TPMDC
Joe Biden: November 2009

Biden Goes On The Attack As Senate Begins Health Care Debate

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 30, 2009, 9:56AM

Vice President Joe Biden

Senators will gather this afternoon to start banging out a final health care reform bill. Vice President Biden is doing a little hammering of his own in advance of the debate, taking on reform opponents in a new video posted to the White House website. Biden enlists a slew of health care providers advocating reform to take on those who have criticized the Obama administration's efforts to drive health care reform.

"When it comes to explaining what health care reform means to you, who do you trust?" Biden asks in the video. "Do you trust the people who defend the status quo, who say you'd be better off leaving things just the way they are? Or, would you rather hear from the people who actually know something about what's going on in our health care system?"

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Topics: Health Care, Joe Biden

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Eric Kleefeld | November 24, 2009, 8:54AM

Poll: Public Opposes Afghanistan War -- And Favors More Troops For It?
A new CNN poll finds a somewhat contradictory result regarding the war in Afghanistan. The poll has 50% of respondents favoring a troop surge in Afghanistan, with 49% opposing it. At the same time, only 45% favor the war, with 52% opposing it -- meaning that there are a few respondents who oppose the war, and want to send more troops.

Obama's Day Ahead
The President and First Lady will welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to the White House, at 9:15 a.m. ET. President Obama and P.M. Singh will hold a bilateral meeting at 10:20 a.m. ET, with an expanded bilateral meeting at 10:55 a.m. ET, and a joint press conference at 11:35 a.m. Et. President Obama will meet with senior advisers at 2 p.m. ET, and with Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 3:10 p.m. ET. The President and Vice President will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at 4:30 p.m. ET. The President and First Lady will greet P.M. Singh and Mrs. Kaur at 7 p.m. ET on arrival for a state dinner, and host the dinner at 8:15 p.m. ET.

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Topics: Abortion, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Health Care, Joe Biden, Rick Santorum, Roundup, Sarah Palin

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Eric Kleefeld | November 23, 2009, 9:00AM

WaPo: Rise In Stock Ownership Among Lawmakers Brings Ethics Concerns
The Washington Post reports on the increasing trend of lawmakers' private investment portfolios creating an appearance of conflict on various issues, with the problem happening on both sides of the aisle: "This juxtaposition of investments and policy has become more common as stock ownership has soared on Capitol Hill over the past two decades. The investments increasingly put lawmakers in the position of voting or advocating on matters that could affect their personal wealth, whether the lawmakers realize it or not."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 11:40 a.m. ET, at an event highlighting several initiatives designed to boost science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. He will have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:35 p.m. ET, and meet with the Cabinet at 1:45 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4:50 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At 5:50 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks and present the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Patrick Kennedy, Roundup, White House

Health Care

Tag Team: Obama, Biden, Interest Groups Push On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | November 20, 2009, 2:24PM

OFA Organizers Mitch Stewart and Jeremy Bird

The White House, Democratic National Committee and pro-health care groups are going full force to build support in advance of tomorrow test vote on the Senate health care bill.

President Obama had nothing on his public schedule following a return from his 8-day trip to Asia, and administration sources said they believe he and the White House team are pushing senators to at least vote to bring the bill to the floor. So far, they've had good news today as conservative Democrats agree to that first step.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is celebrating his 67th birthday home in Delaware today, has been on the phone with lawmakers to bend their ears and ask for their support on the health care bill.

The DNC used the Obama Twitter feed today to urge: "The senate has unveiled an excellent health reform bill. Call your senators and ask them to move forward."

Organizing for America is asking supporters to phone Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and OFA volunteers showed up yesterday on Capitol Hill when Reid released the bill.

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Topics: Barack Obama, DNC, Health Care, Joe Biden, Organizing for America

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Eric Kleefeld | November 19, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama: U.S., Allies, Discussing Sanctions Against Iran
At a press conference in South Korea, President Obama said that the United States and allies could have a package of sanctions against Iran "within weeks." "We weren't going to duplicate what has happened with North Korea," said Obama, "in which talks just continue forever without any actual resolution to the issue."

