NJ-GOV

Sparks Fly In New Jersey Debate

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 9:52PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The three candidates for Governor of New Jersey -- Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, Republican Chris Christie, and independent Chris Daggett -- met for a debate tonight, with a lot of substantive discussion on the issues facing the state. In a race marked by bitter personal attacks, this debate for the most part featured arguments about the issues themselves.

An interesting pattern emerged that when candidates fought each other, in almost all cases it was between Christie and another one of the participants. While Corzine and Daggett stated different positions on various issues, for the most part they didn't take each other on directly. The real target of their attacks was Christie.

The most memorable exchange came when Daggett said to Christie: "I gotta buy you a calculator, Mr. Christie, because your numbers don't add up. They never add up. You have no plan, no plan at all." Daggett then said that he himself has a good plan on taxes and the budget, and he challenges anyone to come up with a better one that has real substance.

When it came time for Christie's turn, he shot back: "I'm more than happy to take Mr. Daggett's calculator. I'd like to give you a dictionary, because only you could take a $4 billion tax increase and call it a tax cut."

When Corzine's turn came again, he chimed in. "Let me agree with Mr. Daggett -- Mr. Christie doesn't seem to get the arithmetic right," said Corzine, citing as one example how Christie said people are leaving the state, when in fact the population is growing. "It's just misleading, talking down the state is not a great idea. In fact, we ought to have a positive view."

Some more highlights, after the jump.

Read more »

VA-GOV

President Obama Will Rally With Deeds One Week Before Election

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 7:02PM

Va-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds (D), President Barack Obama

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds (D) just announced President Obama will campaign with him.

It's no surprise Obama would cross the Potomac for Deeds on the eve of such a critical election. The rally will be Tuesday, Oct. 27, one week before the election.

The White House has said Obama strongly supports Deeds and will do all he can to help him defeat Republican candidate Bob McDonnell. Obama activated his grassroots supporters from his Organizing for America campaign list earlier this week, asking them to volunteer this weekend.

Obama was last in Virginia for Deeds Aug. 7.

Deeds is behind in the polls and some Democrats are worried.

VA-GOV

McAuliffe Defends Himself, Says Deeds Can Still Win

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 6:59PM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe (center)

In his interview with TPMDC this afternoon, Terry McAuliffe pushed back on the national media's coverage of him in recent weeks, and media reports that Creigh Deeds is limping toward the finish line in the Virginia Governor's race.

In recent days, several articles have suggested McAuliffe and his supporters have strong opinions about how Deeds has run the race against Bob McDonnell (R). But McAuliffe rejected the idea that it was time to count Deeds out.

"I think a lot of journalists are going to look foolish when Creigh Deeds wins this election," he said.

Read more »

VA-GOV

Virginia Democrats Worried About Deeds

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 6:36PM

VA-GOV candidate Creigh Deeds (D)

I covered the last two major races in Virginia, where Democrats were down and out until the last minute and then surged to win close victories. Given the gains Barack Obama made registering new voters and his wide margin last fall, I had been doubtful that all the hand-wringing over the bad polls for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds was warranted.

But after several recent chats with my sources there and speaking tonight with a well-informed and loyal Democratic fundraiser, I am starting to understand why some in the party are worried about the upcoming election.

This Northern Virginia Democrat has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Deeds campaign and has been personally involved in several races.

"It's almost like the Virginia version of the McCain campaign - an ugly primary and then a mismatch of people thrown into one ship," the source said.

Read more »

CT-SEN

WWE Removes Necrophilia Videos From YouTube After Dems Use Them Against McMahon

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 6:05PM

A few hours after TPMDC detailed Connecticut Democrats using racy World Wrestling Entertainment scenes against GOP candidate Linda McMahon, WWE had YouTube remove the videos.

Connecticut political blog My Left Nutmeg caught their removal, but the Democrats mashed up the most eye-popping (and not-safe-for-work-or-children) scenes with voiceover of McMahon talking about how "PG" and "fun" WWE is. She's the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and wife of WWE principal Vince McMahon.

It's worth noting that WWE only removed a handful of videos, not the more than 500,000 that exist on YouTube. I've asked folks in their corporate headquarters for more information, and will update when they respond.

Also, a source points out that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), who McMahon hopes to defeat in 2010, has taken more than $922,000 from the TV and movie industry, according to OpenSecrets. The source wonders if Dodd condones violence and sex depicted on film.

Late update: WWE's VP of PR and corporate communications got back to me just now, saying accusations the removal had anything to do with politics are false.

"It's an ongoing battle with online piracy," Robert Zimmerman told TPMDC. "It's copyrighted material, it's our intellectual property."

He said they "scour" the Internet for their videos and said they go after all of them, not just ones used for political purposes.

"We would love to be able to take everything down," he said. "It's WWE content and if we own it we are asking them to take it down."

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann In Solid Financial Condition For 2010 Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 5:24PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) had a strong third fundraising quarter, taking in about $345,000.

Bachmann also spent $118,000 and has a total of just under $617,000 in cash on hand.

Bachmann's two Democratic opponents, state Sen. Tarryl Clark and former state university regent Maureen Reed, both had a solid fundraising quarter, too -- but they'll first have to spend much of that money against one another.

Bachmann's district voted 53%-45% for John McCain in 2008, though Bachmann herself barely won re-election by a margin of 46%-43%, due to her controversial public statements. Will her continued media presence be enough to mobilize support against her in 2010 -- or will she win again in this conservative district?

Terry McAuliffe

McAuliffe On Public Option's Chances: 'Probably Not, No'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 4:43PM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe

In an exclusive interview with TPMDC this afternoon, former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe said that from his vantage point, the public option is likely dead in the health care debate.

In the past, McAuliffe has said he any bill without a public option would be a failure. Today, though, he said he'd support a compromise bill because "we've got to pass something."

McAuliffe spoke with TPMDC before he heads out on the campaign trail next week for fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds, who defeated McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial primary. McAuliffe touched on a number of subjects, including the Virginia race (more on that in a later post.)

Asked about the chances for a public option now that health care reform bills have reached the floor in both houses of Congress, McAuliffe -- an ardent supporter of expanding government-run care as part of health care reform -- said he he wouldn't bet on one being part of a final bill.

"Probably not, no," he said. "I wish we could have a public option, but I'm also a realist."

Read more »

Health Care

Progressive Groups Prep Ads To Pressure Reid on Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 16, 2009, 4:19PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Remember a couple weeks ago when I reported that progressive groups were organizing a campaign--including television ads--to pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to include the public option in the Senate health care bill, and to enforce party unanimity against GOP filibusters?

Well, check out a new letter, available below the fold, from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to its supporters.

Bold progressive Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) helped us deliver nearly 90,000 petition signatures to Sen. Harry Reid on Wednesday....

We demanded that Reid stand up to conservative Democrats who are threatening to help Republicans block an up-or-down vote on the public option. CNN, ABC, Huffington Post, Washington Post, and others covered the event....

This weekend, we'll be filming a TV ad in Nevada featuring one of Reid's constituents who desperately needs the public option. It will be powerful. More on that next week...

Read more »

Health Care

Lieberman: I'd Be 'Inclined' To Help Break GOP Filibuster

Rachel Slajda | October 16, 2009, 4:15PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), whose vote would most likely be necessary to break a Republican filibuster on health care reform, said Thursday that he's "inclined to let the motion to proceed."

But, he added, "I haven't decided yet."

Read more »

Steve Rothman

Congressman Blasts Rumors Of Retirement As 'Creative Writing Assignment'

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:53PM

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) was quick to respond, and to do so in some pretty strong terms, after PolitickerNJ speculated that the Congressman might retire in light of his low fundraising this past quarter:

I wonder who gave out the creative writing assignment to suggest that I was retiring from Congress? After all, I love helping my constituents, bringing an unprecedented amount of federal dollars back to many regions in New Jersey (as our only Democratic Appropriations Committee member); and working with my House colleagues and the Obama White House in matters of our national security and foreign affairs. And I'm running for reelection in 2010, and for many years more.

Rothman also said that his political standing in New Jersey "is as good as anyone's, maybe better," and that he has more total campaign funds on hand than all but one other member of the state's congressional delegation, and he is 10th highest overall among the House Democrats.

Health Care

Sen. Lincoln Asks Constituents To Join Her On Health Care Chat Saturday

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 3:50PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln is asking her supporters to join her for an online chat about health care Sunday night.

"Later this month, the full Senate will begin consideration of health insurance reform and I have made it clear that I will only support the final version if it is best for my constituents in Arkansas," she wrote in a letter to her supporters today. "As we move to the next stage of this debate, I want to hear from you."

In the letter, Lincoln reprised her talking point from the week that she voted for the Senate Finance Committee version of the bill "not because it was a perfect bill but because it was a major step toward improving health care for Arkansas families."

The chat can be found here and will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. central time.

Portions of her email after the jump.

Read more »

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:23PM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.

• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH).

• CNN, State Of The Union: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), former Bush White House adviser Karl Rove, former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe.

• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), California First Lady Maria Shriver, Center for American Progress president John Podesta.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Speaking To Right-Wing Activist Conference

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:09PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is set to boost his ultra-conservative credentials this weekend, putting in an appearance at the Western CPAC conference -- where he'll be in some pretty interesting company.

Tonight, for example, Pawlenty will be featured at a private VIP reception, which also include none other than Floyd Brown. For those of you who have not heard of him, Brown was the originator of the Willie Horton ad against Mike Dukakis in 1988, and currently runs the Web sites Expose Obama and the Impeach Obama Campaign, which warns: "how long should we sit back and permit Barack Hussein Obama to rip apart the fabric of this country before we take action?"

Read more »

DSCC

DSCC Outraises NRSC For The Third Time In Row

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 3:01PM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

The national campaign arm for Senate Democrats outraised its GOP counterpart for the third straight quarter, according to figures released by the DSCC today.

The Democratic group raised $10.2 million in the latest quarter. During the same time, the NRSC raised $8.6 million. And at the quarter's end, the DSCC had $10.3 million cash on hand to the NRSC's $5.2 million.

Read more »

NY-23

National GOP Giving More Aid To Scozzafava -- And Making Right-Wingers Madder

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 2:19PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The national Republican Party is stepping up its efforts to support moderate GOPer Dede Scozzafava in the upcoming NY-23 special election, sending in money and big endorsements -- which might just make the current split with the right wing on this race even worse.

Scozzafava is being opposed by not just Democratic candidate Bill Owens, but also by Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has the support of right-wing groups such as the Club For Growth, the Family Research Council, and conservative bloggers who are incensed at Scozzafava's liberalism on issues like gay rights and abortion.

The Republican National Committee, after having not put in resources, will now give $85,000 to the coordinated campaign, and transfer an undisclosed six-figure sum to the state GOP to help Scozzafava. In addition, the Scozzafava campaign has rolled out the endorsement of the big conservative icon of the 1990's, Newt Gingrich himself -- which is only making the right-wingers even madder.

