Spotlight
Badger State Blues
Looking for a midterm battleground? Look no further than WI, where Dems and GOPers are battling over key races at every level.
-- WI is a microcosm of the national landscape: An unpopular Dem chief executive presides over an economy with high unemployment (albeit below the national average), putting his party's seats at risk. Now, newly vulnerable Dems are rethinking their entire re-election plans.
-- GOPers say putting pressure on Dems to retire was a key concern when they considered the difficulties in taking back Congress. They succeeded with Rep. David Obey (D), who is leaving open a seat that will be tricky to hold. GOPers call it a top pickup opportunity, and Dems made their first independent expenditure there.
-- If anyone should be immune from the taint of DC, it should be Sen. Russ Feingold (D), who has charted a path so independent it has rankled his own leadership. But Feingold is being outspent on TV by businessman Ron Johnson (R), and some Dems are privately worrying more about his seat than the open GOV race.
Add in that race, where the likely GOP primary winner will start the general election at an advantage, and the state legislature, where GOPers have a good shot to win back both chambers. With so much on the line, no wonder both Pres. Obama is making a WI stop on Labor Day -- or that House Min. Leader John Boehner stopped in this week.
Quote of the Day
"If someone had asked me my name, I wouldn't have been able to tell them."
— AZ Gov. Jan Brewer (R), Arizona Republic, 9/2.
Top News
A Slow Recovery
Unemployment trickles up to 9.6%, slightly beating expectations. Obama calls numbers positive and blasts GOPers on small business bill (#1)
Rage Against The Machine
Intense anger at Dems, dissatisfaction with direction of the country even higher than '94 and '06. (#6)
No Meet The Meek
Rubio's father's health forces the FL GOPer to cancel scheduled "Meet the Press" debate (#13)
Climbing Up The Mountain?
Manchin throws first punch at Raese, accusing him of trying to buy election in fundraising e-mail. A sign he's getting concerned in an anti-Obama state? (#30)
One And Done
Brewer won't be attending any more debates. But gaffes aside, her opposition to illegal immigration has put her way ahead (#39)
Contents Friday, Sept. 3, 2010
Today's Frontpage
- OBAMA: Cracks In The Coalition
Looking Inside Obama's Worsening Approval - REPUBLICANS: But What If We Win?
GOPers Plan For Majority - DEMOCRATS: No Ace Of Base
Is Obama Losing The Progressives? - CONGRESS: Turn Up The AC 360, It's Getting Hot
In Media Tour, Johnson Passes Buck For Scholarship Mistakes To CoS - LANDSCAPE: Losing Their Grip
Dems Maintaining Senate Control 'No Longer A Given' - USA TODAY/GALLUP: Rage Against The Dems
More RVs Voting Against Dems than '94
National Briefing
- ALASKA POLL: And She Lost The Primary?
Murkowski Still Leads In General Even After Losing Primary - ALASKA: Great Scott?
Begich Rallies Support For McAdams - CALIFORNIA POLL: Closeness Isn't Debatable
Fiorina Holds Slim Lead In SurveyUSA Poll - CALIFORNIA: Bogus, Says Barbara
Boxer Defends Record, Hits Fiorina At Editorial Board Meeting - CONNECTICUT: Mujer Independiente
McMahon Releases New Radio Ad In Spanish - DELAWARE: The Battle Rages
Tea Party, State GOP Trade Attacks On Preferred Candidates - FLORIDA: And Then There Were None
Meet The Press Cancels FL SEN Debate After Rubio Backs Out - ILLINOIS POLL: Tied Up At The Moment
Lots Of Undecideds In New Tribune Poll; Dem Upside-Down - ILLINOIS: My Big Fat Greek Fundraiser
Warner Coming To IL For Giannoulias - INDIANA: Senate Races, Accusations Of Lies, And Videotape
Ellsworth Says Coats Lying In Ad - IOWA: Social Hour
Conlin Hits Grassley Over Social Security - KENTUCKY POLL: Rand Heat
Paul Regains Modest Lead - KENTUCKY: Cue The Ominous Music
Paul Predicts Day Of Reckoning - MARYLAND: A Rejected Plotline For Jurassic Park 4?
Wargotz Up With New TV Ad - MISSOURI: Guns Blazing For Blunt
NRA Hits The Campaign Trail - NEVADA POLL: Hi-O Silver!
Reid Takes Lead Again - NEVADA: Too Many To Keep Track Of
Dawn Gibbons Marks Latest Republican For Reid - NEW HAMPSHIRE: Yes, (Tax) Masters
Firm Charged With Deceiving Customers Donated To Ayotte; Coburn Backing Ayotte - NEW YORK: Yup, There Be A Storm A' Comin'
Gillibrand Spends Over $3M In Past Two Months, Raises $500K - PENNSYLVANIA: Oh, You Mean THAT Letter?
Sestak Admits He Missed Earmark Non-Profit-For-Profit Connection - SOUTH CAROLINA: What, Tom Hanks Wasn't Available?
Film Crew Shooting Greene Documentary - UTAH: Alien-ating Issue
Candidates Spar Over Fate Of Illegal Immigrants - WASHINGTON: Wenatchee Tune
New Murray Ad - WEST VIRGINIA: It's Go Time
Manchin Hits Raese - WISCONSIN: Money For Ronny
Johnson Outraises Feingold In Latest Period; Feingold Won't Be With Obama During Labor Day Visit
Senate 2010
- CALIFORNIA POLL: Show Some Meg
Whitman Leads Brown In SurveyUSA Poll - CALIFORNIA: Nothing Left To Prove?
