Notable Quote of the Day

“Democrats have declined most sharply in rural America, but it's ‘Regional Metros’ that should concern the party most in 2020.

Not only do these smaller cities and suburbs make up an outsize share of the vote in key states — compared with both rural and ‘Global Metro’ areas — but Democrats still have plenty of room to fall from Clinton's 45 percent share in 2016. If Democrats can maintain altitude in the ‘Regional Metros,’ their gains since 2016 in ‘Global Metros’ should be enough to overtake Trump and reoccupy Air Force One. If they can't, Trump could very well win re-election while losing the popular vote again.

For now, Democratic presidential primary candidates are drawing enthusiastic crowds to rallies in places like New York, Seattle, Austin and San Francisco. But to beat Trump, Democrats will need to ask themselves which candidates' proposals will fly in Erie, Saginaw and Green Bay.”

– David Wasserman, NBC News

Democrats

• The Democratic National Committee announced the polling and fundraising thresholds for the sixth presidential primary debate on Dec. 19. Candidates must meet one of two polling standards: receive 4% support or more in at least four national or early state polls or receive 6% support or more in at least two single state polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and/or Nevada. Candidates must also receive contributions from at least 200,000 unique donors and a minimum of 800 unique donors per state in at least 20 states.

• Michael Bennet, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, and Bernie Sanders are speaking at the J Street annual conference Monday in Washington, D.C. Amy Klobuchar spoke at the event Sunday.

• Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Tom Steyer are participating in the Justice Votes 2020 Town Hall in Philadelphia Monday. It is the first town hall moderated by formerly incarcerated individuals.

• In an interview on 60 Minutes, Joe Biden discussed impeachment, children in politics, and age. He also held a campaign rally in North Carolina Sunday.

• Steve Bullock spoke at the “Politics & Eggs” event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics Friday.

• Buttigieg released his criminal justice plan Saturday, which includes eliminating incarceration for drug possession, ending mandatory sentencing minimums, establishing pay parity for public defenders, and giving $100 million in federal grants to close youth prisons and replace them with community-based programs.

• The Washington Post profiled Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign in Iowa, including her use of billboards in the state.

• In an interview on Insiders, Beto O'Rourke discussed his campaign strategy and reduced presence in Iowa.

• Rep. Rashida Tlaib endorsed Sanders at a rally in Detroit Sunday. More than 4,700 people attended the event.

• Rep. Katie Porter endorsed Elizabeth Warren Saturday, marking Warren's tenth congressional endorsement.

• Marianne Williamson will discuss mental health awareness during a campaign event in South Carolina Monday.

• An estimated 2,500 people attended Andrew Yang’s San Francisco rally Sunday. 

Republicans

• Politicon hosted a Republican debate with Mark Sanford, Joe Walsh, and Bill Weld Saturday in Nashville, where they discussed impeachment and the future of the party. The Republican National Committee did not sanction the debate.

• Donald Trump announced Sunday that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed during a military raid in northwest Syria.

Flashback: October 28, 2015

Fourteen Republicans, split into undercard and primetime debate segments, participated in the third Republican primary debate.