Read more »

CT-SEN

CT Dems: WWE Clips Suggest McMahon Condones Necrophilia

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 1:44PM

Connecticut Democrats have unearthed some generally gross videos of WWE scenes as evidence they say proves GOP candidate Linda McMahon has "no place" in the Senate.

Billionaire McMahon (R-CT) is one of several candidates hoping to defeat Sen. Chris Dodd (D) in the 2010 race. She's the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and wife of WWE principal Vince McMahon.

In a release today, the Connecticut Democratic Party sent reporters links to WWE videos they say objectify women. Among the videos are wrestlers engaged in a simulated rape, a public sex scene and one depicting a wrestler having sex with a corpse. Warning, the video clips are very much not safe for work.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Christie: I'll Let You In On A Secret -- I'm Overweight

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 1:30PM

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R)

Chris Christie is now firing back against the Corzine campaign on the issue of his own weight, saying Corzine is trying to use Christie's weight problem as a distraction from the real issues of the campaign.

This all started with a Corzine campaign ad that said Christie "threw his weight around" as U.S. Attorney to get out of trouble from traffic violations and car accidents. Later on, when Corzine was asked if he thinks Christie is fat, he answered, "Am I bald?" The most recent, and most blatant instance, came from state Democratic chairman Joe Cryan, who declared to a Democratic crowd: "What would it feel like if the next governor weighs 350 pounds?"

So now Christie has fired back, as the Press of Atlantic City reports:

"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret," Christie told the crowd. "I know most of you didn't know this - but the governor's been whispering this to the press for months and months and months, and now he's trying to be a little cute about talking about it too through his TV ads. I want to make sure you're all seated and you're OK before I let you in on a secret: I'm overweight. And I've struggled with my weight for the better part of 30 years, up and down.

Read more »

Democracy Corps

Democracy Corps: GOP Voters Think Obama Is Destroying America, Thus GOP Leaders Can't Compromise

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 1:04PM

On a conference call with reporters just now, Democracy Corps' James Carville, Stan Greenberg and Karl Agne went over their focus group study of Republican base voters and their worldview that President Obama is out to destroy the country -- and the pressure this puts on Republican voters to make no compromises with the Obama administration.

"I don't know if we'll say we were startled," said Carville, "but if you take the position that these Republican voters take, it's easy to see why it leads to this, but they really believe that Obama has a secret agenda here. And our view is this is a dominant view in the Republican Party."

Karl Agne also noted that GOP voters see the the party's leadership as too timid and not strong enough on the issues: "Their negative view of the Republican party is really startling."

Carville explained: "What they want is, if people in Washington look at the Republican Party, they say, gee, they really oppose everything the President does. What these folks say is what they're doing is not enough, they want more opposition. If you're a Republican and you watch this, and you don't want to get primaries, there's nothing here that tells you to go compromise on anything -- quite the contrary."

Read more »

VA-GOV

Deeds/McAuliffe/Clinton Rally Coming Next Week

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 12:16PM

VA-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds, Former President Bill Clinton, Former DNC Chair Terry MacAuliffe

This morning, we reported Terry McAuliffe would be returning to the campaign trail in Virginia to stump for Creigh Deeds starting Sunday. Now TPMDC has learned McAuliffe will be bringing one of his friends with him. A Deeds spokesperson told us McAuliffe and Deeds will appear with Bill Clinton at a Northern Virginia event on Tuesday.

Read more »

Democracy Corps

Democracy Corps: Republican Base Voters Living In Another World

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 12:02PM

A crowd gathers at a tea party

A new focus-group of Republican base voters by the Democracy Corps (D), the consulting and polling outfit headed up by James Carville and Stan Greenberg, presents a picture of the GOP base as being motivated by a fundamentally different worldview than folks in the middle or on the Dem side -- and they see the country as being under a dire threat.

"They believe Obama is ruthlessly advancing a 'secret agenda' to bankrupt the United States and dramatically expand government control to an extent nothing short of socialism," the analysis said." While these voters are disdainful of a Republican Party they view to have failed in its mission, they overwhelmingly view a successful Obama presidency as the destruction of this country's founding principles and are committed to seeing the president fail."

The analysis argues that Obama's unpopularity among conservative Republicans is both quantitatively and qualitatively different from liberal Democratic ire against George W. Bush -- that the GOP is more heavily conservative than the Democrats are heavily liberal, and that the hatred of Obama is more intense than Dem hatred of Bush was. All of this adds up to a powerful set of emotions that the Republican Party as a whole cannot ignore.

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John Ensign

Ensign's Fundraising Pool Dries Up

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 11:37AM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) says he plans to run for reelection in 2012, despite being dogged by a sex-and-cover-up scandal since June.

Recent fundraising reports show that Ensign might be the only one who thinks running again is a good idea. In the third fundraising quarter, Ensign banked just $33,000 -- a low number for any incumbent senator and a huge drop compared to his normally gold-plated FEC filings.

Read more »

VA-GOV

McCain To Campaign For Bob McDonnell In Virginia

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 11:05AM

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), VA-Gov candidate Bob McDonnell

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is getting back on the campaign trail tomorrow to try and help former Virginia attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) win over veterans with less than three weeks until the governor's race.

McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran, will join McDonnell for a rally at a VFW post in Virginia Beach.

The 2008 presidential nominee was a huge campaign get before he ran for president, but has avoided the trail this year.

The 10 a.m. Veterans for McDonnell rally will be held at VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach.

McDonnell, who served in the Army on both active duty and reserve in the 1980s and 1990s, represented Virginia Beach when he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

VA-GOV

McAuliffe Back On The Scene In Virginia

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 10:05AM

Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe

Terry McAuliffe is returning to the campaign trail in the Virginia gubernatorial race this weekend. The former DNC chair has kept a low-profile in the race since June 30, when Creigh Deeds defeated him and Brian Moran in the three-way Democratic primary.

But now, with less than 20 days to go in a race that looks more and more like McDonnell's to lose, McAuliffe is back. A campaign spokesperson tells TPMDC that McAuliffe will kick off a canvassing drive in his adopted hometown of McLean. Deeds campaign manager Joe Abbey will join him at the event.

We'll post more details as they come in.

VA-GOV

GOP Mocks Deeds Over Gore Visit

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 9:55AM

Former Vice President Al Gore, Va-Gov candidate Creigh Deeds

Al Gore is dropping in on Creigh Deeds this afternoon to provide the Democratic gubernatorial nominee with a much-needed fundraising boost. Gore is set to headline a fundraiser for Deeds in the the D.C. suburb of McLean later today.

The pairing is a likely one for both men. Deeds has received the endorsement of most major VA environmental advocacy groups in his race against GOP nominee Bob McDonnell. Last night, the GOP suggested another connection between Gore and Deeds -- support for cap-and-trade, which the party calls "cap-and-tax."

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Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson Out-Raises Rob Miller By $1 Million

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 9:43AM

SC-02 Candidate Rob Miller (D) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

And the winner of the money race in the wake of Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) infamous "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress is...Joe Wilson.

Wilson raised $2.7 million in the third quarter, while his Democratic opponent Rob Miller -- who had initially enjoyed a big fundraising surge in the immediate aftermath of "You lie!" -- got $1.7 million. While Miller's total is certainly very impressive by all normal standards of House races, and especially for a race that had not been on anybody's radar before this controversy, Wilson's supporters clearly out-hustled the Dems on this one.

Miller, an Iraq war veteran, previously ran against Wilson in 2008. Wilson won that race by 54%-46%, after having previously won overwhelming landslide victories in his previous campaigns. Heading into 2010, voters will probably be seeing and hearing a lot from these two.

Fundraising

Obama: Pelosi Has 'Steel' And 'Doesn't Break A Sweat'

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 9:22AM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama

"I love Nancy Pelosi," President Obama declared last night at a swank San Francisco fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. He lauded the speaker (D-CA) and talked about her role in health care.

"She faces down some of the toughest problems -- not just policy problems, but political problems that you can imagine -- and she doesn't break a sweat," Obama said. "She is willing to stare folks down and tell them how things are going to be. And that steel that Nancy Pelosi has is part of the reason why this has been such an incredibly productive Congress and why I'm so confident that we're going to end up getting health care done."

The San Francisco Chronicle has more detail.

DNC officials told reporters the two fundraisers at the Westin St. Francis raised $3 million.

Obama's remarks at both events after the jump.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Polls: Corzine Up In One, Christie Ahead In Another

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 9:15AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

A new pair of polls in New Jersey show how much of a toss-up this gubernatorial race has become, with Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine narrowly leading in one and Republican candidate Chris Christie just barely leading in the other.

From the New York Times: Corzine 40%, Christie 37%, and independent Chris Daggett with 14%, with a margin of error of between 4% and 5% for likely voters.

From SurveyUSA: Christie 40%, Corzine 39%, Daggett 18%, with a ±4% margin of error. A week ago, SurveyUSA had Christie up by 43%-40%-14%.

The New York Times poll demonstrates how voters have come to view this race as a choice of the lesser of two evils: "But a majority of voters say they cannot relate personally to either Mr. Christie or Mr. Corzine, and neither man is considered likable: 46 percent of voters view Mr. Corzine unfavorably, 30 percent favorably, and 23 percent have no opinion. For Mr. Christie, 41 percent do not have an opinion, 37 percent view him unfavorably and 19 percent have a favorable opinion of him. Mr. Daggett, who lacks the money to advertise heavily, is unknown to most voters: nearly 8 in 10 have no opinion of him."

FL-SEN

Meek Trails GOP Candidates In Fundraising

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 16, 2009, 8:48AM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) raised less in the third quarter than both of his potential GOP opponents in the Florida Senate race. Meek raised just over $750,000 in the period, according to his FEC filing, and entered the fall quarter with about $2.7 million on hand.

Both Republicans in the race, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, both raised far more than Meek did last quarter. But that pair is locked in a tough primary. So far, Meek's main competitor for the Democratic nomination is former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who only recently declared and has not yet announced his fundraising numbers.

Late Update: Todd Wilder of the Ferre campaign called in after we posted. He tells TPMDC that since Ferre declared his candidacy after the end of the last fundraising quarter, the campaign will not be releasing any numbers until the end of the year.

Health Care

Ross Says He Once Suggested A Medicare Buy-In As A Replacement For Separate Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 6:39PM

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

Earlier today, The Hill ran with an eye-catching statement from Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--the chair of the Blue Dog's health care task force who recently announced he doesn't support a public option.

"I -- speaking only on behalf of myself -- suggested one possible idea could be that instead of creating an entirely new government bureaucracy to administer a public option, Medicare could be offered as a choice," Ross said.

Read more »

CO-SEN

Norton Comes Out Swinging, Still Lags Bennet

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 6:35PM

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R) raised just over half a million dollars in her first two weeks or so as a Senate candidate in Colorado. Republicans in the state consider her to be a strong contender in the race, and since she entered the race on 9/15, they've ponied up to support her bid. According to her FEC filing, she's kept most of what's she's raised and entered the fall with a little more than $491,000 on hand.