Obama's Day In South Korea
President Obama visited U.S. Embassy staff and their families in Seoul, South Korea, at 10:10 a.m. local time (8:10 p.m. ET last night). He participated in an arrival ceremony at the Blue House, at 11 a.m. He held a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myng-bak at 11:15 a.m., with an expanded bilateral meeting at 11:50 a.m., and a joint press conference at 12:30 p.m, and a working lunch at 1:10 p.m. Obama delivered remarks to service-members at at Osan Air Base at 3:20 p.m., and departed South Korea at 4:05 p.m. (2:05 a.m. ET). He will arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, at 9:40 a.m. ET, will depart form Anchorage at 11:40 a.m. ET, and arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington at 6:05 p.m. ET.

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Topics: Bailout, Barack Obama, Dick Lugar, Iran, Joe Biden, Karl Rove, NRCC, NRSC, Roundup, Sarah Palin

Stimulus

GOP Jumps On Administration's Self-Inflicted Stimulus Goofs

Christina Bellantoni | November 18, 2009, 4:04PM

Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama

Every time the Republicans said the $787 economic stimulus plan didn't create jobs, the Obama administration was ready with a counterargument proving them wrong. That's one reason the self-inflicted problems of inaccurate reports at Recovery.gov sting.

The administration says it's a non-story, since the errors were about data entry, and the data entry only happened because they have tried to make the spending as transparent and real-time as possible.

Officials pointed us to today's AP Fact Check on so-called phantom districts, and said they are correcting "rough" data that is less than one percent of the total that's been posted at Recovery.gov.

But this afternoon came the latest, when ABC News obtained a report from the Government Accountability Office showing "more than 50,000 jobs or one out of every 10 jobs the White House says were 'saved or created' by their economic stimulus plan came from projects that reported spending no money."

ABC reported that GAO says there are a "range of significant reporting and processing problems that need to be addressed."

It may not be fair, but the Republicans are having a field day.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Stimulus, White House

Health Care

Health Care Wednesday: Biden Meeting With Reid Before CBO Score Released

Christina Bellantoni | November 18, 2009, 9:20AM

Vice President Joe Biden

Fresh off his Daily Show appearance, Vice President Joe Biden is on Capitol Hill this morning to speak privately with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about health care.

As we reported earlier, Biden agreed it's "baffling" that Democrats need 60 votes to get anything done in the Senate.

The health care plan is far from a sure thing in the Senate, and a first test procedural vote is expected to get debate started either Friday or Saturday.

Biden and Reid are huddling this morning, hours before Reid is expected to reveal the chamber's bill and Congressional Budget Office score to his caucus members tonight. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former senator from Colorado, also are reportedly attending.

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Topics: CBO, Harry Reid, Health Care, Joe Biden, Ken Salazar, Tom Daschle

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Eric Kleefeld | November 18, 2009, 8:59AM

Obama Will Release Afghanistan Plan Soon, Promises Exit Strategy
In an interview with CNN, President Obama said he will soon release his plans for Afghanistan, and that there will be an exit plan. "The American people will have a lot of clarity about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost, what kind of burden does this place on our young men and women in uniform and, most importantly, what's the end game on this thing," said Obama. "My preference would be not to hand off anything to the next president. One of the things I'd like is the next president to be able to come in and say I've got a clean slate."

Obama's Day In China And South Korea
President Obama held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, at 11:30 a.m. local time (10:30 p.m. ET last night), with a working lunch at 12:15 p.m. local time. Obama toured the Great Wall of China at 2:30 p.m. He departed Beijing at 5:10 p.m., arriving in Seoul, South Korea, at 7:45 p.m. local time (5:45 a.m. ET).

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Glenn Beck, Joe Biden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Robert Byrd, Roundup, Sarah Palin

Joe Biden

VP Joe Biden Bows To Jon Stewart On Daily Show, Riffs On Senate Democrats

Christina Bellantoni | November 18, 2009, 6:36AM

Vice President Joe Biden mock-bows to Daily Show host Jon Stewart when appearing on the show Nov. 17, 2009

Vice President Joe Biden poked fun at his boss and the media on The Daily Show last night, coming onto the set by bowing to host Jon Stewart.

