Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 5:45PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL)

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

• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL).

• Fox News Sunday: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM).

John McCain

McCain: Why Can't Obama Be Bipartisan Like Me?

Jillian Rayfield | April 30, 2010, 5:20PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Just one month after saying that Republicans will not cooperate with Democrats for the rest of the year, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) lamented in an interview that the Obama Administration has not been bipartisan enough.

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VA-02

VA GOPer To GOP Opponent: How Dare You Take Cash For Clunkers Money! (VIDEO)

Ben Frumin | April 30, 2010, 5:09PM

VA-2 candidate Scott Rigell

A pair of Republicans battling for the chance to take on Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA) in this fall's general election are caught up in a full-blown intra-party war over stimulus funds accepted by each of their businesses.

It started when it came to light that Republican candidate Scott Rigell, who owns a car dealership, sold 107 cars under the federal Cash for Clunkers program. His dealership then submitted requests for $444,500 in reimbursements from the federal government.

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Transparency

White House Dumps New Batch Of Visitors Logs

Christina Bellantoni | April 30, 2010, 3:49PM

White House

It's that time again -- the Obama administration just posted the latest records detailing visitors to the White House grounds in January.

As he does each month Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, detailed the records in a blog post at White House.gov. The hundreds of thousands of records (covering everything that's been released since September) are here.

We'll be going through them but if you notice anything interesting leave a note in the comments or drop us an email.

Sue Lowden

Liberal Group Releases 'Chickens For Checkups' Ad Mocking Lowden (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | April 30, 2010, 3:14PM

Adding to the chorus of people mocking Republican Sue Lowden over her "barter with your doctor" comment, a liberal third party group has released a new TV ad called "Chickens For Checkups."

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PA-12

Poll: GOPer Leads Race For Murtha Seat

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 1:30PM

PA-12 House candidates Mark Critz (D) and Tim Burns (R)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the PA-12 special election gives Republican businessman Tim Burns the edge in the race for the House seat formerly held by the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha.

The numbers: Burns 46%, with Democratic candidate and former Murtha aide Mark Critz at 40%. The sample of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. The Democrats have held this seat since 1974, when Murtha picked it up from the Republicans in a special election held in the midst of the Watergate scandals. The special election will be held on May 18. The TPM Poll Average gives Burns a lead of 43.0%-40.3%

Two key numbers: President Obama's favorable rating in this western Pennsylvania seat is only 38%, with an unfavorable rating of 55%. Respondents were also asked this question: "Would you be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports and will work to improve the new health care reform law, or a candidate who will work to repeal it completely?" The answer: candidate who supports the bill 34%, candidate who would repeal the bill 48%.

FL-05

GOP Rep. Brown-Waite Announces Last-Minute Retirement

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 1:25PM

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) suddenly announced her retirement today, the last day for candidates to file for the seat, citing health reasons.

"As I have prepared for my campaign, I have been troubled by persistent health problems and have come to the disappointing and sad conclusion that I cannot run for reelection," said Brown-Waite. "There are simply too many unresolved issues around my health and my pancreas in particular."

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AZ-GOV

New AZ-Gov Poll: Brewer Leads GOP Primary -- Unless Sheriff Joe Runs

Rachel Slajda | April 30, 2010, 12:57PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

In a new Public Policy Polling survey, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is leading the pack in the Republican primary, having built credibility with conservative voters since December. But that all changes if Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a hard-liner on immigration, were to enter the race.

Without Arpaio, Brewer gets 38% of the vote, followed by her closest challenger at 19%. Her approval rating among conservatives is 60% -- not surprising, as the poll was conducted in the days after she signed a harsh new immigration law. A Rasmussen poll released this week showed that her approval numbers statewide got a huge bump after she signed the law, bringing her to 56% approval.

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Erwin Chemerinsky

Experts: GOP Plan To Change Citizenship Rights Is 'Clearly Unconstitutional'

Ben Frumin | April 30, 2010, 12:53PM

Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr. (R-CA) and the U.S. Constitution (inset)

Earlier this week, we told you about Rep. Duncan Hunter's (R-CA) support for deporting natural born American citizens whose parents are illegal immigrants. That position is based on a Republican proposal to stop granting citizenship rights to such children.

According to two constitutional law experts, that's "clearly unconstitutional."

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FL-SEN

Howard Dean Fundraising Letter: I Support Meek, Not Crist

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 12:41PM

DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL)

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean is putting the kibosh on speculation that he might be supporting Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist in the Florida Senate race. In a new fundraising letter sent out by Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek's Senate campaign, Dean makes it clear who he is for.

"You may have heard a ridiculous - and completely false - rumor that I'm backing Charlie Crist," Dean writes. "No way, no how. I am supporting just one candidate in the Florida Senate race: Kendrick Meek. The announcement yesterday that Crist is abandoning the Republican Party to run as an independent is a game-changer. Crist and Marco Rubio will now fight over the same pool of Republican voters, giving us a real path to victory."

This rumor briefly spread two days ago. National Review linked to a local paid-subscriber site in Florida, which reported that Dean said he would send Crist a check. A Dean aide quickly e-mailed National Review, alleging that this report originated from somebody overhearing Dean making a joke to Joe Scarborough in a private conversation.

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Health Care

Anthem Backs Off Big Rate Hike -- For Now

Rachel Slajda | April 30, 2010, 11:44AM

Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius

Anthem Blue Cross announced yesterday that it is scrapping its request for a premium rate hike. The Obama administration, which had used Anthem's proposed hike of up to 39% to illustrate the evils of the insurance industry, celebrated the announcement -- and took some of the credit.

"Today's announcement is good news for the more than 800,000 Californians who could have been hit with massive rate increases and gives them some much-needed temporary relief," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement yesterday. "This result was achieved because those who oversee the insurance industry on the state and federal levels heard these voices, held investigations, and demanded action."

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2010 elections

In The Lead: GOP Feeling Confident About Senate Chances

Christina Bellantoni | April 30, 2010, 11:34AM

Clockwise, from top left: Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R), Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. John Boozman (R-AR)

Republicans like their chances this fall when it comes to scooping up prime Senate seats across the country. They are playing offense on a wide map, leading in eight seats held by Democrats and successfully defending all the GOP seats on their own turf.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is feeling good about the races in Nevada, Colorado, Arkansas, North Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Delaware, where their polling shows the GOP leading Democratic candidates and incumbents.

Check out all the latest TPM poll averages for these races here. Bottom line - the Democrats are trailing but in many cases their Republican opponent hasn't yet been chosen. In some of the races -- Colorado, Arkansas, Indiana in particular -- the Republicans are engaged in bitter intraparty fights that could ultimately help the Democrats once the field is settled.

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IL-SEN

Poll: GOPer Kirk's Lead Grows In Illinois Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 10:41AM

IL-SEN candidates Rep. Mark Kirk (R) and state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D)

The new Rasmussen poll of the Illinois Senate race finds Republican Rep. Mark Kirk expanding his lead over Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in the race for President Obama's former Senate seat -- a sign that the failure of Giannoulias's family bank could possibly endanger this seat for the Dems.

The numbers: Kirk 46%, Giannoulias 38%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.5% margin of error. Three weeks ago, before the bank's closure, Kirk had a much narrower lead of 41%-37% in Rasmussen's polling. In addition, Kirk's favorable rating is 52% to 31% unfavorable, compared to Giannoulias's 42%-47% rating.

The TPM Poll Average for this race gives Kirk a lead of 42.3%-35.5%.

AR-SEN

SEIU Launches $1M Campaign Against Lincoln In AR-SEN Homestretch

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 30, 2010, 10:29AM

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D-AR) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

With less than a month to go until Arkansas' May 18 Democratic primary, SEIU is ramping up its attacks on Sen. Blanche Lincoln with a new million dollar ad campaign attacking the senator over votes for free trade deals.

The ads feature a worker at an Arkansas' Cooper Tire plant claiming Lincoln's support of NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade deals meant pay cuts for workers at his factory.

Organized labor helped Lincon's primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, get into the race in March, citing Lincoln's opposition to card check and other labor legislative priorities. With the $1 million buy, it's clear that SEIU plans to help Halter get to the finish line as well.

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FL-SEN

Crist Switching To Independent: 'If You're Going To Do It, Do It'

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 10:10AM

Governor Charlie Crist (I-FL)

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who bolted the Republican primary for Senate yesterday to run for Senate, has now made it clear that he is an independent, not a Republican -- and he's not exactly being clear on which party he would caucus with if he makes it to the Senate.

Crist told the St. Petersburg Times that he will not keep his Republican registration, and he will instead change to independent. "Why not? If you're going to do it, do it. Let's go!," said Crist.

Which party would he caucus with, the paper asked? "The people of Florida," said Crist. "I'll caucus with anybody who will help the people of Florida."

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NV-SEN

Reid Doubles Down On Health Care As He Fights To Keep His Seat (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | April 30, 2010, 9:25AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, battling for his political life against bad odds, has doubled down on his role in health care reform even though Nevadans aren't fans of the new law. Reid is up on statewide television with ads that champion health care reform, speaking to the camera and showcasing three residents who would be helped under the changes in the measure.