Those totals lag behind the man she hopes to unseat, however. Sen. Michael Bennet (D) raised just north of $1 million in the same period, and has reported a war chest of more than $2.85 million.

Read more »

NV-GOV

Harry Reid's Son Running For Governor of Nevada

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 6:20PM

Clark County, Nevada, Commissioner Rory Reid (D)

Senate Majority Leader Harry's Reid's son, Clark County (Las Vegas) Commissioner Rory Reid, has officially declared that he is running for Governor of Nevada in 2010 -- the same year that his father is facing a tough re-election fight to the Senate.

Reid the Younger put himself forward as a policy wonk, laying out a policy roadmap for the state's future: "I'm going to challenge anyone else who wants this office to either agree with me or propose something different."

Health Care

Is Harry Reid Working The Inside Game For A Public Option?

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 6:09PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't exactly accustomed to kind words from progressives these days. With a health care reform fight that feels endless, and an intractable bloc of conservative Democrats refusing to play nice on the public option, Reid has become a common whipping boy for activists who think he hasn't done enough to strong arm his 60 voting members into giving health care reform an up or down vote.

So it comes as some surprise that two prominent progressive figures, approached by TPMDC, said that much has changed since the summer--and particularly in the last couple weeks--and that Reid is working the inside game for the public option.

Read more »

PA-SEN

Specter Leads Money Fight, Sestak Raises Money With Anita Hill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 6:05PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak announced he raised $758,000 in third quarter today -- and immediately began his quest to raise more by questioning the commitment of his opponent, Sen. Arlen Specter, to women's rights.

Sestak's fundraising total was dwarfed by Specter's. The long-time incumbent and short-time Democrat Specter raised $1.8 million, thanks in no small part, according to the Lehigh Valley Morning Call, to a September fundraiser for Specter hosted by President Obama. Specter announced his fundraising totals on Wednesday.

But today, Sestak made it clear he's going to keep hitting Specter hard, despite the fundraising mismatch.

Read more »

NY-23

NY-23 Special Election Splitting The Right

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 5:58PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The upcoming special election in NY-23, a swing seat that had been held securely by Republican Congressman John McHugh until his appointment as President Obama's Secretary of the Army, is seriously threatening to divide the right -- and Democrats stand to benefit.

The new Siena poll finds Democrat Bill Owens taking a narrow 33%-29% lead over Republican state Rep. Dede Scozzafava -- with Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman not far behind, with 23%. Hoffman has been endorsed by the Club For Growth, Family Research Council Action PAC, Fred Thompson and other conservatives, who refuse to back Scozzafava over her various socially liberal stances.

In addition, The Hill reports that only 17 House Republicans have donated to Scozzafava.

TPM asked the NRCC whether they would commit to continue supporting Scozzafava, even if Hoffman were to overtake her as the chief opponent to Owens. They declined to comment on their strategy.

Read more »

VA-GOV

McDonnell Outraises Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 5:53PM

VA-Gov. Candidates Bob McDonnell (R) and Creigh Deeds (D)

More bad news for Creigh Deeds (D) came this afternoon as the gubernatorial candidates in Virginia released their fundraising totals. Deeds has been trailing in polls to Bob McDonnell (R) all summer and as the campaign enters its final 20 days, fundraising totals show Deeds raised less, and has less to spend in the sprint to the finish line.

Deeds raised $3.5 million in the last fundraising quarter, and has just over $2.7 million on hand to spend between now and Nov. 3. McDonnell leads him on both scores. The Republican raised $3.8 million in the quarter and McDonnell campaign bragged about the $4.5 million that remains in its war chest.

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Health Care

Rahmbo Walked Down The Hall

Christina Bellantoni | October 15, 2009, 5:43PM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel paid a visit to his old pals in the House of Representatives yesterday.

Emanuel, on the Hill to discuss merging two Senate health care bills, also huddled later in the afternoon with Speaker Nancy Pelosi TPMDC has learned. A former representative from Illinois, Emanuel has been in frequent contact with members.

As we reported earlier, the House isn't being included in the negotiations yet. A Hill source notes the three bills from the House are closer to each other than the two Senate bills.

DE-SEN

Poll: Mike Castle, Beau Biden In Dead Heat For Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 4:53PM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and state Atty. Gen. Beau Biden (D-DE)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds a dead heat in the 2010 Delaware Senate race -- a special election for Vice President Joe Biden's Senate -- between the likely Republican nominee, Rep. Mike Castle, and Joe Biden's son, the likely Dem nominee Beau Biden.

The numbers: Castle 46%, Biden the Younger 45%, within the ±4% margin of error. Castle has officially declared his candidacy, while Biden has said he is strongly considering it.

Other Democrats were also tested against Castle, and they did not do as well: Appointed Sen. Ted Kaufman trails by 51%-37%, former Lt. Gov. John Carney (who is running for Castle's House seat) is behind by 49%-41%, and New Castle County Executive Chris Coons trails by 51%-39%.

The poll also showed Carney leading two Republicans for the House race, though with less than 50% support: He's ahead of former state Sen. Charlie Copeland by 44%-21%, and leads state Rep. Greg Lavelle by 45%-18%.

Joseph Cao

Cao Raises Big Money -- And Spends Almost All Of It

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 4:42PM

Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA)

Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA), a freshman from the heavily Democratic New Orleans-based district, had a solid fundraising quarter of $384,113.67 -- and spent nearly all of it.

Cao spent $376,536.64 in the quarter, about 98% of his receipts, leaving him with $351,134.43 cash on hand -- practically the same as he had at the start of the quarter.

Cao's itemized disbursements show that much of the money was spent on direct mail and fundraising fees.

Cao was elected in a huge upset over the then-indicted (later convicted) Democratic Rep. Bill Jefferson, and is certain to the Democrats' top target in 2010.

FL-SEN

White House 'Impressed' With Meek

Christina Bellantoni | October 15, 2009, 4:22PM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

TPMDC asked the White House about Evan's write-up of Rep. Kendrick Meek's chat with reporters about his bid for Senate.

Meek (D-FL) said he has been "in discussions" with the White House about a more formal role for President Obama during his campaign.

A senior administration official told us: "He's had several conversations with us and we are impressed with progress he's made thus far."

KY-SEN

Rand Paul Dominates Fundraising Race

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 4:02PM

Senate candidate Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul, son of congressman Ron Paul, has picked up a strong head of steam in his bid for Kentucky's open Senate seat. As FEC reports come in, Paul is leading the fundraising race by a considerable margin.

This afternoon, the Paul campaign announced it has raised just over $1 million in the third quarter. The haul is $400,000 more than his chief rival for the GOP nomination, Secretary of State Trey Grayson -- and more than double the fundraising total claimed by the leading Democrat, Lieutenant Gov. Dan Mongiardo.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Corzine: Bill Clinton Campaigning With Me On Tuesday

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 3:56PM

Former President Bill Clinton (D) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

On a conference call just now with donors to the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) announced that former President Bill Clinton will be campaigning with him this Tuesday.

Corzine talked about how the leading lights of the Democratic Party are coming into the state to support him: President Obama this Wednesday, Clinton the day before that, and Joe Biden the day before Clinton.

"And we are hoping we'll have other voices," said Corzine, such as Caroline Kennedy.

NJ-GOV

Biden To Campaign With Corzine On Monday

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 3:24PM

Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) is getting more help from the White House in his re-election campaign, with the Corzine team announcing that Vice President Biden will campaign alongside Corzine this Monday.

The event will be held at Middlesex County Community College Physical Education Center in Edison, New Jersey, with the doors opening at 11 a.m. ET. This is in addition to President Obama's upcoming rally with Corzine, which will be held this Wednesday.

Corzine is narrowly trailing Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who used to lead by much healthier margins until recently. Corzine is clearly hoping that the White House's popularity in Democratic-leaning New Jersey could be enough to get him across the finish line.

Health Care

After Tense Health Care Discussion, Dems Predict Unanimity On Reform

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 2:52PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

After what Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) indicated was a tense health care discussion, Senate health care leaders declared, confidently, that the overhaul package that comes to the floor will earn every Democratic vote. However, they also made clear that the ultimate decision maker on key questions like the public option is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"Reid's making these decisions ultimately, and I think he's listening and...I feel good about it," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

"Conrad spoke out for co-ops," Brown said, "six or seven people spoke out for [the public option]," adding later that the pro-public option senators were articulating a policy preference, and not pressuring Reid to act one way or another as he weaves two competing Senate bills together. Nobody, he says, spoke out against a public plan.

Brown's confidence springs from a belief that conservative Democrats do not want to be held responsible for killing reform. "No Democrat wants to be on the wrong side of history and vote on a procedural vote to kill the most important domestic vote of their careers," Brown said.

But Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus went even further and suggested that every Democrat would ultimately vote for the final bill.

Read more »

GOP

Former Steele Tech Adviser On New Homepage: 'Give It 30 Days'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 2:33PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A former rival of RNC chair Michael Steele and one of the men behind the GOP's new media revolution said it will be a month before the party's new website is ready for prime time.

Saul Anuzis, the former chair of the Michigan GOP, challenged Steele for the RNC chairmanship last year. A central plank of his campaign platform was a new focus on social media and Internet outreach. After he lost the chairmanship, Anuzis became a transition adviser to Steele on transition issues.

"Overall, I think the roll out has been a success," Anuzis said of the relaunch of GOP.com, which has led to days of criticism of Steele from the left. "As with any massive project like this, there were some technical glitches, which is to be expected."

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Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann Fundraising Sends A Message To The Left --Sort Of

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 1:58PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

As we reported yesterday, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) yesterday launched a fundraising drive, with the intention of sending a message to the left about how Americans are fed up with the "gangster government" and "Big Sister Pelosi & Big Brother Reid," by donating a lot of money to her in one day. So how did it go?

When I checked last night at about 11 p.m. ET, Bachmann was at $83,751.38 Although it's been more than one day, the fundraising drive's Web page is still up, and as of right now shows $105,648.74.

Overall, it's not bad at all for a second-term back bencher who didn't have an immediate occasion for raising money -- as opposed to the rush of donations that accompanied Joe Wilson's "You lie!" moment or Alan Grayson's "Die quickly."

But in terms of sending a message to the left, it's probably not something that Big Sister Pelosi will be losing much sleep over.

Health Care

Conrad Settles Into Familiar Role: 'Hard To See How A Public Option Gets The Votes'

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 1:44PM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Before members of the Senate Finance Committee were forced to go on the record about the public option, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) refused to state a personal opinion on the question calling it "moot," and focusing all of his efforts on advancing a system of private, non-profit co-operatives instead.

Since then, though, Conrad's message has changed slightly, though he still says a public option will be a hard sell in the Senate. In response to a question from TPMDC, Conrad said it's "hard to see" where the public option gets the votes.