Biden was in good spirits for the interview, his sixth appearance on the show but the first time a sitting vice president has been on.

The vice president joked about Amtrak and explained the discrepancies with the stimulus money (more on that in a later post), but the closing segment was the most interesting, when Stewart asked, "How much of the majority do the Democrats need to pass something?"

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Topics: Daily Show, Joe Biden, Jon Stewart, White House

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Eric Kleefeld | November 17, 2009, 9:03AM

Obama And Hu Vow Cooperation, But Produce Few Deals
At their press appearance today, President Obama and Chinese President Hut Jintao promised greater cooperation between the two countries on issues such as climate change and nuclear disarmament. During their appearance, however, Hu pointedly called on Obama to reject protectionism -- the U.S. recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-made tires and steel pipes -- and Obama called on China to relax controls that keep their currency artificially weak on the world market.

Obama's Day In China
President Obama participated in a welcome ceremony in Beijing at 9:45 a.m. local time (8:45 p.m. ET last night). He held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao at 10 a.m., and an expanded meeting at 10:45 a.m. They made joint press statements at 12:15 p.m. Obama toured the Forbidden City at 1:20 p.m. He met with U.S. Embassy employees and their families at 2:55 p.m. He held a bilateral meeting with Chairman Wu Bangguo at 5:55 p.m., and attended a state dinner at 6:30 p.m.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Blanche Lincoln, China, Jeremiah Wright, Joe Biden, John McCain, Mark Pryor, Roundup, Sarah Palin

Joe Biden

Tuesday: Joe Biden To Be First Sitting VP To Appear On 'Daily Show'

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 9:40AM

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden tomorrow night will become the first sitting vice president to appear on Comedy Central's "Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

Biden, sometimes known for sticking a foot in his mouth, has appeared five other times on the show.

President Obama pitched in via satellite for a stunt on The Colbert Report earlier this year when Stephen Colbert did his show from Iraq.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Daily Show, Joe Biden

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Eric Kleefeld | November 16, 2009, 9:01AM

Today: Palin On Oprah Winfrey
Sarah Palin's interview on the Oprah Winfrey show will be broadcast today. The interview was taped last week, and kicks off Palin's media tour for her new book, Going Rogue.

Obama's Day In China
President Obama visited U.S. Consulate employees and their families in Shanghai, China, at 10:20 a.m. local time (9:20 p.m. ET last night). He met at 11 a.m. local time with Party Secretary Yu Zheng Sheng and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, with a working lunch at 11:30 a.m. local time. He held a town hall meeting with Chinese leaders at 12:45 p.m. local time. He departed Shanghai at 2:40 p.m., arriving in Beijing at 4:50 p.m. He arrived at the Diaoyutai State Guest House at 6:30 p.m., and was greeted by President Hu Jintao. The two held a bilateral meeting at 6:35 p.m, and had dinner at 7 p.m.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Blanche Lincoln, Grover Norquist, Jeff Sessions, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin

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Eric Kleefeld | November 12, 2009, 9:01AM

Report: Obama Wants Revised Afghanistan Options
President Obama reportedly wants revisions to all the options for Afghanistan that have been presented to him. This comes after Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, a former commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, has strongly disagreed with sending more troops, arguing that more troops would only make the Afghan government more dependent on the United States.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will make a statement at 9:15 a.m. ET, on the economy. He will depart the White House at 9:30 a.m. ET, en route to Alaska. He will arrive in Anchorage at 4:50 p.m. ET, will meet with service members at 5:10 p.m. ET, and will deliver remarks at 5:30 p.m. ET. He will depart form Anchorage at 6:55 p.m. ET, en route to Tokyo, Japan.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, David Petraeus, Harry Reid, Health Care, Joe Biden, Karl Eikenberry, Roundup, Sidwell Friends School

Joe Biden

Ft. Hood Slayings Dominate Bidens' Veteran's Day Lunch

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 11, 2009, 3:50PM

Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Dr. Jill Biden

For the veterans and active duty soldiers whose service spanned World War II to Afghanistan who gathered at the Vice President's house with family and supporters in today, it was the deaths of 13 soldiers far from any battlefield took center stage.

