Daily Political Wire 11-5-2010

George Wenschhof

President Obama begins Asian Trip - getting out of town may be a good idea for the president following the huge losses suffered by Democrats in Tuesday's elections. He will travel to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. Obama hopes the trip will result in increasing U.S. exports and create more U.S. jobs.



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Obama to be guest on CBS "60 Minutes" Sunday - the president admits he failed in making a stronger argument to the people in regard to his policies. The program was taped before the president left on his foreign policy trip and will air on Sunday at 7:00 PM ET.



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150,000 jobs added in October - a larger than expected increase in jobs across America. However, unemployment remains at 9.6%. Bloomberg.com has more here.

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Mid Term Election Update - Democratic Senator Patty Murray won the Washington state race so Democrats will have 51 Senators with another 2 Independents who caucus with them for a total of 53. Republicans have 46 with Alaska still undecided between newly Independent Lisa Murkoski and Republican Joe Miller. Murkowski who is ahead but facing challenges to write-in votes will caucus with Republicans if she is declared the winner.

The House is currently Republicans with 239 seats, Democrats with 186 seats and 10 races still undecided.

Chris Cillizza and "TheFix.com" has more here.

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Will Pelosi run for House Minority Leader? - word has it she and supporters are calling House democrats to see if support is there. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is the other who may receive support for this position. Politico.com has more here.

Look to see Pelosi win House Minority Leader position. After serving as Speaker, she will be hard pressed to serve as just one of the House Democrats. Political junkies will also remember she beat out Steny Hoyer for Speaker in a bitter contest and this behind the scenes struggle is likely to have the same results.

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Will Democratic Senator Charles Schumer (NY) be next chair of DSCC? - another behind the scenes maneuvering as Harry Reid (Nev.) will want to retain his Senate Majority Leader position with Schumer and Illinois Senator Richard Durbin rumored to be interested in the Majority Leader position.

A possible deal in the works would make Schumer head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, replacing Robert Menendez (NJ), who is resigning to concentrate on his own reelection in two years. TheHill.com has more here.

Durbin would be a good choice to replace Reid and would also send a signal to Democratic voters that changes are being made.

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Meanwhile, Republican gains unlikely to result in any substantive changes in Government - Republicans are sticking with their goal of cutting spending even as most economists say this action would be detrimental to the economy. The NY Times has more here.

In addition, Republican leadership is faced with reaching consensus among Republicans on the course of action they should take. Newly elected tea party backed congressmen will want immediate action. If republicans continue to act as obstructionists, will their mid term election success be short lived as American voters tire of the gridlock in Washington? The Washington Post has a good read here.

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