Read more »

Health Care

House Not Invited To Health Care Dance Party, No Merger Talks For WH Today

Christina Bellantoni | October 15, 2009, 1:24PM

United States Capitol

With the focus on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, aides on the House side tell TPMDC they are just waiting patiently but not really expecting to be considered during the negotiations down the hall.

After deploying a 5-person health care team to kickstart talks yesterday, the White House has taken a step back. TPMDC hears there is no official meeting today as the administration lets Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid work through the merging of the two Senate bills and as he meets with his caucus.

The White House will stay involved in the process through staffers who hope to play a constructive role, but it's Reid's game now. (As Sen. Chuck Schumer said yesterday.)

Read more »

Health Care

Wyden Calls Baucus Bill Exchanges 'Unacceptable'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 12:42PM

Speaking with ABC's Rick Klein just now on the Baucus health care reform bill he voted for Tuesday, Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) took aim at conservatives and said there is "more do do" before the bill is complete.

Wyden said he voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Finance Committee because he "felt it was important to move the issue forward." He said Democrats had to push the bill past "far right" senators who "want to prevent any health care reform" from passing this year.

Wyden also jabbed White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs for saying so often the president wants a final bill with choice and competition. Wyden says the exchanges found in the Baucus bill will exclude 90% of people from participating within seven years. He favors exchanges for all like the ones available to members of Congress, who can switch among providers and plans when they wish. In the interview with Klein, Wyden called the Baucus exchanges "unacceptable" and said the White House claim that exchanges do provide choice and competition is "not going to pass the smell test."

A spokesperson told TPMDC later Wyden will vote against the Baucus bill if it includes the exchanges as written.

Late Update: Wyden appeared on ABCNews' TopLine webcast (video not available yet).

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina's Daughter Passes Away, Age 35

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 12:24PM

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R-CA)

Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO and current Republican exploratory candidate for Senate in California, has suffered the loss of her daughter, 35-year old Lori Ann Fiorina, who died this past Monday.

The following statement was issued today by Fiorina's chief of staff, Deborah Bowker, on behalf of the family: "Carly and Frank Fiorina are deeply saddened by the loss of their youngest daughter, Lori. This is a difficult time for the family and they appreciate all good thoughts, prayers, as well as, respect for their privacy during this time of grief and healing."

NJ-GOV

Poll: Daggett Voters Becoming The Key To New Jersey Election

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 12:08PM

Chris Daggett, independent candidate for governor in New Jersey

A new Rasmussen poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race finds that independent Chris Daggett could be continuing to surge -- but that if his support falls back down, as third-party candidates often do, Republican Chris Christie could hold on to a narrow lead over Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

Respondents were asked for initial support of candidates, and it came out as a tie between the top two: Christie 38%, Corzine 38%, Daggett 16%.

However, Daggett supporters were given a follow-up question about whether they might change their minds, and who they might vote for if they do -- similar to the process that Rasmussen normally uses to push people from the undecided column into leaning towards a candidate. The poll then found that 57% of Daggett supporters could change their minds, and this could result in a new number: Christie 45%, Corzine 41%, Daggett 9%.

"The race is a tossup, and the key question will be if Daggett loses support, how much support will he lose, and where will it go," Scott Rasmussen told TPM, also adding: "There is no perfect way to measure this. But this is where the play is."

Health Care

Pelosi Comes Out Swinging For The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 12:01PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Speaking at her weekly press conference just off the House floor moments ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her most impassioned argument in weeks, for including a public option in comprehensive health care reform legislation, arguing against the idea, favored by some conservative Democrats, of mandating that people buy health insurance,\ and then throwing them into what she called the "lion's den" of the private insurance industry.

In so doing, Pelosi came closer than any member of the Democratic leadership has thusfar to suggesting that the individual mandate should be conditional on the inclusion of a public option. Pelosi did not elaborate, when pressed by TPMDC, on whether Congress would revisit the individual mandate if the public option can't survive the Senate. But her implication was fairly clear.

The House, she said, "will not force America's middle income families to negotiate with insurance companies."

Health care experts agree that health insurance market reforms can not work unless everybody is in the risk pool--and that means a mandate. But privately, many activists and experts believe that a strong individual mandate is also a gift to the insurance industry, and that it should be used as a bargaining chip to secure other robust measures, such as the public option.

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VA-GOV

Obama Grassroots Step Up For Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 15, 2009, 11:53AM

Va-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds (D), President Barack Obama

The Obama campaign organization is flexing its considerable muscle in the Virgina gubernatorial race. This morning, Organizing For America -- the post-election name for Obama's 2008 campaign organization -- sent an email to its Virginia list calling on Obama grassroots activists to sign on with Creigh Deeds.

The email is good news for Deeds, whose trailing in polls and needs a boost among the core Democratic demographics OFA leveraged last year when it turned Virginia blue for the first time since 1964.

Read more »

PA-SEN

Poll: Specter Barely Leads Sestak In Dem Primary

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 9:57AM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

The new Rasmussen poll of Pennsylvania finds Sen. Arlen Specter just barely ahead of his Democratic primary challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak.

The numbers: Specter 46%, Sestak 42%, with a ±3% margin of error. In early August, Specter had been ahead by 47%-34%. Sestak has been challenging Specter -- who switched form the Republicans to the Democrats in order to avoid certain defeat in the GOP primary -- on the grounds that he's not a real Democrat, and both of them have been moving noticeably to the left (though Specter has logically taken a greater journey, given his starting point as a moderate Republican).

In the general election match-ups, Republican former Rep. Pat Toomey leads Specter by 45%-40%, while Sestak edges out Toomey 38%-37%, with a ±3% margin of error.

Health Care

Senate Health Care Leaders To Brief Caucus On Shape Of Reform Bill

Brian Beutler | October 15, 2009, 9:56AM

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV); Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; Senator Max Baucus (D-MT); Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Yesterday's hour-long health care meeting between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Max Baucus (D-MT), and a number of White House principles didn't yield too many noteworthy public developments. But what went on behind closed doors will be the focus of a Democratic caucus meeting today, where health care leaders will brief their colleagues on the early stages of negotiations as they merge two competing pieces of health care legislation.

At the meeting, Democrats will be given a chance to air their concerns, though none is expected to draw a line in the sand over any issue. One of the key questions the caucus faces is whether to heed the will of the party's majority and include a public option in the overall Senate bill, or to defer to the concerns of the party's conservatives, a few of whom join the Republican minority in opposing the idea of creating a government insurance plan.

On hand yesterday from the White House were Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Legislative Adviser Phil Schiliro, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and OMB Director Peter Orszag.

NY-23

Poll: Democrat Bill Owens Takes Narrow Lead In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 9:35AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Siena poll of the NY-23 special election, which is being held on November 3 to fill a GOP-held swing seat, shows Democrat Bill Owens taking a narrow lead in a three-way race.

The numbers: Owens 33%, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava 29%, and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman with 23%. Two weeks ago, Scozzafava was ahead with 35%, Owens had 28%, and Hoffman at 16%.

The pollster's analysis finds that the positive nature of Owens' campaign has helped him, compared to negativity from the GOP campaign: "Among those who've seen Owens' commercials, a small plurality says the commercials make them more likely to support Owens. However, by a margin of 28-12 percent, those who've seen Scozzafava's commercials say those commercials make them less likely to support her."

FL-SEN

Meek Claims White House Support For Senate Bid

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 6:55PM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) told a group of national political reporters this morning he knows his bid for Florida's open U.S. seat wasn't the vision some Democrats had for the race.

"Look, I'm a walk on candidate," he said. "No one said 'let's go recruit Meek to run for the Senate.'" But the four-term Miami Rep. said he's proven he's the right man for Democrats in 2010.

To prove his point, Meek suggested he's got the support of the most powerful Democrat there is -- President Obama. "I'm pleased with what Obama has done with me early on," Meek said, claiming that he's been "in discussions" with the White House about a more formal role for the President down the road.

Read more »

Health Care

President Obama To Rally Grassroots Troops On Health Care Tuesday

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2009, 6:51PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will rally grassroots Organizing for America volunteers next week with the goal of making 100,000 calls to Congress in support of health care.

TPMDC has learned that while on political travel in New York Tuesday, Obama will join his most active supporters via Webcast into hundreds of "Time to Deliver" house parties arranged by OFA, the spinoff of his presidential campaign housed at the DNC.

The parties are easy, OFA explains: "If you can print out some call sheets and info about the president's plan - and make sure volunteers have a comfortable place to sit -- you can host a successful call party."

The president, who has relied on his campaign supporters to help pass legislation and during hearings for his Supreme Court nominee, will participate in the parties to pump everyone up for a final push.

A Democratic source told TPMDC that Obama will ask volunteers to call Congress to support health care and tell them, "It's up to you to close the deal." He'll also reprise the talking point from the last few days that it's historic and this is the farthest Congress has ever come in the health care fight.

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NH-SEN

NH GOP Chairman To National Party: Stay Out Of Our Senate Primary

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 6:02PM

Frmr. Gov. John H. Sununu (R-NH)

Former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu, who is currently the state GOP chairman, is strongly opposing the possibility of the national GOP endorsing former state Attorney Kelly Ayotte for Senate, the Nashua Telegraph reports.

"I hope the NRSC understands that New Hampshire doesn't really respond well to having candidates designated from outside the state," Sununu told the paper.

Ayotte faces a primary against two businessmen, Ovide Lamontagne and Sean Mahoney. And Sununu is prepared to play referee in the primary, saying it can help the party hold retiring GOP Sen. Judd Gregg's seat: "I'm just going to make sure it's a positive Republican primary with all the candidates focused on the shortcomings of the Democrats."

Late Update:: NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand gives us this comment: "The NRSC has not endorsed in this race, nor has an endorsement been sought."

CT-SEN

Simmons Raises $1 Million. Now What?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 5:58PM

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT)

The race to find a challenger for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) is going to be an expensive one. Yesterday, former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) announced he raised nearly $1 million in the fundraising quarter ending tomorrow. The same day, Linda McMahon, one of his challengers in the GOP primary, told reporters she's pumped $3 million of her own money into the race -- and spent $2M of it on ads that are already running.

Running in the Nutmeg State is always a pricey prospect -- eventually, candidates have to run TV ads in the ultra-expensive New York City television market. But with McMahon spending so much so early, Simmons will likely need to start putting his own money where is mouth is before he planned. His fundraising total means suggests he's serious about challenging the self-funding McMahon and has the base of support to make a go of it. So look for big spending by him sooner rather than later.

By the time either of these candidates gets to Dodd in the general next year -- a race national Republicans think they can win and so will probably spend party money on -- the Senate race will have already become a serious cash cow for consultants and media buyers.

Health Care

White House Fires Back At BlueCross Study Mimicking Debunked AHIP Report

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 4:17PM

President Barack Obama speaks at a Human Rights Campaign event.

