NY-23

Kansas GOP Rep. Tiahrt Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:58PM

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), who is currently running for the Republican nomination in a contested 2010 U.S. Senate primary, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- the second sitting member of Congress to openly do so, after Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).

Tiahrt's press release blasts the moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava, questions her party loyalty, and casts the race as a test for the soul of the GOP:

"Doug Hoffman will be a consistent vote for conservative principles in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have no doubt he will vote for anyone other than Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, which is the most important vote of each Congress. I do not have that same confidence in his opponent, who has a very similar record to Ms. Pelosi."

Tiahrt claims the New York 23 election reflects the same battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party going on nationally.

"The Republican Party is either going to return to the party of fiscal responsibility and consistent conservative principles as it was under Ronald Reagan or it will continue down the path of 'sporadic moderation,'" Tiahrt exclaimed.

As noted before, Tiahrt is running in a Republican primary for Senate, facing off against fellow Kansas GOP Congressman Jerry Moran. Take this as a sign that support of Hoffman over Scozzafava could become its own litmus test for Republicans in the future -- as a mark of true conservatism, requiring that candidates will have not supported the GOP's actual nominee in this race.

Check out the full Tiahrt press release after the jump.

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Fox News

WH: We're Happy To Exclude Fox, But Didn't Yesterday With Feinberg Interview

Christina Bellantoni | October 23, 2009, 6:09PM

Fox News Logo, Treasury Department Special Master Ken Feinberg

Adding to the Fox News v. White House feud today is a dust-up over an interview with pay czar Ken Feinberg. Turns out, it was a sort of miscommunication, but the White House adds that if they had left Fox out it would be a case of "Not that there's anything wrong with that!"

The version Fox has pushed all day is that the network was excluded from an interview roundtable with Feinberg yesterday, and that bureau chiefs from ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN came to Fox's defense.

TPMDC dug into it, and here's what happened.

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Health Care

Reid Hopes To Unveil Health Care Bill Details Next Week

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 6:02PM

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

These deadlines seem to be made to be broken, and with all the hoopla surrounding the public option still unfolding, it could happen. But a leadership source tells me that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to unveil details of the Senate health care bill--the merged version of the Senate HELP and Finance Committee bills--early next week.

We know things are still changing. We know Reid has been leaning toward incorporating an opt-out public option in the final package. We know that other public option compromises are under consideration. We know that the White House has been trying to push back against Reid on this. What we don't know yet is what the outcome of all this sturm und drang will be. We may find out sooner than later.

Public Option

MoveOn Email: Call Obama And Demand Public Option

Rachel Slajda | October 23, 2009, 5:22PM

President Barack Obama

MoveOn.org blasted an email to its members today, urging them to call the White House immediately and demand a strong public option.

"Tell President Obama to stand with Senate Democrats and the American public to ensure the Senate bill includes a strong public health insurance option--not Senator Snowe's 'trigger,'" the email reads.

As TPMDC has reported today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been pushing for a strong public option in the Senate version of the health care reform bill. But the White House has apparently been pushing back in favor for a trigger option, preferred by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

VA-GOV

Deeds On White House Displeasure: 'I Don't Know What It's All About'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 5:01PM

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

Creigh Deeds said this afternoon he was confused and surprised by news that the White House feels he's dug his own grave in the race to become the next governor of Virginia.

This morning, the Washington Post published a story recounting displeasure on the part of White House officials over the way Deeds has campaigned against GOP nominee Bob McDonnell. Current polls show Deeds down by double digits in the contest, and unnamed White House officials told the Post Deeds had only himself to blame for the situation. The officials claimed Deeds had ignored calls from from White House and other Democratic officials that he focus more his attention on being proactive about the issues driving the election and less on McDonnell's 1989 master's thesis claiming that working women are "detrimental" to the traditional family.

On a press call this afternoon, Deeds said he hadn't read the story but seemed knowledgeable about its central themes.

"I understand the article says we didn't follow their advice," he said under questioning from TPMDC. "But I don't know what that's about. I honestly don't."

Read more »

Harry Reid

Party Of No? It Would Appear So!

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 4:43PM

The liberal organization People for the American Way has had just about enough. PFAW says it's time for the White House and Senate leadership to get down to business and bring dozens of Obama nominees--all of whom are waiting as Republicans threaten filibusters--to the Senate floor. Now the group is planning to take that message directly to Democratic leaders, who haven't done all they can to circumvent the obstruction.

"There is unprecedented obstruction going on of executive branch officials," says Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of PFAW.

In 1949, a change to Senate rules allowed members to filibuster executive branch nominees. Senators tend to believe (or at least to say) that, within bounds of decency, the White House deserves to be able to staff the executive branch as it chooses; and in the 60 years since then, the practice has been used sparingly.

Until Barack Obama came to town.

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Health Care

Pelosi: Though Robust Public Option Is Still The Goal, The Atmosphere Has Changed

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 4:41PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

After a rough and tumble start to the day, the House's public option predicament remains mostly unchanged. Speaker Nancy Pelosi still wants a robust plan, pegged to Medicare, but she's finding it difficult to round up the necessary votes. Undecided Democrats are being put on the spot and are doing everything they can to slink away from the discussion. In the face of this predicament, Pelosi is acknowledging that the more progressive public option may not happen.

"The atmosphere has changed. When we were dealing with the idea that the Senate had nothing, it was really important, again, to go in with the most muscle for the middle class with a robust public option," Pelosi said at the news conference.

"This is about the endgame now," she said.

Though the push is still on for the robust public option, that seems about as clear a sign as any that leadership is at least preparing for the possibility that their monumental push might not succeed.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty: My State Should Opt Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 4:37PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential president candidate, says that his state should opt out of the public option if given the chance.

"I don't know if we would opt out, but I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government-run health care," Pawlenty said.

This shouldn't be too much of a shocker, considering that Pawlenty had previously talked about invoking the Tenth Amendment and attempting to nullify health care reform at the state level. Really, being given permission by the federal government to opt out isn't much in comparison.

It's unlikely that Minnesota actually would opt out, due to its legislature being heavily Democratic. But hey, Pawlenty can dream. And he can court the national GOP base.

NY-23

McCain's Office Not Saying Who He Supports In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 3:32PM

Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Here's an important question on the NY-23 race: Now that the Republican Party's 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has broken with the party to support a third party Conservative over the moderate GOP candidate, who does her former running mate and ex-presidential nominee John McCain support?

I have placed multiple messages with McCain's office, asking which candidate he supports in the special election, and whether he agrees with Palin's denunciation of the GOP for putting up a moderate nominee. They have not gotten back to me.

Health Care

Dean Of House To Nervous Dems: If We Fail On Health Care, We Lose

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 3:31PM

Rep. Jon Dingell (D-MI)

In a tense, closed door caucus meeting this morning, during which House Democrats were made to go on the record on the question of whether they'd vote for a health care bill with a robust public option, some of the caucus' most nervous members got a bit of perspective from its longest serving members.

"It was really fairly simple speech," said Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). "All I did was to remind the members that the Republicans are out there to beat us by seeing to it that we accomplish nothing during this Congress especially on health care. It's exactly the same tactic, the same strategy they used in 1993. And I reminded them that that tactic took control of the House from us, because, one of the principal reasons was, we were not able to pass a health insurance bill."

Dingell tells me, "I reminded them that Democrats were divided on the issue. And I told them that if they want to come back and control the Congress they should get behind this bill."

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Public Option

Progressives Want Rahm Unleashed In Favor Of The Public Option

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 3:15PM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Members of the progressive lobby are calling on White House Chief Of Staff Rahm Emanuel put some of his legendary pressure on Congress to pass the public option.

The NAACP, the Campaign For America's Future and MoveOn.org dispatched a letter to Emanuel's office today asking backup in the fight for a public option. From the letter, as reported by The Hill:

"We respectfully ask that the Office of the President take a stronger stand on a robust public option in order to enact true health care reform this year."

Health Care

Sources: White House Pushing Back Against Senate Public Option Opt Out Compromise

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 3:11PM

President Barack Obama

Multiple sources tell TPMDC that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is very close to rounding up 60 members in support of a public option with an opt out clause, and are continuing to push skeptical members. But they also say that the White House is pushing back against the idea, in a bid to retain the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

"They're skeptical of opt out and are generally deferential to the Snowe strategy that involves the trigger," said one source close to negotiations between the Senate and the White House. "they're certainly not calming moderates' concerns on opt out."

This new development, which casts the White House as an opponent of all but the most watered down form of public option, is likely to yield backlash from progressives, especially those in the House who have been pushing for a more maximal version of reform.

It also suggests, for perhaps the first time, that the White House's supposed hands off approach, to ostensibly allow the two chambers in Congress to craft their own bills, has been discarded.

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Republicans

Poll: GOP's Favorability At Its Worst In A Decade

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 2:48PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A new CNN poll has some really bad news for the Republican Party, with their favorability number reaching its lowest in a decade.

Only 36% of people view the GOP favorably, with an outright majority of 54% viewing them unfavorably. By comparison, the Democratic Party is at 53% favorable to 41% unfavorable -- hardly a good omen for the Republicans if they want to make significant gains in 2010.

The last time the GOP was this bad in CNN's polling was in December 1998, in the heat of the impeachment battles, when they were at 31%-57%.

From the pollster's analysis: "The Republican party may still be battling the legacy left to them by George W. Bush. They have also spent a lot of time in 2009 working against Democratic proposals. That hasn't left them a lot of time so far this year to present a positive, post-Bush message. Of course, there is still plenty of time for them to do so before the 2010 midterms."

Public Option

Snowe To Snub Public Option Again This Weekend

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 2:29PM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will double-down this weekend on the rejection of a public option she told Brian about yesterday.

In an interview set to air on Bloomberg, Snowe tells the network's Al Hunt that she's opposed to any public option's inclusion in a health care bill because it gives the government too much control of the health care industry:

"A public option at the forefront really does put the government in a disproportionate position with respect to the industry," she says in the interview.

NY-23

Whose Side Are They On? The Big GOP Schism In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 2:00PM

The NY-23 special election has led to a very interesting development: A whole lot of prominent Republicans are openly calling for the defeat of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, opting instead to back the Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman, while just a few are sticking by the actual GOP candidate.

This race has put two former House GOP leaders on different sides, the NRA against the Club For Growth, and the House GOP leadership against its own back-benches.

The message being sent here is loud and clear: Republicans are not allowed to nominate moderate candidates. If they do, it won't just be the grassroots activists and conservative bloggers who will complain -- the big names will do it, too, and will set out to defeat that candidate, even if means the Democrats wins. As a prominent pro-life activist told me about the prospect of a Democratic victory, "It's a shame that the Republican Party didn't do a better job of selecting a candidate."

Let's look at the list of Republicans who are supporting Hoffman, and the ones supporting Scozzafava. Let's start with Scozzafava's backers -- it's a much shorter list.

Read more »

NY-23

Pawlenty: 'I'm Concerned' About Moderate GOP Candidate's Positions In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 1:36PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate, is starting to sound an awful lot like he could end up endorsing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- saying that he'ss "concerned" about moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's positions.

Yesterday, Pawlenty had simply said that he didn't know anything about the race. Now it's quite different, as ABC News reports:

Pawlenty, who's widely mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, said he will "probably" make an endorsement in the race -- and sounded as if he's poised to support Hoffman over Scozzafava.

"As a conservative I'm concerned about some of the alleged issue positions that she holds," said Pawlenty, R-Minn. "I want to be fair to both candidates and look at their records. But there are some things that [I] have been told that you know, she holds dear, that may not be consistent with conservative principles."

Health Care

White House Offers Clear (As Mud) Comment On Public Option Meetings

Christina Bellantoni | October 23, 2009, 1:24PM

WH Spokesman Bill Burton

Reporters aboard Air Force One this morning peppered White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton with questions about the swirling Capitol Hill news and negotiations on the public option today.

Burton gave some of the most oft repeated vague and general sentiments, saying that President Obama told Democrats he will "continue to work day and night" to get a bill passed. He also dodged an opportunity to critique or walk back adviser Valerie Jarrett's comment about a Politico reporter earlier today.

Asked what Obama wants from the several types of public option that are being considered, Burton demurred with the talking point the White House has been using for months.

"The president continues to think that the public option is the best way to achieve choice and competition, and that's what he's working towards," he said.

Bits from the White House transcript after the jump.

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AHIP

It's Come To This: AHIP Called 'Baby Haters' In New Web Ad

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 12:48PM

Meet Patriot Baby

Apparently there's no room left for subtlety in the fight against AHIP. Meet Patriot Baby, the new hero of health insurance industry opponents:

Read more »

Health Care

Hill Source: 'Lot Of Undecided Members'

Christina Bellantoni | October 23, 2009, 12:30PM

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

As we've been reporting today, House Democrats held a private caucus meeting on health care and the various public option possibilities for a final version of their bill.

A Democratic leadership source tells TPMDC that leaders read out the names of the entire caucus this morning to get Democrats on record with their positions. Members were asked if they support a "robust" public option.

"There are a lot of undecided members," the source said.

Reports that any counts of House Democrats are firm or weak aren't accurate, the leadership aide said.

"We're still working on getting there," the source added. "At the end of the day, we will have a public option, the question is what it will look like."

There's been some scuttlebutt today about whether progressives promised Speaker Nancy Pelosi more than the votes they could deliver on the most aggressive public option. Our leadership source says no, and believes progressives "did a great job of coalescing the caucus."

TPMDC has more detail here.

