Daily Political Wire 9-8-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama will announce new economic proposals in Cleveland, Ohio - the proposals include 50 billion for infrastructure, research and development tax cuts for businesses, and a 100% write off for businesses for capital investments.

The additional money for infrastructure is needed, however, the president will be criticized from the left and the right. Some will say the 787 billion Stimulus program was not big enough and others will say this is just more government money being thrown away and added to the nation's huge debt.

In addition, the president is expected to say he is against extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. The NY Times has more here.

Unemployment rates are expected to tick upward slightly in the next two months prior to the mid term elections so it is questionable as to how effective this speech and new proposals will be.

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DNC Chair Tim Kaine to head rally in Philadelphia today - he is expected to deliver a speech at the University of Pennsylvania outlining the differences between the Democrats and Republicans. Highlighting it was the republicans who put the country in the ditch and not to go back to the political party who put the country there.

He will be joined by Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Ed Rendell and 2008 Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe. Plouffe has said there are 70 House seats, 15 Senate seats and 24 Governor seats in competitive races in the mid term elections. CNN.com has more here.

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Is pendulum swing toward Democrats as Elections near? - the latest Gallup poll for congressional political party preference shows a tie at 46%. this marks a 10 point swing from last week when Republicans held the advantage over Democrats and the first week in six weeks in which Republicans were not favored by the voters.

Stay tuned... Gallup.com has more here.

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Will White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel be the next to leave Obama administration? - speculation is yes, with the next question being when? With Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announcing he will not seek another term, Emanuel is leaning toward running for his open seat. The deadline to file is November 22 so does Emanuel resign now or wait until after the mid term elections on November 2? MSNBC.com has more here.

With several members of his economic team already gone and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the lone holdover from the Bush administration, set to announce he is leaving, Emanuel's departure would create the opportunity for a large shake up in the Obama administration. A shake up many have said is long overdo.

John Podesta, the former Chief of Staff for President Clinton and chair of the Obama transition team, predicts changes in the White House after mid term elections. Politico.com has more here.

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Tea Party candidates continue to help Democrats - the latest is Senate candidate Jack Conway who is battling Republican Tea Party endorsed candidate Rand Paul in Kentucky. Conway is now locked in a tie with Paul according to the latest poll. The open seat, a result of incumbent Senator Jim Bunning's retirement had been considered a safe Republican seat.

In Nevada, whacko tea party Republican candidate Sharon Angle has ensured victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who was considered vulnerable. Chris Cillizza and TheFix has more here.

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BP internal Report Says series of failures led to oil spill in Gulf - the report which took four months to prepare, points accusatory fingers at subcontractors Halliburton and TransOcean for responsibility of the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The Blow-Out Preventer has just been recovered from the ocean floor so this report does not cover the failure which occurred. The NY Times has more here.

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