NY-23

Flashback: GOP Used To Badmouth Hoffman, Said He Had No Integrity

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 5:42PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Now that the national Republican Party has gotten behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- following the withdrawal of moderate GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava -- it's fun to remember that the Republicans didn't always feel so fondly about Hoffman.

As The Hill reported a month ago, NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay said that Scozzafava was the right candidate, who was picked by the local party leaders and had an appeal to the district's voters.

As for Lindsay's view of Hoffman, who had also interviewed with party leaders for the nomination: "Fortunately, the local Republican county chairs had the foresight to see that Doug Hoffman lacked the integrity and qualities needed to be elected to anything -- let alone Congress."

NY-23

DCCC: NY-23 Race Means Moderates Aren't Welcome In GOP

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 4:57PM

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

The Democrats are quick to spin today's big news in NY-23 -- that moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava has dropped out, and the party has now endorsed insurgent Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman -- as a sign of the GOP becoming more and more extreme.

DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer gives us this statement: "The Republican Party's extreme right wing ideologues sent a chilling message to the few remaining moderate Republican Members and candidates: moderates are not welcome in the Republican Party and differing opinions will not be tolerated."

Rudominer also says the GOP has bungled this race: "The NRCC mishandled the race from day 1. The NRCC spent nearly $1 million (which is a quarter of their current cash on hand) on a race where they didn't understand the district or how the NY State party line ballot worked, they actively criticized the Conservative Party candidate, and they couldn't lock in the endorsements of Republican Party leaders."

NY-23

RNC Backs Hoffman In NY-23 Shakeup

Christina Bellantoni | October 31, 2009, 1:35PM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The Republican National Committee announced it will immediately back Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman following GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava's campaign suspension in the special election in New York's 23rd Congressional district.

Here is Chairman Mike Steele's statement.

Read more »

NY-23

Owens, Hoffman Seek Scozzafava's Moderate GOP Voters In New Statements

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 12:31PM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The two remaining candidates in the NY-23 special election, Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman, have now each reacted to moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava dropping out of the race.

Owens gave a conciliatory note, praising Scozzafava's public service and denouncing Hoffman as a right-wing extremist, a clear play for Scozzafava's voters:

"Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava has been an honorable public servant for years now and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her and her commitment to her principles. While we disagree on certain issues, we share a dedication to serving the best interests of Upstate New York and the Obama administration's efforts to get our economy back on track. Those interests will always be my highest priority."

"I remain focused on my campaign. Over the next 4 days I will continue traveling the district to discuss my record of helping create jobs and my plans to continue that work in Congress."

"Voters have a clear choice on Tuesday: they can elect to go back to the George Bush economic agenda, or they can vote to move forward. Doug Hoffman and the Club for Growth's extremist agenda won't do a thing to get our economy moving again. While Doug Hoffman is solely committed to continuing tax cuts for the wealthy which will add $500 billion to the deficit, protecting tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas, and privatizing Social Security, I will fight to turn the page on that agenda. I will work to create jobs Upstate to get our economy back on track because that is the type of leadership we need right now in Congress."

Read more »

NY-23

NRCC Officially Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 11:42AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A GOP source tells TPM that the National Republican Congressional Committee is going to get behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, now that moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava has dropped out.

Hoffman is in a close race with Democrat Bill Owens, and Scozzafava suspended her campaign today after polls showed her in third place. With the NRCC's backing, Hoffman will go from insurgent third-party candidate to being the de facto new Republican nominee (though Scozzafava will still be on the ballot as the GOP's candidate).

NRCC chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) will have a statement out shortly.

Late Update: The NRCC has released a joint statement -- co-signed by Sessions, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- backing Hoffman. It is available after the jump.

Read more »

NY-23

NY-23 GOPer Scozzafava Suspends Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 11:13AM

Former NY-23 House candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

In a huge development in the NY-23 special election, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has announced that she is suspending her campaign, citing an inability to win in light of recent polls and a lack of money -- leaving this race as a vote between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, and a strong message that the Republican Party can no longer nominate moderate candidates, or else face a right-wing revolt.

Scozzafava told the Watertown Daily Times that the new Siena poll, which said she was in third place, meant that she would be unable to catch up with Owens and Hoffman.

Interestingly, Scozzafava did not expressly endorse Hoffman in her statement, but simply released her supporters to "transfer their support as they see fit to do so," and hoped for a stronger Republican Party:

It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my Party will emerge stronger and our District and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.

The big question now, then, is how Scozzafava's voters will break down between Owens and Hoffman, and how many might still pick her as a protest vote (she will still be on the ballot). Her platform was socially liberal and economically conservative, and there was a lot of bad blood between the local GOP and Conservative campaigns. So let's see what happens next.

Scozzafava's full statement is available after the jump.

Read more »

NY-23

Poll: Dem And Conservative In Tight Race For NY-23, GOPer In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 31, 2009, 10:00AM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (C)

The new Siena poll further confirms that the NY-23 special election has become a tight race between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, with moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place for this GOP-held seat.

The numbers: Owens 36%, Hoffman 35%, and Scozzafava 20%, with a ±3.7% margin of error. In the previous Siena poll from two weeks ago, Owens had led with 33%, Scozzafava was in second with 29%, and Hoffman trailed with 23%.

In addition, the new poll finds that only 29% of likely voters view Scozzafava favorably, with 51% viewing her unfavorably. By contrast, Owens is in positive territory at 40%-36%, and Hoffman at 41%-37%.

"Unfortunately for Assemblywoman Scozzafava, this has become a two person race between Owens and Hoffman," said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg, in the polling memo. "She now has the support of only one in five voters, having gone from 35 percent support to 20 percent support since the beginning of the month."

Read more »

Visitors Logs

Andy Stern Appears Most Often On WH Logs Released Tonight

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 7:22PM

SEIU President Andy Stern

Who are the most frequent guests at the White House? It's impossible to tell from tonight's massive dump of White House visitors logs. The lists are based on media requests, meaning names that weren't specifically asked for by reporters don't appear.

Still, there are some interesting findings in the partial list.

SEIU president Andy Stern appears most often on the list. He visited the White House around 20 times in the past nine months, according to the logs. Former Obama transition director John Podesta appeared about 17 times. NOW president Kim Gandy was the third most popular with about 15 visits.

It makes sense that Stern would be a popular guest -- beyond leading a group key to the Democratic base, Stern's SEIU has been a leading voice on behalf of health care reform.

Visitors Logs

The HHS Secretary Who Wasn't Seems To Be Among Most Frequent WH Visitors

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 7:21PM

Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD)

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) visited the White House grounds 11 times this year, the records of some visitors released tonight by the Obama administration show.

Daschle, a friend and key Obama adviser during the campaign who dropped out due to tax problems after being nominated as secretary of Health and Human Services, was at the White House on Inauguration Day.

He also was there Jan. 25 with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Jan. 26, Jan. 27, Jan. 28 meeting with David Axelrod's assistant, Jan. 28 meeting with OMB chief Peter Orszag, and twice on Jan. 29, meeting with Larry Summers.

Daschle, a top adviser for a lobbying firm that deals with the health industry Alston & Bird, withdrew his nomination in early February amid questions about his taxes.

He appears on the list again as a White House visitor on June 1, July 15 and July 16.

Visitors Logs

Corporate Visits: Exxon Chief Rex Tillerson Met With Summers, Climate Czar

Justin Elliott | October 30, 2009, 6:41PM

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson

Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson has taken three trips to the White House, including two for private meetings with top Obama aides, according to visitor logs.

In February, Tillerson, who in January had thrown cold water on Obama's alternative energy plan, was one of three visitors meeting with Carol Browner, head of the Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. And in May, he was one of two visitors who huddled with top economic aide Larry Summers.

Read more »

CA-GOV

Gavin Newsom Drops Out Of California Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 6:19PM

San Fransisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D)

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has dropped out of the California gubernatorial race, citing unspecified family obligations.

"With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to - and should be - done," Newsom said in a statement.

Newsom had trailed the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, state Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown, in both poll numbers, organizational support and fundraising. With Newsom now out of the race, Brown's road to the Democratic nomination -- and perhaps even to to the governor's mansion after a 28-year absence -- is now that much clearer.

Late Update: The Los Angeles Times seems to put this development down to a lack of support for Newsom's candidacy:

Although Newsom had been effectively running for more than a year, his campaign never gained much traction. Even in his hometown, which Newsom touted as a model of cutting-edge policies, his candidacy was widely derided among civic insiders.

Perhaps most telling was the absence of support from the major San Francisco donors who helped underwrite Newsom's successful campaigns in the city. He also drew relatively few endorsements from the ranks of his fellow elected officials.

Visitors Logs

Celebrities Among Visitors At White House

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 6:05PM

Actor Denzel Washington, Talk show host Oprah Winfrey

Going through the names of visitors to the White House released this evening, TPMDC has spotted several A-listers.

Oprah Winfrey was at the White House on Inauguration Day, when President Obama had a private party with close friends.

Feb. 17 she met with First Lady Michelle Obama in the White House residence.

Academy Award Winner Denzel Washington, who was among the emcees at the Lincoln Memorial concert inauguration weekend, was at the White House either May 7 or May 9. The White House says one of the visitors is a "false positive" of someone with the same name.

Tennis great Serena Williams was among the visitors to the White House on July 14, July 24 and July 27. On one of those visits she was in the White House residence.

Actor Hill Harper, a close personal friend of Obama's who appeared with him on the campaign trail in Iowa, was at the White House May 12 and May 14. On the first visit he met with the president.

Some of these celebs have been reported either by eagle-eyed reporters or released via photos by the official White House photographers.

Worth noting the records are not exhaustive - they only reflect the names requested via Freedom of Information Act the new disclosure policy. Corrected.

Visitors Logs

Alan Greenspan Dropped By Obama White House Six Times

Justin Elliott | October 30, 2009, 5:36PM

Fmr. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan

According to those just-released visitor logs, Alan Greenspan, the former Fed chair who many blame for laying policy groundwork that contributed to the financial crisis, has visited the Obama White House six times in the past nine months.

Those included a one-on-one visit with top Obama economic aide Larry Summers and two meetings with Peter Orszag, accompanied by one other visitor.

Read more »

Visitors Logs

Al Gore Visited WH Four Times, But Not To See Obama

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 5:33PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore

Newly released White House visitors logs show Al Gore has returned to his former offices on Pennsylvania Ave. four times since President Obama moved in back in January. The meetings were not all publicly disclosed in advance.

The former vice president didn't come to see fellow his fellow Nobel laureate in the Oval Office. Gore stopped off at the White House on April 6-8 and visited climate czar John Holdren twice in April and White House staffers Kate Brandt and Brian Jung.

VA-GOV

Haley Barbour To Stump For Bob McDonnell Sat

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 5:14PM

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) and gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell (R-VA)

On the final weekend of the Virginia gubernatorial contest, GOP nominee Bob McDonnell is turning to one of the Republican party's biggest names to help him rally the vote. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will join McDonnell at a rally in vote-rich Northern Virginia.

A former RNC chair, Barbour led the party when the GOP swept the 1994 elections and ended decades of Democratic control in the Congress. He lands in Virginia just days before McDonnell is expected to end nearly a decade of Democratic control of the governor's mansion.

Barbour currently leads the Republican Governors Association, the group that will welcome McDonnell as it's brightest new star if current polls prove to be true on Election Day.

Cap-and-Trade

Report: GOP To Boycott Cap-And-Trade Markup Tuesday

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 4:50PM

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

The GOP contingent on a Senate environmental committee will boycott a hearing aimed at moving a bill limiting carbon emissions toward final passage next week.

Environment and Public Works Committee chair Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has scheduled a markup hearing on the cap-and-trade bill for Tuesday. The markup process is a key step before a bill leaves committee on its way to an eventual floor vote. All seven Republicans on Boxer's committee, led by ranking member Sen. James Inhfe (R-OK) will not attend Boxers hearing, and will instead hold a separate shadow hearing of their own focused on slowing down the cap-and-trade bill.

Read more »

White House

White House Releases Names Of Some Visitors From Last Nine Months

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 4:48PM

White House

Who has bent President Obama's ear? Or huddled with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel?

The White House just posted nearly 500 records. Check it out here, and TPMDC will update readers as we go through the names.

Norm Eisen, special counsel to Obama on ethics, detailed the release in a blog post and said the 110 requests cover from January 20, 2009 to July 31, 2009.

Eisen writes:

There's an important lesson here as well. This unprecedented level of transparency can sometimes be confusing rather than providing clear information.

A lot of people visit the White House, up to 100,000 each month, with many of those folks coming to tour the buildings. Given this large amount of data, the records we are publishing today include a few "false positives" - names that make you think of a well-known person, but are actually someone else. In September, requests were submitted for the names of some famous or controversial figures (for example Michael Jordan, William Ayers, Michael Moore, Jeremiah Wright, Robert Kelly ("R. Kelly"), and Malik Shabazz). The well-known individuals with those names never actually came to the White House. Nevertheless, we were asked for those names and so we have included records for those individuals who were here and share the same names.

Read more »

Health Care

Grijalva Requests Changes To Health Care Bill, Vote On Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 4:22PM

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

In a curt, terse letter delivered today, public option champion, and progressive caucus co-chair Raul Grijalva says he wants to see some major changes to the House's health care bill--reflected in a so-called manager's amendment--before it comes to the floor.

• Americans in every state in the nation must be able to take advantage of the benefits of the bill; thus the bill shall explicitly state that the public option must be available without any triggers or opt-out provisions.
• If the Secretary is forced to negotiate provider reimbursement rates in the public plan, a ceiling shall be determined and set for such rates.
• The bill shall fully repeal the McCarran Ferguson Act for health and medical malpractice insurance, as oppose to merely amending the Act.

Read more »

NY-23

Biden To Campaign For Bill Owens; Hoffman Gets John Rich

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 4:22PM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D) and VP Joe Biden

Vice President Biden will be headed to upstate New York this Monday, to campaign for Democratic candidate Bill Owens in the NY-23 special election.

Biden's visit is coming the day before the election, in a final push to get out the Democratic vote against Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman and Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Hoffman will be bringing in his own big name: Country singer John Rich, who will be headlining a GOTV rally on Monday.

Arlen Specter

Sestak Takes Aim At Specter For Blocking Key Obama Nominee

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 3:05PM

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

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) has found a new lever in his primary campaign against Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA). Sestak is hitting Specter for his early (and possibly continuing) opposition to the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen, whom President Obama nominated to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel back in February.

"As the administration deals with crucial legal issues from interrogating and prosecuting terrorists to closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Arlen Specter and Senate Republicans have decided to tie the President's hands by denying him a critical advisor," Sestak says in a new statement.

Read more »

GOP

Michael Steele's '09 State Of The GOP Report: 'We Are Turning An Important Corner'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 2:47PM

GOP Logo, GOP Chairman Michael Steele

Michael Steele told Republican party leaders across the country today that one year after voters handed both houses of Congress and the White House to the Democrats, the GOP is poised to regain prominence on the political landscape.

In his "2009 Political Update," an email sent to the party's list of activists, Steele says the summer's town hall meetings and next week's elections in New Jersey in Virginia prove his first year at the helm of the GOP has been a success. He writes,

"Just one year ago, many political pundits had written the epitaph of the Republican Party. ... Today, Republicans have begun to reestablish the trust of voters on a majority of issues; and, I am proud to say are turning an important corner and are moving forward with strength."

