Daily Political Wire 9-11-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama will deliver remarks at the Pentagon memorial - on the ninth anniversary of 9-11. Later the president will participate in a volunteer service project. In his weekly address, the president called upon Americans to donate their time today in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9-11.

Vice President Joe Biden is in New York for services commemorating 9-11. You can read more here.

---

Florida Pastor Terry Jones says they will not burn Quran - appearing on NBC "Today" show he said they will never burn the Quran and their decision will not change even if the NY City planned Mosque near ground zero is not moved. MSNBC.com has more here.

Amazing that a bizarre pastor with a congregation of fifty, can receive so much media attention and have so much impact on the lives of others all over the world.

---

20 Million of 787 billion Stimulus bill to go to rural hospitals - this will be spent to upgrade the hospitals to electronic patient record keeping. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement yesterday. TheHill.com has more here.

While this is a much needed upgrade, it also highlights how slow the expenditure of funds from the 787 billion Stimulus bill has been.

---

Patricia Geoghegan named as new "pay czar" - she replaces Kenneth Feinberg who was named to oversee the 20 billion escrow fund established by BP for victims of the Gulf coast oil spill. Reuters.com has more here.

The "pay czar" position was established after the 700 billion "bail-out" bill to ensure compensation paid by companies aided by the bill were not outrageously high.

---

Money not helping Whitman in California Governor Race - in spite of spending 100 million of her own money, Republican candidate Meg Whitman trails Democratic former Governor Jerry Brown in two of three recent polls. The only poll she leads is a CNN/Opinion Research poll in which she is ahead by only 2 points, well within the margin of error.

Jerry Brown has only spent 1 million and just aired his first campaign ad this past week. This is a good sign for Brown in this hotly contested race. You can read more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates", click on "Subscribe to this feed" below or use the sign up box located in the upper right hand margin.

Daily Political Wire 9-5-2010

George Wenschhof

81% of Americans say the Economy is in Poor Shape - a new CNN/Opinion research poll released today says only 18% believe the economy is in good shape. 44% say the economy is in very poor shape.

The economy remains the number one issue to voters and how they respond to new economic policies planned to be unveiled by President Obama this week could determine who wins control of Congress in the mid term elections on November 2.

The little bit of good news in the poll for Democrats is that 44% of voters blame the economic problems on the Republicans and 35% blame Democrats. CNN.com has more here.

---

Whitman leading in California Governor Race - a recent SuyveyUSA poll shows republican Meg Whitman leading Democrat and former Governor Jerry Brown 47-40%. Whitman has spent 100 million of her own money on this race.

In the important Senate race, Republican challenger Carly Fiorina and incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer are also locked in a statistical tie. Stay Tuned... Reuters.com has more here.

---

Maryland Democratic Representative Frank Kratovil makes Politico's Top 10 most vulnerable List - over on the eastern shore in Maryland's 1st district first term congressman Frank Kratovil will be facing a tough reelection battle against Republican Andy Harris. In a rematch of the the 2008 election won by Kratovil by only 3,000 votes. Obama lost the district by 19 points in 2008. Politico.com has more here.

---

NY Times endorses Democrat Joyce Johnson over New York Democratic Representative Charles Rangle - the 40 year congressman is facing trial on 13 ethics charges. The NY primary is September 14. The NY Times has more here.

---

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer admits beheadings claim was in error - just days after her 17 second brain freeze during a debate with Democrat Terry Goddard. Brewer, who's claim to fame has been her signing of the state immigration law, now admits her statement on beheadings in Arizona being related to illegal immigration was in error. MSNBC.com has more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates", click on "Subscribe to this feed" below or use the sign up box located in the upper right hand margin.

Daily Political Wire 8-15-2010

George Wenschhof

Bowing to public and pundit pressure, President Obama has photo-op in Gulf - a picture was released showing him and daughter Sasha playing in the water off a beach in Panama City, Florida. Reuters.com has more here. The reason? - to show the beaches are open for business along the Gulf coast after the BP oil spill effectively ruined the summer economic proceeds for the region.

The "top kill" is still holding the oil from gushing into the ocean, yet there remains concern about the completion of the long awaited "bottom kill" by a test well.

---

President Obama's Mosque remarks cause some angst - while the president's recent remarks at a Iftar dinner for Muslims, supporting freedom of religion as being one of the hallmarks of our Democracy, was correct, some Republicans have used the remarks to attack the president yet again. The NY Times has more here.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh.) called the remarks troublesome. He was speaking to the current debate regarding the building of a Mosque near ground zero in New York City. Newt Gingrich was quick to pile on saying "the president was pandering to radical Islam". Interestingly, these same Republicans are quick to point out their support of the constitution.

---

AP/Gfk polling shows Independents will be crucial voting block in mid term elections - two years ago, 52% of Independent voters supported Obama for president. Now, that support is down to 32%. You can read more here.

The economy remains the top issue with 90% of Independent voters who trust Republicans over Democrats to manage the economy 42-36%.

Independent voters now make up nearly 40% of the registered voters. However, they can not be gauged in supporting either Republicans or Democrats in general.

The good news for Democrats is that overall voters prefer a Democratic controlled Congress over Republican by 44-41%.

---

Can Republican Meg Whitman Buy California Governor race? - the most recent campaign disclosure filing shows she added another 10 million of her own money, which now totals 104 million! Her 104 million personal contribution has now made this the most expensive Governor race ever in California. MSNBC.com has more here.

In contrast, former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown has spent 774,000. Fortunately, voters so far have not been persuaded by Whitman's money and polls show the race a dead heat.

Yet, another reason for true campaign finance reform in U.S. elections.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates", click on "Subscribe to this feed" below or use the sign up box located in the upper right hand margin.

No Big Surprises in Primaries held Yesterday

George Wenschhof

Former President Bill Clinton showed he still has clout in Arkansas as incumbent Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln won a hard fought battle against Lt. Governor Bill Halter 52% - 48%.

In California, it will be Republican Meg Whitman who will face former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown. In the California senate race, it will be Republican Carly Fiorina against incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) will face Republican Sharon Angle who won the republican primary with only 40%. This is good news for Reid who just 8 weeks ago was considered vulnerable. Look to see Reid to win reelection by a comfortable margin in November.

Also in Nevada, incumbent Republican Governor Jim Gibbons (27%) was beaten by Brian Sandoval (55%).

The intrigue in South Carolina for the Republican nomination for governor is not over as Republican Nikki Haley (48.8%) failed to obtain 50% of the vote against her main opponent Graham Bennett (21.8%). A runoff election will be held in several weeks. Haley was accused of infidelity and also called a "raghead" by a supporter of her opponent. let's see if the Republicans continue to beat themselves up prior to the runoff election. Look to see Haley win.

Republican candidates in the 4th congressional district are also facing another runoff in South Carolina. Incumbent Bob Inglis (27%) will face Trey Gowdy (39%) with Gowdy favored to win easily.

One thing that is becoming clearer as a result of the early primaries is the Republican Party does not have a message or a leader as they did in the 1994 mid term elections when they recaptured majority of the House. Then, it was Minority Leader Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America" that helped swing the voters their way.

While history tells us is the political party who is in the White House loses an average of 25-35 House seats in mid term elections, do not look to see that figure increase. As long as Republicans continue to battle each other with no clear message, Democrats will maintain a majority in the House.

As long as the National Republican Party message is simply "No" to Democratic proposals, Democrats will remain in the majority in Congress.

Politic.com has all the results from all the states here.

---

To receive "Daily Email updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed" below or use the sign up box located in the upper right hand margin.