Public Option

Report: Pelosi Reiterates Robust Public Option Still On The Table

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 12:22PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Nancy Pelosi called an "emergency meeting" of House Democrats this morning in an attempt to beat back rumors that she and other congressional leaders have abandoned the so-called robust public option. The House Speaker insisted that, despite reports to the contrary, the public option is very much alive as Democrats draft the health reform bill they hope to send to the House floor next month.

The Hill reports:

The Speaker met late Thursday night with the Progressive Caucus, the bloc of Democrats most supportive of a robust public option, and assured them that it was still on the table, according to a member in attendance. And according to attendees, Pelosi reiterated that pledge to the larger caucus at Friday's morning meeting."

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Public Option

Pelosi Publicly Demanding Public Option Skeptics Get Off The Fence

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 11:02AM

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

For days now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been trying to sway skeptics in her caucus into supporting a robust public option. That effort has hit some road bumps--let's just say the votes didn't materialize as easily as she'd hoped. And the mood is definitely pessimistic. But no final decision has been made, and now it seems Pelosi is bringing out some bigger guns.

She is currently conducting what's known as a public whip--huddling with her rank and file and asking everybody, including fence sitters, where they stand on the robust public option. That means we should have answers soon.

Late update: The meeting ended a few minutes ago--though the push is continuing. We'll update you as details trickle out.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Covers The Rolling Stones To Woo Young Republicans

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 10:58AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Governor and expected 2012 presidential contender Tim Pawlenty (R) held his first D.C. fundraiser for his new PAC last night at a pub downtown. Pawlenty focused the event on young Republicans, and opened his address to the few hundred in the crowd with little taste of that rock-and-roll the kids are all talking about.

"Mick Jagger said in a song once, 'you can't always get what what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need," Pawlenty said. "For those of us who are Republicans and conservatives, we didn't get what we wanted in the 2008 election for president but we did get something that we needed. And that is a chance to ask 'what are the lessons from 2008 and 2006?'"

Pawlenty said the lesson he learned was that Republicans need to make new friends -- but keep the old ones, too. "I know a little about reaching out to people who are not yet Republicans," he said. "But I want to make sure as we move forward we don't get confused about diluting our principles and our values."

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Alan Grayson

Grayson: Cheney Has 'Blood That Drips From His Teeth'

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 10:52AM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

During an appearance yesterday on Hardball, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) jokingly suggested that former Vice President Dick Cheney is a vampire.

Chris Matthews asked Grayson what he thinks of Cheney's attacks on President Obama for "dithering" on Afghanistan.

"Well, my response is -- and by the way, I have trouble listening to what he says sometimes, because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he's talking," said Grayson. "But my response is this: He's just angry because the president doesn't shoot old men in the face. But by the way, when he was done speaking, did he just then turn into a bat and fly away?"

Even Matthews, no Cheney fan himself, was shocked: "Oh God -- we gotta keep a level here. Let me ask you this: Don't you have any Republican friends?"

Grayson laughed, and said that some of his best friends are Republicans.

Health Care

Speaker's Aide Rebuts Politico Story Claiming Pelosi Has Lost Fight For Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 23, 2009, 9:33AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Politico's Mike Allen has a splashy story up this morning claiming, among other things, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has concluded that she can't pass the robust public option. But is it accurate? Not according to Pelosi's spokesman Nadeam Elshami:

"Speculation that a final decision has been made about the public option are not accurate," Elshami tells TPMDC. "We continue to work with all the members of the caucus to build consensus."

As of yesterday, Pelosi was continuing to negotiate with members of her caucus who would prefer a public option that pays negotiated (as opposed to Medicare-like) rates, pointing out that a robust public option saves significantly more money than other versions, and that the savings will have to come from elsewhere if the public option isn't strong enough.

If Pelosi's push is not successful, it would be a blow to progressives who have insisted that the House pass a robust public option. But it appears for now that, contra Allen, the push is ongoing.

A senior House aide assures me that "the House bill will have a public option." But the leadership did not tell progressives last night that the robust public option is off the table. The votes are still being counted.

NY-23

Steve Forbes Endorsing Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:32AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A source close to Doug Hoffman has just told me that Steve Forbes will be endorsing the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election -- yet another right-wing voice who is rebelling against the Republican Party for nominating moderate candidate Dede Scozzafava.

The biggest news, of course, is that Sarah Palin has endorsed Hoffman, denouncing the GOP for putting up their candidate. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is also backing Hoffman, the only sitting member of Congress to openly do so -- though of Congressional Republican have not endorsed Scozzafava.

This sure is a mess, and it's looking more and more likely that Democratic candidate Bill Owens will win from the GOP split with the Tea Party purists, giving House Democrats a pick-up of a Republican-held seat.

VA-GOV

Steele, Webb Fan Out Across VA Today

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 8:52AM

RNC Chair Michael Steele, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)

As the clock runs down on the Virginia gubernatorial contest, the cavalcade of stars is in full swing. Today, RNC chair Michael Steele and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) will both appear in the state to stump for their party's nominee.

Webb will make a stop in Northern Virginia for Creigh Deeds this afternoon. A high turnout in the vote rich, Democratic-leaning region is vitally important for Deeds if he hopes to pull off what polls show would be an upset win over Republican Bob McDonnell.

At the same time, Steele will be kicking of a two stop tour through Virginia's southern coastal region. Steele will stump for McDonnell in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.

Read more »

Health Care

Public Option Pressure: As Stories Leak WH And Dem Leaders Say No Decision Has Been Made

Christina Bellantoni | October 23, 2009, 8:42AM

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

House leadership sources are telling TPMDC they think news on the "robust" public option is leaking out to pressure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the health care discussions are getting hotter, and closer to the final deal.

Politico's story this morning suggests Pelosi doesn't have the votes, but our sources insist the leadership isn't yet at that stage.

Presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett jabbed at the Politico story while appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe today, saying of the reporter who penned the piece, "I don't know whether Mike Allen can actually count votes or not."

But House sources think Democrats may have spoken with Allen to apply pressure on Pelosi at this late stage in the game.

Sources also knocked down a suggestion that President Obama expressed his preference for a type of public option during a huddle with Senate Democratic leaders last night at the White House.

An administration source tells TPMDC that last night Senate leaders updated Obama on their progress toward the final merger. The group discussed a public option that includes a state opt-out clause, but stressed they had not made a final decision.

Senators are "still working through the substance and talking to their members about it," the source said. "They didn't ask for the president's endorsement since no decision has been made."

Read more »

NY-23

Poll: Dem Leads In NY-23, Conservative Party's Hoffman Still In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 8:32AM

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

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the NY-23 special election finds Democratic candidate Bill Owens narrowly leading Republican Dede Scozzafava -- and Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who has excited a revolt against the GOP establishment from the whole national right wing, in third.

The numbers: Owens 35%, Scozzafava 30%, and Hoffman 23%, with a ±4% margin of error. This is consistent with last week's Siena poll, which had Owens ahead by 33%-29%-23%.

Hoffman supporters were asked for their second choices, with only 9% saying they would back Scozzafava, 3% for Owens, 26% who wouldn't vote, and 62% who are undecided. Even with the higher margins of error that afflict these sorts of sub-samples, that's pretty telling.

Interestingly, a key poll question finds that Scozzafava doesn't even qualify for the argument that the GOP should nominate moderate candidates to match moderate districts. Scozzafava is in favor of gay marriage -- making her even more progressive than the Democrat on this issue -- but the district's likely voters oppose gay marriage by 53%-39%.

NY-23

Palin Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 11:49PM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, in a statement provided to the Weekly Standard, and is blasting the GOP for picking moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava:

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate that more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket.

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.

Just think about the seriousness of the split in Republican ranks over this race -- the nominee for Vice President in last year's election is now rejecting the party's candidate in a Congressional race, where the divisions among the right are threatening to hand a GOP-held seat to the Democrats.

NJ-GOV

Final New Jersey Debate Focuses On Taxes, Corruption

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 9:53PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The three candidates in New Jersey met for their final debate, a radio debate as opposed to TV. The big focus of the night was the state's property taxes, along with discussion of another big issue in New Jersey, public corruption.

Hot-button issues like health care and gay marriage were not to be found. Property taxes are a major funding mechanism for government in New Jersey -- and represent a huge burden on residents, and are thus a major campaign issue. The candidates were all asked how much they personally pay in property taxes. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine pays about $35,000 or $36,000, Republican nominee Chris Christie pays $38,000, and independent Chris Daggett pays $18,000.

They all went through their proposals about what to do to change this. Corzine discussed his administration's accomplishments in promoting local government consolidations. Christie talked about putting pressure on local government to reduce spending, and to force consolidations by giving grants to towns to explore it -- and if it's found that consolidation would save money, they must either consolidate or pay the state the money back from the study. Daggett called for a hard cap on municipal spending, with very few exceptions, combined with an expanded sales tax base.

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Health Care

How High Will Public Option Trial Balloon Fly In The Senate?

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 6:51PM

For days there was silence. And then this morning and afternoon, the floodgates opened. Senators began saying, on the record, that Democratic leadership was leaning toward putting a public option--with an opt out clause--in the base Senate health care bill.

But, as a source close to the negotiations told me, there's more to leadership's inclination than meets the eye. Part of the play here is to see whether this news causes Senate centrists to flip out. A classic trial balloon. So far, only Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has said it will likely cost Harry Reid her cloture vote. Conservative Democrats might not be pleased, but so far they're keeping it fairly bottled up. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) voiced some displeasure, but nobody's gone into revolt.

Assuming the calm endures, chances seem pretty good that this is the direction Reid will take. But it won't be set in stone...until it's set in stone. As Greg Sargent has noted, the votes aren't there yet for a straightforward public option like the level-playing-field plan in the Senate HELP Committee's bill. In other words, negotiations will continue.

FL-SEN

Rubio: GOP Needs To Stand Up To Obama, Not Cooperate

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 6:35PM

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

Former Florida state House Speaker Marco Rubio, the conservative insurgent candidate in the Republican primary for Senate, appeared on the Fox Business Channel to draw contrast between himself and the moderate Gov. Charlie Crist -- and gave a very broad, telling statement about the direction of the Republican Party.

Rubio attacked Crist for supporting President Obama's stimulus bill, supporting cap-and-trade, and for raising taxes and fees in Florida. "I don't believe that's the direction our party should head, and more importantly, I think now more than ever we need to send people to Washington, D.C., that will stand up to the agenda of Barack Obama and of the leaders of the Congress, not cooperate with them on these things -- and more importantly, that will offer a clear alternative."

In the current battles between the party establishment and the grassroots right -- such as Rubio vs. Crist in Florida, and Scozzafava vs. Hoffman in NY-23 -- this has become the big issue, of the GOP base wanting to see Republicans who will fight Obama at all fronts, and not cooperate.

VA-GOV

VAins 'Not Excited' By Public Option, McDonnell Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 6:13PM

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell

Bob McDonnell weighed in on a health care public option in an interview on Fox this afternoon. The issue, front and center in the national debate, made its way into the Virginia gubernatorial contest this week after Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds said he'd consider opting Virginia out of a public plan if a federal health care bill allows it.

In an appearance on Fox News this afternoon, McDonnell suggested he'd do the same thing. "Turning over the best doctors, the best hospitals, the best pharmaceutical research and development system to the federal government for a co-op or a public option is [an idea] I don't hear Virginians very excited about," he said.

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Health Care

HCAN's Kirsch: We'll Weigh In On Public Option When It's Actually In The Bill

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 5:52PM

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE)

Moments ago, I spoke with Richard Kirsch, campaign director for Health Care for America Now. I described the public option proposal that's being considered in the Senate (outlined by Sen. Tom Carper here) and asked whether it would meet HCAN's muster.

Kirsch said it's too early to tell. "There are a lot of rumors right now," Kirsch cautioned.

He said HCAN will wait until there is a finalized bill on the table before weighing in on whether the public option meets HCAN's principles, which, he reminded me "are that it's national, that it's run by the government or an agency accountable to the government, that it's available on day one," and that it provides competition necessary to drive down premium prices.

In the meantime, he notes, HCAN will be pushing for the most robust public option possible, praising the ideas on offer in the House of Representatives.

FL-SEN

Crist Supporter's Private Poll: Crist Lead Over Rubio Back To 20

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 5:46PM

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

Gov. Charlie Crist's senate campaign alerted reporters this afternoon to the results of a new private poll fielded by Crist supporters early last week. The poll, fielded by the Florida police union that endorsed Crist in the GOP primary on Monday, shows Crist with more than 20 point lead over former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

The poll, first reported by the St. Petersburg Times, shows Crist leading the race 53-29. That flies in the face of recent public polling showing Rubio gaining on Crist.

Health Care

Dem Leaders Arrive At White House For Health Care Check-In

Christina Bellantoni | October 22, 2009, 5:31PM

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Senate Democratic leaders have arrived at the White House for what administration officials are calling a "check-in."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) will be meeting with President Obama and (probably) top health care adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who have been on Capitol Hill all week helping negotiate the merger of the two versions of the Senate health care plan.

A source tells TPMDC there isn't a laser focus on all of the public option news breaking over on the Hill (Brian's latest is here) but rather a talk about everything being floated as a potential compromise.

"I think there are a lot of moving parts here and don't think anything is close to being settled," the source said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had a private lunch with Obama today and aides on both sides are mum on what they discussed.

TPMDC is camped out here at the White House to get a sense of how the talks are going, and we'll keep you posted.

Harry Reid

Source: Leadership Poised To Add Public Option, Moderates Mostly Mum

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 4:49PM

Where did all of this momentum for the public option come from? According to a source close to negotiations, it came from last night's closed door meeting between Senate and White House officials, with the push coming from Democratic leadership.

"It's definitely being considered," the source said, referring to the public option compromise that may end up in the Senate's health care bill.