Inside the document, Steele suggests are signs that the GOP still has a few corners to turn before it's back to the ideological unanimity found during its years in absolute power over D.C..

Read more »

Stimulus

VP Biden, Schwarzenegger Laud Jobs Saved With Stimulus Cash

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 2:45PM

Gov. Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Vice Pres. Biden, Gov. O'Malley (D-MD)

Vice President Joe Biden this afternoon outlined a report collecting the jobs saved or created across the country, the product of states sending in their data.

As TPMDC reported this morning, he was joined by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), who was a key ally when President Obama was selling the stimulus to the American people this winter.

Biden said the report shows the $787 billion economic stimulus plan has created or saved 642,239 jobs through the federal government and an estimated "at least" another 400,000 jobs. He said it is only a third of the way through.

"So far we have created over a million jobs," Biden said. "We know that more jobs are on the way as we continue to spend out these dollars."

Biden said the detailed Recovery.gov site is "quite simply something that has never happened before in the federal government."

He bemoaned worries that millions would go to polar bears and frisbee parks, adding, "So far, thank god, that's a dog that has not bitten yet."

Read more »

NJ-GOV

More Polls Show A Tight Race In New Jersey

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 2:33PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

Two new polls show that the New Jersey gubernatorial race continues to be neck and neck between Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

• In the new Rasmussen poll, respondents' initial preferences were Christie 42%, Corzine 39%, and independent Chris Daggett 12%. After Daggett supporters were asked if they were sure they would vote for him -- along with the process of pushing undecideds who might lean towards a candidate -- the result becomes a Christie lead of 46%-43%-8%, with a ±3% margin of error.

• The new Stockton College/Zogby poll: Corzine 40%, Christie 39%, and Daggett 14%, with a ±3% margin of error.

• The new Neighborhood Research (R) poll: Christie 42%, Corzine 35%, Daggett 8%, with a ±5.3% margin of error.

So which poll, out of these three or any others, should you believe? Keep in mind that a poll with Corzine up by two points is not significantly different from a poll with Christie up by two points, statistically speaking. The vast majority of polls have shown this race to be within just a couple points -- and they're probably right.

CBO

Wait A Minute--The Public Option's Premiums Would Be Higher On Average?

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 2:11PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and CBO Director Doug Elmendorf

Health care reformers have a number of arguments for the public option, but the main one is this: that by injecting fairness and competition into the market the public option will lower premiums for everybody, including those paying for private plans. Unfortunately, a new CBO study finds that it may not have that effect at all.

The theory behind the public option is that, by injecting a major non-profit insurer into the marketplace, it will force private competitors to cut down on administrative waste and other excesses, and, therefore, drive premiums down for everybody. Last week, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on the verge of losing the fight for a muscular public option, she said "There's no philosophical difference between a robust public option and negotiated rates. It's just a difference in money."

But is that true? Yesterday, in an analysis of House health care legislation, the CBO concluded that the six million people expected to enroll in the public option by 2019 will be paying, on average, higher premiums than will people buying private plans.

"[A] plan paying negotiated rates would attract a broad network of providers but would typically have premiums that are somewhat higher than the average premiums for the private plans in the exchanges," wrote CBO chief Doug Elmendorf.

Read more »

VA-GOV

White House Taking 'Long View' And Not Worried About Tuesday's Elections

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 2:07PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Whatever happens Tuesday in New Jersey and Virginia, that doesn't necessarily reflect on President Obama, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today.

Gibbs reminded reporters that Democrats won in both states in 2001 when Republican President George W. Bush had just taken office. At that time, Bush was at the height of popularity following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But on Nov. 6, 2001 Democrat Mark Warner (now a U.S. senator) was elected in Virginia and Democrat Jim McGreevey won in New Jersey.

"I don't think anybody thought President Bush was significantly hampered by that ... Whatever the results are I don't think they portend a lot in dealing with the future," Gibbs said during the briefing.

"We continue to take the long view on what's going on in Washington and in the country," Gibbs said.

"We'll have time to dissect" the results after Tuesday, he said.

TPMDC hears that Obama is planning to be out of town on Wednesday at an event in the middle of the country.

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 1:05PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

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

• ABC, This Week: Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

• CNN, State Of The Union: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Gov Haley Barbour (R-MS).

• Fox News Sunday: Rush Limbaugh.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, Obama 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe.

Barack Obama

Luntz Memo: Obama Not So Popular...But Don't Attack Obama!

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 11:46AM

A new Frank Luntz strategy memo may provide some insight into the Republican's playbook as the fight over reform enters its final stages.

The memo, which you can read here, is one of many similar memos that have been circulated to politicians and activists over the last several months, including by Luntz himself.

In his previous memo, Luntz warned conservatives not to tie health care reform efforts to President Obama--the President's name, he warned, helped buoy the overall level of support for reform. Luntz now says that's not true--but he nonetheless counsels reform opponents not to use the term 'Obamacare.'

"[y]ou can talk about opposing "President Obama's Plan," Luntz writes. "But don't. While you no-longer [sic] shoot yourself in the foot by criticizing the President, you would do much better to criticize Congress."

Read more »

Joe Lieberman

Reid's Office On Lieberman Campaigning For Republicans: We're Focused On Health Care

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 11:38AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

We asked Jim Manley, the spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, whether Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) position in the Democratic caucus was still secure, in light of his declaration that he will probably campaign for some Republican candidates in the 2010 election -- or as Lieberman said, "I'm going to call them as I see them."

Manley told us: "Senator Lieberman may call them as he see's them, but for Senator Reid, the only thing that he is focused on right now is delivering on the president's promise of comprehensive health care reform."

Liz Cheney

Liz Cheney Suggests Obama Honored Fallen Soldiers For The Publicity

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 10:30AM

Former State Dept. Official Liz Cheney

Liz Cheney called out President Obama for his early-morning trip to honor fallen soldiers arriving at Dover Air Force Base yesterday, suggesting President Bush honored America's heroes with a bit more class than his successor.

Cheney, on Fox News Radio's John Gibson Show yesterday:

"I think that what President Bush used to do is do it without the cameras. And I don't understand sort of showing up with the White House Press Pool with photographers and asking family members if you can take pictures. That's really hard for me to get my head around...It was a surprising way for the president to choose to do this."

Read more »

Blanche Lincoln

Poll: Arkansas Voters Disagree With Lincoln's Public Option Skepticism

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 10:29AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

The trend continues: a new Research 2000 poll, commissioned by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America, finds that a Democrat from a red state may not be doing herself any favors by standing in the way of a public option.

The poll asked Arkansans "Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan -- something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get -- that would compete with private health insurance plans?"

The findings are in line with other statewide and national polls that find the public option to be broadly popular. 56 favor, 37 oppose.

Read more »

NY-23

Pataki, More Republicans Back Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 9:53AM

NY-23 Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Fmr. Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)

More Republican endorsements are piling up for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in NY-23, instead of the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, with the most prominent being former three-term Gov. George Pataki.

In his endorsement, Pataki declares that electing Scozzafava would give "another vote to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. This run to the right is especially interesting, considering that Pataki himself used to have a reputation as a moderate, socially liberal Republican.

Hoffman has also been endorsed by an additional 11 House Republicans: Todd Akin (MO), Paul Broun (GA), Mary Fallin (OK), Jeff Flake (AZ), John Fleming (LA), Trent Franks (AZ), Steve King (IA), Tom McClintock (CA), Jerry Moran (KS) John Shadegg (AZ) and Mark Souder (IN). From that list, Moran is currently running for Senate, and his opponent in the primary, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, endorsed Hoffman a week ago.

Joe Lieberman

Lieberman Says He'll Stump For Republicans in 2010

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 30, 2009, 9:42AM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Last year, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) broke with his former colleagues in the Democratic party to stump for Republican candidates all across the country, including John McCain. Yesterday, Lieberman said he's planning a repeat performance on the congressional campaign trail in 2010.

Lieberman, from an interview with ABC News:

"I probably will support some Republican candidates for Congress or Senate in the election in 2010. I'm going to call them as I see them."

Read more »

Stimulus

VP Biden And Gov. Schwarzenegger To Tout 1 Million Jobs 'Saved Or Created'

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 9:27AM

Vice President Joe Biden, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)

Vice President Joe Biden at noon will be announcing a new report showing the $787 billion economic stimulus plan so far has "created or saved" at least 1 million jobs.

He will be joined by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

Administration officials tell TPMDC the new report will credit the Recovery Act with directly creating or saving about 650,000 jobs from its February start through Sept. 30.

The new report, to be posted in full here today, will detail about half the spending so far. The figures "confirm government and private forecaster's estimates that overall Recovery Act spending has created and saved at least 1 million jobs," officials said.

Obama aides tout this as history making since it will offer for the first time ever "more information about the Recovery Act at work than with any previous government program."

These reports are focused on education funding, highway repairs and construction projects reported by officials in state governments.

They say the data will show for each project who received the funds, when they received them, how they began to spend them and the jobs they have supported so far. It will be searchable by state, ZIP cod or Congressional district.

The administration says "analysis by both the Council of Economic Advisers and a wide range of private and public-sector forecasters indicates the Recovery Act contributed between 3 and 4 percentage points to real GDP growth in the third quarter, suggesting that in the absence of the Recovery Act, real GDP would have risen little, if at all, this past quarter."

Filibuster

Harkin, Again, Hints At Consequences For Off-The-Reservation Chairmen

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 9:17AM

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)--chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee is rare among senior Senate Democrats. Whereas many in the party view seniority as akin to tenure, Harkin thinks it should come with responsibility. And when powerful chairmen stray, he doesn't keep quiet.

"[Lieberman] still wants to be a part of the Democratic Party although he is a registered independent," Harkin said. "He wants to caucus with us and, of course, he enjoys his chairmanship of the [Homeland Security] committee because of the indulgence of the Democratic Caucus. So, I'm sure all of those things will cross his mind before the final vote."

Lieberman suggested this week that he'll filibuster health care reform legislation if it includes a public option.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Meeting With Progressives, Key Caucus Leaders: 'Productive'

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 9:10AM

President Barack Obama in Roosevelt Room

President Obama last night spent about an hour with leaders of several key Democratic caucuses talking about health care.

TPMDC waited to talk to members as they left the evening meeting, but it got started late so leaders of the Progressive, Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American caucuses hurried out instead of speaking to reporters.

A senior administration official tells us this morning:

It was a productive meeting that lasted for about an hour. The President congratulated the members on working so hard to get a meaningful reform bill put together in the House. They talked about strategies for ensuring choice and competition, expanding coverage, controlling costs, ensuring that minority health is addressed, and discussed the road forward.

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Ahead Of Christie 43%-42%

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 6:43AM

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

The new Fairleigh Dickinson poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race gives Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a slim edge over his Republican opponent Chris Christie.

The numbers: Corzine 43%, Christie 42%, and independent Chris Daggett 6%, with a ±4% margin of error. (Daggett was not listed as a choice, but was a voluntary answer.) This is basically unchanged from three and a half weeks ago, when Corzine was ahead 43%-42%-4% on this ballot test.

The pollster's analysis shows just how much an effect the presence of Daggett and other independents will have, and how the result can depend on how many voters he keeps or where others go: "When Daggett's name is read in an interview along with Jon Corzine's and Chris Christie's names, he gets 14% of the vote, drawing slightly more Democrats than Republicans, while Christie edges Corzine in a statistical tie, 41%-39%. But when the name of another independent candidate is read--the obscure Gary Steele--Steele gets 3% of the vote, draws off slightly more Republicans than Democrats, and Corzine beats Christie 46%- 41%."

Bill Owens

Three Candidates Debate In NY-23: A Moderate Democrat Versus Two Republicans

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 9:13PM

NY-23 candidates Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (C)

The three candidates for this Tuesday's NY-23 special election -- Democrat Bill Owens, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- debated today with the local ABC affiliate in Syracuse, the only meeting of all three candidates in a special election that has caught the eyes of the national media.

One very important element of this debate was that the issues where Scozzafava takes her more liberal positions -- she is pro-choice, supports gay marriage, and supports the Employee Free Choice Act -- simply didn't come up at all. As a result, the focus on prominent economic issues like taxes, health care and job creation really did turn this into a debate between one Democrat and two Republicans, and as a result this meant Scozzafava was effectively tacking to the right.

One running theme of the debate, though, was the sheer enmity between the two Republicans, the regular GOP nominee Scozzafava, and the insurgent Conservative Hoffman. Scozzafava clearly viewed Hoffman as an agent of outside interests, the national right-wing groups that have backed him as opposed to her local support and concern for local issues, while Hoffman presented himself as the only real Republican -- and as noted above, the issues on which he's really differentiated from her didn't even come up.

Read more »

Health Care

Conrad: House Health Care Bill Much Improved

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 6:48PM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) let it be known in numerous ways that early versions of the House health care bill would not meet his budgetary muster. Now, with CBO saying the House bill is a long term deficit reducer, Conrad has some very kind words for it.

"Much improved," Conrad told me. "It's now paid for, has deficit reduction over the first 10, and savings over the second 10...that's a big improvement. I commend the House. They've made significant strides and they deserve credit for it."

"They did make this sound from a budgetary standpoint, far more sound, and in terms of the public option, they no longer have it tied to Medicare levels of reimbursement which is, as I see it, terribly unfair to the low reimbursement states," he added.

One consequence of not tying the public option to Medicare? The CBO predicts that average premiums will be higher in the public option than in private plans.

Census

Louisiana Rumble Over Census As Landrieu Accuses Vitter Of 'Gamesmanship'

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 6:47PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

TPMDC has been tracking the progress of Sen. David Vitter's proposed amendment that would require Census workers to ask immigration status during the 2010 count.

The Obama administration helped dodge a first vote on this earlier this month, but a few centrists Democrats we've talked to this week say they may be interested in the amendment as well.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sent a terse letter to Vitter (R-LA) outlining the problems she sees in his amendment, including its potential taxpayer cost of $1 billion to reprint Census forms already ready for use.

Read more »

Health Care

House Will Vote On Health Care Before Veterans' Day

Rachel Slajda | October 29, 2009, 6:40PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

In a conference call this afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will vote on health care reform before the Veterans' Day holiday.

Pelosi said next Thursday, Nov. 5, is the "theoretically earliest date" the vote could take place.

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine And Christie Tied, Corzine Ahead Among Absentee Voters

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 6:17PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new SurveyUSA poll of New Jersey has the race tied between Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Jon Corzine.

The numbers: Corzine 43%, Christie 43%, and independent Chris Daggett 11%, with a ±4% margin of error. Last week, Christie was ahead by 41%-39%-19%. It's interesting to see that Daggett has fallen in the run-up to election day, as often happens with third-party candidates, and that Corzine may have been the beneficiary.

Also, the pollster's analysis says that Corzine has already banked a lead in absentee voters: "Corzine leads among the 11% of voters who tell SurveyUSA they have already returned a ballot. The candidates are even among voters who have not yet voted but say they will on or before election day. At this hour, the contest is a coin-toss. The lower the turnout, the better for Corzine."

NY-23

Rick Perry Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 6:01PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R), NY-23 Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has picked up another endorsement from a prominent Republican, Texas Gov. Rick Perry:

"There is a reason that our party lost power in Washington DC. A lot of folks went to Congress wearing the Republican jersey, but far too many played the game like Democrats. People around Texas -- and frankly, all around the country -- are fed up with the federal government."

Endorsing Hoffman, stead of the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, has now become something of a litmus test for true-believing conservatism. It should be noted, of course, that Perry is facing a challenge in the Republican primary in 2010, from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. And Perry has also been endorsed by Sarah Palin -- who has also endorsed Hoffman.