"Some told me reform wasn't politically smart but I believe it's right for Nevada," Reid (D-NV) says to the camera, adding a smile. The three 30-second ads signal a new strategy for Reid as he defends the overhaul of the health care system and while one of his potential Republican opponents twists herself into knots over some unfortunate comments about bartering for medical care. It's also raised some eyebrows in Washington as most political chatter and even television advertising spending has shifted to financial reform. Reid also seems to be the only Senate candidate currently campaigning on the air on health care reform.

The current TPM Poll Average of this race shows Reid losing to all of the GOP hopefuls. In a matchup with Sue Lowden (R) she has 52.6 percent and Reid has 38.3 percent.

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Immigration

Reid To Graham On Climate Change: 'It's Up To You'

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2010, 8:07AM

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA)

In the latest rejoinder to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the GOP, the Senate's most senior Democrats last night unveiled a framework for immigration reform legislation, which, they say, they will turn into a bill and try to pass this year. Graham recently threatened to scuttle immigration reform--a politically contentious subject for the GOP--as well as a climate/energy bill he helped to draft, unless Democrats take the former issue off the table for the rest of this Congress.

It's a risky gambit for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has angered many--even in his own party--by throwing the agenda for the rest of the year into greater doubt and risking perhaps the last, best hope the country has for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Complicating matters is the fact that Reid has plenty to gain back home, politically, by making immigration an issue, leading many, particularly on the right, to question his motives. Reid faces a tough re-election fight this year in the heavily Hispanic state of Nevada, and drawing out the GOP's demons on immigration reform could increase voter turnout among Democrats come November.

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FL-SEN

GOP Slams Crist Over Indy Senate Bid, Rallies Around Rubio

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 6:26PM

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio

Republicans are quickly rolling out their reaction to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's announcement that he is leaving the Republican primary for Senate, and instead running as an independent. Crist's GOP rival Marco Rubio is all set to move forward on his conservative platform, while the national GOP that had supported Crist a year ago is switching to Rubio.

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FL-SEN

It's Official: Crist Goes Independent In Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 5:58PM

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has just officially announced that he is leaving the Republican primary for Senate, and is instead running in the general election as an independent.

"My decision to run for the United State Senate as a candidate without party affiliation in many ways says more about our nation and our state than it does about me," said Crist, at a rally in his hometown of St. Petersburg. "As someone who served the people in Florida more than 15 years, from the state Senate to the governor's mansion, I can confirm what most Floridians already know. Unfortunately our political system is broken. I was never one who sought to hold elective office to demagogue, to point fingers. For me, for me, public service has always been about putting the needs of our state and our people first. And every single day, as your servant, I have tried to do exactly that."

It has been a long and strange journey from a year ago, when Crist was a popular Republican governor with a seeming lock on his party's nomination and the Senate seat itself.

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Debt

'Uncle Sam' Actor Is Back -- Pro-Biz Anti-Debt Group Launches New Ad Campaign

Christina Bellantoni | April 29, 2010, 5:09PM

Randolph Bragg, an actor from Northern Virginia, holds a sign as part of a paid stunt done by a group calling itself Defeat the Debt

The pro-business front group that brought fake homeless people to the streets of Washington to highlight the swelling deficit is back today with a $10 million ad campaign, this time showing "Uncle Sam" drowning in debt.

Defeat the Debt's new campaign appeared last night on Seventh Ave. in New York's Times Square, just as thousands of people were marching on Wall Street to call for financial reform. The group, funded by non-disclosed private donations, is calling it the second phase of its deficit education plan. It also will be accompanied by new television commercials and newspaper ads. Readers may remember the campaign paid big bucks for a SuperBowl ad showing children pledging allegiance to China.

"America is drowning in debt," the ads declare as the Uncle Sam actor is shown going under water. It is designed to drive traffic to the Defeat the Debt web site, which shows a ticker of the growing national debt.

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NV-SEN

Poll: 'Chicken For Checkups' Could Hurt Lowden -- But Hasn't Yet

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 4:52PM

Chickens; Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (inset)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Nevada Senate race includes a question on Republican candidate Sue Lowden's comments praising the use of the barter system in order to lower health care costs. The poll shows that the "Chickens For Checkups" story has the potential to badly damage Lowden -- but for now, at least, she is still leading Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by a narrow margin, and she is also ahead in her GOP primary.

The question reads: "As you may know, Sue Lowden has proposed reducing medical costs by having patients barter with their doctor instead of using health insurance. Under Lowden's barter proposal, patients would negotiate directly with doctors, offering services or goods such as painting the doctor's home or giving the doctor a chicken, in exchange for medical treatment. QUESTION: Do you think Lowden's proposal is a realistic way to bring medical costs down for most families?"

The result: Yes 14%, no 81%. Among Republicans only, the result is 27%-68%. It should be noted that this seemingly absurd question is in fact a fairly accurate and straightforward summary of Lowden's comments from last week.

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Immigration

Pelosi: Immigration Reform Would Require Obama's Leadership

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2010, 4:36PM

President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

We know John Boehner thinks immigration reform is dead. But what about the people who control the party in power? At her weekly press conference today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't exactly give it winning prospects.

"If there is going to be any movement in that regard, it will require presidential leadership," Pelosi said, in addition to an appetite in Congress.

So how fired up and ready to go is President Obama on the issue?

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WA-SEN

Dems Hoping To Scare Dino Rossi Out Of WA SEN Race

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 29, 2010, 2:33PM

WA Sen. candidate Dino Rossi (R) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

While the parties are focused on tough primaries around the country, in Washington State the general election is underway. Sen. Patty Murray (D) is probably a lock for reelection in November -- if she can keep former GOP gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi from getting in the race, that is.

Rossi has hinted for a while that he might take on Murray, a three-term incumbent who won her last election in 2004 by 12 points. Though there are other Republicans in the race, they haven't raised much money and aren't viewed as serious threats by most observers. But Rossi -- who knows how to raise cash by the truckload and came within less than 200 votes of becoming governor in 2004 -- could pose serious danger to Murray's reelection chances.

That's why Democrats in Washington state and Washington, D.C. have been targeting him for weeks, hoping to scare him out of the race the way Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-WI) campaign say they did with former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who presented the only serious threat to Feingold's reelection chances. Will it work? Rossi's still flirting with a bid, but no one knows for sure yet.

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AR-SEN

Poll: Blanche Lincoln's Lead In Dem Primary Down To Single-Digit Margin

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 2:24PM

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D-AR) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Democratic Senate primary in Arkansas finds Lt. Gov. Bill Halter continuing to slowly make ground in his challenge against incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln, with Lincoln's lead down to a single-digit margin.

The numbers, among likely primary voters: Lincoln 43%, Halter 35%, with a 5% margin of terror. Lincoln previously led by 45%-33% two weeks ago, and by 44%-31% a month ago. The TPM Poll Average gives Lincoln a lead of 45.2%-31.8% in the primary, with the incumbent blow 50% support.

Both Lincoln and Halter have trouble in the general election matches against the Republican candidates, but Halter is polling slightly better than Lincoln.

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FL-SEN

Crist Campaign To Give Partial Refunds

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 2:01PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL), who is on the cusp of leaving the Republican Party and running for Senate as an independent, will be giving partial refunds to donors who ask for their money back, the St. Petersburg Times reports.

One donor who will be wanting his money back: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Cornyn gave Crist $10,000 last year from his leadership PAC.

Up through this the end of the first quarter of this year, the Crist campaign had $7.6 million in cash on hand, compared to $3.9 million cash on hand for his Republican rival Marco Rubio and $3.7 million cash on hand for Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek.

PA-SEN

Sestak Uses Veterans To Defend His Military Record In New Ad (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | April 29, 2010, 1:52PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who is running against Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the state's May 18 Democratic Senate primary, has released a new ad featuring a group of military veterans defending Sestak's service in the Navy.

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AZ-SEN

Polls: McCain Maintains Lead Over Hayworth But Still Faces High Unfavorables

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 1:20PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Sen. John McCain is ahead of his challenger in the Republican primary, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth -- by either a decent-sized margin, or a really big one, depending on which recent poll one looks at. But he also still faces some potential pitfalls.

The new survey of Republican primary voters from Public Policy Polling (R) has McCain ahead by 46%-35%, with a third candidate Jim Deakin -- who is running to the right of Hayworth, -- at 7% support. The margin of error is ±5%.

On the other hand, the new Rocky Mountain Poll gives McCain a much heftier lead of 54%-28% against Hayworth among Republicans and independent GOP primary voters, with Deakin not included in the poll.

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Immigration

Hell No You Can't! Boehner Calls Immigration Reform DOA In Congress

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2010, 12:43PM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

After dodging a series of questions from reporters today, regarding his position on a controversial new immigration law in Arizona, House Minority Leader John Boehner categorically declared comprehensive immigration reform dead in Washington.

"There is not a chance that immigration is going to move through the Congress," Boehner said at his weekly press conference. "Even the President last night admitted that this wasn't going to happen."

