From NBC's Luke Russert
During his weekly pen-and-pad session with Capitol Hill reporters, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) acknowledged that President Obama is still determining the objective of fighting the war in Afghanistan,

"I believe that the president is in a very considered, thoughtful careful way considering what our options are and what resources we need to accomplish our objectives," Hoyer said, "first of all what our objectives are going to be and deciding what resources we need to accomplish those objectives."

Hoyer then asserted that NATO needs to do more in the war-torn country: "I still think it is an important objective for our NATO allies and for others in the international community; I think that it is not the United States' burden alone. It is the burden of a lot."

Hoyer also did not miss an opportunity to defend President Obama against comments that former Vice President Cheney recently made suggesting that the Obama administration was "dithering" on a war strategy for Afghanistan:

"Although you didn't ask me this question, I think Vice President's Cheney attack on the president as quote 'dithering,' is an extraordinary assertion coming from an administration that ignored Afghanistan essentially for seven years, did not accomplish the objectives in Afghanistan and left this administration a growing Taliban presence and strength and an al Qaeda that was very viable not only in Afghanistan but in Pakistan," Hoyer said. "So for a member of a previous administration, that played such a critical role in this, to be asserting somehow that the president is taking less time at this point in time, that George Bush took to consider the surge in Iraq I think is unfortunately unjustified."

Recently, Democrats have taken to heavily criticizing the Bush administration when the topic of Afghanistan is discussed. Hoyer's comparison that President Obama is taking less to time formulate a strategy in Afghanistan than President Bush took to sign off on the Iraq surge demonstrates a new Democratic talking point meant to deflect criticism from the right and to tie the current situation in Afghanistan to the Bush administration.

From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski
U.S. military officials tell NBC News that eight Americans and one Afghan civilian translator were killed in two separate "complex" IED attacks on U.S. military patrols in southern Afghanistan.

Seven Americans and the translator were killed when their patrol struck a roadside bomb, and then they were immediately attacked with RPGs and small arms fire by enemy forces. 

One American was killed in a similar attack on a U.S. patrol in a separate area in the south part of the country.

The two incidents came "a couple of hours apart." The U.S. military is withholding the exact locations and the Americans service affiliation pending notification of next of kin.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Public option or bust: For the past several weeks, we've wondered whether progressives were crazy for turning the public option into the Holy Grail of the health-care debate. After all, neither Obama nor the other Democrats running for president ever made it a central part of their health-care pitches during the campaign. Also, according to estimates, a public option would attract just some 12 million Americans (about the size of Illinois). And most important of all, the 60 votes to avoid a filibuster didn't seem to be there. As a result, the C.W. has always been that there would be no public option in the Senate bill -- or, at most, you'd have the so-called "trigger." But due to liberal pressure, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that the Senate legislation will contain a compromise "opt out" public option provision. It was a stunning development, and if a public option is included in the final bill, you've got to credit the progressive community (liberal senators, MoveOn, HCAN, PCCC, HuffPo) for fighting for it, even if it once looked like a quixotic quest.

*** Baucus is on board; what about Conrad? But getting 60 votes -- i.e., convincing moderate Dems like Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu, et al, not to be a part of any filibuster -- still is going to be tricky for Senate Democrats and the White House. Yet if this statement from Max Baucus is any indication, momentum could be on their side. "I included a public option in the health reform blueprint I released nearly one year ago, and continue to support any provision, including a public option, that will ensure choice and competition and get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate," said Baucus, whose Senate Finance Committee bill DID NOT include a public option. "Success should be our threshold and I am going to fight hard for the 60 votes we need to meet that goal this year." Then again, we'll be curious to see what folks like Sen. Kent Conrad (D-Co-Op), Nelson, Lincoln, etc. say about the opt-out compromise. MoveOn (through letters and other pressure) says its members are warning any moderate Dem senator that he/she will lose their support if he/she joins Republicans to filibuster a health-care bill containing a public option.

*** A Snowe job? Make no mistake, Reid has made a big gamble here. While the White House is concerned only with passing a bill -- which is why it has tried to play both sides here (supporting the public option, but not drawing a line in the sand for it) -- Reid is weighing both passage and his own re-election prospects next year, which means he'll need support from the Democratic base. One thing is for sure, however: Olympia Snowe (R), whom Baucus and the White House wooed for months, isn't a fan of Reid's move. "It's unfortunate the Senate majority leader decided to take a different path," Snowe said outside her office yesterday, per NBC's Ken Strickland. "He did say it was a pretty good dog-gone good idea with respect to 'the trigger' in September. So I don't know what exactly has happened to change his mind." Here's the standard line we heard from the White House yesterday: They have lost Snowe today. But it's holding out hope she's open-minded tomorrow. A final point: Don't assume the "opt out" ends up being the final solution on public option. White House sources tell us to keep an eye on the "opt in" -- lots of the ex-governors turned senators (think Carper, Bayh, and Nelson among others) like the idea of being able to make a decision to CHOOSE help from the federal level rather than having to DENY the help...

*** Poll day! So how do Americans view the public option? What are their opinions about the health debate in general, President Obama, Washington, Afghanistan strategy, the Republican Party, and even Sarah Palin? Well, beginning at 6:30 pm ET, tune into NBC Nightly News, or click on to MSNBC.com, for the results from our latest NBC/WSJ poll. As usual, we'll probably release a few numbers before 6:30 pm.