GOP

There's An App For That? House Republicans Launch BlackBerry 'WhipCast'

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 5:40PM

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

House Republicans today launched a new "communications tool" that House Minority Whip Eric Cantor and Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy say will help them distribute up-to-the-minute information.

The BlackBerry application is called WhipCast and it's designed to give "instantaneous alerts, audio updates, video features, and additional messages to users."

TPMDC has downloaded the app and it's an icon designed to look like a flag - a silver star on a blue circle over a red- and-white striped square.

Read more »

NY-23

Could NY-23 GOP Candidate Be Siphoning Votes From The Democrat?

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 4:54PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

With polls showing moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place in the NY-23 special election, behind Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, she may have to deal with a label that is not often applied to major-party candidates -- that of the spoiler. But who, exactly, is she spoiling?

Prof. Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia posited an interesting hypothesis to me: That Scozzafava's remaining vote is not a conservative Republican base vote that would go to Hoffman, since voters on the right have already been coalescing around him, but she could actually be drawing more from the moderate Democrat Owens.

"Most people think of that as just a rock solid Republican vote, but who are those people?" Sabato said. "They're people who now know, for the most part, that Scozzafava is a liberal Republican. They get it. And a lot of them are really unhappy with Hoffman, so are they really gonna back Hoffman?"

As this idea goes -- and keep in mind that it's not a solid pronouncement, but simply an interpretation of the data as it stands now -- if the Republican continues to fall, it could end up helping the Democrat in a district that voted 52% for Barack Obama in 2008, and where a majority might find a Democrat preferable to the right-wing Conservative.

Health Care

CBO Says House Health Care Bill Is Deficit Reducer In Near And Long Term

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 4:47PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and CBO Director Doug Elmendorf

The CBO has weighed in with a preliminary cost estimate of the House's health care bill--and there are almost certainly some very happy people in House leadership.

At $894 billion, the bill's 10 year cost comes in a hair under President Obama's $900 billion red line. But, more politically and substantively important, the bill is projected to reduce the deficit in both the first 10 years and the second 10 years after enactment, just as Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) told me earlier today.

Over the first 10 years, revenues and savings are projected to exceed new spending (aka it reduces the deficit) by $104 billion. Projections into the following decade are, as CBO chief Doug Elmendorf always notes, very dicey. But Elmendorf says that, from 2020-2029, "the added revenues and cost savings are projected to grow slightly more rapidly than the cost of the coverage expansions." In other words, though the government will pay more and more each year in subsidies and expanded entitlements, it will be realizing savings and collecting revenues at a greater rate.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll Gives Christie One-Point Lead

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 4:43PM

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

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of New Jersey gives Republican Chris Christie a one-point lead, in a race that has been on a knife's edge between him and Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

The numbers: Christie 42%, Corzine 41%, and independent Chris Daggett with 14%, with a ±4% margin of error. Four weeks ago, Christie led by 46%-42%-7%.

Both major candidates are viewed negatively by voters. Corzine's favorable rating is only 38%, with 55% unfavorable, while Christie is at 43%-46%. Daggett is in positive territory, but only with 35%-16% and nearly half of voters having no opinion of him.

Health Care

Pelosi Mum On Obama's Support For The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 4:10PM

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

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was mum today about her level of confidence in the White House's commitment to the public option going forward.

On a conference call with reporters and bloggers this afternoon, I asked Pelosi whether, given recent reports about the President Obama's reluctance to push for a public option in the Senate, she was confident he'd be supportive of the measure going forward.

Pelosi said she's been too busy to gauge the White House's commitment to the public option, but suggested that Obama may need to be a bit more persuaded of its political viability if he's going to throw his weight behind it.

"I guess I'm just so busy with what I'm doing that I'm not worrying about what somebody else is doing, and I have confidence in the President of the United States. He wants the strongest best possible bill that will work for the American people. And we have to convince him that what will pass in the Congress is something similar to what we have in the House," Pelosi said

Pelosi acknowledged that a more robust public option--one with payment rates tied to Medicare--was always a long shot in Congress.

"We knew the Senate was not going to that place if even Senator Kennedy was not going in that place," Pelosi said, referring to the fact that an early version of Senate legislation contained a public option with negotiated rates similar to the one she unveiled today.

But that's about as low as she's willing to go. "I don't see any way to go less than that, as good as it is."

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Ahead Of Christie By 43%-38%

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 3:53PM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new Democracy Corps (D) poll of New Jersey gives Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a five-point lead over his main rival, Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

The numbers: Corzine 43%, Christie 38%, and independent Chris Daggett 12%, with a ±4% margin of error. A week ago, Corzine led in the three-way poll by 42%-39%-13%.

When Daggett-supporters are pushed to choose between one of the top two candidates, Corzine's five-point lead holds steady at 47%-42%. This would suggest that Daggett is taking from both candidates equally at this point, despite a general impression during much of this race that he's taken more votes from Christie.

Health Care

Democrats Fundraise Off 'Strong' Public Option In The Health Care Bill

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 3:26PM

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

A few hours after the House Democrats dropped their health care plan, and as they are still counting votes on whether it has enough support, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is raising money on the public option that's included in the bill.

The fundraising email subject line sure is attention getting: "Breaking News: Strong Public Option Introduced."

In the message to DCCC supporters, Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) lauds the health care plan and thanks Democrats for standing up and speaking out. And then he asks for more cash:

"Now that we've taken this historic step, the media, pundits, and defenders of the status quo are wondering, "How will you respond?" Help us raise $50,000 by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT to send a powerful message that the American people stand behind a strong public option and comprehensive health care reform."

Full email after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

House Democrats Whipping Their Bill

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 2:47PM

TPMDC has learned that House Democrats are whipping the new health care bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced this morning.

Here's the text of the question Democratic members must respond to this afternoon.

WHIP QUESTION:

Will you support passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act?

RESPONSE DEADLINE: TODAY at 3:00PM

***Please send your response to your assigned Regional Whip
NO LATER than 3:00pm TODAY***

The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Bill Summary

***The full text of the legislation will be available on the website of the Committee on Rules: http://www.rules.house.gov/ ***

***The attached document compares the Affordable Health Care for America Act to H.R. 3200, as introduced***

Health Care

House GOP Knows What It Doesn't Want In A Health Care Bill, Won't Yet Say What It Does

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 29, 2009, 1:59PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)

House Republicans slammed the new Democratic health care reform bill this morning, but didn't say when or if they'll be offering a reform package of their own.

GOP leader John Boehner led a press conference to voice his concerns about the bill an hour or so after Pelosi was done presenting it outside. He walked carrying the nearly 2,000 page house bill, which he dropped with a thud onto the podium.

"Through August and September, the American people made it clear they want know part of a government-run system for providing health care," he said. "[But] this bill amounts to a government takeover of our health care system."

Read more »

Health Care

Grijalva Continues Push For Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 1:59PM

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)--co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus--was not in attendance at today's health care bill unveiling. But his office sends over the following quote, suggesting that he plans to continue his push for a strong public option, even though the base House bill doesn't go as far as he'd like.

"I am not rolling over. I will insist on a Medicare-plus-five amendment on the Floor so that the full Caucus can vote on it. We are hopeful that the Rules Committee will allow this amendment, which has tremendous public support, to be voted on for the record."

Grijalva has been leading the charge in the House for a robust public option, suggesting that progressives might defect from the final bill if the plan isn't tied to Medicare reimbursement rates. We'll keep an eye out for his next move.

Health Care

TPMDC Video: Costumed Anti-Abortion Protesters Heckle Congressional Staffers

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 1:50PM

Anti-abortion groups regularly station morning protesters at the Capitol South Metro stop on the House side of the Capitol building as staffers head into work. Today they went with a Halloween theme, dressed as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Harry Reid covered in blood and chained together.

TPMDC was on the scene and captured some video of the group as they orchestrated a scene of Pelosi and Reid being tortured by demons thanks to (presumably) supporting abortion. They also were opposed to the health care bill revealed today.

"Staffers, Hill rats, join Nancy Pelosi in hell!" they shouted as Metro riders walked by. They also shouted they wanted to "Kill the bill, not babies."

I took a few photos and shot the video you can watch after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

AHIP 'Concerned' About House Health Reform Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 29, 2009, 12:54PM

AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni

The health insurance lobby says it's worried about the health care bill proposed by Nancy Pelosi this morning, but says it's willing to work with Democrats to find a solution the industry says "will cover all Americans, make coverage more affordable, and improve quality."

AHIP CEO Karen Ignagni offered the industry's take on the House bill shortly after it was announced by Pelosi on the steps of the Capitol.

"The promise of health care reform has been that if you like your current coverage, you can keep it," she said. "We are concerned that this proposal will break this promise by increasing health care costs for families and employers across the country and significantly disrupting the quality coverage on which millions of Americans rely today."

Read more »

NY-23

Dem Owens And GOPer Scozzafava Debate In NY-23, Conservative Hoffman Skips It

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 12:52PM

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

The candidates met last night for a debate in the NY-23 special election -- two of the candidates anyway. Only Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Dede Scozzafava were there for the public radio debate, with Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman skipping the event.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan told the Plattsburgh Press Republican that the radio station's involvement was the reason for the refusal: "North Country Public Radio is the perfect venue to decide who is the most liberal candidate in the race."

At the beginning of the debate (audio here), the moderator said that multiple invitations were extended to Hoffman, and that as far as they knew he would have been available.

All three candidates, however, are meeting today for one debate, hosted by the local ABC affiliate. The debate is being taped at 2:30 p.m., and will be broadcast and streamed online at 7 p.m.

Health Care

Democrats Optimistic, Progressives Coming To Terms, On Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 12:22PM

Before House Democrats unveiled their health care bill, the caucus huddled in the basement of the Capitol to get fired up. As the meeting broke, Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) darted down the hall and a reporter asked him how many votes he had.

"All we need," Clyburn shouted back, cheekily.

Inside the caucus room, members broke into applause.

Unsurprisingly, optimism was the theme of the morning among House Democrats, though some progressives aren't completely pleased with the outcome.

Rep Lynne Woolsey (D-CA)--co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus--said, emphatically, that when she and other liberal leaders meet with the President tonight, she wants to hear him say "that he supports a strong public option and he will take that over to the Senate." As for whether she can support the bill in the House with a somewhat weakened public option, Woolsey told me she needs to learn more.

"We're looking at what they've put in the bill to make up for it not being Medicare-plus-five, to see if it covers...our same goals," she said.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Offers Praise For House Health Care Bill And Cites 'Strong Consensus'

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 11:51AM

President Barack Obama

The White House sends over a lengthy statement from President Obama on the house health care bill.

He says he's sure there will be more debate but congratulated Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House leadership for "countless hours of hard work" and for forging "a strong consensus that represents a historic step forward."

Compare that with the White House response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's reveal Monday. Obama was "pleased" with public option but not as effusive in that statement.

Read more »

NY-23

Poll: NY-23 Dem and Conservative In Tight Race, Republican In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 11:43AM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the NY-23 race finds this to be a dead heat between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third.

The numbers: Owens 33%, Hoffman 32%, Scozzafava 21%, with a ±4% margin of error. Last week, Owens had 35%, Scozzafava 30%, and Hoffman 23%.

Two other polls commissioned by groups backing Hoffman -- the Club For Growth and the Minuteman PAC -- have shown Hoffman with a lead over Owens, and Scozzafava in third.

Special elections are notoriously difficult to poll, due to low and unpredictable turnout patterns, and the nature of a three-way race makes it all the more complicated. At this point, though, we have enough evidence to say with a reasonable level of confidence that the race is probably between Owens and Hoffman.

NRCC

GOP: Pelosi Driving Dem House Members Off A Cliff

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 11:27AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

NRCC communications director Ken Spain released this statement on the House Democrats' unveiling of their health care bill, making it clear that the GOP will try to keep on using this issue as a cudgel against Democrats in swing districts:

"The lasting image coming out of today's press conference is one of dozens of House Democrats standing proudly behind an incredibly unpopular Nancy Pelosi as she prepares to lead them off a political cliff. Not only will the Democrats' government takeover of healthcare lead to increased costs, higher taxes, and cuts to Medicare, it also feeds into the emerging narrative that Nancy Pelosi and her puppets are more interested in creating government even if it comes at the expense of creating jobs."

Tea Party

The Mob That Wasn't Greets Arrival Of Pelosi Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 29, 2009, 11:16AM

It certainly wasn't the "flash mob" organizers were hoping for, but a small but determined group of Tea Party Patriots gathered on the Capitol Lawn this morning to protest the announcement of a final House health care reform bill.

TPMDC counted about 10 Tea Partiers holding signs denouncing a "government takeover" of health care and looking with disdain as House Democrats gathered on the Capitol Steps. They stood in a larger group of protesters from other groups, mostly focused on abortion rights.

Joann Abbott, a grandmother from Northern Virginia, made the drive to the protest this morning after seeing the email sent by Tea Party leaders last night. When asked if she was part of the "flash mob," she laughed. "I'm here on my own," she said, looking around at the scattered protesters around her. "If this is organized, we suck."

Read more »

TX-GOV

Perry Reacts To Cheney's Endorsement Of His Opponent: 'I'd Stick With Sarah' Palin

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 11:12AM

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) and Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is brushing off former Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Perry's primary challenger, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison -- saying he'd rather have his current support from Sarah Palin.

Perry touted an upcoming endorsement from Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, as evidence of Republican support. Perry was then asked if he would rather have Cheney or Palin, who endorsed him back in February.

Perry's response: "I think I'd stick with Sarah."

Afghanistan

Gibbs, Eyes Glistening, Describes Dover AFB: "It's Hard Not To Be Overwhelmed"

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 11:02AM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs showed a rare flash of emotion this morning reflecting on his own experience at President Obama's side in the predawn hours at Dover Air Force Base as the bodies of 18 killed in Afghanistan arrived in the United States.

Eyes glistening, Gibbs told reporters during a gaggle in his West Wing office he'd never had such an experience.

"You get a real sense of gravity when you see the faces of those there to grieve for a loved one," Gibbs said after TPMDC asked him about his own reaction during the surprise visit.

"These were very recent deaths," he continued. "You can see the genuine anguish on their faces. It's hard not to be overwhelmed by what you see."

Read more »

NY-23

Democrat Owens And GOPer Scozzafava Split Newspaper Endorsements -- Conservative Hoffman Gets Thumbs-Down

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 10:17AM

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

Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens are splitting the big newspaper endorsements in the NY-23 special election, which has become a three-way race due to the presence of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- who in turn is getting bad reviews in the press.

The Watertown Daily Times, the biggest paper int he district, is endorsing Scozzafava and scolding Hoffman:

Her answers to questions posed by this newspaper about district issues reveal both a breadth and depth that are unmatched by her opponents' responses. During this campaign she has been the candidate most focused on the district, the most willing to debate and the least likely to be diverted by outside interests.

Mr. Hoffman, an accountant and businessman who lives outside the district in Lake Placid, has harnessed a national firestorm of conservative dismay with government. But his ideological stands could harm the district. An example: He has sworn on principle not to request congressional earmarks even though they were essential to raise federal funds for the expansion and improvement of Fort Drum. Would he hew to this stand at the expense of the district which has benefited mightily from Drum's development?

Read more »

Health Care

If The Dems Make A Health Care Bill, Will The Tea-Partiers Come?