"It came out at last night's meeting," the source indicated. "It was indicated that based on some surveying that had been done of the moderates, that it doesn't so far seem like they would jump out of their skin as long as they have an opportunity to vote to strip it."

Any provision in the base bill that hits the Senate floor will stay in unless 60 senators can band together to strip it out. That means if a public option is included now, it's almost certain not to go anywhere. According to both Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and other sources, the compromise being considered would create a national public option that pays providers at negotiated rates. Unlike similar so-called "level-playing-field" public option proposals, it would not be operated by the Department of Health and Human Services, but by a separate entity, with a board of directors appointed by the government.

This fact, apparently, didn't sit well with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who is determined to keep Sen. Olympia Snowe's vote.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Puts Actual Names Back On 'Names Of The Dead'

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 4:47PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has made a new change to his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to catalog a list of people who have died for lack of health insurance, with the sidebar of dead people's names now restored to the site.

The page had originally allowed users to post names that would immediately go live to the site, without any editing, which quickly led to the display of joke names like "Wile E. Coyote" and "Hugh G. Reckshinn." The list was then removed.

A source close to Grayson told me that names will now be cleared through an administrator before going live.

However, I should point out that this approach is also susceptible to prank names if they are obscure enough -- which already happened yesterday with entries such as "Steve Rogers, 90" (Captain America), "Casper McFadden, 12" (Casper the Friendly Ghost), or "Norma Jeane Mortenson, 36" (Marilyn Monroe).

AHIP

AHIP Chief Ignores Protestors

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 4:45PM

AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni

About 400 union activists gathered outside the Capitol Hilton in downtown D.C. this afternoon and called on AHIP CEO Karen Ignagni to take a break from the health insurance industry convention going on inside to meet with seven insurance company customers who say they've each lived through (some of them barely) a nightmare that started when they tried to get their insurer to pay their medical bills.

Ignagni didn't show.

Health Care For America Now!, and organized labor-funded lobbying group, hosted the protest and brought the seven families to DC to meet with Igagni. Executive Director Richard Kirsch told the crowd outside the bad news.

"They're all scared of you," he said of insurance company executives. "They don't want to face us."

Read more »

Tom Carper

Carper: Senate Bill Will Include A National Public Plan With An Opt Out

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 4:00PM

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE)

After a meeting with Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) discussed the status of the public plan in the Senate health care bill with reporters. Here's what he said:

"I think at the end of the day there will be a national plan probably put together not by the federal government but by a non-profit board with some seed money from the federal government that states would initially participate in because of lack of affordability. The question is should there be an opportunity for states to opt out later on and if so, within a year, within two years, within three years?"

How would this plan work? "Among the things that's important," Carper said, "is, one, that this not be a government run, government funded enterprise, two, that there be a level playing field so that this non-profit entity that would be stood up would have to play by same rules basically as for-profit insurance companies--the idea that secretary of Health and Human Services [will be] running or directing the operation of this--no way.

We ought to have a non-profit board--it could be appointed by the President but a non profit board. They'd have to retain earnings, create a retained earnings pool, so that if they run into financial problems later on the financial needs of the plan could be met by the retained earnings, not by the federal government.

Carper suggested that a state's ability to opt out could be determined by the effectiveness and competitiveness of its insurance market. "There should be some standard--how do we say to a state, 'No you've got to participate in it right from day one,' and if so should there be an opportunity later on for you to say, 'Well, it's not working, we don't want to continue to be a part that,' and to opt out."

I pressed Carper on whether this entity would be accountable to taxpayers. He didn't answer directly--clearly there's some interest in de-emphasizing the government's role in the insurance market--he did sugest that the public option, though run by a non-government entity, would answer to the government.

And that would appear to bring it into line with the demands of the largest health care reform campaign in the country.

Health Care

Sen. Landrieu On Public Option: 'Government-Run, Taxpayer Subsidized'

Christina Bellantoni | October 22, 2009, 3:33PM

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Word on Capitol Hill today is that a public option may end up in the final Senate health care bill after all, but Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) doesn't sound like she likes it very much.

During an interview with NPR's "Tell Me More" today, Landrieu described the public option as a "government-run, taxpayer subsidized, national insurance plan."

Opining on the polls showing support for public option, she said it was all about the phrasing of the question.

"I think if you asked, 'Do you want a public option but it would force the government to go bankrupt,' people would say 'No,'" she said.

The Hill caught the NPR bit earlier. Listen to the full piece here.

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Leads Christie By 42%-39%

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 3:18PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new Democracy Corps (D) poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race finds Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine narrowly leading Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, by a slim three-point margin.

The numbers: Corzine 42%, Christie 39%, and independent Chris Daggett with 13%. This is essentially unchanged from the last D-Corps survey, which had Corzine up by 41%-38%-14%.

The analysis finds that neither major party candidate enjoys any real popularity with the voters: "Amidst a campaign that has turned almost exclusively negative, both Corzine and Christie remain relatively unpopular with New Jersey voters. Christie is viewed unfavorably by 42 percent of voters and favorably by 35 percent for a net favorability rating of -7 points. Corzine's net favorability rating is nearly identical at -8 points, with 46 percent rating him unfavorably versus 38 percent rating him favorably."

Daggett's favorable-unfavorable rating is 15%-25%.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Removes Campaign Link From 'Names of the Dead' Web Site

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 3:15PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has modified his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to catalog a list of people who have died for lack of health insurance, removing a link to his campaign Web site.

Republicans had been objecting that Grayson used the House floor to promote a site that contained link to his campaign site -- and thus an avenue to donate to him -- and also that he was using his personal money to run a site that in turn linked to his campaign.

Grayson's office gave us this statement from the Congressman:

"There are no violations. Once again, the Republicans are trying to change the subject from what matters to what doesn't matter. Why can't they talk about the issues? In the hours since they started complaining about this, more than 100 people have died because they do not have health insurance. Let's talk about saving lives, not about baseless complaints about violations that did not occur."

Read more »

NY-23

Hoffman Radio Ad In NY-23 Makes Fun of Scozzafava Camp For Calling Police Against Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 2:26PM

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

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, has a new radio ad making fun of moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, who offended the campaign by following the candidate and asking her questions about her policy positions.

The ad is a comedic dramatization of a Scozzafava staffer calling 911. Here's a short excerpt:

[Audio recording static and telephone ringing sfx, male voice] 911, please state your emergency.

[Female voice, agitated] Yes, I work for Dede Scozzafava. A reporter just asked about her voting to increase taxes!

[911] I see the problem. Which of Scozzafava's 190 votes to raise taxes did the reporter ask about?

[CALLER] I don't know, I mean, she's been in Albany 10 years...

Listen to the whole thing. It's really funny.

Click To Play

Health Care

Nelson, Conrad Say Dems, White House Leaning Toward Including Public Option In Senate Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 2:16PM

If this is accurate, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) gets a medal for prescience and Sen. Olympia Snowe's decision may be made for her. Two high profile conservative Democrats are saying they hear that Senate and White House health care negotiators are leaning toward including the public option in the base bill that they bring to the Senate floor.

"I keep hearing there is a lot of leaning toward some sort of national public option, unfortunately, from my standpoint," said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE). "I still believe a state-based approach is the way in which to go. So I'm not being shy about making that point."

"What I'm hearing is this is the direction of the conversation," said Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND).

Reid's office is not commenting on the speculation. But if Nelson and Conrad's understanding is correct it would be bombshell news. Reid and the White House have been under intense pressure from the Democratic base to include a public option in the bill that comes to the Senate floor. If they accede, it would all but assure that if a health care bill os enacted by Congress, it will include a national public option. We'll pay close attention

Health Care

Democratic Leaders Talking Health Care At White House Today

Christina Bellantoni | October 22, 2009, 2:15PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

As the health care merger discussions inch lawmakers closer to a final deal, key Democrats are getting face time with President Obama.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi had a private lunch with Obama today, and Democratic leaders will meet with him this evening.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he wasn't sure whether Republicans were invited, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) will be here around 5 p.m.

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Olympia Snowe

Maine AFL-CIO To Snowe: Get With The Program On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 2:04PM

Word travels fast!

As it happens, the Maine AFL-CIO is holding its convention today. In response to my earlier report that Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) does not support a favored opt out compromise, and will likely filibuster a health care bill if it includes a public option, the coalition put their convention into recess so everyone in attendance can call her office to tell her they support a public option.

"Senator Snowe's constituents in Maine want and deserve a robust public option," said AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale. "Workers from across the state were gathered for their state AFL-CIO convention and will all be calling her directly in support of one."

Snowe's no stranger to pressure on this issue, both from within her state and without. And that pressure just got ramped up a little bit further.

Dede Scozzafava

Gingrich Explains Scozzafava Endorsement, Slams Right-Wing Critics

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:57PM

Fmr. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and NY-23 candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Newt Gingrich has put up a new blog post, responding to right-wing criticism for his endorsement of moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election, instead of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Gingrich explains the importance of having a big tent in a party, and of reaching out to moderates who help to build an actual majority. And towards the end, he crosses over into directly questioning the maturity of his detractors:

Through my experience as Speaker of the House and building a Republican majority in 1994, I have learned that if America wants a conservative majority in Washington, parts of that majority are going to disagree. I was elected Speaker because a number of moderates voted for me. They gave us control of the House for the first time in forty years, allowing us to balance the federal budget, cut taxes and reform welfare for America.

...

My number one interest is to build a Republican majority. If your interest is taking power back from the Left, and your interest is winning the necessary elections, then there are times when you have to put together a coalition that has disagreement within it.

We have to decide which business we are in. If we are in the business about feeling good about ourselves while our country gets crushed then I probably made the wrong decision.

NY-23

Obama Sends E-mail Endorsing Dem Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:29PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D) and Pres. Obama

President Obama has sent out a new e-mail to his Organizing For America campaign e-mail list for New York's 23rd Congressional District, telling recipients that he endorses Democratic candidate Bill Owens in the upcoming special election and urges them to help out:

As I work to change the tone of our nation's politics and end the petty partisanship that has dominated Washington for too long, I'll need the help of leaders like Bill.

That's why I'm proud to announce my support for Bill Owens, candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

But my support will only take Bill so far. As we learned last year, true change doesn't come from folks in Washington, but from the dedication and energy of people like you.

A win here would be a pick-up for the Democrats, taking the seat formerly held by GOP Congressman John McHugh, who was appointed by Obama to be Secretary of the Army. The Republicans have been seriously damaged by a split between supporters of moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava versus Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

The full e-mail is available after the jump.

Read more »

Olympia Snowe

Snowe: I Do Not Support Opt Out Compromise, Would Likely Filibuster Public Option Bill

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 12:38PM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

In a huddle with reporters moments ago, I asked Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for her thoughts on a public option compromise that would allow states to opt out of a national government insurance program, and her answer could slow down the proposal's considerable momentum.

"I don't support that," Snowe said.

Asked further whether she would participate in a filibuster on a bill with a public option, she went almost all the way.

"I've said, I'm against a public option...yes...it would be difficult" to support allowing the bill to proceed to a vote.

Snowe and other centrists say they'll withhold their support on a motion to proceed to the bill on the Senate floor (which will require 60 votes in and of itself) until the legislation is fully pieced together and the CBO has weighed in. She and other centrists want to ensure that the bill meets their specifications before it goes to the floor, so that they won't bear the burden of rounding up the 60 votes needed to change the legislation during debate.

VA-GOV

RGA Targets Deeds Over Public Option In New Ads

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 12:20PM

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

Saw this coming -- the RGA has turned yet another Creigh Deeds awkward moment from a post-debate gaggle into yet another negative TV ad slamming the Democratic nominee in the Virginia gubernatorial contest.

Last month, Deeds stumbled over reporters' questions about taxes immediately following widely reported debate in Fairfax County, the heart of the D.C. suburbs. The RGA turned the moment into at least three ads, hammering Deeds for what the party said was his attempt to "have it both ways" on raising taxes.

After a televised debate Monday night, the RGA says in it's new ad, Deeds stepped in it again over his support (or lack thereof) for a public option in the health care reform debate.

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NY-23

Dick Armey: Conservative Party's Hoffman Is 'The Real Republican' In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 12:15PM

NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Dick Armey

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) formally endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, further deepening the split on the right in this campaign for a GOP-held swing seat.

Hoffman is running against Democrat Bill Owens and the regular Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, who has been assailed on the right for her liberal positions on issues like abortion, gay marriage and the Employee Free Choice Act. A recent Siena poll; showed Owens narrowly ahead of Scozzafava in a three-way race, and benefitting enormously from the split in Republican ranks.

Said Armey: "Though Doug may not be running on the Republican line, Doug is the real Republican in this race and that's why I'm endorsing him today." Those are some strong words for a former House GOP leader, to be disowning his party's official candidate.

Check out the full Hoffman campaign press release, after the jump.

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Health Care

Pelosi Still On Hunt For 218 Robust Public Option Votes

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 11:36AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

A day after she began a full whip effort for a health care bill with a robust public option, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues discussions with members in the hopes of reaching consensus before Thanksgiving.

"We will have a bill that will go to the floor and it will have a public option in it...the question is what form will that take," Pelosi said during her weekly press conference today.

Pelosi continues to use a steady stream of preliminary CBO numbers to convince squeamish members that a robust public option is a big money saver, and the most fiscally responsible way forward.

"Originally we were operating under a trillion dollars.... the president said a number around $900 billion. So that changed some of our discussions," Pelosi explained.