*** Decision time is near? Decision time appears to be around the corner on Afghanistan. The Afghan runoff is set for Nov. 7; the president leaves for Asia on Nov. 11. Think we'll get an Oval Office address somewhere in between those two calendar bookends? It's as good of a guess as any at this point. Administration sources caution that the calendar isn't rushing their decision, but they acknowledge the Nov. 7-Nov. 11 window WAS a goal (they won't call it a goal now). Bottom line: Doesn't the president need to have a plan in place on Afghanistan before he meets with key allies in Asia (including Japan and China)? You bet he does. By the way, expect ANOTHER war council meeting sometime later this week (Thurs. or Fri.). Given the current unofficial timetable, one has to think this is the type of meeting that focuses on coming to a conclusion and making sure EVERYONE at the table supports the decision and is willing to politically SELL it.

*** Another awkward moment: About a month ago, President Obama traveled to Upstate New York to deliver a speech on the economy, which produced a very awkward moment with Gov. David Paterson (D) in the crowd. The reason: Just a day before, the New York Times published an article noting that the White House was encouraging Paterson not to run next year. Well, courtesy of administration aides complaining about Creigh Deeds' campaign in Friday's Washington Post, we might see another awkward moment when Obama campaigns for Deeds in Norfolk, VA beginning at 4:55 pm ET. Obama's appearance with Deeds comes as a new Washington Post poll shows the Democrat trailing Bob McDonnell (R) by 11 percentage points, 55%-44%. Per the Post: "Seven in 10 say the president -- who remains relatively popular with an approval rating of 54 percent among likely voters and 57 percent among all those registered to vote -- won't be a factor in their vote one way or the other. These findings suggest that the Virginia race may not be the early referendum on the Obama presidency that it is often held up to be."

*** The enthusiasm gap: Yet the real headline in the poll may be the enthusiasm gap between McDonnell and Deeds. "About a quarter of Deeds voters say they are supporting him 'not too' enthusiastically or 'not at all' enthusiastically," the Post writes. "More than nine in 10 of those who back McDonnell are 'very' enthusiastic or 'fairly' enthusiastic about the Republican." This means Obama's visit couldn't be coming at a better time for Deeds. Just how big will today's rally be? And how effective can a Tuesday rally be? By the way, word is he's cut his TV ad spending big time; in fact, he's barely up in the D.C. market, so reports the Washington Post's Cillizza. The real issue for Virginia Democrats now is that a Deeds loss could produce a disastrous coattail problem -- a statewide sweep of the three offices (LG and AG) and even cost Democrats a bunch of legislative seats.

*** Full of energy: Before Obama stumps with Deeds, he gives a speech on energy and jobs in Arcadia, FL at 12:25 pm ET. In his remarks from the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, Obama will tout smart-grid technologies that will modernize the nation's electricity grid. Vice President Biden also has an energy/jobs event today in Delaware, where he will make an announcement about the future of a former GM plant. These events aren't getting the attn the White House wants. But it isn't about today; it's about whether what they DELIVER today actually produces the jobs they believe will be created.

*** Swine flu worries? It's not a Katrina moment. BUT the Obama administration is getting anxious over this vaccine issue, since it went public months ago promising about five times more dosages available by this time than the science apparently could produce. The Washington Post: "In July, Obama administration officials said companies could make 80 million to 120 million doses by mid-October. They outlined an aggressive response to the pandemic, spending more than $2 billion to buy 250 million doses of vaccine and promising enough to inoculate every American. But only about 16.5 million doses have become available so far, putting the administration in an uncomfortable political position regarding what President Obama declared last week to be a national emergency."

*** NY-23, yeah you know me: Well, it's official: The national press corps has discovered the most interesting political race of the 2009 cycle -- the NY-23 special congressional election, where a GOP split threatens to give a Democrat control of this seat for the first time since the 19th century. Here's Politics Daily's Walter Shapiro: "The consensus of political insiders (and no one should bank on this) is that Owens has the lead because of party identification, Hoffman is gaining momentum, and Scozzafava appears to be fading, despite her strong base in Watertown media market, which makes up about one third of the district." The New York Times front-pages the race, and the L.A. Times also writes: "The conservative rebellion in northern New York is showing that the anger among disaffected voters, which became prominent this summer during the "tea party" anti-spending rally in Washington and at town hall meetings on healthcare, has become a baffling political force that even Republicans are having a hard time harnessing." If the Dems win this seat, the issue of the GOP split will become the political press corps' shiny metal object, and will take any positive momentum the party wants to grab out of winning Virginia.

*** Biden as Cheney -- at least on the campaign trail: Per NBC's Kelly Paice, Vice President Biden has now campaigned or helped raise money for fifteen House Democrats this year: Rep. John Adler (NJ), Rep. John Boccieri (OH), Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA), Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ), Rep. Alan Grayson (FL), Rep. Deborah Halvorson (IL), Rep. Jim Himes (CT), Rep. Paul Hodes (NH), Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH), Rep. Larry Kissell (NC), Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (FL), Rep. Dan Maffei (NY), Rep. Glenn Nye (VA), Tom Perriello (D-VA), Zach Space (OH). What's more, Biden is set to headline fundraising events next week for New York Reps. Michael McMahon and Scott Murphy (NY). In a way, Biden has taken on the role that Dick Cheney played 2001-2003 as the Bush administration's go-to guy to help House candidates.

Countdown to Election Day 2009: 7 days
Countdown to MA Special Primary: 42 days
Countdown to MA Special Election: 84 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 371 days

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"Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid announced Monday that he will include a government-backed insurance plan in the chamber's health-care reform legislation, a key concession to liberals who have threatened to oppose a bill without such a public option," the Washington Post front-pages. "Reid's decision was a reversal from two weeks ago, when the Nevada Democrat appeared inclined to set aside the idea -- among the most divisive in the reform debate -- in an attempt to avoid alienating party moderates. Doubts remain about whether he has the votes to guarantee passage, but he said he concluded that in the interest of bringing the strongest possible bill to the Senate floor next month, adding a public option was a risk worth taking."