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 9:58AM

Protesters at the 9/12 Tea Party March on Washington

Today is a big day on Capitol Hill, featuring the rollout of the House Democrats' health care bill -- and possibly a Tea Party protest against it.

An e-mail was sent out last night on the Tea Party Patriots e-mail list, asking anyone within driving distance of Washington to head to the Capitol at 10 a.m., the scheduled time for the unveiling of the House health care bill.

The event has also been described in conservative Twitter-land, including Erick Erickson, as a "flash mob."

So will a bunch of people show up? Let's see what happens.

Check out the full e-mail after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Meeting With Progressives And Key Democratic Caucus Groups On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 9:50AM

After House Democrats reveal their version of the health care bill this morning on the Capitol steps, President Obama later this afternoon will hold a private meeting with some of the most key groups he must keep united to pass a plan.

The White House says Obama will gather in the Roosevelt Room with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

As TPMDC has written, Obama's relations with these groups have not always been warm. Progressives were irritated the conservative Blue Dog Democrats were hosted at the White House to discuss health care last month.

On an unrelated note, we're wondering if Obama will discuss with the members of the minority caucuses the accusations from Republican lawmakers that the Council on American Islamic Relations planted spies on Capitol Hill as interns.

NJ-GOV

Report: White House Intervened In New Jersey Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 9:36AM

Pres. Obama and Gov. Jon Crozine (D-NJ)

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who seriously trailed Republican nominee Chris Christie in polls over the summer but has caught up in the past few weeks, has reportedly seen a heavy increase in White House involvement in his campaign during that same period of recovery.

The Politico reports that the White House sent senior adviser David Axelrod and political director Patrick Gaspard to New Jersey in August, to express the White House's concerns about the race. One Corzine aide said there was a message being sent that Corzine should consider dropping out of the race -- which Corzine never would have done -- but that allegation was denied by White House officials.

Corzine did end up replacing his pollster, Mark Mellman, with Obama pollster Joel Berenson, who is also experienced in New Jersey politics. In the time since then, Corzine has focused his attacks against Christie on key issues like health care -- especially his accusation that Christie's health insurance proposals would result in women losing mammogram coverage -- and allegations of Christie abusing his office as U.S. Attorney.

Health Care

Pelosi To Unveil Health Care Bill This Morning--To Crowd Of Tea Partiers?

Brian Beutler | October 29, 2009, 9:14AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

As announced yesterday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats will unveil the health care bill they plan to bring to the floor this morning. The long awaited legislation will come in at under $900 billion. Like the Senate bill, its public option will reimburse providers at negotiated rates--though unlike in the Senate bill, states will not be allowed to opt out.

Pelosi had pushed in recent days for a more robust public option, which would have saved more money. To make up for those lost savings, the House bill will lower the Medicaid threshold to 150 percent of the poverty line (it was originally expected to cover everybody below 133 percent of poverty).

The employer and individual mandates will be more robust than in the Senate bill, and, as a result, the bill is expected to cover millions more Americans. The $900 billion will be covered by a mix of taxes on high-income earners, industry contributions and savings wrung from existing government health care programs. That means it will not expand the deficit for at least the first 10 years.

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Barack Obama

Obama Makes Surprise Overnight Visit To Dover To Honor Troops Killed In Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 6:51AM

President Obama pays his respects to fallen American soldiers.

President Obama before dawn this morning paid tribute to the 18 U.S. military personnel killed in Afghanistan Monday, making a surprise trip to Dover Air Force Base as their bodies returned home to the United States.

The solemn visit - Obama's first such experience since taking office and lifting the ban on photographing the war dead - comes as he's wrestling with a decision to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

(See slideshow here.)

The White House pool was summoned just before midnight to witness the moment. TPMDC has the details.

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Health Care

The High Drama Behind Reid's Public Option Decision

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 6:40PM

Today, everyone's officially on the same page. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and his leadership team, and the White House all stand behind the Senate health care bill, which, as we learned this week, includes a public option. But the days leading up to Reid's big Monday announcement were perhaps more trying for leading Democrats than has been publicly acknowledged, or than today's picture of calm would lead you to believe.

Much of the hoopla surrounding Reid's decision centers around a tense Thursday night meeting between President Obama and Senate health care principals--including Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--at the White House. But according to sources briefed on White House-Senate health care negotiations, things began boiling over earlier in the week, when a key question was, Who's going to take the blame when the public option doesn't make it in to the base health care bill?

According to a source briefed on White House-Senate health care negotiations, the public option's saving grace was its political popularity with the Democratic base. The source described the back and forth between Senate health care principals and the White House as a "sort of stare down where the two sides were saying, 'you be the face of pulling it out.' Reid wants Obama to do it to give cover to his caucus, Obama wants Reid to do it so he's not the bad guy on the public option, and can still walk away with a win with reform, with bipartisanship, and with a card for everybody running for re-election."

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Health Care

Governors (And Candidates) Span Spectrum On Public Option Opt-Out

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 6:38PM

President Obama addresses National Governors Association

It's been two days since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced a health care bill with a public option that will allow states to opt-out.

As TPMDC wrote earlier, we still don't know the mechanism for how the states would get out (or in, if that were to happen) of the public option, but we took stock of some of the candidates for governor in Tuesday's races.

Our question: Would your state opt out of a public option?

The basic tally:

In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine (D) would not. Challenger Chris Christie (R) would.

In Virginia, Bob McDonnell (R) would opt out and Creigh Deeds (D) is leaning toward opting out.

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VA-GOV

New VA-GOV Ad: McDonnell Talks About 'Hope'

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 5:23PM

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

With just a few days left in the Virginia governor's race, the candidates are making their closing arguments.

TPMDC just posted the new ad from Creigh Deeds (D), who portrays himself as substantive and also is looking for a boost from Obama voters.

Bob McDonnell (R) may be thinking about Obama too, since his new ad is all about "hope."

"Our family shares the concerns and hopes for the future that you do," he says. Watch after the jump.

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Health Care

White House Disputes Lieberman On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 5:16PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

A lot of people in Sen. Joe Lieberman's former party are now stepping up to set the record straight, and say they don't agree with his analysis of the impact of the public option.

At the White House briefing today, a reporter asked Press Secretary Robert Gibbs whether he agrees with Lieberman, who says both that a public option will cost tax payers dearly, and drive up the cost of health insurance for everybody else--positions that are disputed widely by experts.

Gibbs was pretty direct: "I think we would disagree and I think elements of the Congressional Budget Office would disagree with the analysis that Senator Lieberman has made."

In making those statements, he joins other high profile Democrats who also dispute Lieberman's position. However, though Democrats don't agree with Lieberman, none have publicly chastised him for going rogue yesterday. According to Sam Stein of the Huffington Post, this is reflective of Senate leadership's strategy of winning over the Connecticut senator without pushing back too hard and, perhaps, entrenching his opposition to health care reform.

VA-GOV

Deeds Campaign: We'll Win By Turning Out Obama Voters

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 5:00PM

VA-Gov. candidate Creigh Deeds (D)

On a conference call with reporters this afternoon, the Deeds campaign explained how they plan to beat the expectations and win the Virginia gubernatorial race.

"The name of the game is getting out the vote. And people say, 'how do you expect to win at this point?" said campaign adviser Mo Elleithee. "And the answer is simple. If we can get out a significant number of people who voted for Barack Obama and Mark Warner in 2008, then we are very much in this game, and that is to be our main objective this week."

The campaign is especially targeting what it calls "Obama-surge voters," the new voters or infrequent voters who came out to polls to help Barack Obama win the state in 2008, as the first Democratic presidential candidate to do so since 1964. Polling has consistently shown that Republican voters are more motivated than Democrats in this race, with polls often showing that the likely-voter pools this time around actually voted for McCain last year.

The campaign plans to get to about 175,000 doors across the state between now and election day, with a target of 200,000 doors on the big day itself, plus there will be over 700,000 GOTV calls. The question is, will it be enough to prove all the current polls wrong?

Mike Pence

Pence: Obama 'Has Used His Position As Commander In Chief To Advance A Radical Social Agenda'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 4:45PM

The GOP may have lost a recent battle over President Obama on social politics, but a House Republican Leader today said he's not ready to let Democrats win the culture war.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), the leader of the GOP conference in the House, issued a fiery statement denouncing to Obama for signing a hate crimes bill into law today.

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Jeff Flake

Jeff Flake's Wise Explanation Of Vote Against Honoring Confucius

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 4:45PM

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) released this statement today, giving some precious wisdom in explaining why he voted against honoring the ancient Chinese sage Confucius:

Congressman Flake Releases Statement Regarding His Vote Against Honoring the 2560th Birthday of Confucius

Washington, D.C., Oct 28 - Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona's Sixth District, today released the following statement regarding his vote against H.Res.784, a bill "honoring the 2560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognizing his invaluable contributions to philosophy and social and political thought."

"He who spends time passing trivial legislation may find himself out of time to read healthcare bill," said Flake.

Heh. Heh.

Health Care

CBO Score Of Senate Health Care Bill May Be Delayed As Questions Remain

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 3:09PM

Fmr. CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin

Senate Democrats are worried they may be delayed debating the merged health care bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent to the Congressional Budget Office Monday while they wait for the CBO to score the measure.

Roll Call is reporting (sub. req.) that senators are concerned the score may not be available for another week and a half, which would postpone the debate beginning late next week.

As Brian detailed yesterday, there are plenty of unanswered questions about the bill.

TPMDC interviewed former CBO chief Doug Holtz-Eakin, who served as an economic adviser to the McCain campaign last year.

"It's so unclear to me what actually is being proposed," he told us, adding he was surprised any senators have been able to take sides since the details are scarce. "There are a million questions."

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Chuck Schumer

Key Democratic Senators Correct Lieberman On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 3:06PM

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Key public option supporters in the Senate Democratic Caucus pushed back today on different objections raised by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to the idea of including a public option in health care reform.

"I think one of the problems the leader is working through...is that there have been a number of theories about what a public option is that have been kicked around," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in response to a question from TPMDC. "On the Senate side, in the [HELP] Committee, we chose to...make sure that these public options were self sustaining."

Lieberman has suggested both that the public option would be a drain on taxpayers, and that it would drive up private insurance premiums, in contrast to the findings of most experts.

"I think there's a bit of a function of trying to make sure that everybody's clear exactly what it is that we're proposing," Whitehouse said. "I think once the actual text of the bill is out and it's clear that the HELP language is what was adopted. I think we'll be successfully able to make the case to Senator Lieberman that there is not a subsidy here and it is not an entitlement."

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) added his own two cents as well.

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Health Care

Report: House Health Care Bill Unveiled Tomorrow

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 3:04PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Rumors have been swirling all day, and now ABC is reporting that House leaders will unveil their health care bill at a morning press conference tomorrow.

Of the specifics that were still up in the air, the bill reportedly: will not include a robust public option, as recent signs have been indicating; will cost about $900 billion--in line with President Obama's mark; will cover several million more people than the Senate Finance Committee's bill will; and will be paid for, in large part, with a 5.4 percent surtax on high income families and individuals.

Stay tuned for more details as they emerge.

Joe Lieberman

CORRECTED: Lieberman Proposed Public Option In 2004, Opposes It Now

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 2:56PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

[CORRECTION: We have been told that Joe's program here was not properly termed a public option, but was two different concepts -- an expansion of government-run health care programs for the young, extending it up to age 25, and the creation of private health care exchanges in order to create a competitive, organized marketplace. So to be blunt, we bungled this one. TPM regrets the error.]

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) seems to have seriously changed his position on a public health insurance program -- from supporting it years ago, to staunchly opposing it now.

Back when Lieberman was a full-fledged Democrat and sought the party's nomination for President, he said this at a debate in South Carolina on January 29, 2004:

"And one of the things we will do when we're one nation is to end the moral outrage of 44 million people without health insurance in the richest country in the world, nine million children whose parents can't take them to the doctor when they get sick 'cause they can't pay the bill. I'm gonna do that, and also help the millions who have insurance that can't pay it, by creating national health insurance pools like the ones members of Congress get our insurance from.

"Promises: When you're born, child in America, you get a membership card, and MediKids covers your insurance. Two, if you lose your job, you will not lose your health insurance. Three, underemployed, self-employed, small business, you can buy into this plan, it'll cost you a lot less, and incidentally, you'll get drug benefits with it. That's the kind of centrist leadership that produces results, and that's the kind of president America needs and I'll be."

(Transcript via Nexis)

Back then, Joe Lieberman was presenting the public option as a sensible, centrist plan for the country. But now he's promising to filibuster a Democratic proposal to establish one. So what changed?

We've placed a call with Lieberman's office, but they have not yet gotten back to us.

Public Option

Lamont: Lieberman 'Has Shown He's Not Working Hard For Democrats'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 2:28PM

Fmr. Greenwich Selectman Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont, the man who made Joe Lieberman an Independent, said today that Democrats in Connecticut are fuming about Lieberman's public option posturing in the same way they were about the Iraq war back in 2006. That was the year Lamont soundly defeated Lieberman for the Democratic senate nomination, only to lose to him when Lieberman reentered the race as an Independent.

"National Democrats said [our race] was all about the war in Iraq," Lamont told TPMDC this morning. "They said that except for that, Joe was a good Democrat."

But with the health care vote and other matters, Lamont said, Lieberman has "not been working hard with Democrats to get universal health care as he promised. He's been sort of obstructionist."

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Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney To Campaign For Kay Bailey Hutchison In Texas Gubernatorial Primary

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 2:08PM

Fmr. VP Dick Cheney and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Former Vice President Dick Cheney may have left office overwhelmingly unpopular with the country at large, but he's headed back on the campaign trail -- to endorse Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in her campaign for governor, challenging incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary.

Cheney is scheduled to attend a Hutchison fundraiser on November 17, an environment of Texas Republicans where he's probably still more popular than not.

In terms of endorsements, each candidate has a big GOP name in their corner. Cheney is for Hutchison, while Perry has previously been endorsed by Sarah Palin.

NY-23

Conservative Party's Hoffman Previously Sought Earmark, Now Opposes Them

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 1:38PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has sworn off earmarks as part of his campaign to cut the size of government in Washington -- but it turns out that he's not so pure on this subject, the Watertown Daily Times reports.

Hoffman sat on the finance committee of a local hospital, the Adirondack Medical Center, which two years ago asked Republican Rep. John McHugh (whose appointment as Secretary of the Army triggered this special election) for federal funding to construct a primary health clinic.

The hospital ultimately received $479,000. This was actually less than the undisclosed amount that the hospital had originally asked for, which is a typical practice in a process that involves requesting a large amount and securing a smaller one.

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Health Care

Gibbs Says Obama Hasn't Talked To Reid And Calls Lieberman Questions 'Hypothetical'

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 1:38PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

President Obama hasn't talked to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the last few days since the votes for the health care bill seemed to fall away on Capitol Hill.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon Obama last spoke with Reid last week when leadership huddled with him here.

Reporters - including TPMDC - sort of ganged up on Gibbs to pin him down, but he dismissed questions about Sen. Joe Lieberman's stance on the public option and a potential filibuster as hypotheticals.

"I'm not going to judge the end of this process by what people say today," Gibbs said.

He cited Lieberman (I-CT) saying today that he would vote for the motion to bring the health care bill to the floor, adding "That's the first part of the process."

Reporters reminded him the filibuster part is a bit more important, and Gibbs interrupted, "Can't get to the second before you get to the first."

Asked if Obama and Lieberman have spoken, Gibbs said he wasn't sure the last time.

"The legislative affairs team is in touch with many on Capitol Hill," he said.