For example, the robust public option--that's how that has emerged because that takes you down $110 billion, and that's very significant when you're trying to go from just under a trillion to just under $900 billion. The negotiated rates, which has some support in our caucus, is over $900 billion.... Trying to give every option its fair shake, I have asked the CBO how do you get negotiated rates down under $900 billion. Some of the options are not palatable to members like putting significant numbers of people on Medicaid rather than into the exchange.

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Health Care

DNC Says Michael Steele Is 'Lying' About Health Care Reform

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 11:31AM

The DNC is targeting RNC Michael Steele's rhetoric on health care reform in a new web video that launched today. Attempting to make good on President Obama's promise, made during his September health care address to Congress, to "call out" claims about health care reform that aren't truethe DNC is claiming Steele is "lying" about the health care reform bills currently the subject of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill.

Health Care

Health Care Group Hits AHIP For 'Dishonest' Report In New TV Ad

Christina Bellantoni | October 22, 2009, 11:25AM

Health Care for America Now is up with a new television ad blasting America's Health Insurance Providers (AHIP) for dropping a report suggesting insurance premiums would increase under the Senate Finance Committee.

It says AHIP's report is filled with "lies" and criticizes industry profits and insurer CEO pay. It closes with a call to action: "Tell Congress. We need good health care we can afford. With the choice of a public health insurance option."

The ad is tied to an afternoon press conference with families who have suffered due to problems with insurers. They plan to challenge AHIP officials today during the industry lobbying group's conference in at the Capital Hilton.

TPMDC will be on hand for the HCAN protest, where activists plan to carry signs reading, "It's a crime to deny care."

Watch the ad after the jump.

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Health Care

AHIP Lobbyist: Bipartisan Health Care Reform Is Dead And The GOP Should Keep It That Way

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2009, 11:16AM

A lobbyist for the American health insurance companies told an audience this morning that the the bipartisan journey to health care reform President Obama began earlier this year has reached its end.

AHIP lobbyist Steve Champlin spoke at the opening session of the health insurance trade group's "State Issues Conference" in Washington last night. His message? The GOP should stay away from any bill put forward by the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

Champlin, reported by the Huffington Post:

"There is absolutely no interest, no reason Republicans should ever vote for this thing. They have gone from a party that got killed 11 months ago to a party that is rising today. And they are rising up on the turmoil of health care. So when they vote for a health care reform bill, whatever it is, they are giving comfort to the enemy who is down."

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VA-GOV

Down To The Wire In Virginia - All Hands On Deck To Get-Out-The-Vote

Christina Bellantoni | October 22, 2009, 11:03AM

President Barack Obama, Va-Gov Candidate Creigh Deeds, Va-Gov Candidate Bob McDonnell, DNC Chair Tim Kaine

Democrats already have their talking points ready for what's seeming more likely - that they will lose the governor's mansion in Virginia.

Activists on the ground and Democratic officials and campaign operatives from across the state are telling TPMDC they are losing hope in the final two weeks of the race between former attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) and state senator Creigh Deeds (D).

It's the most expensive race the Democratic Governors Association has ever run, spokeswoman Emily DeRose tells TPMDC. The DGA put in $3 million toward the Common Sense Virginia group before the primary to run against McDonnell, and then gave $1 million directly to Deeds. The DNC has pledged $6 million in total.

Here's what we know - Deeds is in serious trouble. He's bleeding support from Democrats who are worried about a lackluster campaign and think a McDonnell win seems inevitable.

But - there's a glimmer of hope in President Obama, who continues to attract massive crowds at political events, and would really like to pull out a victory in the state that put him over the top last fall.

The polls showing Deeds behind are capturing the preference of likely voters, which in most cases are identified by having voted several times. If Obama can help Deeds bring out core groups of his '08 winning coalition - young people and new black voters - it could make the difference.

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Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Filing Ethics Complaint Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:54AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Patricia Sullivan, a Tea Party organizer seeking the Republican nomination against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), is filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics over Grayson's use of the House floor to promote his "Names of the Dead" Web site:

As a Mom, Patricia has learned to apply swift correction to bad behavior. She will be filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics later today. It is her hope and desire that the OCE will forward the complaint to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

If the committee sees fit to censure the violations of Representative Grayson, perhaps the residents of the 8th Congressional District will no longer be subject to the constant embarrassment they have endured over the last few months.

Grayson's office did not have any comment on Sullivan's press release. A source in the office said that they've reached out to the Ethics Committee and the House Administration Committee for their opinion, and are also speaking to their FEC attorney.

Check out the full Sullivan statement after the jump.

Read more »

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Supports Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:24AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared yesterday on Laura Ingraham's radio show -- and called upon listeners to support Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, instead of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

Bachmann quite correctly said the race is a "mess," and said that she's read that the Republican candidate is now in third place, with the Democrat in first place and Hoffman as the real chance to keep the seat in the GOP column. Interestingly, there has not been any publicly-released poll at this time showing Hoffman in second place. The latest Siena poll had Democrat Bill Owens in first place with 33%, Scozzafava with 29%, and Hoffman with 23%.

Ingraham repeatedly pressed Bachmann on who she supported. Her bottom line: "Hoffman is on the ascendancy, and we have to win this seat. And people need to get behind the winning candidate, and it looks like that's Hoffman."

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Leads Christie By 39%-36%

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 9:08AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new Rutgers-Eagleton poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race gives Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a three-point lead over his Republican opponent Chris Christie -- with a significant number of voters going for independent Chris Daggett.

The numbers: Corzine 39%, Christie 36%, and Daggett 20%, with a ±4% margin of error.

From the pollster's analysis: "Daggett continues to draw fairly evenly from both major party candidates. However, in a close race, it may make a difference that Daggett voters are people who would have been slightly more on Christie's side than on Corzine's in a two-way race. The underlying question is whether current Daggett supporters really will vote for him on Election Day, or whether they will opt for their second choice, one of the major party candidates."

NJ-GOV

Obama At Corzine Rally: Republicans 'Got A Lot of Nerve' To Complain About Their Own Mess

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 6:59PM

President Obama just headlined a rally for Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), and turned Republican nominee Chris Christie's attacks about the state's problems right back at the GOP.

"Now listening to Jon's opponent, you'd think New Jersey was the only state that's been swept up by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," said Obama, "which, by the way, didn't start under Jon Corzine's party's watch. There seems to be some selective memory about how we got into this fix."

Obama said the state's economic problems are part of the nation's overall crisis, which is in turn the product of lax regulation and trickle-down economics promoted by the GOP: "They got a lot of nerve -- they leave this big mess and suddenly they're complaining about how fast we're cleaning it up."

Obama urged New Jersey's voters to stick with Corzine, calling him an honorable man looking out for the state: "I hope what you want is someone who's gonna be straight with you, who's got your interests at heart, and is gonna be out there every single day fighting for you, because he loves public service and he understands if it weren't for folks who were out there fighting for him, he wouldn't be where he got to."

House of Representatives

New GOP Health Care Attack: Obama Administration Slams Its Own Plan

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 6:39PM

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

This afternoon, the Associated Press reports ominously: "A new government estimate finds that the nation's health care tab -- already the biggest of any advanced country -- would increase even more under health care overhaul legislation in the House."

And it's true. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has found that the version of House legislation passed by the Ways and Means Committee would cause national health care expenditures to grow. So naturally, the GOP is jumping all over it.

"The American people have never fallen for the Democrat spin that a government takeover of health care would lower costs," said Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), chair of the Republican Study Committee.

Now, the Obama administration has confirmed that the Democrat plan would actually grow the slice of the pie consisting of American health care spending. With the country already struggling under the flawed economic policies of this administration, the last thing we need is to strain Americans' ability to pay for their health care.

With the administration affirming that H.R. 3200 is bad medicine for the American economy, I hope House Democrats will take heed and pursue a different approach to reform. It's time for Speaker Pelosi to toss this costly legislation and start over with bipartisan ideas that empower patients to control their own health care decisions.

So, obviously, there are a number of caveats.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson: 'Names of the Dead' Site A Memorial To Those We've Lost -- And Republicans Have No Respect For The Dead

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 6:24PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

I just spoke with Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), and he stood by his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to memorialize the people who have lost their lives because they didn't have health insurance -- and which was promptly flooded with joke names, and criticized by the GOP for allegedly violating campaign finance law.

Grayson said that the site is being done in the spirit of other great memorials that are all around Washington -- to honor the dead who have lost their lives for a lack of insurance, and to make people think about the issue.

"I can't really tell you how I first got the idea for it. But I can tell you there are many memorials that are very moving. They're all around D.C., and everyone who visits D.C. gives some thought to the people we lost," said Grayson. "And I think this is a very fitting way to show these people that we respect them and we miss them. We miss them, and we love them. The people who are gone because they didn't get the health care they needed are just as important as everyone else. And the fact that certain elements of the political spectrum deny their existence only makes it that much more important that we remember them by naming them and honoring them."

"I meant what I said in my floor speech," Grayson also said, explaining: "That the best way to honor them is to make sure that everyone in America has the health care they need, and that the list itself, the need for the list, is a thing of the past."

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FL-SEN

Is Roger Stone Up To One Of His Dirty Tricks In The FL Senate Race?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 6:05PM

Roger Stone

If the Florida Senate race wasn't already exciting enough, Democrats are now suggesting the latest candidate to join the fight is part of a bizarre plot to derail Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) run by the GOP (and/or Big Sugar).

Maurice Ferre, a former Miami mayor, has not won an election since 1993 and left his last political office three years later. But on Oct. 7 he decided to enter the Democratic primary for senate, where he faces an uphill climb against a well-funded and nationally-backed Meek, who had all but cleared the Democratic field months before Ferre got in. Ferre hasn't had to reveal fundraising numbers yet, but he's hired an experienced campaign team that suggests he's prepared to give Meek a serious fight. That would throw a monkey wrench into Meek's campaign machinery, which cleared the field of Dems months ago and is now geared up for the general election.

A growing number of conspiracy theorists say that's exactly why Ferre's a candidate.

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Health Care

Rockefeller Warms To Public Option Opt Out; So Do Conservative Dems

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 5:43PM

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)

Earlier today, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) told me something somewhat unexpected. "I'm looking very much now at this opt out public option," he said, "not opt in but opt out--so you start out with a public option, and if you don't like it you can opt out....that has a sense of freedom."

Why unexpected? Because here's what he told me just last week: "I don't start out favoring that," he said. "You know, opt out is sort of like trigger. It sounds good, it makes people feel good, but the question is, Is it good? And I don't think it really is. If it's the only way you can get the votes, then that's a decision that will have to be made over my head."

That's a pretty notable change, and reflective of the political appeal of the opt-out proposal within the Democratic party. Rockefeller and other senators have come to believe that, in addition to being more likely to get the votes needed to pass in the Senate, it's also a policy fix that will have almost, if not the same, impact as a fully national public option.

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Jay Rockefeller

Rockefeller: White House Approach To Public Option 'Difficult To Fathom' Sometimes

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 3:54PM

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)

I just spoke with Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who had a bit of a fractured take on the current state of the public option. He took issue with the President Obama's aloof approach to the public option, and at the same time echoed one of the administration's most controversial lines.

"They're a little difficult to fathom sometimes, to keep up with what they're doing," Rockefeller said. "They're in these meetings, all of these meetings, that I don't get to go to so I can't tell you exactly what they're saying."

But he also said something that seems a bit at odds with his consistent, emphatic support for the measure, which he has described as a necessary element of reform. "You know, the public option--which I think in the end is going to prevail--is not actually the biggest thing in the entire bill," Rockefeller told me. "I hate to hear myself say that, but it's true."

Earlier today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--another ardent public option enthusiast--said much the same thing after an event heralding a plan to strip the health insurance industry of its anti-trust exemption.

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David Vitter

Vitter's Office On Justice Of Peace: 'Judges Should Follow The Law As Written'

Christina Bellantoni | October 21, 2009, 3:31PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Keith Bardwell, Louisiana Justice of the Peace

Sen. David Vitter's office has finally offered a comment on the Louisiana justice of the peace who refuses to marry biracial couples.

Though other statewide officials including the governor and his fellow senator called for Keith Bardwell's resignation, Vitter (R-LA) was silent.

But today a Vitter spokesman told the Washington Post the senator's sentiment on the issue.

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Alan Grayson

Alan Grayson Unveils 'Names of the Dead' Web Site -- And Gets Punked With Joke Names

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 3:29PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has set up a new Web site, Names of the Dead, to memorialize Americans who died because they had no health insurance:

Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because have no health insurance.

I have created this project in their memory. I hope that honoring them will help us end this senseless loss of American lives. If you have lost a loved one, please share the story of that loved one with us. Help us ensure that their legacy is a more just America, where every life that can be saved will be saved.

Grayson announced this new Web site on the House floor:

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Olympia Snowe

Poll: Maine Democrats Love Olympia Snowe -- GOPers Split

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 3:00PM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

The new survey of Maine by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe is overwhelmingly popular with the state's Democrats, in the wake of her vote for the Senate Finance Committee's health care bill -- and not too well liked among Republicans.

A whopping 70% of Maine Democrats approve of Snowe's job performance, with only 17% disapproving. Republicans, by contrast, are tied at 45%-45%. Independents approve of Snowe by 51%-33%, yielding an overall top-line approval of 56%-31%.

"With less than half of Republicans approving of Olympia Snowe now it's going to be interesting to see if she's challenged from the right come 2012," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. "Is she going to be pushed into a corner the way Arlen Specter was where her only prospect for political survival is a party switch? It's certainly something political observers across the country will be watching."

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CT-SEN

McMahon Buys Statewide Airtime During Dodd-Obama Fundraiser

Christina Bellantoni | October 21, 2009, 2:30PM

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Candidate for Senate Linda McMahon

Senate hopeful Linda McMahon (R-CT) has bought airtime for a statewide campaign ad Friday aimed to compete with President Obama's fundraiser for Sen. Chris Dodd.