This may not get the same amount of press attention as the damning--though ultimately flawed--AHIP/PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the impact of reform measures on the price of premiums. But White House officials are already decrying a new insurance company report alleging that health care reform will cause premiums to spike.

BlueCross BlueShield has sent an analysis to members of Congress--along with a letter, which you can read here--that reaches a similar conclusion to the PwC analysis: The provisions of the health care reform proposals on Capitol Hill that BlueCross don't like will cause people's premiums to skyrocket.

An administration official scoffed at the findings: "This report isn't quite as egregious as the AHIP report...if the AHIP report was a $3.50 bill, this one's a $3.00 bill."

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Obama To Campaign With Corzine Next Wednesday

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 4:05PM

Former Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

President Obama will be campaigning next Wednesday for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, the Corzine campaign has just announced.

The event will be held at the Rothman Center on the Metropolitan campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, with the doors opening at 3 p.m. ET. (When the line forms is probably beyond the campaign's control, though.)

Corzine is in a tough fight against Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, but has been catching up in the polls after having trailed by wide margins all year. Obama's popularity could potentially make the difference for Corzine in this Democratic-leaning state.

Late Update: The Corzine campaign gives us this comment: "We are thrilled that President Obama is returning to New Jersey to stand with Governor Corzine and Senator Weinberg. Like President Obama, Governor Corzine has been fighting for what matters for New Jersey families- getting health coverage for nearly 100,000 more kids, supporting a woman's right to choose, and passing paid family leave that allows workers to care for their loved ones."

NJ-GOV

Inside The Christie Travel Records: 'Fancy' In The Eye Of The Beholder

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 4:05PM

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R)

In the hard-fought New Jersey governors race, Democrats are pushing hard on the AP report yesterday that Republican candidate Chris Christie went over the government lodging allowance on 14 of the 16 trips he took last year while he was U.S. attorney,

But an examination by TPMDC of Christie travel recrods from 2004-2008 paints a more nuanced picture than the one of a extravagant federal prosecutor that Democrats are trying to paint.

Read more »

IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Considering Run For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 3:48PM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, wife of former Gov. Tom Vilsack, now says she's considering a run for Senate in 2010 against Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

"I think I'm qualified to serve, so time will tell." Vilsack told WHO-TV, the central Iowa NBC station.

"You know, I've spent the last 12 years traveling around the state, developing a relationship with the people of Iowa," she explained, "and I just really appreciate the fact that people have been so supportive in suggesting this. But, as I said, time will tell."

Grassley was first elected in the 1980 Reagan landslide, and has been re-elected by comfortable margins ever since, winning 70% of the vote in 2004.

(Via The Political Carnival.)

RNC

RNC Web Site Pays Tribute To Ronaldus Magnus

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 3:26PM

Fmr. Pres. Ronald Reagan

The new Republican National Committee Web site has been derided for its "GOP Heroes" section -- which teaches us that almost all of the great Republicans lived in the 1800's, and about half of them were black -- but there's another illustrious name on the list: Ronaldus Magnus.

The site's page on Ronald Reagan includes this citation of the party's great hero, giving him a stylized name we might see on a Roman emperor:

Our country has to decide, said Ronaldus Magnus, "whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether to abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives better than we can plan them ourselves."

And to think that the GOP makes fun of the Democrats for allegedly worshiping Obama.

We've called the RNC office for comment on how this got there, giving them the benefit of the doubt that maybe this is a product of those hackers we've been hearing about as a result of the site's security problems. They have not gotten back to us yet.

Late Update: The page has now been edited, removing Reagan's Latin throne name. It now simply says, "Our country has to decide, said Reagan..."

Census

Obama Administration Dodges Political Problem As Census Amendment Moved To Back Burner

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2009, 3:17PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) and Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

For the last week folks across Washington - from the Commerce Department to Senate leadership to left-leaning advocacy groups - have had a bad case of heartburn over a potential floor fight on an amendment Republican senators were pushing to force the Census Bureau to ask immigration status during their 2010 count.

I wrote about the issue last week when Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) attempted to attach the amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill outlining spending for the next year.

Senate leaders feared the amendment was getting some support from red-state Democrats so the Obama administration worked furiously to get it stripped from the bill, killed or at least pushed down the road to debate when Congress finally tackles immigration reform.

Commerce Sec. Gary Locke made a tough case to senators asking they oppose the amendment, reminding them such a change would cost "hundreds of millions of dollars," and long delays since the 300 million census forms would need to be reprinted and reshipped.

"It is too late to shift gears at this point in the process," Locke wrote in a memo obtained by TPMDC.

Read more »

Health Care

Reid Dismisses Schumer's Insistence That Public Option Is In His Hands

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 2:54PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Speaking to reporters just outside the Senate chamber this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scoffed at the suggestion--articulated last night by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--that the public option is simply in his hands.

"He would rather say anything so it wasn't up to him," Reid said, before departing for a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). The four will hold the first meeting about how to shape a health care bill that will soon be introduced on the Senate floor.

Other senators have been significantly less vocal than Schumer (at least in public) with respect to what steps Reid should take to include the public option. I caught up with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and asked him whether he agreed with Schumer. He said, "I'm definitely for the public option, I want it included in the final bill. I'm gonna leave it up to the Majority Leader's judgment and the vote of the Senate as to when that's going to take place."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) was less forthcoming. "I never second guess the leadership on what kind of procedural moves they make," he said. "I just vote as I choose. I don't comment on their decisions."

Rob Simmons

GOP Senate Candidate Rob Simmons Adds Tea Bag To His Constitution

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 2:19PM

Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT)

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), the national GOP's favored candidate for Senate against Democratic incumbent Chris Dodd in 2010, has departed from his former reputation as a moderate Republican -- he's now become such a devotee of the Tea Party movement, that he's inserted a tea bag inside his pocket Constitution!

"I've made it a habit over the years to carry my Constitution in my pocket as a reminder of what this country and what this country's government is all about," Simmons told a recent event. "But more recently because of the participation of many of you, I've added something to my Constitution. I've added a tea bag."

Simmons seems a bit half-hearted, though -- the tea bag is still inside the wrapper.

CT-SEN

Linda McMahon Self-Financing Millions On Senate Bid

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 2:01PM

Former Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon (R-CT)

Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, one of the candidates for the Republican nomination against Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), has been spending a lot of her own money on the race -- $2 million of it in just two weeks, the Hartford Courant reports:

McMahon is already spending at a blistering pace compared with her opponents. She launched a major television advertising blitz with commercials on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" and during a prime-time Notre Dame football game.

McMahon spent $2.05 million for the period ending Sept. 30 and has $1.45 million in cash on hand, her campaign said Tuesday night. She loaned $3 million to the campaign and made $496,000 in in-kind contributions for expenses she paid on behalf of the campaign.

It's interesting to note that when McMahon launched her campaign a month ago, she said would be running a different kind of campaign, and that she would be limiting all individual contributions to $100. It appears one individual is excluded from that rule, and is making up the difference.

Susan Collins

Associated Press Overplays Likelihood Of Collins Support For Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 1:29PM

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

As the Associated Press has it, "[a]nother Republican senator says she's open to voting for a sweeping health care overhaul this year."

Reflexively, it makes sense to assume that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) might be a gettable vote for health care reform. She's the moderate Republican besides her Maine colleague Olympia Snowe to vote with Democrats on major agenda items. But, as Greg Sargent notes, that's almost certainly not going to be the case on health care reform.

Her official statement in response to the passage of health care legislation on the Senate Finance Committee was to lambaste it in pretty clear terms. AP appears to be basing their headline on her final words:

Read more »

FL-SEN

Crist Tacks Right: They Called Me 'Chain Gang Charlie'

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 1:09PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R)

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL), who is fending off a challenge from the right by former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, is busy burnishing his conservative credentials, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

"When I was in the state Senate I was nicknamed 'Chain Gang Charlie,'" said Crist. "It's hard to get right of that."

Crist also boasted that he has been "about as conservative as you can get": "No governor has cut taxes more, no governor has vetoed more pork bills and no governor has spent more time reducing spending."

The single biggest issue that Rubio can use against Crist is the governor's endorsement of President Obama's stimulus bill. Let's see if "Chain Gang Charlie" can fight his way out of it.

Health Care

Rockefeller On Reid And The Public Option: It Comes Down To Who You Are

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 1:09PM

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) suggested today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ought to act his conscience on the public option, and include it in the health care bill that comes to the floor.

Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chamber, Rockefeller sounded confident that the public option would be in the final reform package. Asked whether Reid should heed the will of the Democratic caucus (which overwhelmingly supports the public option) or do what he deems is most politically expedient, Rockefeller said it's up to Harry.

"He's got to look at both, but--I think it's sort of the time I think when it comes down to who you are. I mean that was obviously in Olympia's case, right?"

Read more »

Ben Nelson

Nelson: 'I Don't Know' If I Could Support A Health Care Bill Without Snowe

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 12:54PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Speaking to reporters moments ago, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) addressed yesterday's vote in the Senate Finance Committee with words of support for Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)--the only Republican who agreed to vote Sen. Max Baucus' health care bill out of committee. Nelson described it as a "courageous vote on her part to speak her mind when she thinks it's best to move the process forward."

There's been a flood of speculation in the past 24 hours about the possibility that Snowe's vote might now become the glue that keeps conservative Democrats on board with the reform process. I asked Nelson whether he could imagine voting for a bill that does not have Snowe's support. Nelson didn't answer one way or another--but without saying yes or no, Nelson indicated that her final position will weigh heavily on members like him.

"I don't know. That's a good question. I have to see everything before I can really say what I would do."

Read more »

Alan Grayson

Will Grayson Get Away Without A Real Opponent In 2010?

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 12:53PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Could it be that Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) -- the freshman Congressman who has become a celebrity for calling Republicans "knuckle-dragging neanderthals" who want people who get sick to "die quickly" -- could end up with only a bottom-tier Republican opponent for his swing district in 2010?

As the Orlando Sentinel reports, top potential Republican candidates have been opting out of the race: Former state Sen. Daniel Webster, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, state Rep. Steve Precourt, and businessman Jerry Pierce.

"That leaves a pair of Tea Party activists -- Patricia Sullivan from Eustis and Dan Fanelli of Orlando -- and transplanted Miami developer Armando Gutierrez Jr., as likely Grayson foes," the paper says. "Others are considering bids, but it seems unlikely the GOP will get someone with elected experience."

Read more »

Health Care

Grayson Targets Snowe: She Wasn't Elected President Last Year

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2009, 12:47PM

Sen. Olympia Snow (R-ME) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson, garnering national attention recently for blasting Republicans on health care, says he's collected 90,000 signatures on a petition that criticizes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Grayson (D-FL) has teamed up with Progressive Change Campaign Committee and at 1:30 today will deliver the petitions to Capitol Hill that tell Reid:

"Any Democratic senators who support a Republican attempt to block a vote on health care reform should be stripped of their leadership titles ... Americans deserve a clean up-or-down vote on health care," and "For the last six months, Democrats have been dwelling, debating, and hoping for Republican Olympia Snowe to vote for health care reform. Why? Olympia Snowe was not elected President last year."