Brown Hits The Campaign Trail - FLORIDA: Opposites Attract
Scott Picks An Experienced Running Mate, Despite 'Outsider' Claims - NEW YORK: Umm, How's 'No?' Does That Work For You?
Cuomo Still Won't Investigate Mosque Despite Second Lazio Letter - TEXAS POLL: GOPAC Mentality
Perry Leads GOP Poll - TEXAS: Deadline Driven
Perry Gives White Date To Release His Taxes If He Wants To Debate
Governor 2010 -- The Big Four
- ALASKA POLL: Parnell Excellence
GOP Hold Leads In Three Polls - ARIZONA: And The First Will Be Last
No More Debates, Says Brewer - COLORADO: Do They Still Have Death-By-Firing Squad?
Pretty Much Every GOPer Ever Calls On Maes To Drop Out - GEORGIA: Think Of It As CliffsNotes For Oppo Researchers
Deal Releases Some, Not All, Tax Return Info - IDAHO: Taking Credit -- But Is It Due?
Allred Stakes Claim To '06 Tax Break, Ruffling GOP Feathers - ILLINOIS: Jail Time
Fallout Continues From Prison Chief Resignation - IOWA: Family Values
Family At Center Of Egg Recall Gave To DGA - MAINE: Double Trouble
LePage, Cutler Spar At Forum - MARYLAND: No Politics Is Local
Are Voters Aware About State Races? - MASSACHUSETTS POLL: Tightening Mass
Patrick And Baker In Close Race - MASSACHUSETTS: Ad Barrage
Baker, Cahill Release Commercials - MICHIGAN: Yay, Temporary Talking Point Creation!
Bernero Reports More CoH Than Snyder, Rips Wall Street Banks - MINNESOTA: Ticket Taker
Alcohol Use Continues To Be Campaign Issue - NEW MEXICO: Another Day, Another Corruption Scandal
Campaigns Trade Barbs Over Malott Resignation - OHIO: Pardon Me, Gov.
Strickland Commutes Death Sentence To Life For Man Convicted Of Triple Homicide - OREGON: Scrapping Over Scholarships
Dudley's Education Plan Blasted By Kitzhaber, Teachers - RHODE ISLAND: Baring His Relatively-Ho-Hum Soul
Chafee Releases Income Statement; Caprio, Block Jointly Attack Chafee - UTAH: 'It's Time To Get Going'
Herbert Pledges To Help Improve Quality Of Life For Indian Tribes - WISCONSIN: Health Check
Camps Spar Over Health Care, Deer Hunting
Governor 2010
- DC MAYOR: Made Him Marion
New Fenty Ad Attacks Grey's Record
Campaigns of 2010
- BARBOUR: Small Talk
Barbour On The Fundraising, Interview Circuits - BLOOMBERG: Boss Man
Bloomberg Won't Be Anyone's Employee - CLINTON, HILLARY: Does Anybody Feel A Draft?
Dentist Drops $5K To Tout Clinton In '12 - DANIELS: So Happy Together
Barbour And Daniels Join Forces - PALIN: Psycho Journo, Qu'est-ce Que C'est?
Palin Calls Reporters 'Whack' - PAWLENTY: T-Paw, Go Home
Even Minnesotans Don't Want To Vote For Him In '12
White House 2012
- KENTUCKY POLL: Beshear Madness
Incumbent Leads '11 Race In Independent Poll, But GOP Internal Begs To Differ - MASSACHUSETTS POLL: Massively Friendly
Obama Maintains Popularity - NEVADA POLL: Silver Bounce
Obama Approval Improves Going Into September - NORTH CAROLINA POLL: Earl Scouts
GOP Opens Up Lead On Generic Ballot - THE FLY-BY: I'll Be Bayh-ck
Sen. Probably Gearing Up For '12 IN GOV Race
In The States
- NATIONAL JOURNAL: A Taxing Situation
Insiders Game Out Bush Tax Cut Scenarios, Tea Party Impact - PEW RESEARCH CENTER: Egg On Their Faces
Americans Follow Egg Recall, NYC Mosque
Poll Update
- OBAMA: Reeling With Admiration
WH Videographer Speaks About Obama - GREENE, JEFF: Color Commentary
Brown Defends Newspaper Against Ex-Sen. Candidate's Lawsuit - LEAHY: If Only There Was A Deerstalker Lying Around
Sen. Displays Photos At Gallery, Features Bush Sr. With Mickey Mouse Hat - FRANK: Speaking Frankly Might Be A Tragic Flaw
Frank Says GOPers Rank Obama Presidency As A Nat'l Tragedy - POLICE LOG: Love Means Never Having To Stalk Your Girlfriend
State Senate Candidate Says He Would Be "Exonerated" - NEWS BAZAAR: Wild, Wild West
Lawman Grand-Nephew Defends Family Honor
People
- MEDIA MONITOR: Debate-less Weekend
Weekend Shows To Zero In On The Economy, Midterms
Media Monitor
??? Overlooked ???
Tough Crowd
Don't think the talk of a second stimulus, by way of business tax cuts, is coming out of thin air. A Benenson Strategy Group poll, conducted in June for the liberal group Third Way, showed nearly 38% of Obama voters favored tax cuts for businesses over "new government investments," according to Time Magazine.