Boehner went on:

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Financial Reform

'No Next Year' -- Dodd Aims To Preserve Legacy With Financial Reform

Christina Bellantoni | April 29, 2010, 12:26PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Sen. Chris Dodd was looking at an ugly reelection fight despite a three-decade Senate career, but with January retirement looming and a potential big win on financial reform, he's trying to leave the chamber on a high note.

"There is no next year for Chris Dodd," a top financial industry lobbyist told me in an interview.

A Republican leadership aide told me that the GOP believes Dodd keeps pushing for bipartisanship to make what will be a career-defining bill as strong as possible. "It's hard to have a good legacy bill when it passes by 60 votes," the aide said. Sources close to Dodd said cementing such a legacy is one reason Dodd repeatedly went back to Republicans in hopes of getting the bill to the floor, a task that finally prevailed last night. It's a long way before passage of the measure, but friends and colleagues told me they think Dodd's quest is about more than good legislation.

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Financial Reform

Nelson Defends Blocks: 'I Did Not Vote No Because Of Berkshire'

Rachel Slajda | April 29, 2010, 12:10PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).

When Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) voted with Republicans three times to block financial reform legislation from coming to the Senate floor for debate, many -- including TPM -- pointed out that Berkshire Hathaway, the company of Omaha investor Warren Buffett, had pushed hard for a provision that would have protected existing derivatives from certain regulations. Nelson, who owns millions in Berkshire stock, had supported the provision, a provision that had been stripped from the bill in negotiations.

Yesterday, Nelson lashed out at what he called the "cesspool of gotcha politics" and defended his votes.

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FL-SEN

Whole New Game: Crist's Likely Independent Bid Makes FL-SEN A Strange, Unpredictable Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 11:22AM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) is widely expected to announce at 5 p.m. ET today that he will leave the Republican primary for Senate, and continue running for Senate as an independent. This move, which has been rumored for some time, will seriously shape a Senate race in a big perennial state, and could very well make this the most intriguing race of the year.

A three-way race of this variety is very tough to predict, to put it mildly. Republican candidate Marco Rubio could win with an energized right wing. Crist could pull out a win from his moderate stances and personal popularity with his own base. Or Democrat Kendrick Meek could win if Crist and Rubio split the Republican vote.

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Financial Reform

The Republican Duo Behind The Demise Of The Financial Reform Filibuster

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2010, 11:16AM

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

The GOP's bid to block debate on Democrats' financial regulatory reform bill ended with a whimper. After a three day standoff--during which they voted repeatedly, and to a number, to sustain their filibuster--the Republicans acknowledged that they'd be unable to extract further concessions behind closed doors, and agreed, unanimously, to allow the bill to come to the floor.

That decision didn't please everybody. In a statement announcing that bipartisan negotiations had reached an impasse, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)--the ranking member on the Banking Committee, and the Republicans' top financial reform negotiator--said that the common ground he'd found with Democrats was "not sufficient to garner my support for moving this bill to the Senate floor." And last night, after a meeting of the GOP caucus, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) told reporters that he planned to vote against proceeding to debate again...but he never got the chance.

So who was pushing for the filibuster to end--and why?

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FL-SEN

Cornyn To Crist: I Want My Money Back Too!

Christina Bellantoni | April 29, 2010, 9:21AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Sen. John Cornyn said today he expects a flood of GOP donors to ask Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to refund contributions they made to his Senate campaign -- and he'll request his cash back too.

"I will request the money that I've donated to his campaign from my leadership PAC back," Cornyn told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

Cornyn (R-TX) gave Crist $10,000 when he recruited the governor to run in 2009. He's chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which today will reverse course and back former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio for the general election. The NRSC also will request the $10,000 back the NRSC gave.

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2010 elections

Off To The Races: Days Away From Primaries In IN, NC, OH

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 29, 2010, 9:11AM

A woman voting

May is just around the corner, and with it comes one of the busiest months for primaries in 2010. By the time the month is out, we'll have nominees in ten states, including some of the most closely-watched races of the year. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before we get to the big races Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Arkansas (May 18), there are several smaller, relatively below-the-radar primaries to look out for next week.

The May 4 primaries will decide which Republican is going to try and take back Evan Bayh's Senate seat in Indiana, and which Democrat is going to get the chance at knocking off Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). In Ohio, the Democratic Senate primary has drawn some real excitement from progressives, if not much attention from national observers.

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Immigration

Welcome To AZ: Nat'l Pols Position Themselves On Controversial Immigration Law

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 29, 2010, 8:59AM

With Congress seemingly out of the immigration reform business for the moment, all debate on the topic has shifted to Arizona's controversial new law. With no national bill to talk about, politicians are positioning themselves on the Arizona legislation in order to grab hold of a growing wave of discussion about immigration the law has sparked.

Thanks in part to the bill's tough language -- which critics say puts anyone who even appears to be Latino under suspicion in the eyes of the law -- the lines being drawn nationally on the bill do not always reflect the traditional Republican vs. Democratic order of things, though national Democrats do seem to be leading the way on calling for repeal or blockage of the law in the court.

The debate on the Republican side so far seems to come down to this: Where you are, who you are and what you're running for.

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Financial Reform

Bowing To Internal Pressure, GOP Allows Debate On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2010, 7:12PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Without a single objection, Republicans tonight dropped their three day filibuster of financial reform legislation, agreeing unanimously to debate the Democrats' bill on the Senate floor.

Though clearly a big defeat for the Republicans, their line tonight is that they endured this week's political maelstrom for a substantive reason: to allow Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) to extract as many concessions out of Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd as he could. When Dodd said no more, they relented. Of course, bipartisan talks have broken down several times before, without Republicans relenting, and if you scratch below the surface, you find that the GOP's calculation was rooted more in an understanding that the caucus didn't have an appetite for endless obstruction this time around.

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PA-SEN

One Year After Switching Parties: How Is Arlen Specter Doing

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 7:06PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Today is the one-year anniversary of when Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) switched to the Democratic Party, after 28 previous years as a Republican Senator. And this has become one of the most interesting races of the cycle -- starting with a Republican Senator in danger of losing his primary, then him becoming a Democrat in order to avoid that fate, and now lingering in a state of political peril similar to the rest of his newfound party in this cycle.

Until last fall, Specter narrowly led Toomey in the polls. But the drag on Democratic fortunes since the fall has taken a toll on Specter just as it has for other Dems. The TPM Poll Average shows him trailing his long-time Republican nemesis Toomey by a margin of 45.2%-39.6%. On the bright side for him, he leads Sestak in the Democratic primary by a margin of 45.0%-29.8%. The primary is three weeks away, and TV ads have just begun running in heavy amounts.

For today's anniversary, Toomey's campaign has marked the occasion by promoting a money-bomb fundraiser, with a goal of raising $280,000 today. As of this writing, they slightly over $150,000.

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Health Care

Insurers Voluntarily Agree To Kick-Start HCR Reform Changes Early

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 6:39PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama

The nation's health insurance companies have agreed to speed up a critical element of the new health care reform law to ban the practice of canceling coverage when you get sick known as rescissions. America's Health Insurance Plans this afternoon sent Congressional leaders a letter announcing that insurers will put the change in place in May, instead of September as called for in the law.

As we reported yesterday, Democrats had been urging early action, and WellPoint agreed to make the change. But with the full AHIP backing outlined in the letter, Democrats can showcase swift action they can campaign on in advance of the midterm elections. Read the letter in full here.

"While many health plans already abide by the standards outlined in the new law, our community is committed to implementing the new standard in May 2010 to ensure that individuals and families will have greater peace of mind when purchasing coverage on their own," wrote AHIP president Karen Ignagni.

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2010 elections

Dem '10 Strategy: Get First-Time '08 Voters To Make It A Second Time

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 5:42PM

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine

Democratic National Committee Chariman Tim Kaine today outlined a new strategy aimed at keeping his party's large Congressional majority in this fall's midterm elections, and it's mainly geared around preserving the young, diverse voting coalition that helped elected President Obama in 2008.

He said the DNC will try to get those 15 million new, first-time voters from 2008 to show up in an election that does not attract as much interest by having Democratic grassroots operatives make "hand-to-hand" communication with them. He said if the DNC speaks frequently to these voters (1.3 million in Texas, 400,000 in Ohio and 750,000 in Colorado) and remind them that their vote for Democrats is integral to Obama's success that will make the difference. He said they are above all else loyal to Obama.

"We know who they are," Kaine (D-VA) said on a call today for reporters and bloggers. "If we are able to significantly increase by 8 to 10 percent, it can have a sizable affect."

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Financial Reform

Bank Lobbyists See Writing On Wall -- Publicly Support Financial Reform

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 5:08PM

A banker skit on Capitol Hill

Behind the scenes, there are stealth big business campaigns going on to block any major changes that would hurt Wall Street. But in the light of day bankers are flooding Capitol Hill with letters, ads and face-to-face meetings with a unified message even if they disagree on the specifics of financial reform: Do something.