The New York Times: "With Republicans united for now in opposition to any bill including a public option, Mr. Reid needs support from all members of his caucus — 58 Democrats and two independents — to take up the legislation. Aides said Monday that he appeared to be short of that goal, lacking firm commitments from several members of the caucus."

"Reid's decision could cost him the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), the only Republican to support a healthcare bill in Congress this year," The Hill notes, adding: "The lack of GOP support could unnerve centrists such as Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)."

So what's behind the decision for Reid? In part, keeping labor unions happy…

Turning to the energy/climate change bill… "Senate Democrats have all but abandoned the likelihood of getting a climate bill passed this year, although they hoped that they could show some progress at a Senate hearing on the issue -- such as clearing a bill out of a key committee -- in advance of international climate negotiations in Denmark in December. Tuesday's hearing is the first of three planned by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, on the bill introduced last month and recently revised and updated with additional details."

"Credit card rates would be immediately frozen under new legislation introduced on Monday by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)," The Hill writes. "Dodd will introduce the bill in response to concerns that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, enacted earlier this year, has done little to block credit cards from raising interest rates before the remaining provisions of the CARD Act go into effect." That legislation isn't enacted until May, and credit-card companies are spiking interest rates ahead of that deadline to comply.

Taking it too far... "Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) called an aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke a "K Street whore" during a radio interview last month, according to audio posted on YouTube. 'Here I am, the only Member of Congress who actually worked as an economist. And she's, this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics,' Grayson fumes during the interview."

So why are we short vaccines? Does the administration have to answer for this? They are blaming the drugmakers (who apparently over-promised) and everyone is blaming science. "In July, Obama administration officials said companies could make 80 million to 120 million doses by mid-October. They outlined an aggressive response to the pandemic, spending more than $2 billion to buy 250 million doses of vaccine and promising enough to inoculate every American," the Washington Post says. 

"But only about 16.5 million doses have become available so far, putting the administration in an uncomfortable political position regarding what President Obama declared last week to be a national emergency. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in television interviews Monday that officials had been 'relying on the manufacturers to give us their numbers, and as soon as we got numbers we put them out to the public. It does appear now that those numbers were overly rosy.'"

"Senator John F. Kerry defended President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan as 'a patriot' yesterday and suggested that the United States should not try to make Afghanistan into a perfect democracy," the Boston Globe writes. "Days after he persuaded Karzai to agree to a Nov. 7 runoff election following widespread allegations of fraud, Kerry told the Council on Foreign Relations that the United States should radically lower its expectations for Afghanistan. In his most comprehensive remarks yet on his view of the way forward in Afghanistan, Kerry said there are no good options, but that transferring responsibility to an Afghan government that is capable of battling the Taliban offers the best chance for US troops to be able to come home."

Roll Call: "President Barack Obama will be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning for a ceremony honoring former Sen. Edward William Brooke (R-Mass.), the first African-American elected by popular vote to the Senate."

Emerging C.W.: "The GOP could lose its fifth of five big special elections in two years -- a development that has Republicans asking why the irregular races continue to bedevil their party, even as it rebounds in other ways," The Hill notes. And, as we've noted at First Read, the problems the GOP has faced in NY-23, in particular, could serve as a precursor to next year's 2010 primaries. "GOP consultant Brian Donahue said Hoffman's success in recent polling shows the ensuing battle between pragmatism and idealism that Republicans will face in many other races, including a few Senate races where big-name centrists face grassroots favorites."
 
More: "And the GOP is still grumbling about the March special election in New York's 20th district, where Republican State Assembly leader Jim Tedisco lost to Democrat Rep. Scott Murphy by less than 1 percent. 'The NRCC shows up at these things with their one-size-fits-all playbook,' the consultant said. 'The same people who screwed up New York-20 are screwing up New York-23.'" The other specials were in NY-20, Illinois (former Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat), Louisiana (former Rep. Richard Baker's seat) and Mississippi (Sen. Roger Wicker's former House seat).

MASSACHUSETTS: The candidates for Senate debated last night.  Here's the Boston Globe's take: "In their first debate of the campaign, the four Democratic candidates for US Senate sparred gently last night, each seeking to play to a liberal base and win recognition as the rightful heir to the seat once held by Edward M. Kennedy. The debate allowed the four to highlight their candidacies and their themes: US Representative Michael E. Capuano played to his blue-collar progressive roots and his insider political skills; Attorney General Martha Coakley was crisp and efficient, showing a command of the issues and making a point to address the camera; Stephen G. Pagliuca and Alan Khazei presented their nonpolitical backgrounds as assets."

NEW JERSEY: Gov. Jon Corzine admitted on CNN that "it might have been a 'good idea' to use different wording in a campaign commercial criticized by some as a cheap shot at his Republican opponent's girth."

Corzine has two more appearances with high-profile Democrats this week. Former president Bill Clinton visits today, followed by an appearance by President Obama in Camden. (Ed Secretary Arne Duncan also appears with Corzine today.) In a radio interview, Christie criticized his opponent's focus on endorsements, saying, "When all these folks come in and campaign, they get on the plane and leave, and if you vote for Jon Corzine, we're going to be stuck with him." Independent Chris Daggett disregarded the Republican nominee, painting the race as one between Daggett and Corzine: "It's either going to be Jon Corzine or me," the independent said.

Some '09 pre-spin 'from Dem strategist Bob Shrum: "The outcome in New Jersey will probably be a nail-biter, but the Corzine lesson is that Democrats are better off being Democrats than trying to triangulate themselves into some dubious pale blue mutation."