Dodd (D-CT) and Obama are doing a $1,000 per plate fundraiser as part of the president's political push this week.

McMahon, a billionaire who is the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, will speak to the camera for the 30-second ad. It will run throughout the state and also reach into the New York media market.

Campaign spokesman Ed Patru said:

"Chris Dodd has spent a career chasing special interest cash and looking out for their interests. He was asleep at the switch while the banking system crashed, then he rewarded his special interest friends in the financial industry with taxpayer-funded bonuses. He's created a mess and it's time for him to go. It's important for Connecticut voters to know that just as another 6,600 people in the state have lost their jobs, and the state's unemployment rate hits a 33-year high, Chris Dodd is calling in every last political favor he's built up over 30 years as a career politician, and scrounging for every last special interest dollar in an attempt to save his job. Linda will remind Connecticut's families of that Friday."

McMahon is one in a crowded field of Republicans hoping to unseat Dodd next fall, and we posted last week about the Connecticut Democrats going after her WWE ties.

Health Care

Health Care Pulling Democrats On Left And Right, With Obama In The Middle

Christina Bellantoni | October 21, 2009, 1:40PM

United States Capitol

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the power player right now, negotiating a careful merger between two bills with a goal of reaching 60 votes in his chamber. But the two other major players - the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's House are left in a bit of a holding pattern.

Top White House staffers are helping with the merger, but sources tell TPMDC it's a more hands-off approach (for now) as Reid (D-NV) builds something that his caucus will fully support. Meanwhile, Pelosi (D-CA) is presenting the "robust" public option as the more fiscally responsible choice in hopes of pushing the conservative Blue Dogs closer to support it.

Pelosi is working hard to hit the 218 votes needed for passage by bringing together the most divergent factions in her caucus.

President Obama, for his part, urged Democrats last night to consider unity over the perfect bill, highlighting good things in "the bill you least like."

Progressive Democrats learning of the president's comments this morning were baffled since there seems to be growing support for the public option and the Congressional Budget Office is expected to score the bill with that included as less costly than originally anticipated.

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Health Care

Speaker Pelosi Throws Down The Gauntlet For The Public Option--Will She Succeed?

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 1:17PM

There are no two ways about it. What Speaker Nancy Pelosi's doing in the House of Representatives is a big play, and very, very bold--indicative of her confidence in both the wisdom of the public option as a political and policy tool, and
in her ability to get results out of her 256 member caucus, despite the wide ideological chasm between its most liberal and most conservative members.

Pelosi's pulling out all the stops to pass a health care reform bill with a public option that pays providers at rates slightly higher than Medicare--even if it means she has to squeak a bill out of the House with the barest majority. Since the beginning of the push to pass reform, the public option has been at the center of the fight, pitting Republicans, moderates, and major industry stakeholders against an extremely determined majority of Democrats, progressive interest groups, and the public at large. It has been an epic tug of war, and at times, the pro-public option side seemed on the verge of being yanked into the mud.

But in recent weeks, as the health insurance industry further disgraced itself by rolling out the big anti-reform guns, and liberal leaders in both the House and Senate made it clear that they view the public option as an essential component of reform--one that serves voters' interests, and saves money--even if the White House isn't willing to put its full weight behind the measure.

It's in that context that Pelosi is running thiis public option endgame.

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FL-SEN

Another Poll Shows Rubio Gaining On Crist

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 12:41PM

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

The new Rasmussen poll of the Florida Republican Senate primary confirms that the race is getting closer between the frontrunner, the moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, and the more conservative former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

The numbers: Crist 49%, Rubio 35%, with a ±4.5% margin of error. Back in August, Crist had been ahead by 53%-31%.

This is nearly identical to this morning's Quinnipiac poll, which has Crist ahead by 50%-35%.

Health Care

Key Senators, White House Officials, To Discuss Public Option Tonight

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 12:20PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Silence is golden. That's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's mantra as he heads the delicate process of crafting a single Senate health care bill from two separate packages. But so far, the House's swift and decisive action on the public option seems to have had little impact on the hiss position.

Reid is adamant that the insurance industry should lose a decades-old anti-trust exemption that allows companies to divvy up markets and agree not to compete against one another. But he and other senators are still mum about whether they'll systematically end the non-competitive nature of health insurance markets by including a public option in the Senate's health care bill.

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NY-23

NY-23 GOP Candidate Calls For More Debates -- Conservative Party Camp Tells Her To Drop Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 12:10PM

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

Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election, is now challenging her opponents to hold more debates -- and focusing on the one who has been the biggest thorn in her side, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Scozzafava held a press conference this morning, right outside of one of Hoffman's campaign offices. "I've agreed to debate," Scozzafava said. "I've agreed to every forum that's been offered and I think it's time that the opposition and both of my opponents agree as well."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan responded in a statement saying that they have tried to debate -- and also lambasting Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, and calling on her to drop out of the race for the good of the GOP.

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VA-GOV

GOP Jumps On Deeds' Public Option Remarks

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 11:50AM

Virginia Republicans are highlighting Creigh Deeds' (D) remarks about a public option from last night's gubernatorial debate as another example of what the party claims is Deeds' desire to have it both ways on national issues.

At the traditional post-debate press gaggle last night Deeds was peppered with questions about the public option, which he said he would "consider opting out of" if such an option was available to states in a final health care reform bill. Asked by a reporter if he was opposed to the public option, Deeds exclaimed, "No! I never said that!"

The state GOP posted video of the moment this morning.

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VA-GOV

Obama, Deeds Choose Norfolk For Rally Tuesday

Christina Bellantoni | October 21, 2009, 11:44AM

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

TPMDC has learned President Obama will campaign with gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds (D-VA) at Old Dominion University in Norfolk next Tuesday.

The campaign announced Friday that Obama would be hitting the trail with a to-be-determined location. Michelle Obama did an event at ODU last fall to court military families.

Turnout is critical in Virginia with Deeds so far behind in the polls and less than two weeks to go before the election.

The presidential rally in Norfolk is a double whammy that allows the team to reach both young college voters and black voters, demographic groups that helped Obama win big in Virginia last fall.

It also helps Deeds in optics since some wondered if Obama would just cross the Potomac for a short hop.

NY-23

AP: Weekly Standard Reporter Didn't Yell At GOP Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 11:23AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

After the campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, they accused him of screaming questions in her face -- an allegation that has now been disproven.

McCormack gave his audio recording to the Associated Press, and their judgement as a neutral third party is that he didn't yell:

In the audio recording of the reporter's questioning played for The Associated Press by McCormack, the reporter didn't raise his voice, but repeated his unanswered questions several times, including one about abortion.

"I never screamed, I never yelled, I never shouted," he said. "My voice was only loud enough so she could hear my questions."

VA-GOV

Poll: Dems Planning To Stay Home Nov. 3

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 11:18AM

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

The Democratic base is planning on staying away from the polls Nov. 3, less than a year after they braved long lines to cast ballots for President Obama. That's according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling (D) out today.

From the PPP release:

The voters planning to turn out this fall supported John McCain by six points, a clear indication that many Democratic voters are just planning to stay at home.

Bob McDonnell (R) continues to lead the race against Creigh Deeds, 52-40, "up from 48-43 three weeks ago."

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Health Care

HCAN's Kirsch: We're Glad To See Strong Support For Public Option...Let's Do It

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 10:58AM

Health Care for America Now is the largest reform campaign in the country. It's also the group that set the parameters for the public option that have defined the debate over the provision for months. Today, HCAN campaign director Richard Kirsch sees Pelosi's push for a "robust" public option as a validation of both the politics and policy of the popular measure.

"We're glad to see, as the Speaker points out, strong support [for the robust public option] over 200 members," Kirsch says.

"This is not just an ideological battle," he adds. "At the heart this is a battle about quality of care...it's also about saving money, for making health care more affordable. A strong public option will save $110 billion."

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VA-GOV

WaTimes: 'Only in a fairy-tale VA are voters more worried about condoms than about years of failed Dem leadership'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 10:56AM

VA-Gov. candidate Robert McDonnell (R)

Last week, Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds was touting the endorsement of his gubernatorial bid from a D.C. news outlet. This morning it was Republican nominee Bob McDonnell's turn. McDonnell earned the glowing praise of the Washington Times, which said McDonnell was "leading with ideas."

From the editorial:

"[T]he only choice for governor of Virginia is Robert F. McDonnell. Dealing with Virginia's recession requires a leader who is willing to take responsibility, not hide behind the soft and fuzzy rhetoric of bipartisanship and commissions."

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AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO Applauds Pelosi For 'Leading The Fight' For Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 9:55AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The AFL-CIO has been one of the most vocal advocates of a public option in the Democratic coalition. So it's no surprise they're thrilled with Pelosi's push for a public option.

"It is critical that the health care bill includes a public option to control costs through competition and breaks the stranglehold the insurance companies have over the system," says AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale. "We applaud Speaker Pelosi for continuing to lead the fight to include a robust public option and America's workers and 57% of the public stand with her."

In a way, Pelosi's bold action is an outgrowth of the desires of much of the reform community. Expect the reactions on the left to the news to be comparably ecstatic.

VA-GOV

Deeds Launches New TV Ad Featuring Obama

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 9:54AM

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

With less than two weeks to go before election day, Creigh Deeds is bringing out the big guns in the Virginia air war. The Democratic nominee for governor launched a new TV ad today featuring President Obama calling on state Democrats to continue the momentum from his historic victory in the state last year.

From the script:

Last year, Virginia, you helped lead a movement of Americans who believed that their voices could make a difference. That's what we need to do in this race.

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Health Care

New Union Health Care Ad: 'Harry, Harry He's Our Man'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 9:50AM

Labor group Americans United For Change are up with a new radio ad in Nevada praising Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid for running the health care reform "marathon" in the Senate and says pro-public option advocates are "lucky" to have Reid carrying "the baton."

Greg Sargent reports:

The none-too-subtle message: Getting health care reform through the Senate will make Reid a hero -- if it includes a public option.

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VA-GOV

Deeds: 'I Would Consider Opting Out' Of A Public Option

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 9:27AM

VA-GOV candidate Creigh Deeds (D)

At the final debate of race last night, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds said he "shared the broad goals" of health care reform, but would "certainly consider opting out" of a public option "if that were available to Virginia."

"I'm not afraid of going against my fellow Democrats when they're wrong," Deeds said. "A public option isn't required in my view."

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Health Care

Pelosi Whipping House Health Care Plan--Including Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2009, 9:07AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

As I reported last night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making a concerted push to pass a health care bill with a robust public option. In previous weeks, Pelosi maintained that House health care principals were still hashing out whether the public option in the bill would pay providers Medicare-like reimbursement rates, or whether those rates would be negotiated by administrators.

But a favorable CBO report seems to have settled all that, and Pelosi's decided to go all in for a public option.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn's operation will be in full swing today, rounding up the last of the 218 votes needed for passage. Rural Democrats and some Blue Dogs are not likely pleased, and many will surely oppose the bill--we'll be keeping an eye on their actions today.

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NY-GOV

Paterson Numbers Improve...To Awful

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 8:58AM

Gov. David Paterson's (D) terrible, horrible, no good, very bad job approval numbers have moved bit, according to a new poll. Now they're just awful. A new Quinnipiac University poll out today shows the embattled New York governor's disapproval rating creeping down to 57%, a 3 point drop from August. His bottom-of-the-barrel 30% approval rating remained steady, however.

Other results from the Q poll show echo numbers we reported yesterday. Paterson is crushed 54-32 in a potential gubernatorial matchup with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (R). But there's another bit of not-so-terrible news for Paterson, too: He ties a potential matchup with former Rep. Rick Lazio (R) 38-38.

FL-SEN

Q Poll: Rubio Gaining On Crist, Meek Beats Rubio

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2009, 6:51AM

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

A new poll shows the drama is increasing in the Florida senate race. Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, the conservative Republican who's been gaining traction among the state's GOP base, has moved within 15 points of Gov. Charlie Crist in the Republican primary. Crist leads the race 50-35 in the latest Quinnipiac University poll, half of his margin over Rubio from the last Q poll.

But though Rubio may be connecting with Republicans, the poll shows independents and moderate Democrats are not sold. In a potential matchup against the likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Kendrick Meek, Rubio trails 36-33. Crist continues to dominate against Meek, leading that potential race 51-31.

Health Care

Obama Tells Dems They Can Be 'Own Worst Enemies' And Asks For Health Care Unity

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 10:36PM

President Barack Obama at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Arlington, VA

President Obama tonight pleaded with Democrats to remain unified in the final health care stretch, detailing for his loyal supporters in New York the good things in "the bill you least like."

"There are going to be some disagreements and details to work out ... but I want to say to you Democrats, let's make sure that we keep our eye on the prize," Obama said during a Webcast for the thousands of Organizing for America volunteers who were gathered for call parties across the country.

"Sometimes Democrats can be their own worst enemies, Democrats are an opinionated bunch ... y'all are thinking for yourselves," he said. "I like that in you, but it's time for us to make sure that we finish the job here. We are this close and we've got to be unified."

Obama said "the bill you least like in Congress right now, of the five that are out there," would give 29 million uninsured Americans health care, would ban preexisting conditions and would create an exchange that would encourage competition among ensurers.

His comments were live in front of an audience in a New York ballroom, and streamed out to the parties (where volunteers were proud they made more than 234,000 calls to Congress today). The refrain about "the bill you least like" sounded a bit like presidential foreshadowing since senators are meeting privately to merge the more conservative Senate Finance Committee bill with the more liberal Health, Education, Labor and Pensions version.

(Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is standing firm.)

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Health Care

Pelosi Prepares To Move Ahead With Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 8:09PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

New CBO numbers may have sealed the deal. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is preparing to move ahead with a "robust" public option--one that reimburses hospitals and providers at Medicare rates, plus five percent--in the House's health care bill. She is briefing her caucus about the plan's savings tonight, and, pending the approval of a sufficient majority of members, will adopt the measure as part of the complete reform package.

The analysis finds the reconstituted House proposal to be deficit neutral, and require less than $900 billion (reportedly around $870 billion) in new spending, over ten years.

The bill remains nominally more expensive than the Senate Finance Committee proposal, but would cover 96 percent of all Americans, providing greater bang for each federal dollar spent. And, aides note, the bill that comes to the floor of the Senate will be a hybrid of the Finance and more expensive HELP Committee bills, so the price is expected to rise.

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VA-GOV

Does Deeds Really Need Wilder?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 6:51PM

Va-Gov candidate Creigh Deeds, Former Governor L. Douglas Wilder (D-Va)

How much does former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder's refusal to endorse Creigh Deeds hurt the Democratic nominee for governor?

It's bad news, according to some state Democrats. But African American grassroots leaders who helped Obama win the state last year say Wilder's backing would be nice, but isn't really that important.

"I think Deeds will win without it," said Stephanie Meyers, national co-chair of Black Women For Obama For Change, an offshoot group of the grassroots organization that helped Obama become the first Democrat to win Virginia since 1964 last year. The group just reactivated its Virginia activists for Deeds and is currently running a national phone bank on his behalf.

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VA-GOV

Latest Poll: McDonnell 59, Deeds 40

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 6:42PM

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

A new SurveyUSA poll posted tonight shows the Virginia governor race has broken wide open as the days tick down to the Nov. 3 election. Republican nominee Bob McDonnell now leads Democrat Creigh Deeds by 19 points, 59-40. A similar SurveyUSA poll last week showed the race at 54-43 in favor of McDonnell.

According to the release, "McDonnell leads among both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, educated and less-educated, and in all regions of the state."

Health Care

Dems Keep Quiet As Leaders Hash Out Key Health Care Details

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 6:35PM

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

Another day, and still a dearth of details. Senators and White House officials were almost comically tight-lipped throughout the afternoon on the progress of health care reform negotiations, even though it's clear by now that the people in the room hashing out the Senate's bill are getting down to the nitty gritty.

During a weekly caucus meeting, Democrats were briefed on the details of last night's health care powwow, yet, afterward, none were forthcoming with details.

"What I'm especially pleased about is that we're not rushing," said Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). "I'm sure there's some who are impatient."

"It wasn't a townhall meeting at all. It was more like a prayer meeting," said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who declined to divulge any specifics.

"We got into it a little bit, not a lot," added Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). "[Leadership is] extremely open and working with everybody."

In a moment of coyness gone awry, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters, "we're leaning towards talking about the public option." Last night his spokesman Jim Manley said, without going into detail, that Senate and White House negotiators discussed "the public option, affordability, and other key issues," during their evening scrum.

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NJ-GOV

Another Poll Shows New Jersey Race Up In The Air

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:50PM

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

The new Rasmussen poll of New Jersey finds that the race continues to be a dead heat -- and that a lot could hinge on the potential final movements of Daggett voters.

As was done last week, respondents were initially asked for first preferences between Democrat Jon Corzine, Republican Christ Christie, and independent Chris Daggett. Those who answered Daggett were then given a follow-up question of whether they were sure -- an attempt to measure the usual drop-off that third-party candidates have -- and their possible new votes were then distributed.

The initial preference, provided to me by Scott Rasmussen: Corzine 37%, Christie 36%, Daggett 16%, and 11% undecided, with a ±4% margin of error. After Daggett supporters were re-questioned, and other leaners were pushed, it became Christie 41%, Corzine 39%, Daggett 11%.

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NJ-GOV

Lautenberg Calls For Federal Investigation of Christie

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:36PM

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and NJ Gov. Candidate Chris Christie

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has called for a federal investigation of former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the Republican nominee for governor in the election two weeks from now, regarding allegations that Christie may have used his office for political gain.

This comes in the wake of today's report that Christie's former aide, Michele Brown, allegedly intervened in the processing of the Corzine campaign's Freedom of Information Act requests regarding Christie's records, and also reportedly urged the office to take action quickly on local corruption arrests in order to benefit Christie's campaign. Brown later resigned from the office, after it was revealed that she'd received an undisclosed $46,000 personal loan from Christie in 2007.

Lautenberg called it "shocking" that Christie appeared to have run a political campaign from the U.S. Attorney's office. The election is two weeks from now -- so we should all expect these accusations to only get more intense in the next fortnight.

Michael Steele

Poll: Steele Viewed Favorably By 39% Of Republican Voters, With High Undecideds

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:08PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A new Rasmussen poll finds RNC chairman Michael Steele with only a modest approval rating among Republican primary voters, with a high number of respondents who have no opinion.

The numbers: 39% favorable, 27% favorable, and 35% with no option. A further breakdown shows 11% very favorable and 28% somewhat favorable, to 9% very unfavorable and 18% somewhat unfavorable.

The pollster's analysis also finds that male Republican voters view Steele both more favorably and more unfavorably than women Republicans do, with women having a disproportionately high undecided number of 41%.

VA-GOV

Clinton: 'Are The Polls Right? Yes, No And Maybe'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 4:57PM

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

Bill Clinton told Democrats at an appearance in Northern Virginia this afternoon that victory for Creigh Deeds depended on how much they're "willing to step into the breach" and overcome their nominee's lagging poll numbers. Flanked by Deeds and Terry McAuliffe, the man he fought hard for in the Democratic primary, Clinton mused on Deeds' come-come-from-behind victory in the contest.

"I learned two things in the primary The first is never underestimate this man," he said of Deeds. "The second is polls are both accurate and they're not."

Read more »

Health Care

Organizing For America Hits Another Goal As Hill Staffers Say Phones Are Ringing Off The Hook

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 4:11PM

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

The Congressional switchboards have been lighting up all day with health care supporters calling members through the Organizing for America call parties, and OFA is about to hit its second goal of 150,000 calls.

A staffer for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) called to detail that office's experiences with the calls today, saying the volunteers offer a sample of varying perspectives on health care. Some are calling for a single-payer system, some are asking the Congresswoman to stand firm for a public option, while others are offering general support for President Obama's plan.

The staffer told TPMDC that more than 100 calls flooded in today. During a daily staff meeting they usually can have one person listen for the calls, but today they had to halt the meeting so a handful of aides could answer the phones.

"It's more calls in a single day than we've ever received on health care, and pales in comparison to efforts done by opponents. It's no small feat," the Schakowsky staffer told me. "It's definitely noticed and having an effect."

Work for a member of Congress? Is your phone ringing? Please share your stories with us.

Read more »

NY-23

GOP Candidate's Husband Called Police Against Weekly Standard

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 4:08PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

It has now been determined who it was on the Dede Scozzafava campaign, the moderate Republican in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in NY-23 campaign, that called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack for following her and asking questions: Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall.

The Watertown Daily Times reports:

Ronald P. McDougall, shortly before 9 p.m., called county dispatchers from the Lowville Elks Lodge on Shady Avenue to request patrol for a nuisance report and hung up, according to a dispatch report of the incident. Upon a call back from dispatchers, Mr. McDougall identified himself and suggested the media was too close to his wife -- state Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur -- and that he was uncomfortable with a reporter.

"I think he was just pressing," village Police Chief Eric F. Fredenburg said of John McCormack, deputy online editor of the Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine.

Ben Nelson

Nelson: Public Option May Be Popular, But Opt-Outs Are Really Popular

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 3:49PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).

For weeks now, Greg Sargent has been making the point that, though polling shows the public wants health care reform to be bipartisan, what it really shows is that people think bipartisanship is nice, they'd happily scotch it if that's what it takes to secure a public option.

That doesn't exactly square with the pronouncements of some conservative Democrats--particularly Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)--who say bipartisanship is a crucial part of health care reform's legitimacy with the public. I caught up with Nelson earlier today and asked him to speak to the poll's findings.

"Well, there are different kinds of public options.... What was interesting in the poll numbers that I saw, that while there's support for public option generally, generically, when you start talking about it specifically as it relates to states being able to opt out or opt in, have their own, the support overwhelmingly goes up to 76 percent."

Read more »

Health Care

Reid: We're Leaning Toward Talking About The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 3:30PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid played coy on health care reform today, saying he hopes to get legislation to CBO "soon," and that he, along with other senators and White House officials, are "leaning toward talking about a public option."

But he did have one somewhat telling thing to say: "I've had a number of meetings in my office, dealing with Democrats and Republicans on the public option aspect of it...when the decision's made to send this on to the CBO, I will have made a decision as to what we're going to do with the public option. It's not done yet."

This confirms to some extent what I reported last week--that though Reid isn't taking members to task publicly for standing in the way of the public option, he's meeting with them behind the scenes. But it also show's that he's not willing to pose the question of the public option as starkly as is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will ask the CBO to analyze different versions of the public option, and then employ those numbers to convince skeptics in her own party that the public option is the fiscally responsible course.

Reid, by contrast, says he will make the decision about the public option based on negotiations with his members and the White House, but won't use so blunt an object as a CBO analysis to pressure conservative Democrats to get on board.

NY-23

NY-23 GOP Campaign And Weekly Standard Feud: Read The E-mails

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 2:50PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

The feud is heating up between the Weekly Standard and the Dede Scozzafava campaign -- the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election -- with Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns now forwarding to TPM e-mails between himself and the Standard, in a challenge to the magazine's journalistic objectivity.

The latest battle between the two camps involved the Scozzafava campaign calling the police against Standard reporter John McCormack, for following around their candidate and repeatedly asking her questions in a manner that they said showed "a complete lack of decency." Bill Kristol then characterized Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns as the malevolent character, for having called their offices on Friday and yelled at them over a story. Now, Burns has sent us e-mails connected with that dust-up from last week.

"Last week, John wrote a story that falsely asserted Dede was something other than a life-long Republican," Burns wrote me. "He took that leap based upon the exchange below. How any objective reporter would take such a leap, I'll let you report and readers decide."

McCormack confirmed the authenticity of the e-mails to me. "I have no problem posting that e-mail exchange," McCormack said. "But it's a sign of a truly desperate campaign when they're forwarding e-mails to left-wing blogs, instead of talking about their own agenda, and unwilling to answer questions about where she stands on the issues."

Read more »

Lobbying

Chamber Spent $38.9 Million On Lobbying In Third Quarter

Rachel Slajda | October 20, 2009, 2:40PM

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue

According to reports filed with the Senate, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent $38.9 million lobbying Congress and government agencies in the third quarter of this year alone.

That includes the Chamber itself, which spent $34.7 million, and the Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform, which spent $4.2 million.

In the entire first half of 2009, by comparison, the Chamber and all of its subsidiaries spent $26.2 million.

Read more »

Barack Obama

New Poll: 48% Of Republicans Say Obama Does Not Love America -- 27% Say He Does

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 2:36PM

President Barack Obama

More than half of Republicans either say President Obama doesn't love America or say they aren't sure of his feelings toward the country he leads.

That's according to a new national poll due out tomorrow from Public Policy Polling. The firm gave TPMDC an early look this afternoon.

PPP polled 766 registered voters nationwide. Of the GOP respondents, 27% agreed that Obama "loves America," 48% disagreed and 25% said they weren't sure.

Read more »

Fundraising

DNC Raised $8M In September

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 2:31PM

DNC Chair Tim Kaine

A Democratic source tells TPMDC the Democratic National Committee will report having raised "just over" $8 million for the month of September.

The news comes after the Republican National Committee announced its haul this morning of $8.7 million for the month.

The Democratic source said the September total puts the DNC ahead of the RNC for the third quarter.

Health Care

Organizing For America About To Win Low Expectations Game

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 2:02PM

Organizing for America, the spinoff of the Obama campaign, set a goal of 100,000 phone calls to members of Congress on health care today.

When we broke the news last week that President Obama would join the call-in parties via Webcast tonight, a Hill Republican said the number of calls seemed low given the size of the OFA email list.

Well the Democratic National Committee has offered a peek at their (self-reported) figures, and have been tweeting updates from the Obama Twitter feed all day. At 12:08, they tweeted it had reached 35,000 calls. At 12:53, it was up to 50,000.

As of this writing, it's passed 90,000 calls. It went up by a few thousand calls in the last few minutes, so they will be hitting 100,000 fairly soon. My bet is they will trumpet that as a grassroots win and then raise the goal.

After the jump, a look at the widget tracking the calls.

Read more »

NY-23

NY-23 Dem Candidate Hit With Trademark Letter Over His Ad -- But He's Standing By It

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 1:53PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D)

Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate in the NY-23 special election, has now been told by the California Milk Processor Board to pull one of his ads for infringing on their "got milk?" trademark -- but he's sticking with it.

The Owens ad says he'll fight on behalf of local dairy farmers to stop alleged price-fixing by milk companies, and ends with him saying, "We've got to find out -- who's got milk money?" The phrase "got milk money?" is then on screen, in a similar font as the "got milk?" ads.

"He has not sought our permission to use it," said California Milk Processor Board Executive Director Stephen James. "He does not have our permission to use it and if we don't police the trademark and make sure that it's not abused by anyone who just feels like slapping it on what they want to slap it on, then we lose the rights to the trademark."

