Rahm’s Replacement Pete Rouse Known As ‘Fixer’
The Washington Post reports: “Few people outside Washington, and not many inside, have heard the name Pete Rouse. The man President Obama will name as his interim White House chief of staff on Friday is a quiet political player who avoids the spotlight. He does not suit up for the Sunday talk shows; there are no stories about him reducing staff members to tears for their slip-ups. He is in many ways the opposite of Rahm Emanuel, the brash chief of staff he will replace.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will make a personnel announcement at 11:05 a.m. ET, on the new White House Chief of Staff. He will meet at 11:30 a.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He will attend Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s Investiture Ceremony at 2 p.m. ET. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 3:20 p.m. ET. He will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at 4 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend a fundraising event for Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) in Oakland, California, at 12 p.m. ET. He will then travel to Orange County, California, and attend a 3:30 p.m. ET event for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). He will return to Washington in the evening.
Obama Seeks To Rally Dems
Reuters reports: “President Barack Obama predicted on Thursday his embattled Democrats would hold onto their congressional majorities in the November elections if they can rekindle enthusiasm among voters who helped sweep him into office. Obama made the case for Democratic optimism in a pair of contrasting political fundraisers — an elegant $30,400-a-plate dinner for wealthy donors and a hip-hop rally for younger supporters.”
Capitol Hill Worries Rahm Emanuel’s Exit Changes Little
Politico reports: “With the departure of his chief of staff, President Barack Obama has been handed a rare chance to reshape the character of the West Wing at a pivotal time in his presidency, when his polls are down and he could lose a Democratic-controlled Congress in the November elections. But despite the praise from some Democrats for Pete Rouse as the next White House chief of staff, others fret that Obama seems poised to squander an opportunity by appointing an insider to replace Rahm Emanuel, who will step down Friday to explore a run for mayor of Chicago.”
Dems Face Hard Choices For Senate Control
The Hill reports: “Democratic leaders are deciding where to spend precious resources as they debate which Senate candidates can survive the Republican onslaught. Eight states are emerging as the battlegrounds that will decide the margin of Senate control, according to interviews with Republican and Democratic strategists. They are Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.”
Boehner Promises To Reform House Rules And Earmarks
Roll Call reports: “House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday said Republicans would alter House rules to restore ‘order’ and reform the earmarking process if the GOP takes the majority in November. The speech to the American Enterprise Institute is the fourth in a series of major public addresses Boehner has given this year that outline how he would run the House if elected Speaker.”