Gibbs also went into where things stand with health care.

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Joe Lieberman

Reid Spokesman: 'Nothing Has Changed' On Lieberman's Position In Dem Caucus

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 1:34PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

We asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's spokesman Jim Manley whether Sen. Joe Lieberman's (ID-CT) position as a senior member of the Democratic caucus and a committee chairman is still secure, in light of his new comments that he will filibuster the public option.

"Nothing has changed," Manley told us.

Health Care

Is AARP The GOP's New ACORN?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 1:28PM

AARP logo, GOP logo

The GOP's new line of attack against health care reform is starting to sound familiar.

On Monday, we reported on the House GOP's plans to target AARP in the health care reform debate. Republican leaders say AARP is supporting changes to the Medicare system included in Democratic health care reform bills because they would result in more sales of AARP-branded insurance. They claim that "backroom deals" between executives of the AARP and Democratic leadership -- deals the GOP say are designed to protect the executives' high salaries -- led to the group's pro-Medicare reform stance.

Yesterday, the message gained traction among the right wing commentariat. AARP flatly denies the claims and says it's beginning to feel a little like the GOP's new ACORN.

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NJ-GOV

Joe Wilson To Appear At Unauthorized Rally For Chris Christie

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 12:01PM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), the right-wing hero who shouted "You lie!" during President Obama's speech to Congress, is headed to New Jersey this Sunday to get out the vote for Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie -- but Christie certainly won't be there.

The rally was organized by local Tea Party activists, not the Christie campaign. It will be held in the Republican stronghold of Morris County, which voted 54%-46% for John McCain even as the state went 57%-42% for Obama.

The rally's organizer pointed out that Christie won't be coming, even though "he's only going to be half a mile away."

It should be noted that Christie is not having Republican names known for their right-wing credentials campaigning for him in this socially liberal and Democratic state. He's sticking to safer names like Rudy Giuliani, or moderate former Governors Tom Kean and Christie Whitman. The most conservative he's going is Tim Pawlenty, who is much less scary to New Jersey than a guy like Wilson.

Defense Spending

Ending F-22: $2.9B, Laser Aircraft Savings: $214M, Cutting Wasteful Defense Spending: Priceless

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 11:47AM

The Pentagon

The White House sent TPMDC some figures detailing the savings from the waste the Obama administration slashed from the Pentagon budget.

We detailed the cuts earlier, since President Obama will use them as an example of how "change" has come to Washington.

More information is here, but the list of cuts and their savings provided by an administration aide is after the jump.

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Health Care

Clash Of Titans: Rove, Dean Debate Health Care At Penn State

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 11:28AM

Frmr, Sr. Advisor/Deputy Chief of Staff to Pres. George W. Bush Karl Rove and DNC Chairman Howard Dean (D-VT)

It may not have been held in an octagon, but a debate last night at Penn State between Karl Rove and Howard Dean was still a rhetorical brawl, according to reports. The pair clashed over the basic battle lines of the reform debate, with Dean arguing that a public option is "imperative" for reform's success, and Rove claiming the entire Democratic reform model is sure to drag the country in to debt, despair and destruction.

Overall it was a "cerebral" affair, according to the AP. But the crowd wanted fireworks, and they made sure they got their wish.

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NJ-GOV

Corzine And Bill Clinton Rally New Jersey On Democratic Issues

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 11:20AM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Fmr. Pres. Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton rallied support for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine last night, headlining a Democratic Party fundraiser in the party stronghold of Essex County, and then a rally in the nearby town of Little Falls -- with a clear focus on encouraging people to vote for Corzine out of the state's fundamental agreement on Democratic issues.

"It is an important election and elections matter," said Corzine, whose own net approval ratings are consistently in negative territory. "Elections aren't really about the candidate, they're about the direction the society will take, that New Jersey will take. Just think back to 2000, and think what would have happened if the right guy who'd gotten elected had been sworn in."

Corzine said how if Al Gore had been sworn in after the 2000 election, the country wouldn't have lost millions of jobs, and there would not have been a war of choice -- focusing on the unpopularity of the Bush administration, which just so happened to have appointed Corzine's Republican opponent Chris Christie as a U.S. Attorney.

When Bill spoke, he talked about the Republican Party's direction. "The Republicans seem to have two strategies at the state and national level," said Bill. "One, they left us a terrible mess and they complain that the President isn't fixing it quickly. And second, their strategy is to just hope that we mess up."

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Michael Steele

Steele Calls For Investigation Of White House Fundraising

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 10:13AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee is up in arms over a Washington Times report that the Obama administration is allegedly using access to the White House as a fundraising tool for the Democratic National Committee, and the RNC is now calling for an investigation.

"The seriousness of this issue requires an immediate investigation looking into the degree and details of fundraising efforts between the White House and DNC, whether there was any quid pro quo offered to donors, and the names of White House officials who were involved in such activities," RNC chairman Michael Steele said in a statement.

Chris Dodd

Key Senators React To Lieberman's Fuzzy Public Option Logic

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 9:32AM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

One of the most puzzling things about Sen. Joe Lieberman's opposition to the public option is that he says it's based in a belief that a new government "entitlement" will end up being a large burden on taxpayers. In fact, the public option will be paid into (i.e. not subsidized like an entitlement) and the vast consensus among experts, partisan and non-partisan, is that a public option will save the government lots of loot. Moreover, they conclude that the bigger the plan is, the more money it will save.

Yesterday, I asked Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Lieberman's Connecticut colleague Chris Dodd (D-CT) what they thought of Lieberman's backward thinking.

Singing the praises of her preferred 'trigger' solution, Snowe said "[triggers] obviously can have a maximum impact...certainly, not as comparable to a full public option and what they want, but on the other hand what you're doing with the public option is basically crowding out the private sector, because of the government's, you know, inordinate advantage in the market place."

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Health Care

Snowe Pessimistic About Triggers

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 9:13AM

Yesterday Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said he'd filibuster a health care bill if it contains a public option. Many reporters and analysts took this as a sign that an alternative political strategy of courting Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who prefers the public option only as a fall back, would re-emerge.

Well, Snowe herself disagrees.

"I don't see how you get to 60 [votes to replace the public option with a trigger]," Snowe told reporters last night.

Having a public option in the bill, she said, will "make it infinitely more difficult to change that on the floor...I just don't see how that works."

For what it's worth, Lieberman also said he opposes the trigger option yesterday, too. So he's not necessarily making a public push to get Snowe back into the game.

Swine Flu

Obama Daughters Received Swine Flu Shots

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 9:06AM

The Obamas

First Lady Michelle Obama's spokeswoman Katie McCormick-Lelyveld blogged at WhiteHouse.gov a rare bit of news about Obama daughters Malia and Sasha.

After being inundated with questions, the White House wanted everyone to know the girls received the H1N1 flu shot last week when it became available to D.C. school kids.

Her blog post after the jump.

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NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Ahead of Christie By 43%-38%

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 6:36AM

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

The new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey gives Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a five-point lead over Republican Chris Christie.

The numbers: Corzine 43%, Christie 38%, and independent Chris Daggett 13%, with a ±2.8% margin of error. Two weeks ago, Christie had an edge of 41% to Corzine's 40%, and Daggett was at 14%.

This poll suggests that Daggett is taking more votes away from Christie than Corzine, with his voters listing Christie as their second choice by a 43%-27%. This runs contrary to a Public Policy Polling (D) survey that showed Corzine as their second choice, but keep in mind these sub-samples have very high margins of error.

From the pollster's analysis: "You could see it coming. Gov. Jon Corzine's numbers crept steadily up and Christopher Christie's steadily shrank and now, for the first time, we have Corzine ahead. But don't be in a hurry to mark this election as over. Christopher Daggett changed it from 'ABC' - Anybody But Corzine - to a real three-way scrap. But a lot of Daggett's voters say they might change their minds by Election Day. Where will they go?"

Defense Spending

Obama To Say Waste Cut From Pentagon Budget Proves 'Change Is Possible'

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 6:00AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama today will trumpet his administration's efforts to slash wasteful projects from defense spending when signing the Defense Authorization bill approving the Pentagon's funding blueprint.

At 2:30 in the White House Rose Garden Obama will sign the measure authorizing 2010 spending of $680 billion . The president will laud Defense Secretary Robert Gates for helping him remove funding for F-22 fighter jets and a new fleet of presidential helicopters.

"Today, we are putting an end to some wasteful projects that lawmakers have tried to kill for years," Obama will say, according to excerpts of his remarks obtained by TPMDC. "And in doing so, we are changing business-as-usual in Washington."

The president will present the signing as proving that "change is possible." Gates, the lone Republican Obama retained from the Bush administration, will be on hand to reap the praise.

Washington insiders believe Gates won't stay through the entire administration, but Obama will signal he's happy with his defense secretary in his remarks, saying they will keep fighting to cut waste in the months "and years" to come.

As we've written, the authorization also will create a new federal designation for hate crimes.

The excerpts we've obtained after the jump.

Read more »

Pres '12

Tim Pawlenty To Speak At NRSC Meeting Next Month

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 6:48PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is lending his 2012 hopeful self to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, sending out a letter to NRSC's mailing list touting his upcoming speech next month.

He'll be speaking at the NRSC fall meeting, held Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. One donor will be chosen to attend the meeting, Pawlenty wrote to NRSC supporters.

"I look forward to sharing the message of Freedom First with supporters from across America who are helping us rebuild our conservative ranks in 2010," Pawlenty wrote in the email, obtained by TPMDC.

Full email after the jump.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Apologizes To Lobbyist He Called A 'Whore'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 6:34PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

After a day of criticism from both sides of the aisle, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) apologized to a female lobbyist he called a "K Street whore" in a radio interview last month.

The lobbyist in question, Linda Robertson, is an employee of the Federal Reserve. Grayson had already sought to distance himself from the "whore" remark. His staff said earlier today the "attack was on her professional career, not her personal life." But in the apology this afternoon, Grayson seemed to acknowledge that calling a woman a "whore" is controversial in nearly any context.

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Health Care

House Still Shy On Votes For Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 5:59PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Greg Sargent's numbers are right: "47 House Dems are committed No votes, and eight are Leaning No," on a health care bill if it includes a public option, preferred by reformers, that pays providers Medicare rates plus five percent.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can only afford to lose a maximum of 38 votes in her own party, and she's still well over that. Nobody I've asked has gone so far as to say this is the end of the road for the so-called "robust" public option, but it's certainly not a good sign.

This morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he was fairly confident a more modest public option, using negotiated rates, would win out in a vote count.

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NY-MAYOR

Is Al Gore A Bloomberg Backer Or Just A Fan?

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 5:50PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has bipartisan credentials and has been praised by Republicans and Democrats alike, including President Obama.

Many major national politicians are staying out of Bloomberg's reelection campaign (Obama, for example, backs the Democratic candidate Bill Thompson) but the praise is resurfacing in the final days of the race.

TPM reader DO flagged for us a glossy 8 1/2 x 11" Bloomberg campaign mailer featuring a full-page photo of former Vice President Al Gore, saying it "appears to be a strong endorsement." (It's not.)

"If Gore remains passive about this it will be tantamount to accepting Bloomberg's apparent claim that Gore has endorsed him ... or Gore is playing a political game in which he is endorsing Bloomberg, but is leaving himself a plausible denial that he has endorsed Bloomberg while he tacitly accepts Bloomberg's brochure being send in his name," DO wrote us.

TPMDC checked in with Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider, who affirmed her boss' friendly quotes about Bloomberg over the years.

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Health Care

Sen. Hagan: 'Closely' Looking At Health Care Bill, Still Worried About Deficit

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 5:13PM

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC)

Freshman Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) told reporters today she will be "looking very closely" at the health care bill as proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

On a conference call with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about rural health care, Hagan reiterated she supports "a backstop option for people that don't have access to employer-sponsored health care."

"I'm going to definitely be looking very closely at this bill to see exactly what's in it," Hagan said. "I am committed to working with my colleagues on a final reform bill that hopefully is going to bring stability and security to American families and is not going to add one dime to our federal deficit."

Reporters also asked about the TPMMuckraker scoop yesterday about Blue Cross mailers asking customers to lobby Hagan to oppose the public option.

Transcript after the jump.

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Health Care

Baucus Calm In Face Of Lieberman Threat To Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 5:06PM

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)

After a meeting of Senate Finance Committee Democrats in his office this afternoon, chairman Max Baucus sought to contain the fallout from Sen. Joe Lieberman's statement today that he'd be inclined to filibuster a health care bill with a public option in it.

"A lot of this now is in Sen. Reid's hands--I certainly would expect [for the bill to proceed to debate]," Baucus said.

I think he's quite close, and there's time yet. I think some senators are not definitely decided because they want to see the CBO report. They want to look at CBO's cost estimates, coverage estimates, effect on premiums, etc., before they make up their minds. Once the CBO report comes out--at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later--it's going to be positive. And once it's positive, I think we'll find a lot more senators inclined to get on the bill.

For a time line of conflicting Lieberman statements on the public option, see here. For a rundown of his previous willingness not to obstruct legislation, see here.

Mitch McConnell

McConnell Says A Vote For Cloture Is A Vote For Health Care Reform

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 4:51PM

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made clear today what the GOP has been suggesting for months: moderate Democratic senators fearful that voting for health care reform will cost them their seats (think Blanche Lincoln) can't get away with voting for cloture and against a bill on the floor.

At a press conference this afternoon, McDonnell compared the idea to another tortured line that cost a Democrat an election. "We all recall Senator Kerry's strained way in the 2004 campaign of explaining why he voted for it before he voted against it," McConnell said. "And I think it is perfectly clear that most Americans will treat the vote to get on the bill as a vote on the substance of the bill."

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Health Care

WH On Lieberman: 'We're Pleased The Process Is Moving Forward'

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 4:17PM

White House Spokesperson Linda Douglass

I've been after the White House for several hours for a response to Sen. Joe Lieberman saying he'd back a filibuster on health care.

This just in, from spokeswoman Linda Douglass:

"We're pleased the process is moving forward. The Majority Leader has spoken with all of the members of his caucus and will continue to work with them to address their concerns as the bill is refined and he prepares to take it to the floor."

Coupled with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying constituents will hold lawmakers accountable, it is clear there's no hard line yet from the White House.

Lots of readers are writing in to ask about President Obama's support for Lieberman during his 2006 primary when he was booted from the Democratic party, and about when Obama urged Senate leadership to let the independent retain his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee. The White House hasn't mentioned it.

Meanwhile, if you call Lieberman's Senate office and try to leave him a message, "The mailbox belonging to Senator Lieberman's office is full. To disconnect press one."

Olympia Snowe

Snowe: I'll Block The Health Care Bill If I Have To

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 4:05PM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has already suggested she won't vote for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care bill if it comes to the floor. Now she says she could prevent it from getting there in the first place.

The AP reports, Snowe will vote with the GOP to filibuster the bill "unless changes are made" to Reid's plan.

NY-23

GOP Reps. Cole And Rohrabacher Back Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 3:56PM

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Tom Cole (R-CA)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has picked up two more endorsements from sitting House Republicans, Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Dana Rohrabacher of California, who are joining in the right-wing revolt against the nomination of moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Cole's endorsement is big news, because he is in fact a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee -- the party organization dedicated to electing Republicans to the House. He was NRCC chair during the disastrous 2008 cycle, and is now going against the party's candidate in a seat that the GOP could potentially lose as a result of the Republican split.