Lobbyists for banks big and small and financial institutions that will be dramatically affected by reform told me today that it's pretty clear legislation imposing stricter regulations on Wall Street will pass the Senate. They said campaigning publicly against it is futile so they're pressuring individual lawmakers to tuck in here and there provisions that they think will make the bill fairer for the industry.

The tone of nearly all the television ads on financial reform -- now totaling $23 million in ad buys to-date -- has been to take action or to tinker on the margins. Beyond the front group called "Stop Too Big To Fail" and a U.S. Chamber effort, few are calling for the legislation to be scrapped or blocked entirely, in part because Wall Street is too easy a target and no one wants to be seen as a big bank defender. The banks instead are using a large firm that helped corporations fight health care to show "grassroots" support for their case, as Think Progress revealed yesterday.

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Financial Reform

Republicans Relent, Will Let Debate Begin

Rachel Slajda | April 28, 2010, 3:56PM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senate Republicans announced this afternoon that they will allow financial reform legislation onto the chamber floor for a debate after bipartisan talks hit an impasse.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee who has been in bipartisan negotiations with chairman Chris Dodd, released a statement announcing talks could go no further.

"We have been unable, however, to make any meaningful progress on other important components of the legislation. It is now my belief that further negotiations will not produce additional results," Shelby wrote.

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OH-15

Ohio GOP Photoshops Very Big Sign Into Tea Party Rally

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 2:31PM

The Ohio Republican Party is being lampooned on both liberal and conservative blogs and message boards, over a mailer featuring a sign Photoshopped into a Tea Party rally -- a very big sign.

The sign shows a Tea Party rally, along with a sign "Vote Steve Stivers May 4th," referring to a candidate in next week's House primaries. Stivers has the party's endorsement for the GOP nomination to run against freshman Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, who narrowly defeated Stivers in the 2008 open-seat race.

The sign is added in. It is also very large, relative to the people and other protest signs in the rest of the photo. As has been pointed out elsewhere, the sign would have to be 30-50 feet high. The liberal Plunderbund site gave it a satirical news headline: "58 Tea Party protesters killed by falling giant Stivers sign."

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George Voinovich

Why Voinovich Was The First GOP Egg To Crack On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2010, 2:15PM

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

Earlier this afternoon, Republicans voted, for the third straight day, to block Democrats' financial reform bill from getting a hearing on the Senate floor. But starting last night, Republicans began to hint that they'd ultimately relent, and none more candidly than Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH). If a bipartisan agreement can't be reached, Voinovich said last night, "we'll just get it out there and move on with it."

Voinovich has long been considered a swing vote on financial reform, and a number of Republican sources, both on the Hill and off, told me weeks ago that they viewed him as, in some ways, the weakest link.

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Immigration

Moot Point? Votes Don't Seem There For Immigration Anyway

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 1:56PM

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-AZ) at a press conference on Immigration reform in June 2006

As Republicans and Democrats bicker over playing politics with immigration, the math doesn't quite add up for it to be possible to pass legislation in this senate either. The closest Congress came to any comprehensive immigration reform was in 2006 when the Senate passed a bipartisan plan with 62-36. (It died in the House.) That Senate vote was thanks to 22 Republicans -- may of whom were later defeated or who now say they won't support immigration today.

Based on that vote and changes that have come since, we did the math and it looks like there is are 56 votes for immigration. But with the political winds having shifted, a whole new crop of conservative Democrats and the midterm elections looming, those 56 votes are far from solid. Besides, 60 is the most important number for the Senate to even bring a bill to the floor.

The top Republican negotiators from the 2006 (and 2007) failed efforts Sen. Lindsey Graham and John McCain have signaled they have no interest in immigration this year. Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID), Bill Frist (R-TN), Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) have been replaced by conservative GOPers unlikely to support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants that critics dub "amnesty." Immigration champion Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) is gone, and President Obama is phoning Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) on the topic to try and win him over.

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Immigration

Democrats Unite In Condemnation Of AZ Immigration Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 28, 2010, 1:50PM

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

House Democrats took to the grounds of the Capitol today to condemn the Arizona's controversial new immigration law and call on Congress and the White House to take action to fix the nation's immigration problems before more states attempt to take the law into their own hands.

The House group, led by Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) was joined by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who joined the speakers in calling for action on comprehensive immigration reform now. The speakers used strong rhetoric to condemn the Arizona law, calling it "legalized racial profiling" and comparing it to the apartheid system in South Africa.

"This law panders to the worst elements of our national dialogue," Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) said.

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FL-SEN

Report: Crist Will Make Independent Senate Bid

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 1:43PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

It's nearly official: Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) will bolt the GOP and run for Senate as an independent, the St. Petersburg Times and Fox News each report. This much-expected event will drastically shake up a top Senate race in this perennial swing state, which has become more intriguing than anybody could have imagined a year ago.

The St. Petersburg Times reports that Crist has notified key financial backers of his decision. Crist has already announced that he will make his as-yet undisclosed decision official tomorrow, one day before the April 30 filing deadline.

The TPM Poll Average for the Republican primary gives Marco Rubio a lead of 59.1%-27.9% over Crist, the opposite of where things were a year ago. Meanwhile, the poll average for a three-way general election only gives Rubio a narrow lead with 33.8% of the vote, followed by an independent Crist at 27.8%, and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek with 22.5%.

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Financial Reform

Pounce! Dems To Keep Senate Open All Night To Force GOP Hand On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2010, 1:26PM

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.

Frustrated by an ongoing campaign by the GOP to block debate on financial reform legislation, Democrats plan to hold the Senate floor open all night, potentially holding repeated votes to break the filibuster, or forcing Republicans to publicly object to debating their bill. But the move comes just as Republicans appear closer than ever to throwing in the towel.

"The voting is up to the Majority Leader, how often they vote," Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin told reporters after Republicans, for the third straight day, voted in lockstep to prevent debate on the Democrats' bill. "Staying in session? Making unanimous consent requests? Those things are all options.... Votes may be recurring regularly."

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Arlen Specter

Specter: 'I Might Have Helped The Country More If I Had Stayed A Republican'

Rachel Slajda | April 28, 2010, 1:14PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Sen. Arlen Specter, who one year ago today switched his affiliation from Republican to Democrat, told the Allentown Morning Call that, just maybe, things would have been better if he never made the switch.

"Well, I probably shouldn't say this,'' he said last month. ''But I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I'd stayed a Republican.''

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Immigration

Reid Blasts Republicans For 'Gall' On Immigration, Stalling On Financial Reform

Laura Colarusso | April 28, 2010, 12:16PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called out Republicans today for refusing to move forward on immigration reform, despite his promises that other priorities would be taken care of first.

"I am going to move forward on energy first...but for anyone saying that we shouldn't do immigration this year--especially Republicans--that takes a lot of gall," Reid said.

Reid also expressed his frustration over the filibusters on financial reform. "All the talk of Republicans about wanting to do something about this bill before it gets on the floor is really anti-Senate, anti-American. They keep stalling, and they keep stalling."

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AL-GOV

AL-GOV Candidate: English-Only Driver's License Tests Please! (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 11:59AM

AL-GOV candidate Tim James (R)

The campaign of gubernatorial candidate Tim James (R-AL) says that his ad proposing English-only driver's licenses tests has been a big hit -- and that it represents a simple solution to the illegal immigration problem that has become a huge issue in the state.

"Why do our politicians make us give driver's license exams in 12 languages?" James asks in the ad. "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it. We're only giving that test in English if I'm governor."

"There was no one catalyst, other than since we started this campaign about two years ago, and at least once a day someone asks us or calls our headquarters about what are we gonna do about illegal aliens in Alabama," said campaign spokesman Brett Hall, when asked by TPMDC what spurred the campaign to create the ad. "And our ad doesn't specifically address illegal aliens or talk about that. But we did see that the state of Alabama, in offering 12 foreign languages in addition to English for the driver's test, was absurd. But we thought we would home in on that part of it, and it seems to have hit a raw nerve here in the state."

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Tim Mahoney

Disgraced Rep. Tim Mahoney: Back In The Game?

Rachel Slajda | April 28, 2010, 11:56AM

Former Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL)

Former Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL), who lost a re-election battle in 2008 after admitting to multiple affairs and denying that he had tried to pay off one of his mistresses, is hinting that he may challenge Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) this fall.

"I'm seriously thinking about doing it and the more I think about it, the more serious I get," he told Florida TV station WPTV. The filing deadline is this Friday.

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AZ-SEN

Poll: McCain Unpopular Back Home In Arizona

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 11:54AM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

A new survey of Arizona by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Sen. John McCain's approval rating has plummeted in his home state, a year and half since he won it in the 2008 presidential election. However, the GOP would still be much worse off if McCain lost his Republican primary against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

McCain's approval rating is only 34%, with 55% disapproval. Back in September, when the last PPP numbers from Arizona were taken, McCain was in positive territory at 48%-42%.

McCain's approval among Republicans is only 48%-39%, with a much lower 28%-58% among independents, and 21%-71% with Democrats.