VIRGINIA: A new Washington Post poll shows Bob McDonnell with a double-digit lead over opponent Creigh Deeds, 55-44%. Seven in 10 voters said their views of President Obama, who comes to Old Dominion University today to campaign for Deeds, would not be a factor in their voting. And, demonstrating the enthusiasm gap between Republican and Democratic voters that has been apparent throughout the race. "About a quarter of Deeds voters say they are supporting him 'not too' enthusiastically or 'not at all' enthusiastically," but "more than nine in 10 of those who back McDonnell are 'very' enthusiastic or 'fairly' enthusiastic about the Republican." 
 
McDonnell also has the money edge. In the past month, McDonnell raised $4 million and has $1.8 cash on hand; Deeds raised $3.1 million and has just under $1 million left.

From NBC's Mark Murray
The day before President Obama campaigns for Creigh Deeds (D) in Virginia's gubernatorial race, the latest Washington Post poll finds Deeds trailing Bob McDonnell (R) by 11 percentage points among likely voters, 55%-44%. A Post poll from earlier this month had McDonnell leading by nine, 53%-44%.

The election will take place a week from tomorrow.

From the Post's poll story: "Seven in 10 say the president -- who remains relatively popular with an approval rating of 54 percent among likely voters and 57 percent among all those registered to vote -- won't be a factor in their vote one way or the other. These findings suggest that the Virginia race may not be the early referendum on the Obama presidency that it is often held up to be."

And: "McDonnell holds double-digit advantages when it comes to dealing with the economy (plus 17 percentage points), transportation (16 points), taxes (25 points) and has overtaken Deeds as the one more trusted to handle issues of special concern to women (7 points). On taxes, which has been a focal point of the campaign in recent weeks, McDonnell has stretched his lead significantly, and now holds a better than 2 to 1 lead over Deeds among independent voters."

From NBC's Athena Jones
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After spending the morning discussing the strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan with his national security team at the White House, President Obama told the crowd at the Naval Air Station here Monday afternoon that he would not rush his decision on whether to deploy more troops to the volatile region.

In brief remarks to some 3,500 sailors, Coast Guard, Army, Guard and Reserve personnel and military families, Obama thanked servicemen and women for their willingness to sacrifice for their country and called that service an inspiration to him as commander-in-chief, a role he called his greatest honor.

"While I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this-and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way," the president said. "I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary. And if it is necessary, we will back you up. Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done."

The war in Afghanistan has grown increasingly unpopular with the American public, with casualties mounting as troops fight a resurgent Taliban. The president and his national security team have held a series of meetings to discuss how to move forward in the region, including whether to approve a troop increase in the tens of thousands.

Some Republicans critics -- most recently former Vice President Dick Cheney -- have accused Obama of being too slow to make a decision, something they argue endangers American troops.

In a gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said a decision on strategy in Afghanistan "could come at any moment" but said could not say whether that would be before or after the Nov. 7 presidential runoff there.

The president also addressed the 14 servicemembers killed in helicopter crashes in Afghanistan today, saying his prayers went out to them, their civilian colleagues and their families.

"They were willing to risk their lives, in this case, to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for al Qaeda and its extremist allies," he said. "And today, they gave their lives -- that last full measure of devotion-- to protect ours."

Obama met privately with soldiers' families -- Gold Star families who have lost loved ones -- before the event and made a special point of honoring the family of Michael Scott Speicher, the Navy captain who died in Desert Storm and remains were returned here to Jacksonville earlier this year.

From NBC's Mark Murray
As expected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that the Senate health-care bill his office would be writing -- merging the Senate HELP and Senate Finance bills -- would include the so-called "opt out" public option plan.

While acknowledging that the public option would not be a silver bullet, he said at a news conference this afternoon that it would work to level the playing field with private health insurers. "States would be able to determine if the public option works for them," he said, referring to the "opt out" provision.

Reid also disclosed that he had discussed his move with the White House, as well as with Sens. Chris Dodd (chairman of the HELP committee) and Max Baucus (chair of the Finance committee). And he said he would be sending the legislation to the Congressional Budget Office for an official price tag.

When asked during the Q&A with reporters whether he was 100% sure he could get 60 votes on legislation that includes a public option "opt out," Reid side-stepped that question, saying that the legislation would have the support of the Democratic caucus.

When asked whether this move would endanger Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R) support for any health-care bill, Reid answered that he had spoken with her on Friday, and that she had made clear that she doesn't support a public option of any kind.  

Video: Sen. Harry Reid says that the public option with an 'opt out' is the best way forward. Watch his news conference.

From NBC's Libby Leist
Back from his recent trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Sen. John Kerry said today Gen. Stanley McChrystal's plan for surging tens of thousands of U.S. troops into Afghanistan "reaches too far, too fast." But, he also warned against any large pullout of American forces.

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations, Kerry, the chairman of Senate Foreign Relations committee, argued that more U.S. troops would not produce results if Afghan security forces are not effective and the governing and development capabilities of the Afghan government are lacking.

"The bottom line is that deploying additional troops won't result in sustainable gains if the Afghan security, civilian and governance capacity isn't there," Kerry said. "And right now, as our generals will tell you, in many places, too many places, it isn't."

He continued, "We do not yet have the critical guarantees of governance and of development capacity, the other two legs of counterinsurgency. And I have serious concerns about the ability to produce effective Afghan forces to partner with at the rate that we need to so that we can ensure that when our troops make heroic sacrifices, the benefits to the Afghans are actually clear and sustainable."

Kerry said in order for him to support more troops there must be a "valid assessment" not only by the military but by President Obama and others on the civilian side about whether the three conditions of Afghan security, governance and development can be met.

