Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

An Unscheduled Stop on Veteran's Day

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:19:02 -0500

Today's must-read piece is an essay from a New York Daily News reporter who accidentally ran into President Obama at Arlington National Cemetery on Veteran's Day.

"What I got was an unexpected look into the eyes of a man who intertwined his roles as commander in chief and consoler in chief on a solemn day filled with remembrance and respect for sacrifices made - and sacrifices yet to be made."

"I'm sure the cynics will assume this was just another Obama photo-op. If they'd been standing in my boots looking him in the eye, they would have surely choked on their bile."

"His presence in Section 60 convinced me that he now carries the heavy burden of command."

Corzine Headed Back to Wall Street?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:22 -0500

Politicker NJ: "The rumor in financial circles is that Gov. Jon Corzine could wind up as CEO of Bank of America. Business Week has mentioned it, as did Charlie Gasperino on CNBC today. There is no confirmation or denial from the governor's staff."

The Upside of Being Away

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:08:41 -0500

First Read reports that while White House aides worry that President Obama's extensive foreign travel hurts his approval numbers at home, "it's not the worst thing that Obama is going to be thousands of miles and more than a dozen time zones away over the next week."

"First, the health-care debate in the Senate (over the public option and abortion) is going to be incredibly messy, as the sausage-making process always is. While the president effectively parachuted in over the weekend to help pass the House bill, note that involvement came at the end of the process -- not the middle, where the Senate currently is. Second, next week will be Palin-palooza, with her Oprah interview on Monday, her book going on sale Tuesday, and the book tour starting Wednesday."

Did Hoffman Concede Too Soon?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:43:00 -0500

It appears the special election race in New York's 23rd congressional district is not yet over.

Though Conservative Doug Hoffman conceded the race to Bill Owens (D) on Election Night after being told he had barely won his stronghold of Oswego County, it turns out that wasn't true.

The Syracuse Post-Standard reports that a recanvassing shows that Owens' lead has narrowed to just 3,026 votes over Hoffman. And in Oswego County, "where Hoffman was reported to lead by only 500 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted election night, inspectors found Hoffman actually won by 1,748 votes."

"The new vote totals mean the race will be decided by absentee ballots, of which about 10,200 were distributed... Under a new law in New York that extended deadlines, military and overseas ballots received by this coming Monday (and postmarked by Nov. 2) will be counted. Standard absentee ballots had to be returned this past Monday."

Owens "was quickly sworn into office on Friday, a day before the rare weekend vote in the House of Representatives. His support sealed his party's narrow victory on the health care legislation."

Well Traveled President

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:29:07 -0500

CBS News reports President Obama's trip to Asia will bring his total to 8 foreign trips and 20 countries since becoming president.

"The only other president to come close to Mr. Obama's first-year-in-office globe-trotting numbers is President George H. W. Bush, who took 7 foreign trips to 14 countries."

In addition, as Politico notes, Obama is stopping in Alaska on his way to Asia. It's the only state he hasn't been to since he declared his run for president.

Nationalizing Midterms Could Hurt Many Democrats

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:24:43 -0500

Nathan Gonzales warns that the White House's desire to nationalize the 2010 elections could hurt many Democrats as some of the most vulnerable "represent districts won by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) last year, and those Members may not be all that excited about a national referendum on Obama's job performance. Furthermore, nationalizing the 2010 midterms could throw fuel on an already inflamed GOP electorate."

"The White House plans to nationalize the 2010 elections on its own terms by putting the president front and center in order to minimize the party's losses... The plan is to use the 2002 elections -- when Republicans gained eight House seats and two Senate seats in President George W. Bush's first midterm elections -- as a blueprint. But there is an underlying assumption that Obama will be at least as popular next November as he is this year. And Democrats appear to want the turnout benefits that a national election may bring without any of the backlash."

Coakley Leads Senate Race in Massachusetts

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:17:34 -0500

A new Suffolk University poll in Massachusetts finds Martha Coakley (D) leading the Democratic special election race for U.S. Senate with 44%, followed by Steve Pagliuca (D) with 17%, Rep. Michael Capuano (D) at 16% and Alan Khazei (D) with 3%. The remaining 20% were undecided.