Grayson charges Reid (D-NV) should "lay down the law" with conservative Democrats on health care and called out Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) for saying he wasn't sure he'd support the bill.

PA-SEN

Poll: Specter In Serious Danger On Re-Election

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 12:28PM

Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

A new Susquehanna poll has some awful numbers for Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), with him stuck in a dead heat for re-election -- and a huge majority of the state's voters saying he doesn't deserve re-election.

Only 31% of voters said Specter should be re-elected, with 59% saying someone else should be given a chance. It's not surprising to learn that Specter has a large base of opposition -- after all, he switched from the Republicans to the Democrats in order to avoid defeat in the GOP primary at the hands of former Rep. Pat Toomey -- but that's quite bad.

Read more »

Health Care

White House Deploys 5-Person Team To Hill; Rahm, Four Others Meet With Senators

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2009, 11:26AM

OMB Director Peter Orzsag; Director of the Office of Health Care Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle; Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel won't be alone today when he huddles with senators about health care, as Brian noted earlier.

The White House says he's part of a 5-person team leading the charge for meetings expected to last from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m. The focus is merging the bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee yesterday with the one passed earlier in the year by the Senate Health Education and Labor Committee.

A White House official told TPMDC Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for the meeting.

"As we've said throughout this process, the White House stands ready to assist Leader Reid and Chairmen Baucus and Dodd in moving the reform effort forward. White House and HHS staff have regularly been present for legislative action so far, and they'll continue to play a similar advisory role," the official said.

The group of visitors after the jump.

Read more »

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann: Send A Message To Left -- Donate To Me Today

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 10:52AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is hoping to make today a special message to the left -- especially "Big Sister Pelosi and Big Brother Reid" -- through a mega-fundraising drive for her campaign.

The intention is send a message from the American people: "You're saying that you don't want this Gangster Government supersized!"

"We can show them that we mean business by raising money from patriots like you across the nation in a one-day fundraising blitz," said an e-mail from Bachmann's campaign. "There will be no dismissing our efforts as Astroturf -- this is the power of the People taking back their government!"

So far, she's not exactly in Ron Paul money-bomb territory, with only about $22,000 to show for it so far. But hey, the day is young, so let's see what happens. Check out the full-email after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

Key Senators, Rahm, To Hold Inaugural Meeting On Senate Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 10:13AM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

At 2:30 this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will host Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the first of several meetings presaging the merger of two major health care bills. The foursome is expected to discuss key issues at the heart of the reform process--affordability, Medicare, the public option, revenues--but no decisions are expected today.

The meeting kicks off a process that may be the most important of the entire health care debate. Reid, in consultation with Senate health care leaders and White House officials will crib from the Senate HELP Committee's health care bill, and the more conservative Senate Finance Committee health care bill, which was voted favorably out of committee after multiple delays yesterday.

Reid and the White House will be the focus of a great deal of attention in the coming days from the liberal base, which is adamant that health care reform include a public option, and that party leaders prevent rank and file senators from joining Republicans in a filibuster of the final bill. If Reid decides that the legislation he brings to the floor will include a public option it would be a game changer--and public option supporters within his own party aren't being shy about their preference.

Additional reporting by Christina Bellantoni

Climate Change

Next Up: Climate Change

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2009, 9:24AM

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sen. Barbara Boxer, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, has scheduled the first hearings for the climate change legislation that had been stalled on Capitol Hill.

Boxer (D-CA) said they will begin Oct. 27 and that President Obama's Cabinet secretaries will testify during three days of hearings.

She said her aim is to pass "strong clean energy jobs bill" and send it to the full Senate "as soon as possible," adding that her staff has sent a draft of the bill to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Secs. Steven Chu (Energy), Ken Salazar (Interior), Ray LaHood (Transportation) will be there Oct. 27, along with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"I am pleased to report we are continuing to expand support for our bill. Momentum for this effort is growing every day, and we are broadening and deepening our coalition with each step in the process," Boxer said.

GOP

GOP.com Changes The Game On 'What Up?'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 9:21AM

Overnight, it seems the RNC started tweaking the new GOP.com, which emerged yesterday as something of a fail for Michael Steele.

This morning, Steele's much-derided "What Up?" blog has undergone a name change, one of several changes at the site we'll be tracking throughout the day. Steele's posts can now be found at a chairman's blog called "Change The Game."

The RNC did not respond to questions about the changes this morning.

Late Update: Politco covers yesterday's GOP.com controversy, and catches up with Steele. "Betas are about learning, and I promise that we are learning today," he said. "We never meant for the site to ever be complete. It will never be complete."

Health Care

Flawed Insurance Industry Report Is Rallying Cry For Obama Grassroots Group

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 9:12AM

President Barack Obama speaks at a Human Rights Campaign event.

One of the key dynamics at yesterday's historic Senate Finance Committee hearing was the schism between Democrats and Republicans on the findings of a health insurance industry-designed analysis of the Baucus Bill. While Republicans were cautiously willing to accept the report, Democrats used it to highlight the need for true reform. And now, President Obama's grassroots political organization is attempting some similar jujitsu.

In a letter to members, Organizing for America describes the industry report as "a blatant scare tactic designed to frighten voters and bully Congress...Send a message urging Congress to stand with voters, not D.C. lobbyists, and pass real reform."

You can read the entire letter below the fold. Yesterday, Democratic senators were almost giddy that the unpopular industry had decided to take them on, predicting that the move would actually make reform more likely to pass. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) even predicted that the report had even improved the chances that the final bill will include a public option.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie Ahead By Only One Point

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 6:35AM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

The new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey further confirms that this race is going down to the wire, with Republican nominee Chris Christie ahead of Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by just one point.

The numbers: Christie 41%, Corzine 40%, and independent Chris Daggett with 14%, with a ±2.8% margin of error. Two weeks ago, Christie had a lead of 43%-39%-12%.

The pollster's analysis finds that both candidates have become quite unpopular:

"People obviously are listening to the negative ads from both sides. Both Corzine and Christie get a split, at best, on the 'honesty' question," Carroll said.

"Corzine has failed to control the state budget, Christie ads proclaim. Voters agree. Christie is too vague on what he'd do as Governor, Corzine ads proclaim. Again, voters agree.

"The Corzine team obviously likes the mammogram attack on Christie. They keep running it. But New Jerseyans don't like it. 'Unfair,' they say, almost 2 - 1."

NJ-GOV

Federal Records: Christie Spent Big On Government-Funded Business Trips

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 6:05PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The Corzine campaign appears to have found some dirt in their searches through Chris Christie's records during his time as U.S. Attorney -- relating to some apparent lavish spending on the taxpayer's dime:

The Republican candidate for New Jersey governor, who has campaigned on a platform of ethical integrity and cutting government waste, regularly spent beyond federal guidelines on business travel while U.S. attorney, records show.

The newly released travel records show that Chris Christie occasionally billed taxpayers more than $400 a night for stays in luxury hotels and exceeded the government's hotel allowance on 14 of 16 business trips he took in 2008.

Read more »

Gulf Coast recovery

Obama Heading To Big Easy To Survey Katrina Recovery

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 5:59PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama Thursday will hold two events in New Orleans as part of his outreach to show the administration is serious about Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

(It's fulfilling a promise he made on the anniversary, and also adding to the other steps his administration has taken in recent months such as extending the Bush-era recovery office for the second time.)

As I wrote about in my past life, the Obama Cabinet secretaries didn't venture into the Lower Ninth during their spring visit. This time, the president will visit the Dr. King Charter School near one of the most devastated areas in the Ninth Ward.

The White House said the trip will offer Obama "a firsthand look at progress on the ground" and a chance to hear "directly" from Louisianans. "This will enable the people of New Orleans to convey their thoughts, challenges, and feedback directly to him," the White House announced, adding it's Obama's fifth visit since Katrina but first of his presidency and the first that's open to the public.

Read more »

Alan Grayson

Top GOP Prospect Dan Webster Not Running Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 5:52PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Republicans just lost their top prospect to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), with former state Sen. Dan Webster announcing that he won't make the race.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me personally, especially because of the tremendous outpouring of support that has flooded me from all sides," said Webster, a big name among the state's religious conservatives. "However, in spite of this incredible encouragement, I still have a certain check in my spirit, prompting me to follow a principle that has always served me well: 'When in doubt, don't.'"

Grayson, of course, is the Democratic Congressman who has attacked the Republicans as having a health care plan for Americans to "die quickly," called them "knuckle-dragging neanderthals," and even borrowed the late GOP Vice President Spiro Agnew's words and called the GOP "nattering nabobs of negativism." The national GOP does not have a candidate yet, but has set up a special fund to raise money for the eventual opponent.

Florida's 8th District historically voted Republican, but went 52%-47% for Barack Obama in 2008, and elected the now-famous Grayson by 52%-48% over a Republican incumbent.

AHIP

Secret AHIP Talking Points: Mandates Good, Public Option Bad

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 5:35PM

A health insurance agent and TPM reader sends along this set of health care reform talking points the agent says AHIP is distributing to local insurance offices across the country. Our agent got the talking points from the password-protected agent-only website of a major insurer.

"I was surprised to see AHIP is against any kind of public option at any time," the source told TPMDC when asked why he was forwarding the information our way.

The AHIP talking points offer several arguments against what the documents call a "government-run plan." Chief among them is that passing a public plan amounts to "turning back the clock on quality, care coordination and disease management." The AHIP memo also says that under a public plan "patients' choices and access to health care will suffer."

Read more »

Health Care

Finance Bill Passes With Snowe's Support--So What Does That Mean For Reform?

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2009, 5:10PM

There's no way around the fact that today's Senate Finance Committee vote was a major milestone in the five-month long health care reform saga. That much is not in doubt. But in a way, the outcome had been largely pre-determined, and the public focus--from pressure groups and pundits and reporters--has already turned to the next stage in the process: starting tomorrow, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, working with Finance chair Max Baucus, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), White House officials, and a handful of other people will begin the arduous and crucial task of merging the Senate's two competing bills.

That will likely be a crucial moment for the public option, and that means the story behind the story of the Finance bill's passage is still evolving. We learned today, in a moment of great political theatrics, that Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) decided to support the Baucus bill. What we'll learn in the days and weeks ahead is what that decision means for the substance of the bill going forward.

Here's why it could have significant implications:

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Christie: I Feel Better Now Than When I Was Way Ahead

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 5:03PM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

Speaking to reporters today, Chris Christie dismissed the poll numbers that have shown his once-mighty lead over Jon Corzine -- and said that in fact, he feels better now than he did before.

