TPMDC Morning Roundup

Americans United Ad Targets "Real Death Panels" At Insurance Companies
Americans United For Change has this new TV ad, set to run next week on national cable and DC cable, taking the "real death panels" -- the ones in private insurance corporations that will deny necessary care:

The ad has footage of a former medical director for Humana and Blue Cross/Blue Shield: "In the spring of 1987, as a physician, I denied a man a necessary operation that would have saved his life, and thus caused his death...and I am haunted by the thousands of pieces of paper on which I have written that deadly word, 'denied.'"

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who had also been his original nominee for Sec. of Health and Human Services, at 11 a.m. ET. At 1 p.m. ET, Obama will depart the White House, en route to Camp David.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden is spending the day in Washington, DC. He will have private meetings with senior staff in the morning, and will receive a briefing on the Recovery Act. In the afternoon, he will accompany his wife Jill Biden to a follow-up appointment for her shoulder surgery from earlier this month. They will return in the evening to Wilmington, Delaware.

Poll: Faith In Obama Drops
A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds a decline in national confidence in President Obama has occurred over this summer. Only 49% now express confidence that Obama will make the right decisions for the country, down 11 points from the 100-day mark in his presidency. In addition, 50% now disapprove of how Obama is handling the key issue of health care.

Massachusetts GOP Calls Foul On Kennedy's Request For Changes To State Law On Senate Vacancies
Massachusetts Republicans are lashing out at Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) request that the state alter its succession laws to provide for a quick appointment to the Senate -- after state Democratic leaders had put special elections in place in 2004, when Sen. John Kerry was running for President and Republican Mitt Romney was Governor. "The hypocrisy is astounding," said state House Minority Leader Brad Jones. "If we had a Republican governor right now, would we be getting that same letter?"

Democrats To Continue Attacks On Insurance Industry
The Hill reports that House Democrats have not given up on a strategy of attacking the private health insurance industry: "Democratic aides familiar with the [House Energy and Commerce] committee said leaders have not closed the door on a series of high-profile hearings this fall, in which top insurance CEOs would be called before the committee to explain hundreds of millions in expenditures on salaries and lavish corporate events."

Bachmann On Cable News Every Nine Days
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has been increasing her presence on national TV, a new study finds. Already this year, Bachmann has matched her total number of TV appearances from all of 2008, and has averaged an appearance every 9.1 days in 2009, compared to every 16.6 days in 2008.