The Nov. 5 shootings at Ft. Hood dominated the speeches at the luncheon, hosted by the Vice President and his wife. The audience included veterans, active duty servicemembers, their families and volunteers from the Veteran's Administration. Former Gen. Eric Shinseki, now the secretary of the VA, said the Ft. Hood shootings had directly touched the agency he heads. He spoke to the slayings as did Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill when it was their turn to speak. Before they ate, the crowd bowed their heads in a moment of silence for Ft. Hood.

Shinseki said the focus was more than just veterans honoring their fallen active duty brothers and sisters.

"Among the fallen and wounded at Ft. Hood are three VA employees whose national guard unit had been activated," he told the crowd.

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Topics: Jill Biden, Joe Biden

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Eric Kleefeld | November 11, 2009, 9:02AM

Poll: Public Opposes Afghanistan Surge, Split On Obama's Decision-Making
A new CNN poll finds that only 40% of Americans favor the war in Afghanistan, with 58% opposing it. American also do not support sending more troops to Afghanistan, by a 42%-56% margin. The public is split on President Obama's decision-making process with 49% saying he is taking too long, and 50% who disagree.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and the First Lady will host a Veterans Day breakfast, at 9:05 a.m. ET in the White House. At 11 a.m. ET, he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and will deliver remarks at 11:25 a.m. ET. He will meet at 2:30 p.m. ET with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Mike Mullen, Robert Gates, Roundup

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Eric Kleefeld | November 10, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama Calls For Revision In Stupak Amendment
President Obama said yesterday that the Stupak Amendment should be revised, in the hopes that neither pro-choicers nor pro-lifers feel "betrayed" by any change in the status quo. "I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test," said Obama, "that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and the First Lady will depart the White House at 9:05 a.m. ET, arriving in Killeen, Texas, at 12:25 p.m. ET. They will meet at 12:50 p.m. ET with families of the fallen at Fort Hood, and with wounded soldiers and their families at 1:20 p.m. ET. President Obama will address the Fort Hood community at 2 p.m. ET. They will meet with wounded soldiers at 3:25 p.m. ET, and depart from Killeen at 4:20 p.m. ET. They will arrive back at the White House at 8:35 p.m. ET.

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Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Bart Stupak, George Miller, Iowa caucus, Joe Biden, Pres '12, Roundup, Sarah Palin

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Eric Kleefeld | November 9, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama To Meet With Netanyahu
President Obama is meeting today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a meeting that comes amidst difficulties over Middle East peace talks and disputes over Israeli settlements. Netanyahu told reporters on Sunday: "We are ready to talk and the Palestinians aren't. It's as simple as that."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will spend the morning in his regular meetings and briefings. At 6:45 p.m. ET, he will sign the Veterans Employment Initiative Executive Order. At 7 p.m. ET, he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Climate Change, Diana DeGette, Gary Peters, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Jennifer Granholm, Joe Biden, Mark Schauer, Roundup

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Eric Kleefeld | November 6, 2009, 9:01AM

Poll: Public Wants Congress To Keep Working On Health Care
A new CNN poll has mixed news for the health care bill, with a total of 59% saying that Congress should continue to work on it. However, only 26% said the current bills should be passed with only minor changes, with 33% saying major changes should be made. Only 24% said to start over on new bills, and only 15% said to pass no bill at all.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will sign at 11 a.m. ET the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, extending unemployment benefits and other aid in the recession. He will depart the White House at 2:20 p.m. ET, and will visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center at 2:35 p.m. ET. He will arrive back at the White House at 4:15 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4:25 p.m. ET with Congressman-elect Bill Owens (D-NY), and will meet at 5:10 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Bill Owens, Fort Hood, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Honduras, Jim DeMint, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, NRSC, Roundup

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Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 8:58AM

Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney (R), Fmr. Gov. George Pataki (R), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R)

