Morning Must Reads: October 5

Hillary Clinton had a star turn before the gay-rights group Human Rights Campaign Saturday morning, overshadowing Vice President Joe Biden‘s appearance before the group later in the evening, TIME’s Philip Elliott reports. Biden did bring some harsh rhetoric for Republican presidential candidates. Clinton’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live” sought to counteract the narrative that she’s disconnected from voters. On Monday, Clinton is announcing a push for tougher gun laws days after another mass shooting, as Republicans shrug off such calls.

The House Republican leadership race is heating up, putting new focus on the divide between the mainstream GOP and its conservative “freedom caucus.” Jason Chaffetz’s challenge to Speaker John Boehner’s chosen heir Kevin McCarthy is descending into a personal fight, while some conservatives are unhappy with either option.

Carly Fiorina‘s handling of money on her 2010 California Senate race faces new scrutiny, as former aides speak out about extravagant events and overdue bills, even as Fiorina reimbursed herself $1.3 million. Jeb Bush may lean on his brother in South Carolina. Marco Rubio‘s take-it-slow strategy may be paying off. And Donald Trump‘s Twitter use is explored.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Hillary Clinton Pushs for Expanded Gun Control Measures After Oregon Shooting
TIME’s Sam Frizell previews the announcement

Joe Biden Pushes New LGBT Protections, Calls 2016 GOP Candidates ‘Homophobes’
The VP gets ahead of the White House—again—TIME’s Philip Elliott reports.

Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal Within Reach, Officials Say
Announcement possible Monday, teeing up major Hill fight [Wall Street Journal]

Carly Fiorina’s First Political Campaign Had a Surprising Problem: Money
Despite paying herself back $1.3 million, she kept debts for five years [Washington Post]

New Fight Over House Speaker Exposes Power of Conservative GOP Rebels
TIME’s Jay Newton-Small on the GOP leadership fight

A Struggling Jeb Bush May Lean on George W. in South Carolina
Calling in the big guns [New York Times]

Low Profile Fits Marco Rubio’s Strategy
The Florida senator will try to turn voters’ positive perceptions into firm support

Sound Off

“Oh, there are homophobes still left. Most of them are running for President, I think.” — Vice President Joe Biden to donors to the Human Rights Campaign Saturday night

“No matter what you do — guns, no guns, it doesn’t matter — you have people that are mentally ill, and they’re going to come through the cracks, and they’re going to do things that people will not even believe are possible” — Donald Trump on mass shootings on Meet the Press

Bits and Bites

How Congress Reacts To Mass Shootings In One Chart [TIME]

Jeb Bush Says ‘Stuff Happens’ Remarks After Oregon Shooting Taken Out of Context [TIME]

GOP Leadership Race Gets Personal [Politico]

Hillary Clinton Pledges to Defend LGBT Rights [TIME]

Hillary Clinton Visits Saturday Night Live [YouTube]

In Rural America, a Startling Prospect: Voters Obama Lost Look to Sanders [Washington Post]

Supreme Court Faces Politically Charged Election-Year Docket [Washington Post]

Scramble Intensifies to Court Iowa Republicans in ‘Economic Conservative Lane’ [New York Times]

Pithy, Mean and Powerful: How Donald Trump Mastered Twitter for 2016 [New York Times]