"I feel better now than over the summer when I had a bigger lead," said Christie. "I knew the governor was going to spend a lot of money going after me, attacking me. And as much as he has, I should be dead by now, but here I am - still with a lead, and I feel better now than I have felt this entire race."

Read more »

VA-GOV

Deeds Camp Raises Money Off Rush Limbaugh's 'Mealy-Mouthed Idiot' Insult

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 4:27PM

Creigh Deeds is now raising money from yet another apparent Republican attack -- this time from none other than Rush Limbaugh, who declared yesterday that Deeds is a "mealy-mouthed idiot."

In a new fundraising e-mail, Deeds supporters are urged to "make a contribution and show Rush Limbaugh and our childish opponents that when they launch personal attacks on Creigh, they only embolden our resolve to keep Virginia moving forward."

Last week, of course, McDonnell supporter Sheila Johnson got in hot water for making fun of Deeds for stuttering. It's not clear whether Limbaugh's "mealy-mouthed" line was a reference to Deeds' speech, or whether it was simply a random insult.

Check out the full e-mail, after the jump.

Read more »

Nobel Peace Prize

Obama To Donate Nobel Prize Money To Multiple Charities, Process Still Developing

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 3:45PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama is still deciding what to do with the $1.4 million in Peace Prize money from the Nobel Committee.

The White House said Friday the money would be donated to charity, but has offered no guidance since.

TPMDC asked White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during his briefing today about how Obama is making his decision since there are plenty to choose from and whichever one he chooses will be scrutinized.

Our exchange with Gibbs, after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

Key Senators React To Passage Of The Finance Committee Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2009, 3:02PM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

In the wake of the successful vote on the Senate Finance Committee's health care bill, key senators weighed in on the most hot button issues at the heart of the reform fight: the public option and budget reconciliation. Both Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer said during the hearing that the final package must include a public option.

But after the vote, in a response to a question from TPMDC, Schumer said, "I'm not drawing any lines in the sand." But, he added in response to a separate question, that the recent AHIP/PwC analysis make the ultimate inclusion of the public option "more likely."

On the separate issue of whether this means Democrats can avoid turning to the controversial budget reconciliation process, Finance chairman Max Baucus told reporters that he's "very confident" that the bipartisan vote today will be able to pass health care reform through the regular order.

We'll bring you more responses as they flow in.

GOP

The New GOP.com Crushed Under Weight Of Mockery, Dem Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 2:34PM

The new GOP.com appears to be struggling through its first day online. Reporters found holes in the site's content this morning, and lately visitors have found the site to be down altogether or, at best, extremely slow.

"You know your web program is in trouble when your site can't even handle the traffic bump from people making fun of your web program," Joe Rospars of Blue State Digital told TPMDC.

Rospars helped craft the Obama Internet strategy as director of new media for the campaign.

The RNC did not respond to a request for a comment.

Late Update: Over at LiveWire, Rachel catches Michael Steele's response to the controversy. Steele to critics of GOP.com: "It's not even really a website."

Health Care

Prez Contender Pawlenty: Baucus Bill 'Bad For The Country'

Rachel Slajda | October 13, 2009, 2:23PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely contender for the Republican presidential nomination, wrote a column today criticizing the Senate Finance Committee bill as a "a tax and spending bill masquerading as a health reform bill."

Pawlenty has been upping his national visibility with a new PAC, a planned trip to Iowa and other comments on health care reform, including calling the Democrats' plans "a manure spreader in a windstorm."

Read more »

NRCC

NRCC In Hot Water Over Pelosi Criticism...Again

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 1:40PM

From the NRCC's twitter feed (via DCCC)

The NRCC drew fire for an attack on Nancy Pelosi Democrats say goes too far for the second time in a week today. On Oct. 6, Democrats were upset when the GOP group called on Gen. Stanley McChrystal to put Pelosi "in her place." Today, it was the NRCC's seeming comparison of Pelosi to Adolf Hitler that had Democrats up in arms.

"The NRCC's despicable promotion of a video comparing Speaker Pelosi's effort to reform health insurance in America to Adolf Hitler's extermination of millions is a shocking new low that must be condemned," DCCC spokesperson Jennifer Crider said.

Read more »

VA-GOV

Poll: McDonnell Still Ahead In Virginia

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 1:40PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

The new Rasmussen poll of Virginia finds Republican Bob McDonnell continuing to hold a solid lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial race.

The numbers: McDonnell 50%, Deeds 43%, with a ±4% margin of error. This has not significantly changed from two weeks ago, when McDonnell was ahead 51%-42%.

The pollster's analysis finds that McDonnell has recovered from controversies surrounding his hard-right grad school thesis, which denounced working women -- but also that the potential still exists for it to be a problem: "Concern about the thesis has risen again, however. Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters now say it is at least somewhat important in determining how they will vote. That's up five points from the two previous surveys on the race."

Liz Cheney

DNC Slams New Liz Cheney Group And Her Family's 'Sullied Legacy'

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 1:12PM

Former State Dept. Official Liz Cheney

The Democratic National Committee is responding to Liz Cheney's new anti-Obama group "Keep America Safe" -- a sign that the Dems might still enjoy having the Cheneys as villains they can kick around:

"Last fall, the American people overwhelmingly rejected a radical foreign policy authored by Dick Cheney that alienated our allies, emboldened our enemies, depleted our resources, distracted our focus and made the nation less secure. The Cheneys lost that debate and their approach was deemed a failure. The Cheneys can continue to focus on securing their sullied legacy if they want to. But, the President will continue to focus on securing the country," said DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Plays It Low-Key At Town Hall

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 12:41PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) held a town hall meeting on health care in his district last night -- and seemed to be doing his best to avoid controversy.

Grayson stuck to policy specifics -- though at one point he was confronted by a man who tried to turn Grayson's "die quickly" attack on the Republicans right back at him. "I'd like to know if he's aware that it was actually Richard Lamm, Democratic Governor of Colorado, in 1984, who said it's your duty to die if you get sick," the man said. "And I think that that's a hypocritical statement of yours, to tar other people with something that the Democrats said."

"You have mischaracterized what I said, you've mischaracterized what Gov. Lamm said," Grayson replied. "Our time is limited tonight, and I'm not gonna debate politics, I'm gonna debate health care. So we're gonna go on to the next question." He then proceeded to talk about the need for a public option to create health care competition:

Read more »

Health Care

Taking Stock Of AHIP Report - Last 36 Hours Have Galvanized Both Sides

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 12:36PM

Robert Zirkelbach, Press Secretary AHIP, Pricewaterhouse Coopers building, CEO Karen Ignagni

It's been called a "bombshell," but Democrats are saying the America's Health Insurance Plans report has helped unify the party around the health care bill(s). They say it's much easier to fight the big, bad insurance lobby that burned the White House than, for example, a Congressional Budget Office report showing increased costs and insurmountable debt as the American people are wary of skyrocketing deficits.

However, a key Democratic Senate leadership aide told TPMDC that while the report angered Democrats, it is highly unlikely to move any votes for the final bill. Another Democrat agreed the report "should" galvanize the party but doubted Democrats would take full advantage of the report, which left out some key elements in its analysis.

Responding to that news, the DNC's Brad Woodhouse referred to it as the "AHIP Hatchet Job" and warned that anyone using the "phony" report will be subject to one of the party's "Call you out" campaigns.

"This should lay to rest any notion that the AHIP report has any credibility whatsoever or that it should be used by members of Congress in their deliberations over health insurance reform," Woodhouse said.

Organizing for America, the spinoff of the Obama campaign housed at the DNC, hasn't planned any formal pushback yet but is making sure volunteers have the talking points so they can shoot the report down if they are asked while knocking on doors and making calls.

Read more »

Health Care

Small Biz Leaders Call For Public Option On Day Of Health Care Vote

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 11:56AM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

On the day the Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up its final vote on its version of a health care reform bill, small business leaders are rallying across the country in support of the inclusion of a public option in any reform package passed by the committee.

The Main Street Alliance -- a coalition of small business owners across the country -- is sponsoring today's rallies, which will bring business owners and lawmakers together in 11 states.

The group says the goal of the rallies is to "urge" members of the committee "and leaders in both chambers to include a public option, true affordability measures, and to replace the flawed 'free rider' proposal with fair employer contribution."

Read more »

GOP

Dems Say New RNC Website Suggests 'True' Future For GOP

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 11:22AM

GOP.com "Future Leaders" page

The RNC launched a new version of its GOP.com homepage this morning and in a statement, party chair Michael Steele said the homepage was the reflection of his vision for the GOP:

"When I ran for RNC Chairman, I committed to improving the Republican Party's online ability to inform our grassroots supporters and mobilize them behind important issues, while also electing our great candidates. With the new GOP.com that went live today, the RNC will be able to accomplish exactly that."

Just a few hours after the launch, though, Democrats are claiming the site reflects the party's current state more than its future. Flying around Twitter this morning is a link to the new site's "Future GOP leaders" page. Instead of fresh faces, it the page lists "404 Error: This page could not be found."

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie's Lead Shrinks To One Point

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 11:02AM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

The new survey of New Jersey from Public Policy Polling (D) confirms the trend of this gubernatorial race coming down the wire, with Republican Chris Christie ahead of Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by just one point.

The numbers: Christie 40%, Corzine 39%, and independent Chris Daggett 13%, with a ±4.1% margin of error. A month ago, Christie had a much bigger lead of 44%-35%-13%.

The pollster also asked respondents about an emerging question in this race: Is Corzine attacking Christie for his weight?

Read more »

Health Care

Accounting Firm Admits Cost Savings Left Out Of Report Prepared For AHIP Report

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 10:12AM

Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has issued a statement about the audit it performed for America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) that we have been following closely.

Most notable about the statement, issued late last night, is an acknowledgment the cost savings from the bill weren't included, though PWC points out that is noted on page one of the report.

The statement in full after the jump.

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Health Care

LIVEBLOG: Senate Finance Committee Votes On Health Care Reform Bill

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2009, 10:01AM

Check in here for continuous updates until the vote, which may not come until the afternoon.

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Health Care

White House To Portray SFC Vote As Milestone, Forge Ahead

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 9:06AM

President Barack Obama

The White House will closely monitor the Senate Finance Committee vote today, but aides say they will forge ahead to the next (and more important) steps in the long process.

A senior administration official told TPMDC they fully expect the Baucus bill to pass the committee, and that they aren't laser focused on whether Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will back it. (The White House has no idea which way she's leaning.)

The official said once it passes through the committee, White House analysts will pore over it as senators merge it with what passed the HELP committee earlier this year.

"The proposals really need to be analyzed closely, and we need to see how they achieve the goals of choice and competition," the official said.

Also, expect Robert Gibbs and maybe even the president to portray this vote as a milestone - you've heard it before, but they are very likely to remind the world this is the longest a health care overhaul has ever survived.