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Dixiecrats

Jackson-Lee: Graham On Immigration Reminds Me Of The Dixiecrats

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 28, 2010, 11:50AM

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX) said today that the Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) promise to block immigration reform reminded her of rhetoric from old-guard southern segregationists in the 1960s.

Speaking at a presser criticizing the Arizona immigration bill, Lee said Graham's decision to call for his energy bill to be debated before immigration reform reminded her of southern senators who attempted to block civil rights legislation decades ago.

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FL-SEN

Crist To Announce Decision On Indy Senate Bid At 5 p.m. Tomorrow

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 11:09AM

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R)

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) has scheduled his big announcement of whether he will bolt the Republican Senate primary and instead run as an independent, for 5 p.m. tomorrow in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

"It's home. It's where my family is, so I think it's appropriate," said Crist, the Orlando Sentinel reports. So what do people in Florida think of Crist's potential indy bid, reporters asked him? He responded: "I think the people are concerned about the future. I think they're interested in having people who put them first instead of politics. I think that's where they are."

The TPM Poll Average for the Republican primary gives Marco Rubio a lead of 59.1%-27.9% over Crist, the opposite of where things were a year ago. Meanwhile, the poll average for a three-way general election only gives Rubio a narrow lead with 33.8% of the vote, followed by an independent Crist at 27.8%, and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek with 22.5%.

Financial Reform

Prelude To A Cave: McConnell Says GOP Financial Reform Filibuster Was 'Very Useful Exercise'

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2010, 10:13AM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

All week, Senate Republicans have been blocking a floor debate on the Democrats' financial regulatory reform legislation, holding out, they say, for a comprehensive bipartisan agreement between Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, and his counterpart Richard Shelby. Now that both sides acknowledge that a grand deal is not in the offing, Republicans are inching toward breaking their filibuster. This morning on the Senate floor, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, sounding resigned to the fact that the Democrats outlasted him, dropped all talk of allowing negotiations to continue, and turned his attention to measures in the Democrats' bill he wants to see fixed.

"[T]his has been a very useful exercise," McConnell said. "By giving people time to actually look at this bill and study the details for themselves, we've enabled them to assess not only the potential impact of the actual text of the bill itself, but also some of the unintended consequences it could have."

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Financial Reform

Obama Takes Advantage Of Second GOP Block

Rachel Slajda | April 28, 2010, 10:11AM

President Barack Obama

In an example of the Democrats' eagerness to let the Republicans keep blocking the financial reform bill for the time being, President Obama last night used their second block as town hall fodder.

Speaking to voters in Iowa, he said it's "not right" that Republicans voted to block the bill from coming to the floor for debate.

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Financial Reform

DNC Ad Slams Republicans For Blocking Financial Reform (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 10:03AM

A screengrab from DNC TV ad: "Risky Business"

The Democratic National Committee has a new national cable TV ad going after Republicans for blocking financial reform, a political counter-attack coming right after yesterday's GOP filibuster of the bill.

"Wall Street's risky bets nearly sank our economy," the announcer says. "But when it came to Wall Street reform that would protect consumers and prevent future bailouts, every Senate Republican voted 'no.' Republicans voted to block reform, after a fundraiser with Wall Street lobbyists. Republicans stood by as Wall Street ran wild. Now they are standing with the big banks again. Tell Republicans, if they side with Wall Street over Main Street, you won't be siding with them."

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PA-SEN

Michael J. Fox Stars In Ad For Arlen Specter (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2010, 9:36AM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Michael J. Fox

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) has a new TV ad starring actor Michael J. Fox, who has become a top activist for medical research in the 12 year since he publicly disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

"In the fight against disease, you can look back or move forward. Arlen Specter is moving forward," says Fox. "He's won the battles to double funding for biomedical research, to find cures, and to save lives. The next discovery is right around the corner. That's why we need Arlen back in the Senate. He's smart, tough, and always moving forward."

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AZ-GOV

Poll: Jan Brewer Approval On The Rise After AZ Immigration Law

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 28, 2010, 9:13AM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

Though the new immigration law she signed has led to criticism of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) around the world, a new poll from Rasmussen taken since the bill was signed shows that many people in her state are nothing but appreciative.

Brewer's job approval rating stands at 56% in the poll, a huge bounce from the last Rasmussen poll taken two weeks ago. That poll showed Brewer with a 40% approval rating.

Previous polling shows Brewer's approval rating well below the new Rasmussen numbers. The TPM Poll Average (including the new Rasmussen poll) shows Brewer with an approval rating of 46.3% and a disapproval rating of 43.4.

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AIDS

AIDS Activists Heckle Surgeon General And Say Obama Has Done Little For HIV Awareness

Christina Bellantoni | April 28, 2010, 9:11AM

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin got an earful from AIDS activists at the Tribeca Film Fesitval premiere of a documentary about the HIV epidemic in Washington, D.C. At a panel following a screening of "The Other City" Monday, Benjamin was heckled as some in the audience said President Obama has done nothing to help the HIV problem.

Benjamin, sitting alongisde the flimmakers and people who appeared in the documentary, said Obama had done plenty. She noted his decision to lift the ban on HIV-positive foreign travel and how a major conference will be hosted in Washington in 2012. Obama chose Benjamin for the position in part because her own brother died from AIDS.

But as Benjamin spoke, Larry Kramer said everything Obama has done is "useless!"

"Where's your anger?" Kramer shouted at Benjamin from the audience. He also appeared briefly in the documentary, and is known for loud protests.

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Climate Change

Graham: I'll Filibuster My Own Climate Bill Unless Reid Drops Immigration Altogether

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 8:15PM

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided that he would bump climate-and-energy legislation behind immigration reform as his next priority, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was apoplectic. Graham, along with Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), had spent months drafting a climate/energy bill, and was prepared to introduce it Monday, when, enraged by Reid's plan, he backed out.

Earlier today, Reid appeared to reverse course, saying climate/energy would be the next logical issue to address, followed only afterward by immigration reform. So everything's groovy, right?

Far from it. Tonight, Graham told me that he will filibuster his own climate change bill, unless Reid drops all plans to turn to immigration this Congress.

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Financial Reform

Dodd Optimistic That GOP Will Drop Filibuster Of Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 7:37PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT).

Emerging tonight from a meeting with his Republican counterpart Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) put a diplomatic face on what appears to be a significant victory for him and his party. Tonight, Republicans acknowledged that they are likely to debate Dodd's financial regulatory reform bill, breaking their filibuster, even as Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over key aspects of the legislation.

Without going into great detail, Dodd trumpeted the fact that he and Shelby have largely come to an understanding over one major aspect of the legislation--how to unwind large, failed financial institutions--and said he believes that will be enough to move the bill forward, despite continuing disagreement over other key sections.

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PA-12

DCCC Ad Attacks GOPer Burns On Jobs In Race For Murtha Seat (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 6:40PM

PA-12 House candidates Mark Critz (D) and Tim Burns (R)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a new TV ad in the PA-12 special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Democratic Rep. John Murtha. The new ad depicts Republican businessman as somebody that voters can't trust -- alleging that he helped ship local jobs overseas.

"Millionaire Tim Burns sold his company -- sold it to a corporation that used a tax loophole, which encourages sending American jobs overseas," the announcer says. "Burns got rich, even though he knew there may be layoffs in Pittsburgh."

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Health Care

WellPoint Heeds Dem Requests, Drops Rescissions

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 27, 2010, 6:11PM

Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)

Earlier this afternoon, a group of powerful House Democrats urged the nation's largest health insurance companies to voluntarily agree to provisions in the new health care law banning them from dropping sick policyholders. Just a few hours later, one of those insurers -- WellPoint -- agreed to the Democrats' request.

In a release posted to the company's website, WellPoint promised to fully implement the health care law's requirements on recissions starting May 1.

Not surprisingly, Democrats who signed the letter welcomed the move and called on the rest of the industry to follow WellPoint's lead.

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Financial Reform

Financial Reform Talks Near Collapse, Some GOPers Threaten To Defect

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 5:41PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) speaks with Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Capitol Hill.

Bipartisan Wall Street reform negotiations appeared on the brink of collapse Tuesday night after Republican and Democratic principals found themselves at an impasse over the issue of consumer financial protection. But though Republicans have been promising all week to sustain a filibuster, blocking debate on the Democrats' legislation, they now seem prepared to cede the current fight, explicitly saying that, if talks don't bear fruit soon, they'll allow the bill to move to the floor.

"I don't feel like there's a real possibility in the near future of getting a bipartisan bill... I just don't feel that's a possibility," Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) told reporters in response to a question from TPMDC.

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NV-SEN

Lowden Campaign: Bartering With Chickens 'Was Never A Policy Proposal'

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 5:39PM

Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R)

Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R-NV) is now clarifying her comments on the use of barter for health care, claiming that she was never pitching this as a real policy idea. She instead claims that she was simply describing what people in rural areas actually do -- thought this doesn't quite match up with her earlier positive statements about the practice.