"Under the right circumstances, if we could be confident that military efforts can be sustained and built on," Kerry said, "then I would support the president, should he decide to send some additional troops to regain the initiative."

Kerry made the case for the middle-ground option: a limited counterinsurgency strategy with the potential for deploying more troops. He argued that civil war could break out between the Taliban and the Afghan government if the Administration decided to scale back troop levels for a narrow counterterrorism mission. He also said there are simply not enough troops for a nationwide counterinsurgency campaign.

Kerry took a hit at former Vice President Cheney and the Bush administration early in the speech: "Make no mistake: Because of the gross mishandling of this war by past civilian leadership, there are no great options for its handling today. One American officer captured well our lack of a strategy when he said, 'We haven't been fighting in Afghanistan for eight years. We've been fighting in Afghanistan for one year eight times in a row.' That is our inheritance."

Kerry said success in Afghanistan will be when the U.S. can "empower and transfer responsibility to Afghans as rapidly as possible and achieve a sufficient level of stability to ensure that we can leave behind an Afghanistan that is not controlled by al Qaeda or the Taliban."

"We now have to choose a smart way forward so that no one is ever compelled to ask whether we've made a mistake in staying," he said.

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
Flaws in the Democratic primary system were exposed in last year's nominating process. States jockeyed for position and influence, and the arcane and complex system of "superdelegates" overwhelmed voters and dominated conversation.

Democrats, aiming to avoid that kind of confusion in subsequent elections, began on Saturday in Washington to try and streamline the process. Ideas from members of the Democratic Change Commission -- a 36-member commission of elected officials, consultants and activists created by the Democratic National Committee at President Obama's request -- included encouraging states to move back the dates of their contests, reducing the number of automatic unpledged delegates (i.e.  "superdelegates"), and drafting a standardized list of best practices for the 18 states that vote for a Democratic nominee through caucuses.

Commission members agreed that too many states hold their primaries too early in the nominating season, potentially breaking up momentum between the primaries and the general election. There was broad consensus that last year's Super Tuesday elections on Feb. 5, in which 23 jurisdictions held their nominating contests, hurt all the campaigns because candidates couldn't hit all the states.

Members of the commission discussed ways to get states to spread their primaries out, including offering more convention delegates proportional to how far back a state pushed its primary. But some committee members, including co-chair Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), said more delegates was not enough to "sweeten the pot" to get states to move their primaries back.

Instead, Clyburn suggested offering better hotel accommodations at the Democratic National Convention to delegates whose states moved back their primaries in 2012. Meredith Wood Smith, chair of the Oregon Democratic Party, even floated the idea of promising more presidential visits -- assuming the Democratic candidate won -- to states after the general election.

The commission also debated several ways to reduce the number of superdelegates in deciding the party's presidential nominee. Bill Carrick, a Democratic media consultant, echoed the sentiment of most committee members, saying that superdelegates are "a horrible political message for grassroots" activists, as their unpledged vote suggests the superdelegates' ability to reverse the outcome of the election by voting against the will of the public (whose votes are translated into pledged delegates).

Members discussed groups of current superdelegates whose unpledged status could be revoked, including half of the DNC members or all of the add-on delegates. They suggested offering incentives to get superdelegates to voluntarily give up their vaunted status. Clyburn said he knew a lot of people who would give up their status "in a skinny minute" if given the title of "honored guest" at the convention.

Finally, members discussed the best practices for states holding caucuses. One issue, broached by Larry Gates of Kansas, was making caucuses more easily accessible to voters in rural areas who might have longer to travel than urban residents. The committee resolved to enact one of two options: 1) either draft and suggest a list of best practices to the 18 caucus states, or 2) submit the drafted list to the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee and charge the committee with enforcing the rules.

The commission's next meeting, where members will decide on how to implement the changes discussed, will take place Dec. 4th and 5th.

From NBC's Doug Adams
Here's a primer on the various "public option" plans being kicked around the House and Senate:

First of all, it's important to recognize that the House and Senate are working on two different tracks when it comes to a "public option" government run insurance plan. 

The House is more supportive of a strong public option (mainly because Democrats have the numbers to pass a plan and don't have to worry about a filibuster). House Speaker Pelosi is leading a fight for a "robust" public option -- also referred to as "Medicare Plus 5."  What that means is under this plan, doctors and hospitals would be reimbursed for services at Medicare rates, plus 5%.  (Pelosi was forced to admit on Friday that she doesn't have the votes for this plan yet, and the focus now seems to be shifting to other plans.) 

"Medicare Plus 5" is considered too low a payment for some moderate Blue Dog Democrats, especially those from rural states who insist such a low reimbursement rate would make it even harder to attract enough doctors and hospitals to make the plan viable. They favor a second public option plan -- call it "negotiated reimbursement," which is just like it sounds -- payment rate for medical providers would be negotiated, independent of what rate Medicare pays. Some House members also call this the "hybrid" public option plan.

A third option under consideration in the House is the "trigger" option -- which also is being debated in the Senate -- where failure to achieve sufficient savings and affordable coverage after a certain point would trigger the creation of a public plan. House leaders say a public option plan that would be triggered would be the "robust" plan (i.e., Medicare plus 5), but that decision hasn't been fleshed out yet. And there has been almost no discussion in either the House or the Senate on what would define that "trigger." 

The Senate seems to be moving in a different direction on the public option. Support is building for what is called an "opt out" plan, in which states could have the choice to opt out of whatever national public option plan is created. The assumption is that any public option created would be pretty "robust" -- in order to create a healthy competition with private insurers. Major public option supporters like West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D) say they could live with an "opt out" plan, and key centrists like Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (D) are open to it.

