Emanuel’s Expected Departure From White House Likely To Be Just The First
The Washington Post reports: “The expected departure of Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to run for mayor of Chicago is likely to mark the beginning of a wider White House shake-up, officials said Wednesday, one aimed at helping the administration regain its footing in the aftermath of anticipated Democratic losses in the midterm elections and positioning President Obama for a tough 2012 reelection fight. Such a reorganization is not unusual at this point in a presidency and particularly in a White House such as Obama’s, which has been running full out for two years – grappling with two wars, a financial crisis and an ambitious policy agenda. Many of its key players have begun to let it be known that they are burned out and looking for an exit or a new role.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. Obama will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner.
Republicans Privately Plot John Boehner-Run House
Politico reports: “House Republicans have held a series of private discussions to plot their first moves if they win the majority in November — with plans to use spending bills and subpoenas to rein in President Barack Obama and satiate their own ravenous base. Republicans recognize they won’t be able to do any broad governing even if they take back the House; they’d hold just one chamber of Congress, or at most one branch of government, if they also win the Senate. So officials familiar with the early discussions say they’ve centered on undoing key parts of the Obama agenda and repositioning Republicans as the party of fiscal responsibility heading into 2012 – a mantle it surrendered during the big-spending Bush years.”
McConnell: ‘We Will Be A More Influential Group’ After Election
Speaking to CNN, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) predicted a strong election result for Republicans this November: “Number one, we will not lose a single Republican incumbent senator in November. Number two, we have five open Republican seats, including here in Kentucky. We will win all those. And, we are competitive in the following places where there are Democratic Senators: California, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Dakota, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and probably in Connecticut and maybe West Virginia…And we will win a number of them, and we will be a more influential group in the next congress.”
Murkowski Likely to Lose Leadership Spot If Campaign Continues
Roll Call reports: “Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will likely be forced out of her party leadership position should she decide to launch a write-in or third-party candidacy, a Senate Republican said Wednesday…Although Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other GOP leaders have not yet formally discussed what to do if Murkowski does run, the Senate Republican said there is likely no scenario in which she would be allowed to remain Republican Conference vice chairwoman.”
Wall Street Fills Coffers Of Top GOP Candidates
The Hill reports: “Wall Street and financial interests are putting their money behind a handful of top-tier Senate Republican candidates as the GOP looks to win back power in the midterm elections. The industry’s contributions, which favored Democrats in recent election cycles, are now helping Republicans vie for control of the Senate…Republicans say the shift in donations is another sign of growing concern about the Democrats’ agenda, which has included broad new financial regulations.”