Possible wildcard: An astounding 93% of Democratic voters couldn't pinpoint the exact date of the Dec. 8 primary -- and 73% didn't even know in which month the primary will occur.

On the Republican side, Scott Brown (R) leads Jack Robinson (R), 45% to 7%, with 47% of GOP voters still undecided.

Lieberman Rebounds in Connecticut

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:49:19 -0500

One more interesting finding from today's Quinnipiac poll in Connecticut: Voters approve, by a 49% to 44% margin, of the job Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is doing.

He gets 74% to 20% approval from Republicans and 52% to 40% approval from independent voters, but Democrats disapprove 62% to 31%.

Not surprisingly, by a 51% to 25% margin, Connecticut voters say Lieberman's views on issues are closer to the Republican Party than to the Democratic Party. There is agreement on this among voters in all parties.

Portman Leads for U.S. Senate in Ohio

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:28:52 -0500

For the first time, Rob Portman (R) is ahead of the two Democrats in the 2010 race for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.

Portman leads Jennifer Brunner (D), 38% to 34%, and tops Lee Fisher (D), 39% to 36%.

Also for the first time, Ohio voters disapprove, by a 50% to 45% margin, of the job President Obama is doing.

Said pollster Peter Brown: "The Democratic wave that swept through Ohio in 2006 and 2008 may be cresting. The Democratic lead in the Governor's and Senate races has evaporated and for the first time President Barack Obama is under water in the most important swing state in the country."

Tancredo Mulls Run for Governor

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:50:29 -0500

Former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) said he "was hit with an avalanche of interest" in his possible run for governor in Colorado, the Denver Post reports.

Tancredo had been a strong supporter of Josh Penry (R), who recently dropped out of the race.

Said Tancredo: "I had said that if Josh Penry wasn't in the race, I would be. I know if I got into this thing, most of the party elite would not be happy."

Dodd Slides Again in Connecticut

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:27:46 -0500

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) is still in serious trouble in his re-election race with 53% of voters saying he does not deserve re-election, a new Quinnipiac poll finds.

Connecticut voters disapprove, 54% to 40%, of the job Dodd is doing, compared to a 49% to 43% disapproval in September.

In general election match ups, Dodd loses to Rob Simmons (R), 49% to 38%, to Linda McMahon (R), 43% to 41%, and to Tom Foley (R), 47% vs. Dodd 40%.

Said pollster Douglas Schwartz: "After inching up in the polls for months, Sen. Christopher Dodd is sliding back down again on job approval. He continues to struggle with independent voters as 60 percent disapprove of the way he is handling his job."

Update: Colleen Flanagan, spokeswoman for Connecticut Democrats, emails: "We'll see lots of polls over the course of this campaign, some accurate, and some not... We're not taking this poll particularly seriously, and Chris Dodd will continue to do his job every single day on behalf of the people he was elected to represent."

Perry Says Obama "Hell-Bent" on Socialism

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:19:44 -0500

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) accused President Obama of "punishing" Texas and being "hell-bent" on turning the United States into a socialist country, reports Politico.

Said Perry: "This is an administration hell-bent toward taking American towards a socialist country. And we all don't need to be afraid to say that because that's what it is."

Perry also accused the Obama administration of intentionally dumping illegal immigrants from other western states in Texas.

Blumenthal Will Wait to Challenge Lieberman

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:45:39 -0500

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) told the New Haven Register that he will not run for governor instead opting to wait for a possible challenge to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) in 2012.

Said Blumenthal: "It would be a challenge that I would welcome, if it were the right time to do it, and I thought I could make a difference. Stay tuned."

Obama Rejects War Options

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:39:51 -0500

President Obama "does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government," the AP reports.

"The president raised questions at a war council meeting on Wednesday, however, that could alter the dynamic of both how many additional troops are sent to Afghanistan and what the timeline would be for their presence in the war zone, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Obama's thinking."

The New York Times notes the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, "who once served as the top American military commander there, has expressed in writing his reservations about deploying additional troops to the country."

Obama Approval Positive in South

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:01:41 -0500

A new Winthrop Poll in 11 Southern states finds 47% approve of the job President Obama is doing while 42% of those surveyed disapprove.