"Doug Hoffman is right on the critical issues facing America -- and he is the only Republican who can win this special election," said Cole, whose endorsement was initially reported by Bill Kristol. "For those reasons I have chosen to endorse Mr. Hoffman and my leadership PAC has contributed to his campaign. I look forward to working with Doug in Congress and welcoming him into the Republican Conference."

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Health Care

House Dems: Nobody Leaves Until We Get Health Care

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 3:43PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

House leaders on both sides of the aisle are advising their members to prepare to work straight through November on a health care bill, suggesting House Democrats think Senate action will come sooner rather than later.

"The Democrat Leadership intends to keep the House in session as long as necessary in order to facilitate passage of Health Insurance Reform legislation," an assistant to GOP leader John Boehner wrote in an email to the Republican caucus this afternoon.

Majority leader Steny Hoyer sent a similar message to his members today. "The House will meet beyond the targeted adjournment date as we continue to advance health insurance reform legislation and other matters," he wrote.

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Health Care

Gibbs On Filibuster Possibility: Dems And GOP Alike 'Will Be Held Accountable By Their Constituents'

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 3:33PM

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

On Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wasn't sweating the news that Democrats and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) may not be coming through on the Senate health care bill.

Gibbs said he hadn't seen the reports about Lieberman saying he'd support a filibuster, but added, "I think Democrats and Republicans alike will be held accountable by their constituents who want to see health care reform enacted this year."

"I haven't seen the report from Senator Lieberman or why he's saying what he's saying," he said, citing polls showing support for health care. "And we know that if that doesn't happen, people say they'll be very disappointed by that, and we think people will make progress to ensure that this gets done."

Gibbs said President Obama hasn't been making specific calls yet but, "I'm sure we'll get involved in due time."

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NY-23

DeMint Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 3:18PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), a leading right-wing voice in Congress, has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, instead of moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

By our count, this makes DeMint the fourth sitting member of Congress to endorse Hoffman, and the first Senator to do so, following Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), and Rep John Linder (R-GA).

DeMint said: "Too often, we're told that Republicans have to be like Democrats to be competitive in states like New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. But the truth is voters don't want to be forced to pick between two liberals; they want a real choice. If voters want to give Washington more control over our lives, they can always vote for Democrats."

Alan Grayson

GOP Calls On Obama To Condemn Grayson's 'Whore' Remark

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 2:55PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), President Barack Obama

Republicans are calling on President Obama to take a stand on Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) controversial remarks about a female lobbyist. During his visit to Florida yesterday, Obama praised Grayson, calling the freshman representative "outstanding" in a speech praising other members of the state's Democratic congressional delegation.

"President Obama should immediately rescind his accolades and condemn Grayson's shameful comments, and Congressman Grayson should issue an apology," said RNC co-chair Jan Larimer.

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Health Care

Reid: Lieberman Is The Least Of My Problems

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 2:48PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed a development, first reported by TPMDC, that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) will filibuster a health care bill if it includes a public option.

"Joe Lieberman is the least of Harry Reid's problems," Reid told reporters at his weekly press conference.

During a Q&A session with reporters, Reid offered a fairly spirited defense of Lieberman, signaling perhaps that he doesn't believe Lieberman will ultimately be an obstacle--or at least that he doesn't want to tip his hat: "I don't have anyone that I've worked harder with, have more respect for, in the Senate than Joe Lieberman. As you know, he's my friend. There are a lot of senators--Democrat and Republicans--who don't like [parts of this bill]... Sen. Lieberman will let us get on the bill, and he'll be involved in the amendment process."

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VA-GOV

Steele Calls Out DNC For Its Commitment To Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 2:28PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

RNC Chair Michael Steele looked pretty confident when asked talking about Virgina in an interview on Fox News this morning. He's got good reason to smile: a week before voters go to the polls to choose a new governor, GOP nominee Bob McDonnell is dominating the polls with double-digit leads.

Steele seemed so sure of a GOP win in Virginia he was already taking credit for his part in it. The RNC has spent more than $8 million on McDonnell this year. The DNC has only offered Deeds a $6 million investment.

"You've got the DNC running ads on YouTube and on Facebook," Steele said. "But we put real resources on the ground."

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Health Care

Bayh: I Can Imagine Reid's Bill Failing

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 2:09PM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

The temperature taking of Senate moderates continues. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) doesn't think of the public option as a high-priority issue. But I asked him whether, in conversations with his fellow moderates, he's gotten the sense that a health care bill with an opt-out public option might get snagged up before it comes to the floor.

He was pretty blunt. "Yeah, I think that's possible." His own chief concern, he says, is the deficit. "But for me, if there are things in here that would substantially explode the deficit in the out years, I would feel so strongly about that, that it would be difficult for me to vote go to the bill without that having been corrected, because once you've done that you've given up, really, your ability to have a significant impact on the outcome."

Health Care

End Game: So When Will Health Care Really Happen?

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 2:03PM

The House voting, the Senate voting

Yesterday's events have given health care new momentum, but advocates are a long way from popping champagne.

There remain unanswered questions about how the proposed Senate bill and public option opt-out will be structured, along with questions about its final cost and how the government will pay for it.

A Democratic aide told TPMDC today the House is aiming to have its bill on the floor in early November with a vote by Nov. 11, Veterans' Day.

The Senate has several stages ahead - a CBO score for the merged bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced yesterday and then an agreement for what amendments will be allowed. It will be on the floor for debate in the next two weeks.

Once each bill passes its chamber, private negotiations will produce a conference report that will get another House and Senate vote.

Translation: there may be snow on the ground in D.C. before anything finally heads to President Obama's desk.

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Public Option

Lincoln Still Opposes Public Option, But Won't Say How She'll Vote

Rachel Slajda | October 27, 2009, 1:51PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

The Associated Press reports that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) spoke about the public option today, saying "We don't need to go there," but wouldn't say if she'd vote to block the health care reform bill from the Senate floor.

Although Lincoln has repeatedly voiced opposition to the public option, she hasn't committed to voting against cloture. The bill will likely need all 60 members of the Democratic caucus to break a Republican filibuster.

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Health Care

Dem Leaders Lobbying Centrists One By One, Durbin Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 1:35PM

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

Senate Majority Leader's deputy, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), says his boss has been holding one-on-one meetings with centrists in order to ensure a 60 vote majority for the health care reform package he announced yesterday.

The Hill reports:

"Harry has been literally sitting down face to face with senator after senator, working through these differences," [Durbin] said.

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Filibuster

Lieberman: Sure, I'd Filibuster A Health Care Reform Bill With A Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 1:25PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) told reporters today that he would in fact filibuster any health care bill he doesn't agree with--and right now, he doesn't agree with the public option proposal making its way through the Senate.

"I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined--i haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined--to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

There are two procedural issues at play here. Most people think of a filibuster as a minority blocking passage of a bill that's already been debated ad nauseum on the Senate floor. That's the most standard filibuster. But on major legislation, it's become more common for the minority--in this case the Republicans--to object to the majority getting a chance to debate legislation in the first place. If any one of them objects to the so-called motion to proceed, it will take 60 votes just to start the amendment and debate process. That's a less-discussed filibuster, but it's quite plausible that this health care bill will have to contend with it.

Lieberman is saying that he's pretty much OK with letting senators offer amendments--try to change the legislation, move it in any direction they deem necessary. But when that process is all over, and Harry Reid wants to hold an up or down vote on the final product, Lieberman's saying he'll join that filibuster, if he's not happy with the finished product. Point blank.

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Health Care

Devil In The Details: How Would An "Opt-Out" Public Option Actually Work?

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 1:21PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

We now know that the Senate is making an end run for a public option that gives states a chance to opt out. We also know that Majority Leader Harry Reid is still a handful of votes shy of the 60 he will likely need to pass the overall bill, if it contains the opt out plan.

But how exactly does the opt out work? Senate leaders are mum about the policy details, as they await the CBO to report back a cost estimate. But, after conversations with experts and lawmakers over the past several days, we can take a look at some of the key variables, about which we'll have more information in the coming days.

Yesterday, Reid suggested--though without elaborating, and with substantial lack of clarity--that states will be allowed to opt out starting in 2014.

At a news conference, a reporter asked Reid, "Can states opt out immediately or is there a period of time where they have to," participate in the public plan? He responded, but his answer may have obscured more than it elucidated. "They'll have until 2014," Reid said.

Reid's staff was not forthcoming with clarification, but there are two possible interpretations to this answer.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson's Office: Let's Be Clear About Context of 'K Street Whore' Comment

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 1:10PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) office is making clear that when he referred to a female lobbyist a "K Street whore" during a radio interview, he was only referring to her professional career, not her personal life.

CBS News reports that Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski told them:

"Let's be clear about the context," he said. "The attack was on her professional career, not her personal life."

"She attacked the Congressman and his efforts to promote a Republican bill to audit the Federal Reserve," Jurkowski said. "She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy. She had the audacity to attack a Congressman who used to be an economist. She's a career lobbyist who used to work for Enron and advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote."

Charlie Crist

Awkward! Crist Claims Ignorance Of Obama Visit

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 12:54PM

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R)

Yesterday, President Obama toured Florida, greeting thousands at stops across the state. One man who wasn't there, however, was Gov. Charlie Crist (R). He's been facing increasing criticism from Florida's GOP base over Obama's February visit to Florida, when Crist joined the president on stage at a rally in support of the stimulus package.

The Palm Beach Post reports on how much things have changed between Crist and Obama since then:

"First I've known of it," Gov. Charlie Crist said this morning in response to a reporter's question about why he didn't join President Obama in Jacksonville. ... "I didn't know his itinerary. That's all," Crist said.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Opponent Attacks 'K Street Whore' Comment

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 12:46PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

One of Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) Republican opponents is seizing on his newly-unearthed comment, in which he called a female lobbyist a "K Street whore."

Armando Gutierrez, a real estate developer who moved from Miami to Orlando in order to run against Grayson, has a new press release:

The tragedy of this is that the gross recklessness of statements such as this seems to be lost on Grayson.

From accusing Republicans of murder on the scale of Holocaust to labeling an honorable public servant a "whore," Grayson has once again shown America that he is, to borrow the words of his fellow Democrat, Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, "one fry short of a happy meal."

Grayson seems to be giving Republicans no shortage of opposition-research material against him for 2010, and this latest episode is no exception. The full press release is available after the jump.

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Blue Dogs

Blue Dog PAC Fundraising Grinds To A Halt

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 11:57AM

A blue dog.

The Blue Dog Democrat PAC has seen its once mighty river of donations dry up nearly completely, according to a new report from the Center for Public Integrity. Last month, the PAC had just three donations from other PACs, for a total of $12,500. Between January and July, the group averaged more than $170,000 in PAC donations per month.

The three PAC donations in September came from consulting firm Ernst & Young, the Food Marketing Institute PAC and the NRA's political action fund.

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NJ-GOV

Christie Bringing In Some GOP Stars For Home Stretch In New Jersey

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 11:56AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Fmr. US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)

On a conference call with reporters this morning, the Chris Christie campaign announced a marathon schedule of events all around the state for the final week of the campaign -- and they'll be getting some special guests.

Campaign adviser Mike DuHaime said the campaign will be joined by Rudy Giuliani, Tim Pawlenty, and former New Jersey Governors Tom Kean and Christie Whitman. Specific days and events were not announced for these guest-stars at this time.

I asked whether the campaign is at a disadvantage to the Corzine campaign, which has been able to bring in popular national Democrats like President Obama, Vice President Biden and former President Bill Clinton. By contrast, a lot of national Republicans wouldn't be popular draws in New Jersey, such as Sarah Palin and other conservative figures.

"It's no greater disadvantage than it is to run in New Jersey to begin with," said DuHaime, due to the state having 700,000 more Democrats than Republican, and Corzine able to spend a lot of his own money on the race.

NY-23

Conservative Party Candidate In NY-23: 'Yes, We Can'

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 11:23AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has penned a new blog post at National Review, using a familiar slogan as a rallying cry for the right: "Yes, We Can."

That was, of course, President Obama's campaign slogan -- which was in turn borrowed from the United Farm Workers union, and its campaigns of the early 1970's with the Spanish slogan, "Sí se puede." But Hoffman is speaking here of a wave of conservative change.

Hoffman also promises that if the Republican Party does not nominate truly conservative candidates, they'll be seeing more third-party candidates like himself: "Our goal should not be a Republican majority. It should be a conservative majority. If the Republican party will not be conservative, then we are going to run against them . . . and we're going to win."

NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie Ahead of Corzine By 42%-38%

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 10:43AM

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

The new survey of the New Jersey gubernatorial by Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican Chris Christie leading Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine -- with independent Chris Daggett possibly playing spoiler against Corzine.

The numbers: Christie 42%, Corzine 38%, and Daggett 13%, with a 3.9% margin of error. Two weeks ago, Christie was ahead in PPP's survey by 40%-39%-13%.

The internals of the poll suggest that Daggett may actually be siphoning more voters from Corzine right now than from Christie -- a big change from two weeks ago. In the latest poll, 42% of the present pool of Daggett-supporters list Corzine as their second choice, compared to 32% for Christie. By contrast, Daggett-backers in the last poll went 48%-34% for Christie on second choices. A big caveat is that the margins of error are very large in these sub-samples, at ±10.6% this week and ±11.4% two weeks ago, but it is an interesting data point.

From the pollster's analysis: "The Daggett voters seem to be pretty volatile so if they go back to the Corzine camp he'll have a good shot of pulling it out. The campaign that does the better job of turning out its voters will win."

Health Care

Hoyer: Probably More Votes For Less-Robust Public Option In House

Brian Beutler | October 27, 2009, 10:40AM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters this morning the House may unveil its health care bill by the end of the week, but he also said that the Democratic leaders probably have more votes for a more modest public option than they do for the public option preferred by most liberals.

"It's possible... that would be our objective, and it's our objective because we want to consider this bill next week, and we pledged to give 72 hours notice so we need to roll out the bill this week. So it's very possible that we're going to have a meeting right after this meeting and I think we'll have some better feel for where we are on that."

That will likely please anxious reformers, but it may not all be good news. Asked what type of public option the House bill would likely include, Hoyer suggested that a public option with negotiated rates probably has more votes than does a more robust measure. Though the robust public option has a great deal of support among Democrats, Hoyer asks rhetorically "What additional numbers can you add by going to negotiated rates?...[W]e don't have that exact number. But certainly there are people who want the negotiated rates who would add themselves to the number [that support a robust public option] that is anywhere between 200 and 218 at this point in time."

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Calls Lobbyist 'K Street Whore'

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 9:49AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) -- the man best known for saying that the Republican health care plan is for Americans who get to "die quickly," and for calling former Vice President Dick Cheney a vampire with blood dripping from his teeth -- may have gone a bit too far in one of his latest rhetorical excesses, calling lobbyist Linda Robertson, who used to advise Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, a "K Street whore."

The comments were made a month ago, when Grayson appeared on the radio show of right-wing talker Alex Jones, and was just discovered and circulated by the NRCC. "Here I am, the only Member of Congress who actually worked as an economist. And she's, this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics," said Grayson.

Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski stood by the Congressman's comments, telling the Orlando Sentinel in an e-mail: "She attacked the Congressman and his efforts to promote a Republican bill to audit the Federal Reserve. She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy. This is [a] person who used to be the chief lobbyist for Enron attacking the intelligence and motives of a Congressman who used to be an economist."