Lowden appeared with local radio host Alan Stock, and said that the Democratic attacks against her for what they have called "Chickens For Check-Ups" shows that it's Harry Reid who is out of touch. "I want to say that I know that bartering takes place here in Nevada," said Lowden. "It takes place throughout the country and that Harry Reid has been attacking me for saying something like that and the truth is it is happening and that's how out of touch he is."

Lowden also seemed to be using the terms "barter" and "bargain" interchangeably: "you know when I talk about bartering like you said it's also bargaining for the price, asking doctors if there's a different price if you're paying cash or paying by check. We know this is going on."

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2010 elections

Citizens United PAC Pumps $200K Into 2010 Races

Rachel Slajda | April 27, 2010, 4:02PM

The U.S. Supreme Court building

CongressDaily (sub. req.) crunches the numbers and finds that the Citizens United Political Victory Fund has given almost $200,000 to candidates in 2010 races, all to Republicans.

The PAC, which is behind the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that opened the door for campaign contributions directly from corporations, donated thousands to conservative and tea party-type candidates.

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Recall

New Jersey Attorney General Not Appealing To Stop Tea Party Recall Effort Against Menendez

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 3:25PM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

The New Jersey Attorney General's office is no longer seeking to legally stop a Tea Party-backed effort to recall Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez -- a move that the Tea Partiers are taking as an endorsement of their views.

Back in March, an appeals court declined to block efforts by a group called Recall NJ to gather signatures to recall Menendez, but simultaneously stayed its own ruling pending appeal by Menendez and/or the state, both of which had argued that a recall was unconstitutional. (The group needed certification from the Secretary of State in order to even begin gathering signatures.) The court did not specifically rule on the constitutional of a federal recall, but instead said that this issue would not have to be tested at all if the group could not gather the required 1.3 million signatures statewide -- which is nearly as many people as voted for John McCain in New Jersey in 2008.

State Attorney General Paula T. Dow, a Democrat appointed by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, noted that position in a letter to the state Supreme Court late last week. "While the State's position on federal constitutionality remains the same, as articulated in the brief filed below," Dow writes, "it is mindful that the Appellate Division correctly pointed out that a condition precedent to any recall election - obtaining the signatures of approximately 1.3 million registered voters within 320 days - may never come to pass." Dow later added: "The State will not seek to overturn this exercise of judicial prudence and restraint."

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Climate Change

Reid Leaves Door Open To Moving On Energy Bill Before Immigration Reform

Laura Colarusso | April 27, 2010, 2:59PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hinted today that the Senate may take up climate change legislation before it figures out what to do on immigration.

"The energy bill is much further down the road.... Common sense dictates that if you have a bill that's ready to go, that's the one I'm going to go to," Reid told reporters at his weekly press conference this afternoon. "The energy bill is ready and we'll move that more quickly than the bill we don't have. I don't have an immigration bill."

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Tenthers

The Tenth Amendment Task Force: Let The States Do It!

Rachel Slajda | April 27, 2010, 2:12PM

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Thomas Jefferson

As tea parties and conservative attorneys general cry louder about the intrusion of the federal government, ten conservative House members, led by Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah, have formed a "Tenth Amendment Task Force" to promote federalism and give more power to state governments.

Their mission? To "disperse power from Washington and restore the Constitutional balance of power through liberty-enhancing federalism."

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FL-SEN

Rubio Signs Up To Run As A Republican -- And Takes Swipe At Crist

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 2:10PM

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

Marco Rubio formally signed the paperwork today to run in the Florida Republican primary for Senate -- a seemingly routine act that has taken on a whole other level of political significance, in light of the potential independent bid by Rubio's current opponent in the primary, Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Palm Beach Post reports that Rubio held an event at a park in his home town of West Miami, flanked by busts of Abraham Lincoln and Cuban independence icon Jose Marti, and accompanied by his family and over 100 supporters. He signed the official document to register as a candidate in the Republican primary, and then held it up for all to see.

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2010 elections

Inside Democrats' Election-Year Immigration Push -- 'Either Way We Win'

Christina Bellantoni | April 27, 2010, 1:44PM

Sign warning drivers of pedestrian crossing in Southern California along U.S.-Mexico border.

The new push to take up immigration in the Senate has more to do with voters in Nevada, California and Colorado -- and a new law in Arizona that's sparked uproar -- than it does with what's politically possible in Washington. The legislative battle -- no matter how unlikely to reach a conclusion in 2010 -- will give critical face time and an electoral boost to vulnerable Democratic incumbents from Western states that have long asked for Congressional leadership on how to handle the millions of illegal immigrants coming across the border.

Making a genuine attempt at a comprehensive immigration plan that includes a pathway to citizenship has dual potential to help Democrats politically -- they motivate Latino voters and labor unions who have long championed the issue, and they can portray unwilling Republicans as anti-Hispanic. Demographic shifts in the West have helped Democrats scoop up more Congressional seats and win electoral college battles in recent years.

With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid among those on the ropes in this fall's midterm elections, fighting for an issue that voters and political activists in Nevada are passionate about can't hurt. The same goes for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).

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Democrats

Dems Call On Health Insurers To Stop Dropping Sick Customers

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 27, 2010, 1:01PM

President Barack Obama

Democratic representatives are calling on America's health insurance companies to adopt more of the new consumer protections contained in the health care reform law ahead of schedule. Following the decision by several insurers to voluntarily adopt legally required coverage for children on their parents' insurance up to age 26, Democrats are hoping the industry will go one step further and end the practice of revoking medical coverage when a policy holder gets sick.

In a letter obtained by TPMDC, the committee chairs and subcommittee chairs of the three house committees dealing with health reform are calling on seven big insurance companies -- WellPoint, Kaiser Permanente, Assurant, United Health, Humana, Blue Cross and Aetna -- to take the step to keep sick people insured on their own.

"These rescissions hurt patients who need coverage the most, such as women diagnosed with breast cancer," the letter reads. "We are writing to ask all of your companies to end any such abusive practices immediately."

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Financial Reform

Pro-Financial Reform Groups Begin Pushback On GOP Filibuster (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 12:33PM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

A day after Republicans voted in lockstep to block debate on financial reform, Dem-friendly interest groups are beginning, slowly, to target GOP members--highlighting their obstruction, and pushing them to break the filibuster. But though it would be a stretch to call these actions an onslaught, the filibuster itself is earning the GOP plenty of negative attention, with or without a coordinated messaging strategy.

The Service Employees International Union is asking members and supporters to pressure several Republicans, including Richard Burr (R-NC), Kit Bond (R-MO), David Vitter (R-LA), George LeMieux (R-FL), Bob Corker (R-TN), George Voinovich (R-OH), Scott Brown (R-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), via phone call and online petition.

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FL-SEN

Rubio: I Have 'Concerns' About AZ Immigration Law

Rachel Slajda | April 27, 2010, 12:23PM

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) today commented on the new Arizona law that targets illegal immigrants by requiring law enforcement officers to ask for the papers of anyone they have a "reasonable suspicion" is in the country illegally.

Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants, said he has some "concerns" about the law.

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UT-SEN

Poll: GOP Sen. Bennett On Brink Of Defeat For Renomination At State Convention

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 11:24AM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

A new Mason-Dixon poll commissioned by the Salt Lake Tribune suggests that Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) could be doomed to defeat at his state GOP's convention in May -- which would defeat him for renomination without even having a primary.

The poll of convention delegates gave attorney Mike Lee 37%, followed by businessman Tim Bridgewater with 20%, the incumbent Bennett at only 16%, and businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar with 11%. In addition, a whopping 61% of delegates view Bennett unfavorably, with only 28% giving him a favorable rating.

Under the rules of the Utah GOP, a candidate with 60% of the convention vote will be nominated outright, with no primary. If the super-majority is not reached, then the final two contenders will have a primary -- meaning that a candidate must receive at least 40% of the convention vote in order to make it to the primary. With the incumbent Bennett at only 16%, it is seems highly unlikely that he could make it out of the convention.

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Harry Reid

How Harry Got His Groove Back: Reid Plays Hardball With The GOP...Finally

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 11:03AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

You don't have to go back in time too far to remember when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ran the Senate in a way that drove progressive Democrats into fits of apoplexy: timidly, and unwilling to use the body's rules for political advantage. Suddenly, with health care reform behind him, and bleak political prospects for both himself and his party staring him in the face, Reid has decided that it's finally time to charge hard.

After quarterbacking health care reform through its tricky final moments in the Senate, Reid put the GOP on the spot yesterday, forcing them to filibuster a broadly popular Wall Street reform bill, and promises to do so over and over again. He's calling out deception, and turning his attention to issues--immigration--that marginalize his opponents, and cleave the Republican party in two.

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FL-SEN

Crist To Decide Potential Indy Senate Bid On Thursday

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 11:01AM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL), who is trailing in the polls for his Republican primary for Senate, has announced that he will decide on Thursday whether he will bolt the GOP and run as an independent.

This is one day earlier than when Crist would legally have to make his decision, at the Friday filing deadline on Friday. From the Associated Press report: "Asked what's changed that's making him consider an independent run, Crist quietly responded that he didn't know."

