Morning Must Reads: September 15

One day out from the next GOP debate, candidates are ensconced in preparation for what is set to be another pivotal moment in the presidential contest. Early battle-lines are clear: Newcomer to the primetime stage Carly Fiorina vs. persistent frontrunner Donald Trump; Jeb Bush vs. Trump; Rand Paul vs. Trump, to name a few. In advance, the Fiorina match-up appears to be the most favorable for the Trump opponents, with his insult of her appearance last week forcing Trump to change his story multiple times. Candidates like Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and John Kasich are all hoping to avoid the Trump show and do their own thing—which has thus far served them well.

Democrats have decried the rise of super PACs since the moment they were created after a pair of controversial Supreme Court rulings. Now they are seeking to embrace them like never before, following Republicans in adopting novel tactics to flaunt the intent of decades of campaign finance reforms. The news comes as a Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta is set to meet with donors to Priorities USA, the pro-Clinton super PAC.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker railed against unions Monday in hopes of reviving his presidential hopes by alluding to the battle that brought him to the national stage. President Obama completed an about-face on college savings plans. And a top Mitt Romney aide signs on with Rubio.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Walker Seeks to Revive Campaign With Anti-Union Pitch
TIME’s Philip Elliott on Walker’s return to his political roots.

Ben Carson Finds His Voice on the Campaign Trail
A new, measured Carson emerges on the trail, TIME’s Tessa Berenson reports

Democrats Lay Groundwork to Expand Use of ‘Super PACs’
Following Republicans in exploiting campaign finance loopholes [New York Times]

Price Tag of Bernie Sanders’s Proposals: $18 Trillion
So far, he’s found a way to pay for about one-third [Wall Street Journal]

Now, Obama and Education Secretary Push for College Saving Plan
After calling to end them earlier this year [New York Times]

Sound Off

“Nose, ears, eyes, those are the only places I’m talking about.” — Donald Trump bringing up his controversial comments about Megyn Kelly after last month’s GOP debate

“I am far, far from a perfect human being, but I am motivated by a vision which exists in all of the great religions — in Christianity, in Judaism, in Islam, Buddhism and other religions — and which is so beautifully and clearly stated in Matthew 7:12. And it states: ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.’ That is the golden rule. Do to others what you would have them do to you.” — Bernie Sanders in a speech at the conservative Liberty University

Bits and Bites

Hillary Clinton Calls for Fighting Sexual Assault on Campus [TIME]

Bernie Sanders Preaches Gospel of Inequality at Christian University [Associated Press]

Top Romney Policy Adviser Signs on With Marco Rubio [Washington Post]

In a New Appeal to Hispanics, Jeb Bush Deploys his ‘Secret Weapon’ — Columba Bush [Washington Post]

Carly Fiorina Ad Digs at Donald Trump’s Focus on Her Looks [New York Times]

Heidi Cruz Trying to Close Her Biggest Deal: Making Her Husband President [Washington Post]

Anatomy of a Smear [Boston Globe]

A Pro-Clinton Super PAC Is Going Negative On Bernie Sanders [Huffington Post]