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Climate Change

Major Climate Hearings Start Today On Capitol Hill As Administration Makes 'Green' Announcements

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 9:42AM

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the planet Earth

With a clearer picture on health care, the Obama administration and Congress today are pivoting toward climate change legislation.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee began hearings this hour on Chairman Barbara Boxer's bill, with President Obama's Green Cabinet expected to testify.

Obama, meanwhile, is at a Florida solar power plant this morning announcing stimulus funds for a major investment in smart grid technology. An Obama aide tells TPMDC the president will talk about building the infrastructure for a clean energy economy.

Vice President Biden will be making an announcement at a General Motors plant in Delaware that is reopening to make hybrid vehicles.

With just over a month before climate change negotiations begin in Copenhagen, environmental advocacy groups have been pressuring the White House and Congress to take action so world leaders have a framework to build upon.

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Chris Christie

Poll: Christie Narrowly Ahead In New Jersey

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 9:35AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

The new Rasmussen poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race finds Republican Chris Christie with some possible momentum against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and independent Chris Daggett in the home stretch of the campaign.

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, along with undecided voters who were pushed into supporting a candidate.

The initial preferences were Christie 42%, Corzine 38%, and Daggett 14%. After Daggett-supporters and undecideds were pushed, it became Christie 46%, Corzine 43%, and Daggett 7%. Last week, Corzine had led by 37%-36%-16% on first preferences, and Christie was up by 41%-39%-11% after people were pushed. The margin of error is ±3%.

Public Option

AHIP Calls Public Option 'A Roadblock To Reform'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 9:12AM

AHIP, the lobbying arm of the nation's health insurance companies, took a hard line against the public option after Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid said last night one would be included in a final health care reform bill.

"A new government-run plan would underpay doctors and hospitals rather than driving real reforms that bring down costs and improve quality," the group said in statement posted to the AHIP website. "The American people want health care reform that will reduce costs and this plan doesn't do that."

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NY-23

Conservative Pollster Puts Hoffman Ahead In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 8:49AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A new poll of the NY-23 special election, conducted by the conservative Neighborhood Research and commissioned by the Minuteman PAC -- which is supporting Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- finds Hoffman in first place, and the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third.

The numbers: Hoffman 34.1%, Democrat Bill Owens 29.2%, and Scozzafava 13.9%, with a ±4.8% margin of error. Among definite voters, it's Hoffman 37.5%, Owens 28.4%, and Scozzafava 13.5%, with a ±5.6% margin of error.

Neighborhood Research head Rick Shaftan told TPM: "She's [Scozzafava] going to end up in single digits and Hoffman is going to top 50%."

This runs contrary to independent polls, which have put Owens in first, Scozzafava second, and Hoffman third, while it's consistent with a poll from the Club For Growth (which also supports Hoffman). Then again, special elections are notoriously difficult to poll, due to low turnout, so there's really no telling what's going to happen on election day next week.

Health Care

Change Of Tune: Leadership, Progressives, Advocacy Groups Jump On The Opt-Out Train

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 8:48AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

After Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's big public option opt-out reveal yesterday, the major players are looking pretty unified.

Check out all the reactions we posted at TPMLiveWire yesterday and see what they have in common, as Senate leadership, progressives and advocacy groups appear to be rallying behind the new strategy.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) was singing a different tune, reminding everyone in a statement that "I included a public option in the health reform blueprint I released nearly one year ago."

MoveOn, which was asking members to pressure Obama last week, is now shifting gears to make sure the Democratic Party gets in line and votes to block a filibuster.

Health Care for America Now was championing Reid for "standing up" and doing the right thing, collecting more than 20,000 signatures on a thank-you petition to the leader.

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Health Care

Schumer: We Prevailed On White House That Public Option Was The Way To Go

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 7:41PM

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

So how did we go from a White House at loggerheads with the Senate leadership last Thursday night over a public option, to a deal today that's exactly what the leadership wanted?

This evening I spoke with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who was in that infamous Thursday night meeting with President Obama and other Senate leaders--and who has been one of the most persistent advocates of a public option on Capitol Hill. As Schumer explains it, the disagreement between the White House and Senate wasn't substantive so much as it was tactical: The White House had its doubts that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could really get 60 votes for a public option with an opt out for states.

"The President listened very carefully," Schumer said in an interview moments ago. "He wanted to make sure that the strategy upon which we were embarking had the ability to carry through."

Schumer has been at the center of the fight over the public option from the earliest days of the health care debate--always there to pull it back from the brink when it at times seemed on the verge of collapse. This situation was no different. After the Thursday meeting, four sources in different Democratic offices told me that the White House had suggested they believed a strategy of pursuing Sen. Olympia Snowe's preferred compromise--a triggered public option--might be an easier path to 60 votes. In the end, though, Schumer and the rest of leadership seem to have prevailed upon President Obama that they've picked the right strategy.

"I think substantively the White House probably preferred a stronger public option than a trigger," Schumer said. "We talked about this for a while in leadership and the White House wanted to hear our thoughts--and when they heard them they thought that this was the right strategy to get our caucus together."

Today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the President stands behind Reid as he builds support for the public plan.

"A lot of people around here have faith in Harry Reid's abilty to count votes," Schumer told me.

Read more »

Health Care

House GOP Finds New Health Care Reform Villian In AARP

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 7:15PM

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) briefed reporters this afternoon on the House GOP's plans for health care this week. The party will focus on reform's effects on senior citizens, specifically through changes to Medicare. Democratic proposals include several changes to the way Medicare is funded that have long had support from the AARP, far and away the most powerful lobbying group for seniors. But Pence and Reichert suggested that support was the result of corruption inside the AARP and not based on the interests of its membership.

"What you've got here is a backroom deal," Pence said of reform measures expected to be introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon. "Democrats are protecting the salaries of the heads of groups like AARP while cutting medicare."

For its part, AARP dismisses the allegations, pointing out that it has seen this movie before.

Read more »

VA-GOV

With Days To Go, Big Money Still A Factor

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 6:46PM

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

In recent days Democrat Creigh Deeds has seen polls tilt heavily in favor of Bob McDonnell, his Republican opponent in the Virgina governor's race. But according to fundraising reports out today, his donors haven't abandoned him even as the chances of a win appear to have become more and more remote.

In the first three weeks of October, Deed raised $3.1 million according to a release from the campaign this afternoon. The campaign has slightly less than $1 million on hand to pay for GOTV and last-ditch advertising in the final eight days of the race.

The numbers put Deeds in range of McDonnell on funding, but the Republican still dominates him in both poll numbers and fundraising. McDonnell raised $4 million in the first 21 days of October, according to the campaign, and enters the final sprint to finish line with $1.8 million on hand, just about double what Deeds has in his warchest.

NY-23

Doug Hoffman: If I Win, GOP Will Look At The Principles Of Future Nominees

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 6:37PM

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

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, appeared on Glenn Beck's TV show today, and said a victory in the special election will send a strong message to the GOP about future candidate selections.

"I'm fighting for the heart and soul of the Republican Party," said Hoffman. "And I think if I win this campaign, that people will take notice, and the next time they select a candidate, they will look at the principles."

Hoffman is running against Democrat Bill Owens and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, whose selection as the GOP's candidate has triggered a revolt by right-wing activists and politicians across the country. Scozzafava is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and even pro-Employee Free Choice Act. So if Hoffman wins, or even just spoils the race in favor of the Democrats, the GOP will know that moderate candidates need not apply for other races -- thus foiling efforts by some in the party to expand their ranks and ideological reach.

VA-GOV

McDonnell Takes Big Lead In Final Washington Post Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 6:34PM

VA gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell

GOP nominee Bob McDonnell has taken his biggest lead in the Washington Post's poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race eight days before voters go to the polls.

McDonnell's lead over Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds is now 55-44, according to the Post. The last Post poll showed McDonnell winning 53-44.

Promises Kept: Obama To Sign Hate Crimes Bill Wednesday

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 6:20PM

President Barack Obama

One of those big changes President Obama and the Democrats promised during the election is about to become law.

Last week the Senate gave final passage to the bill authorizing spending for the Department of Defense, which included a provision creating a hate crimes designation.

An administration official tells TPMDC Obama will sign the bill at the White House Wednesday. It is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was beaten to death in 1998.

He also will host a reception with gay rights groups and civil rights leaders commemorating the occasion. TPMDC has learned that Matt's mom Judy and brother Logan will attend the signing ceremony.

Last week, the president kept another campaign promise by signing a bill authorizing advanced funding for the Veterans Administration.

NJ-GOV

Daggett: Christie Can't Win, It's Either Corzine Or Me

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 6:08PM

NJ-GOV candidates Chris Daggett (I) and Chris Christie (R)

Chris Daggett, the independent gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, is boldly declaring that Republican Chris Christie can't win.

"It's either going to be Jon Corzine or me," Daggett told The Associated Press, adding that Christie's campaign "has gone backward since June."

Christie had previously led Corzine by significant margins in all the polls, but the race has now become neck and neck in most polls. During this whole period, Corzine's support has remained roughly the same, in the high-30's/low-40's range. Christie has been losing support, with Daggett gaining voters from both columns.

Dick Durbin

Durbin: Progressives Forced Our Hand On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 5:56PM

A helpful data point for liberal legislators and progressive activists: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)--the Democrats' main vote counter in the Senate--says that the public option-plus-opt out clause was a pragmatic choice. Liberals wouldn't have supported anything less.

Durbin told Ryan Grim of Huffington Post and a handful of other reporters that Reid may very well have chosen to put Olympia Snowe's trigger compromise in the bill "[i] we thought that just putting the trigger in meant that we'd end with 61 votes."

But they, apparently didn't. Some in the party made clear that they "felt that that just didn't go far enough moving toward a public option," said Durbin.

Undoubtedly progressives will see today's development as a validation of their intense activism--pressure that wasn't always appreciated by Democratic party elders.

Health Care

Before Reid Even Starts Speaking GOP Hits Him On 'Govt-Run' Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 5:42PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid prepared to announce the new health care bill with a public option included, Republicans fired off a statement targeting him for reelection that suggests they've chosen a new everything-old-is-new-again talking point.

"As Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) prepares to announce he's ignoring concerns from moderate Senate Democrats and the Obama White House, and moving forward with a government-run health care option at this afternoon's press conference, please consider the National Republican Senatorial Committee's statement regarding this latest example of heavy-handed partisanship," NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh told reporters.

Sue Lowden (R-NV), hoping to challenge Reid in 2010, sent out her own fundraising message with similar language.

"The American people are outraged with the Democrat's government take over of health care and the public option. Now there is news that Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid is again ignoring our voices and is pushing a public option health care bill through the Senate," Lowden wrote, accusing Reid of "discarding any attempts at working with Republicans."

Read more »

Chris Dodd

Dodd: I Fought For A Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 5:26PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)--who lead the HELP committee's health care process, and supported the public plan behind the scenes--is a very big reason this compromise came to life. He wants you to know that: "I fought for a strong public option - in the HELP Committee and in this merger process - because it is the best way to keep costs low and insurance companies honest," said Dodd.

Majority Leader Reid has made a bold and right choice to endorse the HELP Committee public option, along with a provision allowing states to opt out. At its core, health care reform is about making insurance more stable and affordable for those who have it, and available to those who don't, while improving quality and lowering costs. I believe that the public option is a key component to successful reform, and I will continue to lead the fight for it on the Senate floor.

NY-23

GOP Campaign Calls Upon Conservative Hoffman To Drop Out, In Wake Of Poll With Him Up

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 5:17PM

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

In a press release sent out by the Dede Scozzafava campaign, the moderate Republican running in the three-way special election, several GOP state legislators call upon Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to drop out of the race -- and declare that a new poll from the pro-Hoffman Club For Growth showing him ahead is false:

"Doug Hoffman must do the right thing and drop out of this race right now," said Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. "This is a campaign for Congress -- not an audition to be a talking head on a cable news program. Doug Hoffman doesn't live here, he doesn't understand our local issues and, regardless of his campaign's theatrics and false polls, he knows he is completely unelectable. Make no mistake about it -- Doug Hoffman is a spoiler, and by staying in this race he will jeopardize a seat the Republican Party has held here since the Civil War. It's high time that Hoffman puts the good of this community over his personal ambition and endorses our Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava," she concluded.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan gives us this comment: "This just proves many Republicans don't know how to read polls or sense the groundswell of support that's taking place in the district. Dede Scozzafava is the spoiler in this race, because she's so liberal. Doug Hoffman will be the next Congressman, because Republicans from throughout the district will vote for him on election day."

Health Care

Snowe 'Deeply Disappointed,' Says Triggers 'Could Have Been The Road' To Broader Bipartisanship

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 5:07PM

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)

Is Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) a definite no vote now? In response to the news that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will include a public option (with an opt out clause) in his health care legislation, Snowe says she's not happy.

"I am deeply disappointed with the Majority Leader's decision to include a public option as the focus of the legislation," Snowe said in a statement. "I still believe that a fallback, safety net plan, to be triggered and available immediately in states where insurance companies fail to offer plans that meet the standards of affordability, could have been the road toward achieving a broader bipartisan consensus in the Senate."

How explicit a statement is that, though? I could be over-parsing here, but it sounds to me as if she's leaving a door pretty wide open to supporting this bill down the line. Note, she doesn't say she's withdrawing her support. And note as well that she says she thinks triggers could have been the path to broader bipartisan consensus--i.e. instead of being the path to just one Republican vote (hers), triggers might have won over a few more GOPers.

She's said she doesn't support the opt out. She's also said it would be very hard for her not to join a Republican health care filibuster under these circumstances. But, despite what Reid said, it's not clear to me that she's completely jumped ship.

NY-23

GOP Rep. John Linder Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 5:02PM

Rep. John Linder (R-GA)

A source in the campaign of Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, tells us that another member of Congress will be endorsing Hoffman: This time, it's Rep. John Linder (R-GA).

Linder will be the third sitting member of Congress to openly back the Conservative Hoffman over the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava, following Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS).

Late Update: Linder's office has confirmed the endorsement. Here's Linder's statement:

"The biggest concern I have with the Republican candidate in this race is that her long held positions on unions, taxes and spending incline me to believe that she will give Nancy Pelosi a Republican vote so that these many outrageous grabs for power and control will be called 'bipartisan.' I am confident that Doug will not do that."

Health Care

Sen. Brown On Opt-Out Public Option: 'Confident' States Will Put Families Ahead of Insurers

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 4:15PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

An interesting line comes out from Sen. Sherrod Brown in response to the news Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is including a public option with an opt-out clause.

Brown (D-OH) is one of the leading progressives pushing a "robust" public option. He applauded Reid's move and challenged states with some political rhetoric:

"While the bill would allow a state to opt-out of offering the public option to its residents, I am confident that the states will choose to put middle class families ahead of the insurance industry."

Read more »

Health Care

Baucus: I Support Harry Reid And A Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 4:09PM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, who was reportedly none too pleased when he learned that Harry Reid was leaning towards putting a public option in the Senate's health care bill, is now singing a much more positive tune. "It is time to make our system work better for patients and providers, for small business owners and for our economy. It is time for health care reform," Baucus said.

For more than a year, we've been working to meet the goals of reducing the growth of health care costs, improving quality and efficiency and expanding coverage. There are a tremendous number of complicated issues that go into reform and the public option is certainly one of them. I included a public option in the health reform blueprint I released nearly one year ago, and continue to support any provision, including a public option, that will ensure choice and competition and get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate. Success should be our threshold and I am going to fight hard for the 60 votes we need to meet that goal this year.