But Olympia Snowe, the lone Republican working with Democrats on health care, favors a "trigger" plan -- and has hinted she does not support the "opt out" idea. That could complicate things, because the White House has made keeping Snowe on board a priority. Having Snowe support the final bill would mean the White House could claim some bipartisanship, and there is a fear that losing her might mean also losing some moderate Democrats.

And one quick note on the magic 60 vote number: Democrats do need 60 votes to overcome any Republican filibuster, but they only need 51 to actually PASS legislation. So in these showdowns, the key is to get 60 senators to vote to break a filibuster, even if some of those senators end up voting AGAINST the underlying legislation.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Iraq, Afghanistan violence: Today, we're not starting with health-care debate or the gubernatorial races in New Jersey or Virginia. Instead, the headlines are coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. "Two synchronized suicide car bombings struck at the heart of the Iraqi government here on Sunday, severely damaging the Justice Ministry and provincial council complexes, leaving a scene of carnage that raised new questions about the government's ability to secure its most vital operations." Then there was this: "A series of helicopter crashes killed 14 Americans in insurgent-wracked Afghanistan on Monday, the U.S. military said. It was one of the deadliest days of the war for U.S. troops." All this comes as the president nears a decision on a new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy. He meets with the national security team this morning. The clock is ticking, as one would assume he has to make a decision before he leaves for Asia on Nov. 10. By the way, read between the lines of Washington Post story on the Pentagon war-gaming a couple of troop increase scenarios. Does this mean the president is leaning toward the 40,000 troop increase? 

*** Jobs, jobs, jobs: Turning to the domestic front, the White House's pro-active message this week might be "jobs, jobs, jobs." On Tuesday, Obama will be in Arcadia, FL for a tour of the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. (Also, Vice President Biden will be in Delaware to help christen a decision by an unknown auto company to turn a defunct Delaware factory into a plant for fuel batteries.) And later this week, sources tell us the president will speak to the NFIB, which is not exactly the friendliest audience to Democrats. But the administration wants to get him out front on the issue of small business and job creation.

*** Reid vs. Obama? OK, so the two Democratic leaders aren't at odds on health care, but there is some hand-wringing on both sides as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to find 60 votes for HIS version of the public option (the "opt out"), while the White House doesn't want him doing anything that upsets the Olympia Snowe applecart. Could Reid and Speaker Pelosi, by going so public with their attempts to find the votes for the public option, be putting on a show of sorts, letting the left know they tried and finally ending up in a compromise? However, the White House yesterday stressed that the president and Reid are on the same page. "A rumor is making the rounds that the White House and Senator Reid are pursuing different strategies on the public option. Those rumors are absolutely false." The New Republic's Jon Cohn sums it all up: Obama "wants a good public plan but he wants a bill even more--and he's not sure that the former is compatible with the latter. So he's being careful--more careful, in fact, than some of his Senate allies would like."

Video:  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now has his health bill set to go, but it contains an alternative to the public option which would allow states to opt-out. Will this bill work?

*** The more things change…: Bloomberg's Al Hunt writes a column that has been waiting to be written: All of the promise of changing the way Washington does business hasn't been turned into a reality yet by the president. One just has to look at his fundraising schedule to see that the political realities continue to creep in. While unrelated, today's Washington Post story about Dem Rep. Pete Visclosky's use of earmarks to raise money is a reminder how just how the culture hasn't changed all that much, even as the party in control did change. Just asking, but if the president had vetoed an appropriations bill that contained earmarks (which he could have done this past spring), would he be looking like more of a change agent, making it harder for the Al Hunts of the world to note how the president has spent more time promising change than delivering on it? Speaking of vetoes, anyone else surprised he hasn't found something to veto? Talk about a way to show some Washington independence at a time when the rest of the country has had it up to HERE with Washington. 

*** Obama's day: At 11:30 am ET, President Obama meets with his national security team to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan. Attendees include Vice President Biden (via teleconference), Secretary of State Clinton, Defense Secretary Gates, National Security Adviser Jones, Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. (Is today's war-gaming story in the Washington Post a sign that the president is going to reluctantly give McCrystal his troops?) After that, Obama travels to Jacksonville, FL, where he will address U.S. servicemen and servicewoman at the Naval Air Base. Then he heads to Miami, where he headlines a fundraiser for the DSCC and DCCC.

*** 2009 watch: It's just a little over a week until Election Day… The coverage of the gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia seem to underscore the conventional wisdom that Corzine and McDonnell are rising, while Deeds and Christie are flailing… On Saturday, the Corzine campaign announced that President Obama would return to New Jersey on Sunday, Nov. 1… Obama heads to Virginia to stump for Creigh Deeds tomorrow (not exactly the best GOTV day)… And Mitt Romney will campaign for McDonnell on Wednesday. It was interesting to hear over the weekend so many elected Republicans talk up McDonnell. He's on the verge of becoming the new darling of the party -- should the polls be right. 

*** The micromanaging White House? A follow-up question from Friday's Washington Post story, which included anonymous administration aides complaining about how Deeds has run his campaign so far: Come next year, is the White House really going to play armchair quarterback in the press -- in the 38 Senate, 37 governor, and 435 House races across the country? If so, it's going to be a VERY busy and frustrating year for Team Obama. They are expected to help make decisions behind the scenes, but to go public BEFORE the election really is something that won't sit well with quite a few Democrats, even those who believe Deeds has been an awful candidate. Speaking of 2010, Vice President Biden today is in the battleground state of Ohio, where he attends events for three Ohio Democratic Reps. -- Mary Jo Kilroy, Zach Space, and John Boccieri. He participates in today's briefing on Afghanistan via teleconference. And don't miss this news via the New York Post's Fred Dicker: New York AG Andrew Cuomo has apparently told Rudy Giuliani that he's running for governor. "It was sent as a courtesy … and as a warning that the former presidential candidate would face a brutal and, according to a dozen recent polls, losing battle against the highly popular attorney general." 