If Crist doesn't know why he might be considering an independent run, here are some quick clues. The TPM Poll Average for the Republican primary gives Marco Rubio a lead of 59.1%-27.9% over Crist, the opposite of where things were a year ago. Meanwhile, the poll average for a three-way general election only gives Rubio a narrow lead with 33.8% of the vote, followed by an independent Crist at 27.8%, and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek with 22.5%.

NY-SEN

GOP Political Strategist To Run Against Schumer

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 10:32AM

Political strategist Jay Townsend (R)

The Republicans finally have a candidate to run against Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Jay Townsend, a GOP political strategist, is scheduled to announce this Saturday that he will run against Schumer.

Interestingly, Townsend sells a DVD seminar entitled "So You Want To Run For Public Office?" The first DVD, "Things You Must Know and Do Before You Run," sells for $99. Let's see how well this political campaign teacher does in the actual practice. He has his work cut out for him, though -- the TPM Poll Average currently gives Schumer an approval rating of 54.3%-37.3%.

Late Update: This post originally identified Townsend as a Fox News commentator. A Fox News representative tells us that Townsend is not in fact a Fox News commentator, nor he is employed by the network.

Mitt Romney

DNC Attacks Romney As 'Wall Street's Best Friend' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 9:52AM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

The Democratic National Committee is taking an early shot at one of the top potential Republican presidential candidates, with a new Web video attacking Mitt Romney as "Wall Street's best friend" in the current debate over financial reform.

The video depicts various instances of Romney blasting President Obama for blaming "Wall Street, or Goldman Sachs, or bankers, or wealthy people" for the economy's woes. Also included is an old photo, apparently from the 1980s, of a very Gordon Gekko-esque Romney surrounded by other businessmen waving cash around, with some of them (but not Romney) holding the money between their teeth.

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Immigration

Crazy Arizona: How A State Went From Swinging In '08 To Out On A Limb In 2010

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Jillian Rayfield | April 27, 2010, 9:41AM

The incredibly controversial immigration bill signed into law in Arizona last week turns out to be just the latest in a string of super-conservative bills passed by the state legislature this year. From punishing welfare recipients for getting cable to making the state the official sponsor of birther conspiracies, Arizona lawmakers have turned their desert paradise into a bright-red beacon of conservatism and a fantasy island of right-wing dream legislation.

This begs the question: what happened to Arizona? Wasn't it, briefly, an unlikely swing state trending purple in 2008? Wasn't it the place where even John McCain's name on the presidential ballot couldn't stem the rising tide of Democratic registrations?

We set out to find out where all that hopey changey stuff went in Arizona, and what's behind its dramatic tilt to the right.

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FL-SEN

Crist: 'You're Way Ahead Of Me' On Which Party I Would Caucus With

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 9:26AM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

Hmmm. Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) is not only playing coy on whether he will bolt the GOP and run for Senate as an independent -- he's also not even saying whether he would caucus as a Republican or a Democrat.

The Miami Herald interviewed Crist Monday, with the governor continuing to say that he's still making up his mind before the deadline this Friday. Check out this question:

Q If you win as an independent, which party would you caucus with in Washington - the Republicans or Democrats?

A You're way ahead of me. One day at a time.

The TPM Poll Average currently says that in a three-way race, Republican Marco Rubio would lead with 33.8%, an independent Crist would get 27.8%, and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek trails with 22.5%.

Chris Dodd

Dodd Hopeful Financial Reform Will Overcome Filibuster On Second Vote

Laura Colarusso | April 26, 2010, 7:19PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), author of the Democrats' financial reform bill, told reporters tonight he remains hopeful the Senate will soon have the votes to begin debating financial reform.

"There will be a second vote, clearly," Dodd said. "[M]y hope is by this time they will have satisfied the leader they stuck with him on this point here but they want to get to a debate."

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Financial Reform

Dems Push Buttons After GOP Sustains Financial Reform Filibuster

Rachel Slajda | April 26, 2010, 7:16PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

After failing to push through their motion to proceed on financial reform, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called an open quorum on the Senate floor tonight, forcing Republicans to return, briefly, to the Capitol--a move designed to draw attention to their filibuster.

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Financial Reform

After Weeks Of Negotiating, Republicans Block Debate On Financial Reform Bill

Brian Beutler | April 26, 2010, 6:06PM

From left: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Senate Republicans followed through on their threat today to block debate on a financial regulatory reform bill authored by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT). The final tally on the vote to break the filibuster was 57 to 41, with Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) joining the Republicans, but failed to meet the 60 vote threshold required to end debate and bring the bill to the Senate floor. (Majority Leader Harry Reid also voted no -- a procedural move he had to make in order to hold a swift revote.)

The move ratchets up a political food fight between Democrats and Republicans, with Dems on the offense, charging that the GOP's decision to block progress on the legislation puts them on the side of Wall Street.

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KY-SEN

Dobson Endorses Trey Grayson In Kentucky GOP Senate Primary

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 5:12PM

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson and KY-SEN candidate Trey Grayson (R)

James Dobson, the founder and former head of Focus on the Family, has endorsed Trey Grayson in the Republican Senate primary in Kentucky, involving himself in a key primary that is pitting the GOP establishment against Grayson's Tea Party-courting opponent, Rand Paul.

"Trey Grayson is the only candidate with the conviction to lead on the issues that matter to Kentucky families," Dobson said in a statement. "His unwavering commitment to the sanctity of human life and the family resonates with me. I know that he will be a leader on these issues, not just another Senator who checks the box."

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Immigration

House To Senate On Immigration: Your Move

Eric Lach | April 26, 2010, 4:23PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., House Education Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Transportation Chairman James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., and House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., during a news conference.

The immigration debate is suddenly front and center, and there are signals that the Senate might take up immigration reform in the relatively near future (even at the expense of an anticipated bipartisan deal on energy).

But that doesn't mean you should count House Dems in on this one.

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CT-SEN

McMahon Campaign Cancels Money-For-GOP Registrations Voter Drive

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 3:57PM

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

The Senate campaign of Linda McMahon, the former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and current candidate for the Republican nomination in Connecticut, has backed off from a controversial voter-registration plan that would have provided bonuses for every Republican voter registration.

The Stamford Advocate reported on the plan Friday, comparing it to the voter-registration fraud scandal that ensnared ACORN when paid canvassers were found to have filled in forms with names like "Mickey Mouse" -- acts that did not lead to actual voter fraud, since there is no evidence that "Mickey Mouse" showed up to vote. The McMahon campaign was going to pay college students $10 per hour to sign up voters -- with a $5 bonus for each Republican registration. Connecticut has a closed primary system, in which only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote in their respective primaries.

McMahon spokesman Ed Patru told TPMDC that the bonus structure was cancelled late Friday or early Saturday, shortly after the newspaper article was published. "I'll say that it's important to Linda that everything this campaign does be above board and legal," said Patru. "While this voter registration plan for university campuses was 100 percent in compliance with the law, we want to be sensitive to perceptions as well. Because of that, the bonus structure was dropped."

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KY-SEN

Dem Senate Candidate Opposes Cap-And-Trade In New Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 1:53PM

Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo (D-KY)

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Senate, has a new TV ad proclaiming his staunch opposition to cap-and-trade -- a prime example of how environmental issues can cut against liberals in a coal state.

"I'll be a champion for Kentucky coal," Mongiardo says, then making an accusation against his opponent in the primary, state Attorney General Jack Conway: "My opponent Jack Conway supported cap and trade, and has invested millions in a Texas natural gas company."

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WI-SEN

Feingold Boasts In New Ad Of Opposing Wall Street Bailout (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 12:16PM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Even though Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) is an incumbent Senator in the current majority party, he is nevertheless aiming to position himself as an outsider for this anti-incumbent year -- touting his opposition to the Wall Street bailout in his new TV ad.

"Before we make a decision, we weigh the consequences -- not just how it affects us today, but how it impacts us tomorrow," Feingold says. "It's why I've been tough on wasteful spending, and it's why you told me to stand up to Wall Street and the big banks. So I said 'no' to the bailout."

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Financial Reform

Why The Financial Reform Impasse Is Different From Health Care Gridlock

Brian Beutler | April 26, 2010, 12:02PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) speaks with Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Capitol Hill.

At a superficial level, the impasse over financial reform looks an awful lot like the early days of the health care fight, with Republicans and Democrats meeting privately to reach an elusive, perhaps impossible compromise. And we all remember how that story ended. But peer closely and the two stories are different in so many ways, politically and philosophically, that it's hard to imagine this turns into health care redux.

Perhaps the most important distinction is the politics. Republicans just don't want to go down killing Wall Street reform legislation. That's why they've softened their tone, and that's why they say they're confident they'll ultimately be able to vote for a bill. No doubt they don't mind a bit of delay--every day spent negotiating is another day the Senate doesn't address climate change, immigration, the coming Supreme Court nomination and on and on. But they can't keep up a weeks-long ruse that they're negotiating in good faith, when in fact they aren't, like they did on health care.