Pawlenty, Romney And Pataki Call New Mayor Of Manchester, New Hampshire
Ted Gatsas, the new Republican mayor-elect of Manchester, New Hampshire, told ABC News that he's already received congratulatory phone calls from Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and George Pataki. "I don't know who is running for president but I don't mind telling you who has called," said Gatsas.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will speak at 9:30 a.m. ET, delivering opening remarks and participating in an interactive discussion with tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. He will meet with senior advisers at 11 a.m. ET, and receive his daily briefing at 11:40 a.m. ET. At 12:30 p.m. ET, he will have lunch with Vice President Biden. He will meet at 1:40 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. He will meet at 3 p.m. ET with President Ian Khama of Botswana. He will meet at 3:40 p.m. ET with representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and at 4 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At 4:50 p.m. ET, he will deliver closing remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Bob Ehrlich, George Pataki, Joe Biden, MD-GOV, Mark Warner, Mitt Romney, Roundup, Stimulus, Tim Pawlenty

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Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2009, 9:01AM

GOP's Hopes Rekindled, But Internal Arguments Could Continue
The New York Times reports that the mixed election results from last night -- with Republicans winning solidly in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, but losing the NY-23 special election -- will simultaneously rekindle the GOP's hopes and continue arguments about the party's direction. "Conservatives can win when they emphasize the right things and don't allow their message to get co-opted," said former Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis. "The Democrats and some of their friends in the media attempt to paint all conservatives as fire-breathing cavemen."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will participate in a 10:30 a.m. ET credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors. He will depart the White House at 11:15 a.m. ET, arriving at 1:30 p.m. ET in Madison, Wisconsin. He and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will meet with students at Wright Middle School at 2 p.m. ET, and Obama will deliver remarks on strengthening the education system at 2:30 p.m. ET. He will depart from Madison at 3:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 5:55 p.m. ET. He and the First Lady will host an event at 7:15 p.m. ET, celebrating classical music.

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Topics: Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Ben Nelson, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, House '10, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, John Tanner, NJ-GOV, NY-23, Roundup, Saul Anuzis, VA-GOV

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Eric Kleefeld | November 3, 2009, 9:00AM

Today: The 2009 Elections
Today is Election Day in the Virginia gubernatorial race, the New Jersey gubernatorial election, the NY-23 special House election and other local races. The polls will close in Virginia at 7 p.m. ET, in New Jersey at 8 p.m. ET, and in New York at 9 p.m. ET. TPM will be live-blogging and keeping a scoreboard of the results.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 9:10 a.m. ET with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will meet at 11:25 a.m. ET with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. At 2:40 p.m. ET, he will participate in the U.S.-European Union Summit. At 4:30 p.m. ET, he and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He will meet at 5:15 p.m. ET with Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).

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Topics: Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, NJ-GOV, NY-23, Roundup, VA-GOV

NY-23

Biden: Moderate Republican Voters Should Teach The GOP A Lesson, Vote Owens

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2009, 2:26PM

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

At his rally today with NY-23 Democratic candidate Bill Owens, Vice President Biden tapped into the emerging narrative that the this election represents the expulsion of moderates from the Republican Party -- and that moderate GOP voters should vote for Owens in order to teach the GOP a lesson.

"We aren't asking you to switch your party," said Biden. "We are just saying join us in teaching a lesson to those absolutists who say no dissent is permitted within your own party."

This comes after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava was driven out of the race for being too moderate, by a national right-wing campaign in favor of Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, and Scozzafava's subsequent withdrawal and endorsement of Owens.

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Topics: Bill Owens, Dede Scozzafava, Doug Hoffman, Joe Biden, NY-23

Sarah Palin

Biden And Palin Battle Each Other In NY-23

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 1:54PM

Vice President Joe Biden, Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R)

Via Facebook today, Sarah Palin took on Vice President Joe Biden over comments he made about her support for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 race.

At a rally over the weekend, Biden called out Palin over her approach to energy policy. Biden's comments, as ABC News reported them:

"Sarah Palin thinks the answer to energy is 'Drill, baby, drill.' " Biden said...Then he leaned in to the microphone: "It's a lot more complicated, Sarah."

On Facebook today, Palin seemed eager to step into the ring again with the man she battled for the vice-presidency last year. From her post:

There's one way to tell Vice President Biden that we're tired of folks in Washington distorting our message and hampering our nation's progress: Hoffman, Baby, Hoffman!