*** The absent governor? An impeachment resolution targeting South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) will be introduced Tuesday. Will it go anywhere? Meanwhile, the Columbia State newspaper examines Sanford's schedule, which in recent years suggested a governor who was no longer focused on the state's business. "The portrait that emerges from Sanford's calendar -- his office's official record of his activities -- is one of a clear second-term focus elsewhere, not on South Carolina. By this year, staff meetings - almost nine a week in 2004 - had dwindled to just more than four a week, according to an analysis of Sanford's calendar by The State. Some of Sanford's public outreach, such as holding office hours in the far corners of the state, also had fallen by the wayside." 

*** Meet the Press, Take Two: Don't miss Andrew Ross Sorkin and Dan Senor discussing their new books, the state of the global economy, and the culture of Wall Street in Meet the Press' online extra.

*** Breaking into the boy's club: Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't pass along this stat from CBS' statistician poobah, Mark Knoller, who notes yesterday was Obama's 24th golf outing. It took Bush 43 more than two years to get to 24 rounds. Also, did it take a tough question by NBC's Savannah Guthrie on the boys-only hoops games to suddenly have the president his first woman golfing yesterday (Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes)? Apparently. Timing wasn't coincidence, it seems.

Countdown to Election Day 2009: 8 days
Countdown to MA Special Primary: 43 days
Countdown to MA Special Election: 85 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 372 days

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"A series of helicopter crashes killed 14 Americans in insurgent-wracked Afghanistan on Monday, the U.S. military said. It was one of the deadliest days of the war for U.S. troops," USA Today writes. "In the first crash, a chopper went down in the west of the country after leaving the scene of a firefight with insurgents, killing 10 Americans -- seven troops and three civilians working for the government. Eleven American troops, one U.S. civilian and 14 Afghans were also injured. In a separate incident in the south, two other U.S. choppers collided while in flight, killing four American troops and wounding two more, the military said."

In addition, "Two synchronized suicide car bombings struck at the heart of the Iraqi government here on Sunday, severely damaging the Justice Ministry and provincial council complexes, leaving a scene of carnage that raised new questions about the government's ability to secure its most vital operations," the New York Times front-pages. "The bombers apparently passed through multiple security checkpoints before detonating their vehicles within a minute of each other, leaving at least 132 dead and more than 520 wounded strewn across crowded downtown streets."

The Washington Post: "Sunday's attack, cutting through snarled traffic during the morning rush hour, was the worst in Baghdad since 2007… Unlike the carnage unleashed by attacks in crowded mosques, restaurants and markets, aimed at igniting sectarian strife, these blasts appeared to rely on a distinctly political logic. In elections scheduled for January to choose a new parliament, Maliki has staked his future on having restored a semblance of security to the war-wrecked country. In the street Sunday, where blood and ashen detritus mixed with water surging from broken mains, that claim seemed as tattered as the forlorn facades of the targeted buildings."

"Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) both said Sunday they would not use the same language former Vice President Dick Cheney did to describe the president's decision making on the nation's Afghan strategy" -- Cheney said the White House was "dithering" -- but did not dispute the substance of his remarks."

"Responding to a dramatic surge in the number of U.S. swine flu cases, President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring H1N1 influenza a national emergency. The order by Mr. Obama, announced on the weekend, will speed the ability of hospitals and health authorities to take measures to fight the pandemic through such steps as setting up tents in hospital parking lots to establish extra emergency room care and creating health clinics in school gymnasiums or community centers."

Video: Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discusses the swine flu crisis  now that President Obama has officially declared swine flu a national emergency.

The Los Angeles Times says the health-insurance industry could benefit if reform passes. "The specifics of the healthcare legislation are still being hashed out on Capitol Hill, and key details will evolve in the days ahead. Even so, there is broad agreement that the final plan will, for the first time, require Americans to buy health coverage, with taxpayer subsidies for millions who cannot afford it."

"For the health insurance industry, that means millions of new paying customers. What's more, there are likely to be no limits on what insurers can charge, while at the same time the plan is expected to limit competition from any new national government insurance plan that lawmakers create."

More back-and-forth between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Obama White House, courtesy of the Washington Post: "The chief lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce alleged Sunday that there is a White House campaign of 'invectives' and 'name-calling' against his organization, and said the business group is eager to ignore the heated rhetoric. Speaking on 'Fox News Sunday,' longtime Chamber lobbyist Bruce Josten said the group's relationship with the White House began to sour after differences of opinion developed about President Obama's health-care and economic agendas."  

That said… "White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will speak at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce dinner for its board of directors in November, a move designed to ease tensions between the Obama administration and the business group," The Hill reports.

Finally… Rush Limbaugh ran with a hoax story about a thesis written by President Obama, in which he was critical of the U.S. Constitution. Then when Limbaugh found out it was false, he didn't apologize, because, "We know he thinks it," Limbaugh said of the president.

Per NBC's Mike Viqueira, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has a health-care reform bill ready and will send it to the Congressional Budget Office today for an evaluation of costs, according to a top aide. The measure will include a public option with the "opt out," whereby states could individually decide to remove themselves from the government plan.