However, looking ahead towards next year's elections, 45% would rather have a Republican-controlled Congress to "serve as a check on President Obama's agenda" while 40% want a Democratic-controlled Congress to help with the president's agenda.

Strategery for Sale

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:41:20 -0500

Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, "whose reputations for strategic acumen were badly damaged" during the Bush years, are launching a strategic consulting firm, reports TPM.

In September, the RiceHadley Group LLC was registered as a business in California, under a San Francisco address.

Powell Advised Obama to "Take Your Time"

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:28:52 -0500

In a radio interview this morning, retired Gen. Colin Powell says he advised President Obama "not to be rushed into a decision" on sending additional troops to Afghanistan " because this one is the decision that will have consequences for years to come."

Said Powell: "This is a very difficult one for him. And it isn't just a one-time decision. This is the decision that will have consequences for the better part of his administration. So Mr. President, don't get pushed by the left to do nothing; don't get pushed by the right to do everything. You take your time and you figure it out. You're the commander-in-chief and this is what you were elected for."

Pawlenty to New Hampshire

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:11:49 -0500

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) will make "the first visit by any potential 2012 presidential candidate to New Hampshire" next month, reports NHPoliticalReport.com.

Graham Censured by Local Republicans

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:03:46 -0500

Republicans in Charleston County, SC censured their own Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), reports The State.

Said the resolution: "Sen. Lindsey Graham in the name of bipartisanship continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism."

The resolution notes Graham supported the bank bailout and "has shown a condescending attitude toward his constituents" opposing his stance on amnesty for illegal aliens.

Interestingly, the National Journal ranked Graham as the 15th most conservative U.S. Senator earlier this year.

Anti-Incumbent Sentiment Grows

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:48:39 -0500

A new Pew Research survey finds just 52% of registered voters would like to see their own representative re-elected next year -- approaching levels not seen since early October 2006 (50%) and 1994 (49%) when congressional control switched parties.

Support for incumbents is particularly low among independent voters. Only 42% of independent voters want to see their own representative re-elected -- also nearing an all time low.

Despite the voter unrest, overall opinion of President Obama has not soured -- his job approval rating of 51% is essentially unchanged since July.

Nothing to Hide

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:54:36 -0500

Porn star Stormy Daniels talks to Marie Claire about her transition to politics as a U.S. Senate candidate from Louisiana.

Q: How much will your résumé be a factor?

A: It's actually starting to work in my favor -- I have nothing to hide. A sex tape of me isn't going to pop up and shame me; there are 150 of them at the video store.

Q: Do you think you're more qualified than Senator Vitter?

A: Absolutely not. But in one movie, I did play a Secret Service agent marooned on an island controlled by North Korea. I butt heads with dictator Kim Jong-il and come out on top.

An Obama Floor?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:52:09 -0500

According to the Gallup daily tracking poll, President Obama's approval rate has hit 50% ten different times this year but has never fallen below the 50% line.

First Look at Palin's Book

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:24:16 -0500

Copies of Sarah Palin's Going Rogue shipped out in advance of the November 17th release date to some of Palin's associates -- and they're talking to Mark Halperin who makes these observations:

The book is just five chapters long -- but "they are very, very long."
The is some "score settling with McCain aides" and "names will be named."
There is "a hearty bashing of the national media."
Palin describes her upbringing as a maverick and talks about "the importance of faith in her life."

Halperin also notes "don't look for hefty policy prescriptions" or an index in the book.

Chafee Would Win Three Way Race

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:36:24 -0500

An Alpha Research poll in Rhode Island conducted for former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (I) shows him leading a three-way race for governor next year. He released the poll to "help quell rumors he is not long for the race."

On one match up, Chafee leads with 37%, followed by Patrick Lynch (D) at 24% and Rory Smith (R) at 15%.

In another, Chafee leads with 36%, followed by Frank Caprio (D) at 34% and Rory Smith (R) at 8%.

Palin-palooza

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:03:32 -0500

Sarah Palin launches her much-anticipated book tour for Going Rogue with an appearance on Oprah on Monday. Then, according to her Facebook page, she'll start a seven-day, 13 city tour.

For those wondering if this is the start of a presidential bid, First Read notes that 11 of the 13 stops are in battleground states and nine of the stops are in congressional districts won by McCain in last year's presidential election.