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NV-SEN

More Chickens-For-Checkups Fallout: Lowden Quips 'I've Become An Expert In Health Care'

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 11:39AM

Nevada Senate Candidate Sue Lowden and a chicken

It's been nearly three whole weeks since Republican Senate candidate Sue Lowden advocated using the barter system to lower health care costs and talked about how folks in her grandparents' generation would pay a doctor with a chicken. But chicken references remained part of the Nevada Senate race this past weekend, with Lowden joking about it and the Dems continuing to pounce.

The subject did not come up at this past Friday's Republican primary debate, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. But Lowden did make a sly reference to it, in a question over whether the candidates would repeal the newly-enacted health care legislation.

"I've become an expert in health care in case you didn't know," Lowden quipped.

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Climate Change

What Now? Dems Say Graham's Climate Defection Just Temporary Glitch

Christina Bellantoni | April 26, 2010, 11:17AM

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-VT), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

The big reveal of a bipartisan energy bill has been temporarily postponed with Democrats attempting to sound confident but with no clear path for the measure to make its way to the Senate floor this year.

As we reported as the news broke Saturday, Sen. Lindsey Graham defected from the bipartisan trio that was writing a new energy bill aimed at forging consensus between Republicans and Democrats. Graham (R-SC) suggested that Democrats are playing politics with immigration, which doesn't leave the legislation with much of a chance at passage.

His partners in the effort, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have said they want to move forward anyway, but a press conference scheduled for today was canceled. Capitol Hill aides tell me that talks have resumed between the group and they may convince Graham after all.

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Financial Reform

Poll: Dems Hold The Upper Hand In Financial Reform Debate

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 26, 2010, 10:51AM

President Barack Obama

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests that Democrats can move forward on financial reform with the confidence that the public stands behind them.

An overwhelming majority of Americans want increased government oversight of the nation's financial infrastructure as the country slowly begins to recover from the collapse of 2007, the poll finds. Sixty-five percent said they support "stricter federal regulations on the way banks and other financial institutions conduct their business." That's good news for a White House that chose financial reform as the next legislative fight after the divisive health care debate.

The poll shows that Americans lean toward favoring the specifics Democratic financial reform agenda, though they still don't understand some of it. On the politics side, however, the public seems to have made up its mind about who to trust on reform: 52% say they trust President Obama to reform the system, while just 35% say they trust the Republicans in Congress to do a better job.

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Fiscal responsibility

Debt Commission Leaders: Everything -- Even New Health Care Law -- On Table For Cuts

Christina Bellantoni | April 26, 2010, 10:48AM

President Obama meets with the leaders of his bipartisan debt commission, Democrat Erskine Bowles, on left, and former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson, on right.

When President Obama's Debt Commission holds its first meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m. they will consider nothing too sacred to be examined for cuts -- even the new health care reform law, the leaders said.

Former Clinton White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles (D) and former Sen. Alan Simpson (R) said on "Fox News Sunday" they can't be limited if Obama really wants to make the tough choices to cut the deficit significantly.

Simpson said the commission will use "only" Congressional Budget Office figures and not use their own projections to estimate the future cost of Social Security and health care.

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Financial Reform

Shelby: We Won't Get A Deal Today (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | April 26, 2010, 9:57AM

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), the ranking member of the banking committee and lead Republican in financial reform negotiations, predicted this morning that he and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) won't reach a bipartisan deal before today's procedural vote.

"I don't believe we'll have a deal today, George," he said on Good Morning America.

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Financial Reform

Five Surprises To Watch For Before Tonight's Key Test Vote On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | April 26, 2010, 9:54AM

Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Harry Reid (D-NV)

In just a few hours, Senate Republicans will be put to the test. Both they and leading Democrats say they're a hair away from reaching a bipartisan framework on financial regulatory reform, yet Republicans have decided to block Democrats from bringing the issue to the Senate floor. In response--and because it makes for great politics--Democrats will try to break that filibuster at 5 pm tonight. Even if they fail, they reason, they succeed at painting Republicans with a pro-Wall Street brush.

So what various twists and turns might this story takes as that pivotal moment approaches? Here are a few to be on the look out for:

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MO-SEN

The Race You're Not Watching: Could Missouri Senate Define 2010?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 26, 2010, 9:53AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Is the Missouri Senate race the secret bellwether of 2010? Some are saying that the still largely below the national radar race between Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and likely Republican nominee Rep. Roy Blunt is the clearest place to see what this year's mid-term is about. Faced with the incumbent Blunt with his fingerprints on the TARP program, Carnahan supporters say the Democrat can run on the outside in a Republican year. But Republicans say that the Democratic agenda -- and Blunt's opposition to it -- will win the day in a year when voters want the Democrats gone.

In a race that pits one establishment politician vs. another in an open contest -- incumbent Sen. Kit Bond (R) is retiring -- the difference could come down to whether voters don't like the way Republicans used to do things more than they dislike the way Democrats are doing them now. That sets the stage for a campaign that some say could define the Obama midterm.

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IL-SEN

Giannoulais TV Ad Addresses Failure Of Family's Bank (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2010, 9:42AM

IL-SEN candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D)

Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee in the race for President Obama's former Senate seat, has a new TV ad addressing a story that has a lot of potential to damage his campaign: The failure of his family's bank, which occurred this past Friday after having been expected for some time.

In the ad, Giannoulias makes clear that he left the bank four years ago, before the current problems (he was elected state treasurer in 2006). And he likens his the bank's woes to those of other family businesses across the country.

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2010 elections

Here Come The Dems: Obama, DNC Rolling Out 2010 Plan (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 26, 2010, 8:53AM

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

The Democratic National Committee plans to spend at least $50 million on an ambitious grassroots get out the vote program in 2010, according to today's Washington Post. The program, which aims to energize the new voters who turned out for the Democrats in 2008, will leverage the party's biggest star -- President Obama -- to target Republicans directly and repeatedly between now and November.

In a series of videos -- check out the first after the jump -- Obama will tell youth, minority and independent voters who turned out for him in big numbers that victory for the Republicans in 2010 means defeat for the "hope and change" campaign he ran two years ago.

"Our story begins with: Democrats are results people and the Republicans are political obstructionists," DNC chair Tim Kaine told the paper. "Do we want to continue the direction that sees us climbing out of the recession or do we want to go back to the same policies that put us in the ditch in the first place?"

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Faith in the White House

Obama Prays With Rev. Billy Graham

Christina Bellantoni | April 26, 2010, 7:18AM

President Obama meets with the Rev. Billy Graham in his North Carolina home.

President Obama met Sunday in a private prayer session with the Rev. Billy Graham at his North Carolina home before heading to deliver the eulogy at a memorial for coal miners killed in the West Virginia mine accident last month.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters that Obama and Graham met for conversation and prayer, with son Franklin Graham also in attendance. The president "is extraordinarily gratified that he took the time to meet with him," Burton said.

The visit capped a brief weekend vacation for Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The president hit the golf links twice and the first couple played tennis, hiked in the Blue Ridge Mountains and ate dinner with friends.

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FL-SEN

McConnell On Withdrawing Crist Endorsement: 'Not Today' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | April 25, 2010, 5:08PM

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered beleaguered Gov. Charlie Crist an anvil this morning while appearing on Fox News Sunday. Asked if he would be revoking his early Crist endorsement in favor of surging Republican candidate Marco Rubio, McConnell didn't exactly issue a vote of confidence for the struggling senate hopeful.

"Not today."

The comments come as Crist (R-FL) faces a looming deadline over whether to pull out of the primary and run instead as an independent. It's a harsher line than McConnell took last week on CNN's State of the Union, when he said Crist would "lose all Republican support if he were to run as an independent."

The current TPM Poll Average of the Aug. 24 primary race shows Rubio with 59.1 percent and Crist with 27.9 percent.

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Financial Reform

No Deal Yet But Dems And GOP Sound Hopeful On Sunday Shows

Christina Bellantoni | April 25, 2010, 11:12AM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) speaks with Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Capitol Hill.

Despite round-the-clock talks between Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Richard Shelby there's no bipartisan deal on financial regulatory reform, but leaders on both sides said Sunday they are hopeful they can come together.

In a sharp contrast from the rancorous tone on last week's Sunday shows, Republicans and Democrats alike said today there is good momentum to agree on legislation soon, even though everyone agreed they aren't there "yet."

"It might be later this week, it might be next week, but the main thing is to get a good bill," Shelby (R-AL), the ranking member of the Banking Committee, said today on NBC's "Meet the Press." Shelby and Dodd made a rare joint appearance on the show, a move that Capitol Hill aides thought would lead to the announcement of a final agreement allowing the Senate to move forward Monday as planned.

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Coal Mine Tragedy

At Eulogy For Coal Miners Obama To Say He Wants To Stop Another Such Tragedy

Christina Bellantoni | April 25, 2010, 9:31AM

President Obama

The White House put out some brief excerpts of President Obama's eulogy for the coal miners killed in West Virginia earlier this month.

Obama, who will attend the services along with Vice President Joe Biden this afternoon, will say the government must work "to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy."

The Washington Post today took a look at how West Virginians still view Obama skeptically.

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