There's still some wiggle room there. (Will Baucus help twist arms to get to 60?) But he seems to be implying that he thinks the public option plus opt-out can clear the threshold--and that's the first clear statement of his abstract support for the provision in quite some time.

Health Care

Gibbs: Obama Is 'Pleased' Public Option Included

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 3:51PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement reacting to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's press conference on health care:

"The President congratulates Senator Reid and Chairmen Baucus and Dodd for their hard work on health insurance reform. Thanks to their efforts, we're closer than we've ever been to solving this decades-old problem. And while much work remains, the President is pleased that at the progress that Congress has made. He's also pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out. As he said to Congress and the nation in September, he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition."

Chuck Schumer

Schumer: Opt-Out Is 'The Best Compromise' That Can Potentially Get 60 Votes

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 3:31PM

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has released this statement, on Harry Reid's announcement of a public option proposal that includes an opt-out mechanism for states:

"Leader Reid has always been a strong supporter of a public option that could help keep the insurers honest, and today he showed just how deep his commitment is. The public option has new life because as Americans have learned more about it, they have come to see it is the best way to reduce costs and increase competition in the health insurance industry. This form of public option is not exactly what either liberals or moderates would want. But a public plan based on a level playing field, with an opt-out for states, is the best compromise that has the potential of getting 60 votes in the Senate."

Health Care

Reid: Public Option No 'Silver Bullet' But Strong Consensus For Opt-Out

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 3:24PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced what we've been reporting today - the merged health care bill will include a public option allowing states to opt-out.

"Under this concept states will be able to determine whether the public option works best for them," Reid told reporters. He said it was the "fairest" way to go.

Reid (D-NV) said after "countless hours" of talking to his caucus, there is a "strong consensus" for this plan. He said he will not submit a plan with a triggered public option to the Congressional Budget Office.

"As we've gone through this process, I've concluded, with the support of the White House and Senators. Dodd and Baucus, that the best way to move forward is to include a public option with an opt out provision for states," Reid said.

Read more »

NY-23

Pawlenty Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

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

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- passing over his party's actual nominee, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Pawlenty said in a statement given to Red State:

"We cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress on issues like card check and taxes. After reviewing the candidates' positions, I'm endorsing Doug Hoffman in New York's special election. Doug understands the federal government needs to quit spending so much, will vote against tax increases, and protect key values like the right to vote in private in union elections."

Pawlenty is the second possible GOP presidential candidate to pick the Conservative over the Republican, following Sarah Palin's endorsement of Hoffman late last week. Newt Gingrich has been vocally supporting Scozzafava, and catching a lot of flak on the right as a result.

Health Care

Leadership Staff To Brief Senate Aides After Reid Health Care Announcement

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 3:08PM

(L-R), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), then-Senator, present Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)

TPMDC is on hand for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's press conference about the merged health care bill.

We're hearing that once Reid presents the plan, leadership staffers soon after will huddle with Democratic Senate aides to explain its elements.

The question-and-answer session will allow staffers to get a clear sense of what is in the bill, and particularly detail the way the public option opt-out will work. Our source said this will help on-the-fence senators start making up their mind.

ACORN

Issa: 'Let's Not Pretend ACORN Is Gone'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 2:54PM

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) warned this afternoon that just because ACORN is persona non grata on Capitol Hill these days doesn't mean the what he called "failure of government" to fund the group is over.

"Let's not pretend ACORN is gone," Issa, the ranking member on the House Government Oversight Committee said at a press conference in D.C. this afternoon. "With over 300 organizations inside their umbrella, they're going to change their names" and re-apply for government money.

Read more »

Health Care

Lincoln Won't Commit To Cloture

Rachel Slajda | October 26, 2009, 1:39PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has not committed to supporting a vote on a health care reform bill, Greg Sargent reports today.

When asked if she would vote yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to bring the bill to a vote, a spokeswoman said Lincoln "has not committed her vote to anyone."

Read more »

Health Care

Reid Backs Opt Out Plan--Is The Door Still Open To Alternative Measures?

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 1:34PM

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears poised today to announce his intent to include a public option with an opt out clause in the bill he brings to the Senate floor.

Policy details will likely be scarce, and the draft bill could still change. What goes to CBO will have different options under certain sections of the legislation, and there are conflicting reports that Reid might ask the CBO to send back analyses of other versions of the public option. Though most on the left would prefer it if public option compromises would simply be suffocated of all oxygen, it's also true that if a public option with an opt-out clause is included in the base bill, it will to a great extent shape the the floor debate. (For instance, 60 votes would be required to strip the public option out of the bill.)

Democrats are being very tight lipped today about exactly what Reid will say, but are suggesting strongly that there will be news.

NJ-GOV

Bill Clinton Campaigning With Corzine Tomorrow

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 1:16PM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Fmr. Pres. Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton will be campaigning tomorrow in New Jersey for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, yet another Democratic heavy hitter coming in to support Corzine for the home stretch of the campaign in this blue state.

Clinton will join Corzine at a 7 p.m. fundraiser for the Essex County Democratic Committee in West Orange, and an 8:45 p.m. rally in Little Falls, which is located in nearby Passaic County. Both counties are strongly Democratic (Essex much more so than Passaic), and Corzine will need big get-out-the-vote efforts in these areas.

NJ-GOV

Corzine: 'I Couldn't Give A Hoot' About Christie's Weight -- But He's Pulled Rank In Traffic Accidents

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 12:54PM

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

Democratic New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine appeared on the local Fox morning program Good Day New York, where he continued to hammer Republican nominee Chris Christie on issues like the economy, pre-school funding, health care, and support for President Obama.

Corzine also denied allegations that he's attacked Chris Christ'e weight, which originated from an ad saying that Christie "threw his weight around" to get out of trouble in a traffic accident when he was U.S. Attorney.

Corzine told host Greg Kelly: "Greg, I couldn't give a hoot about his weight. And when the issue was raised about one given ad, it was about his driving down a one-way street, hitting somebody on a motorcycle, putting the fella in the hospital, and not getting a traffic ticket. How many of the viewers would hit somebody going down a street, on a one-way -- he's going the wrong way, hits somebody, put him in the hospital, wouldn't get a ticket. Flashed his credentials, and I think that the whole point was one set of rules, and another set of rules for somebody else."

Fundraising

VP Biden Raises Cash In Ohio For Rep. Kilroy And Lauds Stimulus

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 12:53PM

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Biden is on a fundraising blitz helping Democratic candidate in Ohio today, and offered a defense of the economic stimulus.

Per a pool report, Biden spoke for 30 minutes at the $1,000-per-plate fundraiser for freshman Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH) and also posted for photos with donors for $2,400 each.

Biden touted Ohio-specfic stimulus jobs and benefits but went after the Bush administration as leaving President Obama an economy in peril.

Read more »

NY-23

Club For Growth Poll: Conservative Hoffman Ahead In NY-23, Moderate GOPer Scozzafava In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 12:34PM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A new poll from the right-wing Club For Growth, which is supporting Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, says that Hoffman is ahead in the three-way race -- and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in third place.

The numbers: Hoffman 31%, Democrat Bill Owens 27%, and Scozzafava 20%. The margin of error is ±5.66%.

This is contrary to other polls that have shown Owens in front, Scozzafava second, and Hoffman third. The Club points out that no information about the candidates was given before the ballot question, meaning that they did not try to prime the pump for Hoffman in the lead-up to asking people for their preferences.

From the pollster's analysis: "Hoffman now has a wide lead among both Republicans and Independents, while Owens has a wide lead among Democrats. Dede Scozzafava's support continues to collapse, making this essentially a two-candidate race between Hoffman and Owens in the final week."

Health Care

Reid To Make Major Health Care Announcement This Afternoon

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 12:25PM

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

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may have some answers for hungry reporters, and anxious activists sooner than expected. The Nevada Democrat will be holding a press conference today at 3:15 p.m. to discuss his progress merging two competing health care bills.

We'll, of course, be there, and will pass on updates as quickly as possible.

Bill Owens

Conservative Party's Hoffman Unable To Answer Questions On Local Issues In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:55AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

It looks like Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, doesn't actually know much about the district's local issues, the Watertown Daily Times reports.

Hoffman is opposing Democratic nominee Bill Owens and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava on issues like abortion, gay rights, the stimulus bill, and other national hot-button topics. But at a Daily Times editorial board meeting, he couldn't answer questions about local transportation projects and other economic issues.

Read more »

Health Care

Sen. Ben Nelson Getting Squeezed By Left And Right On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 11:47AM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform is targeting Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) on health care with a national cable television ad that also will air in Nebraska.

Norquist, who has made a career of holding local, state and federal lawmakers accountable to signing a pledge with his group about not raising taxes, provides supporters a copy of the Nelson pledge in an ATR blog post today.

"He is bound by that Pledge for the duration of his career as a senator," ATR wrote, blasting the health care bill.

What's more, they are pressuring Nelson - already being hammered by the left on this issue - to filibuster the procedural motion to move forward on health care debate, suggesting a vote for what is known as cloture is a violation of the pledge.

"Now is the time where Senator Nelson must follow through on the promise he made to get elected," ATR wrote.

The ad after the jump.

Read more »

FL-SEN

Meek Camp Expects Private Meetings With Obama In FL Today

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 11:32AM

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), President Barack Obama

Rep. Kendrick Meek's senate campaign says today's visit to Florida by President Obama will likely include "face to face" meetings between Meek and Obama along with the political fundraising and presidential speeches Obama has announced for the day.

"[Meek] was asked to be on the tarmac to greet Obama when he lands in Miami so that's big," camp spokesperson Adam Sharon told TPMDC this morning. "I am sure there will be opportunities for face to face."

The DSCC confirmed it is helping set up the meetings.

Sharon said Meek has been in discussions with White House advisers about some personal time with Obama, and said he expects "much of the meetings will be fleshed out late today or be arranged on the spot tonight" at the DSCC fundraiser Obama is headlining in Miami beach tonight.

Read more »

IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Not Running For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:25AM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack has announced that she will not run for Senate against five-term incumbent republican Chuck Grassley in 2010, the Des Moines Register reports.

A recent Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll had shown Vilsack trailing Grassley by a margin of 51%-40% -- which was actually pretty good, considering that Grassley has never been re-elected with less than 66% of the vote.

Vilsack said in her statement: "Committing to a campaign for the US Senate next year requires more than the confidence that I have the right experience, the necessary support and the resources to be successful. It must come with an understanding that it is the best way for me serve our State and my fellow Iowans in the most effective way possible at this time."

Health Care

Over White House Skepticism, Reid Likely To Go The Opt Out Route

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 10:45AM

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

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will send a health care legislation to CBO today, and details of his proposal will be unveiled shortly thereafter, TPMDC has learned. A highly placed source suggests that Reid's preference remains to include a public option with an opt out clause, despite the fact that the White House is skeptical that this is the most politically viable strategy.

As TPMDC has reported, the move would make it much less likely that Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will ultimately support the bill, and the White House conveyed skepticism to Reid last week that he was making the right call.

However, a senior White House official tells TNR's Jonathan Cohn that the White House will ultimately back whatever Reid decides to do. Sounds like we'll know for sure pretty soon.

LA-SEN

Melancon: 'We Can Only Guess' Vitter's Reasons For Opposing Anti-Rape Amendment

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 10:28AM

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

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), who is running for Senate in 2010 against Republican Sen. David Vitter, is now stepping up his attacks on Vitter -- declaring that "we can only guess" why Vitter voted against a Senate amendment to crack down on rape.

In a new campaign e-mail, Melancon slams Vitter for voting against the Franken Amendment, which would cut off money for military contractors that force employees into arbitration, rather than a court of law, if they are raped:

If a company wants to receive taxpayer dollars, they should not be able to force victims to give up their constitutional rights as a condition of employment.

David Vitter has refused to explain why he voted to allow taxpayer-funded companies to sweep rape charges under the rug. We can only guess what his reasons were.

Tell David Vitter that sexual assault victims deserve their day in court.

(Emphasis in the original.)

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

Late Update: NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh sends us this comment: "If Charlie Melancon is truly 'shocked' that David Vitter would vote against this amendment, one can only imagine his thoughts on President Obama and Obama's Department of Defense having the exact same position on this amendment as the Republicans - which they do. Considering Charlie Melancon's strong endorsement of Obama in last year's election, it's fair to ask how Melancon squares this cheap partisan attack today with the Obama Administration's own position on the Franken amendment? Is Charlie Melancon seriously suggesting that President Obama does not care about victims of sexual assault because that would be news indeed. We look forward to his response."

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Chris Christie

Poll: Corzine Ahead Of Christie By 42%-33%

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 10:00AM

Chris Christie (R) and Jon Corzine (D)

A new Suffolk University poll gives Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) a nine-point lead over Republican Chris Christie -- his largest lead in any survey during this whole race.

The numbers: Corzine 42%, Christie 33%, independent Chris Daggett 7%. In this poll, all 12 candidates on the ballot were listed, in addition to the main three, with other independents also garnering a total of 3% support, and 14% undecided. There is no prior Suffolk poll for direct comparison. The margin of error is ±5%.

The pollster's analysis shows that this race has become all about the unpopularity of all the candidates, but that Corzine is now coming out the best: "Thirty-five percent of likely voters said that they would be extremely or very comfortable with Corzine, compared to 20 percent for Christie and 9 percent for Daggett. All candidates struggled with personal popularity, with Corzine viewed favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 46 percent. Christie polled 34 percent favorable, 46 percent unfavorable, while Daggett scored a 20 percent favorable and 25 percent unfavorable. All three candidates had higher negatives than positives."

Health Care

WH Says Obama Supports Senate But President Unlikely To Talk Health Care For A Few Days

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 9:56AM

Deputy White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer

The White House wants everyone to know President Obama "completely supports" the Senate leadership as a final bill emerges this week.

In response to TPMDC and other outlets reporting that the White House is pushing back against efforts to include a public option in the merged bill, the White House press shop issued a rare late-night blog post from Dan Pfeiffer.

But Obama himself is unlikely to chime in for several days. He's meeting with his national security team about whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, then heading to Florida for a meeting with troops.

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VA-GOV

McDonnell Turns To Romney To Counter Obama Visit

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 26, 2009, 9:02AM

Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney, Va-Gov candidate Bob McDonnell

Creigh Deeds (D) may have President Obama by his side this week (well, kind of), but Bob McDonnell (R) has a big name of his own coming to Virginia in the final days of the gubernatorial contest. Mitt Romney is heading to the state for a day of joint appearances with McDonnell on on Wednesday, the day after Obama stops over in the state for a single appearance with Deeds.

Romney will stump for McDonnell in Virginia Beach, Richmond and Roanoke, meeting the press at each stop. The tour continues the list of GOP heavy hitters who have campaigned for McDonnell in Virginia so far this year, including John McCain, Tim Pawlenty and Mike Huckabee.

Fox News

White House Insists Gibbs Didn't Apologize To Fox

Christina Bellantoni | October 25, 2009, 11:38AM

Fox News Logo, Treasury Department Special Master Ken Feinberg

After TPMDC posted Friday about the latest in the Fox News v. White House saga related to an interview with Ken Feinberg, a Fox executive stood firm to say the White House had excluded the network.

Several readers brought a Huffington Post story to our attention this weekend. They have an interview with Fox VP Michael Clemente where he claims White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs apologized for the situation.

I spoke to a Fox media relations aide this morning with another interview request for Clemente or the D.C. bureau chief. The aide referred us to this story in Mediaite, which also features Clemente saying Gibbs apologized. The aide would not make him available for an interview.

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