Health Care

Senate Finance Committee To Vote On Landmark Health Care Legislation Today

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2009, 8:51AM

Later this morning, after tense months of negotiating and arguing, the Senate Finance Committee will vote on its health care reform bill. The package, which is expected to pass on a party-line or nearly party-line vote, will be a precursor to a Senate bill, which will be compiled in the coming days, and reach the floor later this month.

Of the five Congressional committees with jurisdiction over the nation's sprawling health care system, Finance is the last to act, though it began preliminary hearings on the issue about one year ago.

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VA-GOV

McDonnell Stays Cool In Debate

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 9:34PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell met in Richmond tonight for their first prime-time televised debate in the Virginia gubernatorial race -- and the big news tonight is that nothing appeared to happen that would upset the current status quo, with McDonnell ahead and Deeds working to catch up.

McDonnell remained unflappable -- none of Deeds' attacks or the questions from moderator Judy Woodruff threw him off from his steady pace. In the first question, he was asked whether the recent Democratic or Republican presidents and Virginia governors have done a better job for Virginia's economy -- a potential curveball, in light of how unpopular George W. Bush still is, as well as the state's most recent Republican governor, Jim Gilmore.

"You might suspect the likely answer from me would be the Republicans have done a better job," McDonnell said. He credited Republican ideas such as low taxes, right-to-work laws and other pro-business policies with helping the state: "I think those are the ideas that have helped. What this election really is about here in Virginia is job creation and economic development."

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Michele Bachmann

The Bachmann Comic, Issue 2: Our Review

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 5:29PM

The second issue of the Michele Bachmann comic book series, produced by some of our friends at the Dump Bachmann blog, is now in print, and like the previous issue it presents a chilling portrait of a right-wing lunatic who has risen up to the highest levels of American government.

However, the presentation of the facts in the second issue deviated from the first issue in a key respect -- that this time around, not all speech balloons from Bachmann are necessarily direct quotes from the woman herself. Paraphrases or new punchlines come in -- and unfortunately, this is not a decision for the better.

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ACORN

Republicans Don't Like SEIU And ACORN, But There's More To The Story

Christina Bellantoni | October 12, 2009, 4:59PM

It's hard to criticize when voting records and bank accounts have long memories, especially when it comes to ACORN.

Republicans have successfully targeted ACORN this year, and have recently expanded the net to include Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for working with ACORN.

But a public documents search shows Republicans have received political donations from SEIU, as Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) had to acknowledge when calling for the census to sever ties with the massive union.

In addition to Kirk's $2,500 donation in 2003, SEIU has given a few thousand here and there to House Republicans, including Minority Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

Documents show the Republican Governors Association has taken more than $750,000 in donations from SEIU since 2004, including a $100,000 check on March 5, 2007.

Also taking SEIU cash? The GOP's host committee for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, to the tune of $50,000. And Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who scored $2,500 from the SEIU political action committee in October 2006 just before the GOP lost power in Congress.

These numbers are tiny compared with the fundraising and active campaigning SEIU has done for the Democrats, and it's no secret which party the unions prefer.

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MN-06

Two Dems Report Strong Fundraising Against Bachmann

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 4:53PM

MN-06 Democratic candidates Tarryl Clark and Maureen Reed

Both Democrats seeking the nomination to run against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) have reported strong fundraising totals -- though they'll first have to spend it in competition for the Dem nod.

State Sen. Tarryl Clark has raised $308,015, her campaign announced, after having just gotten into the race with nine weeks left in the third quarter. She has just under $270,000 cash on hand. Clark has quickly emerged as the Democratic establishment's candidate, with the support of the state AFL-CIO, SEIU, AFSCME, and various elected officials and other organizations.

Maureen Reed, a former state university regent and the 2006 Independence Party nominee for Lt. Governor, raised over $130,000 in the third quarter, and has over $300,000 cash on hand. "Maureen now sits with over $300,000 cash on hand, all of which was raised without relying on endorsements from prominent individuals or special interests," campaign manager Jason Isaacson said in a press release. "This outpouring of support shows that our message of creating jobs, fixing healthcare, and reducing the national debt is resonating with people."

VA-GOV

Deeds Campaign: McDonnell Should Use Rally With Sheila Johnson To Apologize For Stutter Joke

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 3:59PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

On a conference call with the Deeds campaign and reporters just now, TPM asked Deeds adviser Mo Elleithee for comment on Republican candidate Bob McDonnell's upcoming rally with Sheila Johnson -- the McDonnell supporter who publicly insulted Deeds for stuttering.

"Well, we'll be anxious to see if he finally uses this as an opportunity to apologize," said Elleithee. The McDonnell campaign had originally not apologized, though Johnson herself later issued a statement apologizing, after a day of media criticism.

"I think most people agree that her comments were in poor taste. People are confused about why he would not distance himself from those comments," Elleithee added. "It really was a telling moment in this campaign. It was the only time in this campaign so far when one candidate launched a truly negative personal attack against another."

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NJ-GOV

Star-Ledger Pulls Out Of Debate After Endorsing Daggett

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 1:46PM

Chris Daggett, independent candidate for governor in New Jersey

The endorsement of independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett by New Jersey's largest newspaper, the Star-Ledger, has already had one major consequence: The Ledger has pulled out of Friday's upcoming debate, or else violate state law.

The debate is still on through its other partners, including the northern Jersey Record and the Herald News, as well as Fox News. But the Ledger will not be sending their reporter to take part in the panel.

The state election commission's regulations require that officially registered debate sponsors not endorse a candidate, at least until after the debate. "We came to the conclusion that it was probably the best for everyone involved if a replacement were found for us," managing editor Kevin Whitmer told TPM, "that there was something in place that if we endorsed before the debate, that would be in violation."

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Health Care

AHIP Gave White House No Notice Of Pending Report Despite Meeting Last Wednesday

Christina Bellantoni | October 12, 2009, 1:36PM

The White House is tempering its reaction to the new health insurance industry report we've been writing about today since the administration questions its legitimacy.

A senior administration official said they weren't yet sure if America's Health Insurance Plans was launching an offensive to try and defeat health care before tomorrow's Senate Finance Committee vote, but was skeptical of AHIP's motivations.

"Given how they behaved in the past, it's very likely they could be up to their old tricks," the official told TPMDC.

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NJ-GOV

When Asked Whether Christie Is Fat, Corzine Responds: 'Am I Bald?'

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 12:17PM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) defended his attack ads against Republican rival Chris Christie, which charge that Christie "threw his weight around" to get out of trouble from traffic violations when he was a U.S. Attorney -- which critics have said is an attack on Christie's physical weight.

In an interview with the editorial board at the Press of Atlantic City:

"People who flash their credentials or use their offices to accomplish something, people say 'people threw their weight around,'" Corzine said.

Asked directly if he thought Christie was fat, Corzine touched his bare head, smiled and said, "Am I bald?"

VA-GOV

Deeds Fundraising E-mail: 'I've Been Counted Out My Whole Life'

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 12:01PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

In a new fundraising e-mail, Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds acknowledges that he's now widely seen as the underdog in the Virginia gubernatorial race:

I've been counted out my whole life. But that's only inspired me to work harder, dream bigger, and prove to all the cynics out there that when we join together, there's nothing we can't accomplish.

Four months ago, we beat the odds and won the primary against better funded opponents. And just three weeks from now, we're going to win again. Because despite all the chatter, you and I know the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day.

Check out the full e-mail, after the jump.

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Health Care

Republican Aide Cautions Use of AHIP Report: Check Your Donations First

Christina Bellantoni | October 12, 2009, 11:40AM

We've been keeping a close eye today on Republicans using the new AHIP report to talk about the health care bill leading to rising insurance costs.

Spokesman Kurt Bardella of Rep. Darrell Issa's (R-CA) office told TPMDC that Republicans are sure to use the report as justification for opposing the plan. But he cautioned the minority party must "strike the right balance" between the report showing premiums would rise and "trying to avoid the perception they are doing the insurance industry's bidding."

"Any Republican that uses the report should double-check to see how much money they've received from the industry as that'll be a very easy rebuttal for Dems to hit back," Bardella said.

He views the report as "ample ammunition" for critics of the health care bill and said that it can be used by Republicans as I-told-you-so proof once a bill passes if premiums do rise over the next decade.

"Democrats won't be able to feign surprise or cast it as an unintended consequence - they've been warned and if their health care reform plan - which, right or wrong, seeks to minimize private insurers, results in a defacto tax increase for middle-class Americans - it could prove to be politically devastating," Bardella said.

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AHIP

Senate Finance Committee Slams AHIP Report

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 12, 2009, 9:20AM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

The spokesman for the Democratic majority on the Senate Finance Committee pulled no punches in his response to a new health insurance lobby study that's critical of the reform bill drawn up by the committee.

"This report is untrue, disingenuous and bought and paid for by the same health insurance companies that have been gouging too many consumers for too long as they stand in the way of reform yet again," Scott Mulhauser said. "It's a health insurance company hatchet job, plain and simple."

Read his full comment after the jump.

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Health Care

White House Slams Industry's Audit Of Health Reform Bill

Christina Bellantoni | October 12, 2009, 9:02AM

White House Spokesperson Linda Douglass

The White House is pushing back on the new study commissioned by America's Health Insurance Plans suggesting health care costs would increase under the bill the Senate Finance Committee is voting on this week.

White House spokeswoman Linda Douglass called the report a "self-serving analysis" from an opponent of any kind of health insurance reform.

"It comes on the eve of a vote that will reduce the industry's profits," Douglass told TPMDC. "It is hard to take it seriously. The analysis completely ignores critical policies will lower costs for those who have insurance, expand coverage and provide affordable health insurance options to millions of Americans who are priced out of today's health insurance market or are locked out by unfair insurance company practices."

AHIP is a D.C.-based association representing more than 1,000 insurance companies and has been fighting the administration's efforts all year.

We'll have more on this throughout the day - if you hear members of Congress citing the report, let us know.

Late update: Evan has the Senate Finance Committee Dems' response here.

Later update: An AHIP spokesman responded on Fox this morning and we have the clip.

FL-SEN

Meek Leads Crist In FL-Sen Race Among Voters Who Know Both -- According To Meek-Commissioned Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 11, 2009, 9:15AM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

Among Florida voters who know both men, Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL) leads Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) in a head-to-head matchup for the state's open Senate seat, according to a new poll commissioned my Meek's campaign and set for public release this weekend. Crist's once-vaunted levels of public support have softened considerably, making him appear more vulnerable than most observers had predicted heading into the 2010 race. Crist's personal and job approval ratings are now below those of President Obama's in Florida, and a majority of voters claim Crist is putting his "personal ambitions ahead of the people" by running for Senate during his first term as governor.

The poll, conducted Sept. 23-28, will be the centerpiece of a national press blitz by Meek in the coming week. TPMDC got an exclusive first look at the surprising results.

"These numbers are eye-opening," Meek said in an interview yesterday. "People will start looking at this race in a different way."

Late Update: Neither the Crist campaign or the NRSC have responded to requests for comment on this story. When they do, we'll post.

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