Read more »

Barack Obama

CNN Poll: Obama Approval at 55%, but only 48% Agree With Him on Issues That Matter Most

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 1:47PM

President Barack Obama

A new CNN poll shows slightly less than half of Americans "agree with President Obama on the issues that matter most."

Forty-eight percent say they agree with Obama, 51% say they don't. An April CNN poll showed the opposite, with 57% saying they agreed with the president and 41% saying they don't.

At the same time, Obama's approval ratings remain high. Fifty-five percent said they approve of the job he's doing as president, and 66% said "Obama has the personality and leadership qualities a President should have."

LA-SEN

Poll Shows Vitter Leading In Re-Election Bid

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 1:27PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charles Melancon (D-LA)

Despite political setbacks and a determined Democratic opposition, a new poll shows Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) leads his rival ahead of his 2010 reelection.

The Times-Picayune has the details, and shows Vitter enjoys a 48-36 percent lead over Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA).

Key bit:

Vitter had 47.6 percent to Melancon's 35.8 percent, with 16.6 percent undecided, according to the survey conducted last week by Southern Media and Opinion Research of Baton Rouge.

The poll was conducted for Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby, who has contributed mainly to Republicans in the past, including Vitter. The survey is based on telephone interviews with 600 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Vitter's office still hasn't returned our calls about his census amendment and the justice of the peace who refuses to marry biracial couples. We'll keep you posted.

NY-23

Weekly Standard Hits Back At NY-23 GOPer Campaign's Accusations, Call To The Police

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 12:34PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R) and William Kristol

The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, is now in a public shouting match with the Weekly Standard -- which is blasting the campaign for what it calls an abuse of the press by a desperate politician.

This comes after the Scozzafava camp called the police on their reporter John McCormack, for asking a lot of pointed questions of Scozzafava and following her into the parking lot of an event.

Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns told the Politico that McCormack's behavior "shows a complete lack of decency," and seemed to be saying that McCormack was stalking his candidate: "This self-described reporter repeatedly screamed questions (in-your-face-style) while our candidate was doing what she is supposed to be doing: speaking with voters (remember, those who will decide this election?). And then he followed the candidate to her car, continuing to carry on in a manner that would make the National Enquirer blush. I have no doubt he intended to follow her home, too. His actions were reprehensible. Those are the facts."

Bill Kristol has fired back, standing up for his reporter -- and calling Burns the abusive one.

Read more »

VA-GOV

Wilder: If McDonnell Wins, 'Virginia Won't Sink Into The Seas'

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 12:30PM

Former VA Gov. Douglas Wilder

Former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder (D) says he trusts voters to make the right choice in two weeks, and would be just fine with Bob McDonnell (R) leading Virginia.

"The world won't come to an end, Virginia won't sink into the seas," Wilder told TPMDC in an interview.

Wilder, the Democrat who won't endorse the Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds, referenced the recent polls.

"I seem to be in pretty good company with the majority of voters of Virginia," Wilder said, and wouldn't tell me who he'll be voting for Nov. 3.

Read more »

Health Care

Democrats Face Long Slog As They Try To Finish Health Care By Year's End

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 11:34AM

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

With no firm deadline in the Senate, but a health care bill expected on the floor next month, it's probably worth laying out a rough time line for the larger reform effort.

The House will soon have a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office on its health care bill--including three different variants of the public option--and will then proceed to a floor debate and vote. Compared to the Senate, this entire process should be relatively painless.

On the other side of the Hill, the floor debate could take weeks.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Christie Camp Tries To Hammer Corzine Charity Story -- Gets Hammered Instead, On Michele Brown

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 11:29AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

On a conference call with reporters just now, the Christie camp tried to hammer Jon Corzine over potential political conflicts from his charitable donations -- and ended up getting grilled by reporters about whether Michele Brown, Christie's former aide in the U.S. Attorney's office, may have been illegally helping his campaign.

This came after a Star-Ledger report that Corzine had donated $87,000, from his charitable foundation and his own personal accounts, to the church of Rev. Reginald Jackson in Orange, New Jersey. Jackson denies that his endorsement of Corzine is connected to the donations, despite Christie's agreement on Jackson's big issue of charter schools: "In this particular race between Corzine and Chris Christie, if there are 10 issues, Jon Corzine and I are in agreement on nine of them. Chris Christie and I probably agree on three of them. It was a very difficult decision to make."

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Michele Brown, who remained in the U.S Attorney's office after Christie stepped down, interceded to handle the Corzine campaign's Freedom Of Information Act requests for Christie's record, and also allegedly urged the office to take action quickly on local corruption arrests in order to benefit Christie's campaign. Brown later resigned from the office, after it was revealed that she'd received an undisclosed $46,000 personal loan from Christie in 2007. Brown told the Times that the latest allegations are "outrageous and inaccurate."

Read more »

NY-23

GOP Campaign In NY-23 Calls The Police On Weekly Standard Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 11:20AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Now this is something that doesn't happen every day. The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate who is in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, called the police on a Weekly Standard reporter for asking her too many questions.

The Standard's John McCormack reported that he asked Scozzafava repeated questions about her support for the Employee Free Choice Act, her positions on health care, taxes and abortion. After a staffer got in between him and the candidate, he followed her to the parking lot and kept trying to ask questions.

Then things got interesting:

After she got into her car, I went to my car and fired up my laptop to report the evening's events.

Minutes later a police car drove into the parking lot with its lights flashing. Officer Grolman informed me that she was called because "there was a little bit of an uncomfortable situation" and then took down my name, date of birth, and address.

"Maybe we do things a little differently here, but you know, persistence in that area, you scared the candidate a little bit," Officer Grolman told me.

Read more »

NY-GOV

Giuliani Has His Pick Of Incumbents, NY Voters Say

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 10:43AM

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)

New Yorkers are ready to let Rudy Giuliani throw the bums out, according to a new poll from Siena University. The former New York City mayor leads the current Democratic incumbents in a potential governors race or U.S. Senate bid according to the survey of 624 registered voters, which was Oct. 14-18. Giuliani has not declared his intentions to run for either race, but observers expect him to mount a gubernatorial bid.

Giuliani beats Gov. David Paterson 56-33 in potential 2010 matchup. Paterson has been suffering under very low approval ratings for months and national Democrats have made it clear they hope he won't run. The new poll again justifies their pressure on Paterson, as Democrats beat Giuliani with popular state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as their nominee. Like Giuliani, Cuomo has not declared his intentions in the race.

Read more »

Chris Dodd

Health Care Negotiations Between Senate, White House Continue Tonight

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 10:06AM

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

The intricate process of turning two very different health care bills into one will continue tonight, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hosts Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Max Baucus (D-MT), and a number of high-level White House officials in his offices tonight.

Last night, Reid spokesman Jim Manley said the health care bill will come to the floor just as soon as a CBO cost estimate is available. Before negotiations got under way in earnest, Reid suggested that the Senate would begin debate on a single piece of legislation on October 26, but aides now caution that we're more likely to see action in the first or second week of November.

Before that time, negotiators will have to make some potentially monumental decisions, including whether or not the bill that comes to the floor will include a public option. We'll keep tabs for you.

AHIP

Ignagni: Misleading AHIP Study? What Misleading AHIP Study?

Brian Beutler | October 20, 2009, 9:50AM

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

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), has penned something a wee bit shy of a mea culpa, explaining away last week's much-derided industry study finding that health care reforms will cause people's premiums to skyrocket.

According to Ignagni, AHIP never meant to hide the ball from anybody:

The study clearly states that its analysis covers only these provisions and specifically notes that it did not factor in the impact of proposed premium subsidies. Nevertheless, critics have charged that the study nefariously hid the fact that it omitted provisions designed to enhance affordability, such as the subsidies and a grandfathering clause.

Elided here is the fact that AHIP asked PricewaterhouseCoopers specifically not to include the mitigating factors of subsidies and other affordability measures, in an attempt to make it seem as if Congress was on the verge of passing legislation that would cause everyone's insurance premiums to skyrocket.

Also elided is that, as has been widely reported, AHIP misled the White House about the existence of the study, despite being a nominal partner in the White House's reform efforts.

Read more »

Fundraising

RNC Raises $8.7M And Has No Debt

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 9:15AM

RNC Chair Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee released September fundraising figures this morning showing the GOP has a strong bank account heading into the election's next month and primed for 2010. Chairman Mike Steele said the money will help the party "ensure victory" next year.

The RNC raised $8.74 million last month and have $18.9 million in the bank. They also have no debt, according to the party.

And in a bit of homage to the way Barack Obama built his campaign machine on the small donor grassroots, the RNC release notes they averaged 2,400 new donors each day, with an average contribution of $36. The number of donors is an off-election year record, the RNC said.

"It goes without saying that we have been working hard to establish a new brand for the RNC," Steele said. "From giving a voice to the frustrations of many Americans over the president's health care experiment, to the launch of our new web platform, our efforts have resulted in record breaking fundraising numbers for September which continues an extremely strong trend for us since February."

Steele added: "It is clear that the Republican message of lower taxes, less spending and common sense health care reform resonates with working families and small businesses alarmed by the course the president and Congressional Democrats have taken. As we move closer to the elections this fall and in 2010, these funds will enable the RNC to provide Republican candidates throughout the country the financial resources needed to help ensure victory on election day."

VA-GOV

McDonnell's Lead Grows To Eight Points, 49-41

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 20, 2009, 8:52AM

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

A new poll out this morning shows Bob McDonnell extending his lead in the Virginia gubernatorial race two weeks before Election Day. McDonnell now leads his Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds 49-41. Ten percent of voters remain undecided in the contest.

The poll of 605 registered voters was conducted by Clarus research over the weekend. In Clarus' last poll, taken in Sept., McDonnell led by 5 points with 20% undecided.

Internals from the poll show McDonnell gaining among women, independents and voters outside the populous D.C. suburbs. Despite weeks of Democratic attacks over his 1989 master's thesis -- attacks which focused on his negative views of women in the workplace at the time -- McDonnell now leads among women by one point.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine And Christie Tied At 39% Each

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 8:41AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new Monmouth poll shows the New Jersey gubernatorial race tied, with Republican Chris Christie having lost the lead he once held over Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

The numbers: Christie 39%, Corzine 39%, and independent Chris Daggett 14%, with a ±3.1% margin of error. Three weeks ago, Christie led by 43%-40%-8%, and he was up by 47%-39%-5% two and a half weeks before that.

The pollster's analysis finds Christie losing Democratic support back to Corzine and even some GOP voters to Daggett, while both candidates have lost independent voters to Daggett: "Democrats who flirted with Chris Christie earlier in the year have come back into the fold. It also looks like some GOP voters may have become disenchanted with their white knight. That's not a good sign for the Republican at this late stage of the game."

Health Care

White House, Senate Principals Discuss Public Option, But Reach No Decisions--Talks Continue Tuesday

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 7:36PM

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

Senate health care leaders, and White House officials including Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle and Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Max Baucus (D-MT), Harry Reid (D-NV), met behind closed doors for over an hour in a leadership office Monday night to discuss and negotiate the merging of two different health care bills.

A spokesman for Reid was mum about the details, except to say that the group discussed the public option, affordability and other issues at the heart of the plan to reform the nation's health care system.

The same officials are expected to huddle again Tuesday to continue the talks.

FL-SEN

Crist Rewrites History On Stimulus Support

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 6:49PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Facing a primary challenge from the right, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is suddenly attacking President Obama for stimulus spending just six months after backing the stimulus package.

Crist defended his new radio ads slamming President Obama over his economic policy this afternoon, claiming that he joined the president at a pro-stimulus rally in February because, "I think it's the right thing to do to honor the office of President of the United States."

But video from the event tells a very different story.

Read more »

Health Care

The Big Huddle: Where Health Care Goes From Here

Christina Bellantoni | October 19, 2009, 6:30PM

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Top Senate Democrats are huddling behind closed doors this evening with key White House advisors in hopes of crafting a health care bill that hits one big magic number: 60.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is the referee between Sen. Max Baucus' more conservative bill and Sen. Chris Dodd's more liberal one, and the White House deployed chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and presidential health care adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle.

It's a merger meeting extraordinaire.

The group has been quiet on goals for the evening, and the White House has taken a step back from official comments to let the Senate do its business. Aides know it's now in Reid's court to come up with a bill that can keep his caucus in line, though Hill staffers want President Obama to lay out his dealbreakers.

The group is under pressure to get a deal done quickly, but they also are attempting to avoid the media spotlight as dozens of reporters camp outside Reid's senate office.

Read more »

Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Switches Districts, To Run Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 6:14PM

FL-08 Candidate Ken Miller (R)

Ken Miller, a Republican House candidate who had been running against freshman Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), has announced that he's switching out of that race -- and will instead be seeking the GOP nomination in an adjacent district, to go up against none other than Rep. Alan Grayson.

Miller said that he made his decision after the previous top GOP prospect for the Grayson race, former state Sen. Dan Webster, opted against running. "I have tremendous respect for Dan Webster and when he announced that he would not run against Alan Grayson, I decided that I could not let Grayson go without a credible challenge," Miller said in a statement, also adding: "My decision was influenced by Grayson's incendiary and disingenuous comments relative to Republican plans for healthcare reform."

Read more »

FL-SEN

Inhofe Breaks With NRSC, Backs Rubio Over Crist

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 5:48PM

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK)

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) endorsed Marco Rubio in the Florida GOP senate primary this afternoon. Inhofe is the second conservative senator to buck his party's national senate committee, which has already announced its public endorsement of Rubio's primary opponent, Gov. Charlie Crist.

