Big Primaries Today
Today is the last big primary day of the 2010 cycle, with major Senate and gubernatorial primaries in Delaware, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin, plus other races in Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. Obama will depart from the White House at 11:30 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 11:45 a.m. ET, arriving at 12:30 p.m. ET in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At 1 p.m. ET, he will deliver his second annual Back-to-School Speech. He will depart from Philadelphia at 2 p.m. ET, arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:40 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 2:55 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend President Obama’s morning briefings. At 12 p.m. ET, he will attend a lunch meeting with the cabinet chiefs of staff. Afterwards, he will meet with senior advisers. At 3:30 p.m. ET, he will host a conference call with governors from across the country, to discuss implementation of the Recovery Act.
Interest-Group Spending Drives GOP Lead in Ads
The New York Times reports: “Outside groups supporting Republican candidates in House and Senate races across the country have been swamping their Democratic-leaning counterparts on television since early August as the midterm election season has begun heating up. Driving the disparity in the ad wars has been an array of Republican-oriented organizations that are set up so they can accept donations of unlimited size from individuals and corporations without having to disclose them. The situation raises the possibility that a relatively small cadre of deep-pocketed donors, unknown to the general public, is shaping the battle for Congress in the early going.”
Dems Plan For A Future Without Pelosi
Politico reports: “For House Democrats, planning for a future without Speaker Nancy Pelosi is neither pleasant nor easy. But as poll results worsen and a Republican-controlled House looks more and more likely, Democrats are beginning to realize they face a top-to-bottom leadership shake-up if the powerful speaker steps aside in a Democratic minority. For the most part, Democrats have no obvious road map, no heir apparent to the Pelosi mantle and a fairly thin bench around which to plan the future of their party.”
Republicans Coordinate on Midterm Policy Plans
Roll Call reports: “Senate Republicans are working with the House GOP on the creation of a midterm election agenda for incumbents and challengers to run on in the fall campaign, but are largely deferring to their counterparts on the specifics. The agenda, due to be unveiled before month’s end, is a project of the House Republicans’ America Speaking Out project, which has solicited suggestions from the public for solutions to the nation’s problems. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declined Monday to discuss the agenda his Members and challenger candidates will pitch to voters heading into Election Day, but Senate Republicans are likely to adopt the House GOP document in some form.”
Democratic Aides May Get Cold Shoulder From K Street After Midterms
The Hill reports: “Democratic congressional aides aiming for a big payday from K Street have seen their value plummet with their party’s declining fortunes, according to corporate headhunters and lobbyists…It’s difficult to say how much those salaries have dropped now that the party appears poised to lose seats in the House and Senate, and possibly their majorities, in November. But corporate headhunters say Democratic salaries have probably peaked, and that they could go down further with a GOP victory in the fall.”
