against Rep. Joe Heck (R) for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s (D) seat.

Kelli Ward (R-Ariz.) raised about $525,000 to fight Sen. John McCain (R) in a primary challenge.

Conner Eldridge (D-Ark.) raised about $400,000 to take on Sen. John Boozman (R). That’s more than the almost $360,000 haul that Boozman himself brought in, according to Roll Call.

WHAT WE ARE WATCHING FOR TOMORROW AND OVER THE WEEKEND:

(All times Eastern)

Bernie Sanders appears on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday. We don’t know if he’ll dance back stage as he did before the Ellen DeGeneres show.

Marco Rubio unveils his vision for U.S. Energy Policy in a New American Century in Ohio on Friday afternoon.

Donald Trump holds a rally at an elementary school in Tyngsborough, Mass. Friday night.

Chris Christie holds two campaign events in New Hampshire.

Rand Paul campaigns in New Hampshire on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Alabama Democratic Conference convention in Hoover on Saturday.. The ADC, a predominantly African-American political organization, endorsed Clinton over Barack Obama in 2008.

Ben Carson holds a fundraising reception in Houston on Saturday night, with tickets running $2,700, $1,000 and $250

TWEET OF THE DAY:

“If I’m a Larry @Lessig fan, I gotta be going #bonkers that Chafee was up there and not Lessig.” —@fivethirtyeight http://t.co/B4h0hesriP

— Lessig2016 (@Lessig2016) October 15, 2015