Read more »

NY-23

Dick Armey To Campaign For Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 5:44PM

Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) is headed to NY-23, to campaign for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- and to send a message to the national GOP by stopping moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

"We win when we are us. We lose when we are Democrat lite," Armey told Erick Erickson. Armey also explained: "Big Government Republicans, though they call themselves Big Government Conservatives, do not win. I would tell the Republican Party leadership it cannot win if it insists on recruiting and supporting candidates out of step with the voters."

Armey's presence could provide an interesting counterweight to Newt Gingrich, who led the House Republicans with Armey in the mid-1990's, and who recently endorsed Scozzafava.

Read more »

Mitt Romney

Romney: If Obama Does A Good Job, I Might Not Want To Run

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 4:51PM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Mitt Romney seems to be casting himself as a somewhat reluctant possible presidential candidate, and not the ambitious politician that people usually think of -- declaring he's not immediately running for president, but that his eventual decision will be influenced in part by the job that he thinks President Obama is doing.

"I'm doing what's necessary, if you will, to keep options open," Romney told Milwaukee-based TV host Mike Gousha. Romney said that family concerns come first, of course, but so does the overall national situation and Obama's performance.

"Clearly, if President Obama happened to be doing a great job, as I had hoped he would do when he got elected, why, that would influence my thoughts," Romney said. "But instead, he's taken the country in a very dangerous direction, and that makes it far more likely that folks are gonna think about getting in and removing him from office."

(Via WisPolitics.)

John Mackey

Whole Foods' John Mackey On Why People Hate Him And Voting For Bob Barr

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 4:38PM

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey says he knows why so many people hate him after his August op-ed opposing President Obama's health care reform goals.

"People try to size you up for what team your on," he told the editors of the Libertarian magazine Reason in an hour-long interview last month. "If you're on their team they love you and if you're on the other team they hate you."

Mackey then divulges what team he's on. "I voted for Bob Barr," he said when asked who he supported for president in 2008. Barr, a former GOP representative, was the Libertarian nominee. "I liked Ron Paul, but he didn't get the Republican nomination, regretfully."

Read more »

Health Care

Top Aide: It's Time For The White House To Take Stand On Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 4:36PM

Last week, at a meeting between Senate health care principals and Obama administration officials, the White House basically told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid it would be leaving most of the big legislative decisions on reform to him. This week, Reid is faced with an onslaught from pressure groups, including labor and the grassroots, demanding that he include the public option in the health care bill he brings to the floor.

In a sign that Reid may be willing to acquiesce, if only the White House helps him whip the caucus into shape, a top Capitol Hill aide tells me "Right now, we don't have 60 Democratic Senators in lockstep with one another on the public option...we need the president to send a strong signal to those in the room negotiating the merger, that the public option is, really, what he wants in the final bill."

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VA-GOV

Deeds Camp: WaPo Endorsement 'Helpful,' But 'Not A Game Changer'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 4:17PM

On a conference call with reporters this afternoon, Creigh Deeds adviser Mo Elleithee said this weekend's Washington Post endorsement likely was not enough on its own to turn things around for Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

"It's certainly helpful," Eleithee told TPMDC. "But look, I don't think there's going to be a single defining moment or a 'game changer,' which is a phrase people have been throwing around."

Eleithee said the endorsement, which was largely seen as the single moment that changed Deeds fortunes in the primary last June, was "just a piece" of Deeds' turnaround strategy this time.

"Everyday, we've got to win the battle between now and Election Day," he said.

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NJ-GOV

Biden/Corzine Rally Ties Corzine To Obama -- And Christie To Bush

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 3:57PM

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

Vice President Biden campaigned today with Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), with a clear message of hitching Corzine to the Obama administration and the national Democratic brand -- and tying Republican nominee Chris Christie to the unpopular Bush Republicans.

Biden said that the Obama administration relied on Corzine's advice while crafting the stimulus package. "I literally picked up the phone and called Jon Corzine and said 'Jon, what do you think we should do?'" said Biden. "The reason we called Jon is because we knew he knew about the economy, about world markets, about how we needed to respond."

Biden ridiculed Christie for saying he would turn down some stimulus money. "Where do these guys live?,'' Biden said of Christie. "They are talking about lowering property taxes while turning away stimulus money.''

Also at the event, Rep. Rush Holt attacked Christie, a former U.S. Attorney, as a Bush appointee: "He wants to continue their ideas. He wants to work with people who are no longer there, and thank goodness."

Jim Marshall

Blue Dog Jim Marshall Again Compares Current Health Care System, Including Medicare And Medicaid, To Soviet Union

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 3:06PM

Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA)

Blue Dog Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA) appeared on Fox this afternoon, and compared the current health care system -- including Medicare and Medicaid -- to the Soviet Union.

"We've got this sort of central payment system, which is a fundamental problem. It's health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, making the payments, and we've got consumers and doctors pretty divorced from the costs associated with the decisions that are being made," said Marshall. "As a result, we've had an explosion in cost. I think we've got to see a fundamental change in the system that we've got right now for payment. If we don't do that, we'll continue to have opportunities to fix waste, fraud and abuse, because systems that are centrally planned and controlled -- like the Soviet system -- are just full of those kinds of issues."

Marshall has previously made this comparison, saying back in September: "Beginning in World War II, American health care gradually migrated to an inefficient, Soviet-style system of central control and planning provided by health insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid."

Health Care

Baucus: The Public Option Is Alive...We're Just Not Sure What Type

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 2:52PM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

On a conference call with reporters moments ago, Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus said that the public option is still alive, adding, in a familiar refrain, that the question for Democrats now is what kind of public option can get 60 votes.

The goal, Baucus said, was to include something in the bill that keeps premiums down and keeps insurance companies honest. "We just need to find ways to help reach that goal, in addition to the provisions in the bill," Baucus said.

Baucus cited several permutations of public option proposals under discussion, including what he described as "Medicare light [the robust public option], even playing field [proposed by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), there's co-ops--that's private, not public--there's opt in, opt out," Baucus said.

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Barack Obama

Political Blitz: Dem Candidates Prepare For (And Hope To Capture) Obamarama

Christina Bellantoni | October 19, 2009, 2:34PM

VA-Gov candidate Creigh Deeds at rally with President Barack Obama

As we near the critical two-week benchmark before elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York, the White House is going all-in to help Democratic candidates. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are raising money and stumping for hopefuls across the country - in some cases looking beyond the narrow focus of next month's election to the 2010 midterms.

Last week Obama raised more than $3 million for the Democratic party in San Francisco, and Biden helped raise money for Missouri senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

But in the race to the finish, and with Republicans eager to make a loss in Virginia or New Jersey seem like a major national trend for the president, it's a high-profile week for both Obama and Biden.

Obama has eight political events scheduled over the next week. Before he leaves for the Czech Republic tomorrow, Biden has a long day of double political duty.

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FL-SEN

Crist Unfriends Obama

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 2:31PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

There was a time not so long ago when Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and President Obama saw eye-to-eye on economic policy. But that was before Crist announced his bid for Senate.

Crist's first radio ads slam Obama over his plan to, as Crist says in the script, "spend our way into prosperity." The popular Florida governor once (literally) embraced the stimulus package and the Obama plan to, well, spend America back into prosperity. But a summer of attacks from the right, led by former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, appear to have brought that bipartisan spirit to an end.

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NY-23

Hoffman Camp Calls Scozzafava 'Bernie Madoff'

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 2:21PM

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

The attacks keep on coming in the NY-23 special election, with Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava the target of more attacks from her right.

Scozzafava is in a three-way race with not only Democrat Bill Owens, but also Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has attacked Scozzafava as a liberal on issues like abortion, gay marriage and spending. The split in conservative ranks threatens to hand the seat to the Democrats. And now Hoffman's camp and the Conservative Party are calling her something else: "The Bernie Madoff of New York politics."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan used the term in reference to Scozzafava's recent endorsement by Newt Gingrich, explaining it as follows: "She is pulling a scam on Republican voters, and it looks like she is pulling a scam on Newt Gingrich."

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VA-GOV

Newspaper Endorsements Take Center Stage, Again

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 12:43PM

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

It was a deja vu weekend in the Virginia governor race. Newspaper endorsements, seen as a key factor in the Democratic primary in June, returned to the spotlight after the Washington Post doubled down on its strong endorsement of Creigh Deeds from the summer.

Deeds, down in the polls just like he was before the primary, is hoping that the Post endorsement will again lead to the late surge that his camp has said was key to its landslide primary victory. But his opponent, Bob McDonnell (R), has a string of endorsements of his own, including one from a major state paper that endorsed Gov. Tim Kaine (D) four years ago.

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Health Care

Pelosi Aims to Squeeze Skeptics on Public Option With Cheaper Bill Than Senate

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 12:41PM

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

The House health care bill is getting cheaper, but Democrats aren't boasting just yet. Because when they ultimately break silence the hope is to present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a bill that will walk the walk of fiscal responsibility--including a public option, which is projected to save the government billions.

As always, the legislative process is unpredictable, and the Senate is operating in isolation from the House. But with the public option potentially in the balance, Speaker Pelosi's goal is this: present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a Hobson's choice between a public option bill and a potentially more expensive Senate bill that may have no public option at all.

On Friday, the Washington Post ran with leaked CBO numbers, showing that House health care leaders have reduced the price tag of their bill by at least $100 billion. The numbers were preliminary--not reflective of the current state of the legislation, which is changing constantly--but they showed a definite downward trajectory in the overall cost of its reform plan.

Still, leadership was not pleased.

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Sarah Palin

Poll: Palin Loses Big To Both Romney And Huckabee For GOP Nomination

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 11:46AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

A new Rasmussen poll suggests that Sarah Palin should not be viewed as a favorite for the Republican nomination in 2012, with her trailing both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee by wide margins in head-to-head match-ups.

Romney leads Palin by 52%-37% among likely GOP primary voters, and Huckabee is ahead by 55%-35%.

The pollster's analysis also finds that Mitt Romney's Mormon religion is still a liability, with him losing to Palin by 14 points among evangelical Christians, while leading her among other Protestants, Catholics and other groups. By contrast, the former Southern Baptist minister Mike Huckabee leads Palin by 17 points among evangelicals.

NJ-GOV

Christie Campaign: Corzine Campaigning With National Dem Stars As A Distraction

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 11:23AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

On a conference call with reporters just now, the Christie campaign offered a pre-rebuttal to Jon Corzine's campaign stops this week with Vice President Biden (today), former President Bill Clinton (tomorrow) and President Obama (Wednesday) -- that Corzine is trying to use national Democratic star power in order to distract from the real issues that have made New Jersey such a mess.

Corzine has caught up with Christie in the polls, after having trailed by severe margins all year long, and the race is now a dead heat with some polls having Corzine ahead and Christie up in others. In addition to attacks on Christie's health care proposals -- which have given Corzine a lot of mileage -- Corzine is essentially using New Jersey's fundamental Democratic leanings and the popularity of the Obama brand in the state to give him a boost in the home stretch.

"After the spotlights are turned off, the old Clinton economic team is gonna be gone, and other people in the Obama administration that people admire are gonna be gone," said state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, "and we're gonna be left with Jon Corzine, if he is governor again, and four more years of the same."

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LA-SEN

Vitter Alone In Silence Over Justice Who Refuses To Marry Biracial Couple

Christina Bellantoni | October 19, 2009, 11:09AM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Keith Bardwell, Louisiana Justice of the Peace

We've heard from the governor and senior senator in Louisiana and from the White House responding to the justice of the peace who refuses to marry biracial couples, but the state's junior senator, David Vitter, has stayed conspicuously silent.

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) wants Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, fired for his actions. The same is true for Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

We checked in with Vitter's office, and he hasn't issued any public statements about the matter.

We'll update you if we get a response.

VA-GOV

Webb, Slammed Over His Past Writings In '06, Says McDonnell Thesis Fair Game

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2009, 11:07AM

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)

Sen. Jim Webb (D) knows better than most that what you put on paper can come back to haunt you in Virginia politics. But three years after his past writings were used against him (he says unfairly) in his Senate race, Webb backed the attacks on GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell's 1989 master's thesis.

From Webb's interview with The Hill over the weekend:

"They were taking small excerpts from novels and attempting to use them to characterize me," he said of [GOP Sen. George] Allen's campaign, contrasting it with what [Creigh] Deeds has done. "And I think that was totally distinct from what we're talking about with respect to this situation."

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Health Care

Sen. Lincoln Hammered With Questions On Public Option During Online Chat

Christina Bellantoni | October 19, 2009, 10:38AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Public option supporters bombarded Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) with questions last night about why she doesn't back a public option in the health care fight, with one constituent fretting about losing her seat to a Republican.

"We are terribly disappointed that you have caved in to the insurance industry and failed to support the public option for health care. It may very well affect our vote for you in the next election," Ray and Judy told her on the chat, which is posted online.

"Unfortunately the insurance companies opposed the bill I supported in the Finance Committee. There are many ways to provide greater options and choices to individuals, including non-profits, a state plan, and a co-op plan," Lincoln wrote back.

But that wasn't the last word. Lincoln got six more questions along the same lines.

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Health Care

Harkin: Handful Of Public Option Opponents Should Bend To 'Vast Majority' Of Dem Party

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 9:54AM

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Here's another nugget exemplifying the intense pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is facing from both elected Democrats and grassroots liberals to make sure health care legislation includes a public option.

"There are 52 solid Democrats for the public option," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA). "Only about five Democrats oppose it. Should the 52 give in to the five? Or should the five go along with the vast majority of the Democratic caucus?"

Last Thursday, at a heated Democratic caucus lunch, several Democrats rose to give impassioned arguments in favor of the public option. And, with the exception of Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who gave a counterargument for private co-ops, the handful of public option opponents in the Senate were silent.