The Wall Street Journal has more: "Details of the legislation could change, but its broad outlines are becoming clear. Employers with more than 50 workers wouldn't be required to provide health insurance, but they would face fines of up to $750 per employee if even part of their work force received a government subsidy to buy health insurance, this person said. A bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee had a lower fine of up to $400 per employee… The bill is expected to expand health coverage to tens of millions of Americans by giving low- and middle-income Americans subsidies to offset the cost of insurance, and expanding the Medicaid federal-state insurance program to cover a broader swath of the poor. Most people would be required to buy insurance or pay a fine, though exceptions would be made for those deemed unable to afford it." 

Joe Lieberman, whom The Hill calls "one of a handful of Senate wild cards in this fall's healthcare reform debate," said his biggest concern is what it would do to the national deficit. "Insurers aren't my biggest concern -- I sued them once when I was attorney general, and I'm not afraid to end anti-trust exemptions," Lieberman said. "I am really worried about what this could do to the deficit." That's interesting, because President Obama said he wants any healthcare bill to be deficit neutral, and the CBO determined that the Finance Committee's bill is just that.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold hearings this week on the Senate climate change/energy bill.

There's something about Alaska... "In preparation for his sentencing in an Alaska bribery scheme, former oil executive Bill Allen released a tantalizing tidbit about the long-running legal allegations swirling around Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska): Allen told the Justice Department in 2007 that he had provided Young with more than $100,000 worth of gifts that the Congressman never reported. It was the first official mention of Young in connection with the Alaska corruption probe that has led to indictments against several public officials, including former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)."

MASSACHUSETTS: "Tonight, [Martha] Coakley faces a major test as she squares off against her three Democratic opponents in the first televised debate of the campaign, a potentially game-changing event that will give all the candidates broad statewide media exposure for the first time," The Boston Globe reports. "Each of Coakley's competitors has his first major chance to make a dent. 'It's Coakley's to lose,' said John Berg, chairman of the government studies department at Suffolk University. 'She is running like a front-runner, and she wants to maintain that.'"

NEW JERSEY: On Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Newark Mayor Cory Booker stumped for Jon Corzine in Asbury Park, NJ. Like Corzine, Rendell's approval ratings are low, in his case 39%. PolitickerNJ writes that he "consequently sympathizes with Corzine. 'I think Jon Corzine was saddled with several decades of missteps,' said the Pennsylvania governor. "But understand, what New Jersey has is a highly skilled and educated work force. Jon Corzine understands that, unlike his opponent." Booker warned against the effect of a Corzine loss on the national scale: "If Jon Corzine doesn't win, a victory by Republicans in New Jersey will embolden the president's enemies," Booker said. 

Corzine received the endorsements of the Trenton Times and Bergen Record, while opponent Chris Christie received the backing of The Press of Atlantic City, the Asbury Park Press and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post. Corzine's endorsement from the Trenton Times was mixed; though it praised his "keen mind, financial expertise," and "grasp of the state's problems," it added that his "charisma deficiency, his unapologetic use of his personal fortune to advance his political ambitions, and the collapse of his well-intentioned but flawed plan to raise highway tolls" have kept him neck-and-neck with Christie. 

Video: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., discuss the looming elections in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as the 2010 congressional races.

NEW YORK: "Newly released campaign records show the mayor [Bloomberg], as of Friday, had spent $85 million on his latest re-election campaign, and is on pace to spend between $110 million and $140 million before the election on Nov. 3.That means Mr. Bloomberg, in his three bids for mayor, will have easily burned through more than $250 million -- the equivalent of what Warner Brothers spent on the latest Harry Potter movie," The New York Times reports. The sum easily surpasses what other titans of business have spent to seek state or federal office. New Jersey's Jon S. Corzine has plunked down a total of $130 million in two races for governor and one for United States Senate. Steve Forbes poured $114 million into his two bids for president. And Ross Perot spent $65 million in his quest for the White House in 1992 and $10 million four years later."  

In a New York Post op-ed yesterday, NY-23 Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, wrote of his split with the mainstream Republican Party: "I didn't leave the Republican Party, the party left me."  

The New York Post's Dicker reports that "Andrew Cuomo has secretly notified Rudy Giuliani that he will run for governor next year, The Post has learned… Insiders said Cuomo, while convinced he would win, wants to avoid a costly and exhausting campaign against Giuliani, who polls show is popular in the suburbs and upstate but not in New York City."

VIRGINIA: Many Virginia newspapers also announced their endorsements this weekend. Creigh Deeds got nods from the Roanoke Times and Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, while Bob McDonnell was endorsed by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Bristol Herald Courier, the Fredricksburg Free Lance-star, and the Culpeper Star-Exponent. 

Deeds made stops at about a dozen Baptist churches on Saturday, touring the Hampton Roads area with Delegate Lionell Spruill, "well-known state lawmaker known for driving voter turnout through his connections to a network of African-American churches that draw huge crowds on Sundays" who came with a pocket "full of envelopes stuffed with tickets" to see President Obama stump for Deeds tomorrow at Old Dominion University. At one church, Bishop K.W. Brown implored his congregation to vote: "Not voting is a sin. Government is on the shoulders of Jesus Christ," he said.  
 
McDonnell was also in Hampton Roads this weekend, stumping at a local restaurant, and some Democratic voters said they weren't dead set on Deeds. Ken Daly, an Old Dominion University art professor, said he wasn't sure he could pronounce Deeds' first name, "I think Deeds has run a terrible campaign," Daly said. "Nobody knows him." 

THE WEEK AHEAD: Obama in Florida with Pelosi raising $$, then VA for Deeds ... Movement on health care, Iran? ... HRC's birthday ... And a new addition to the family!

Do you have a question on politics -- presidential, horse race, something in Congress or something in your state? Submit it in the comments section, and we might pick yours in an upcoming week.

Tune in next week for a preview of Decision 2009 -- the races in Virginia, New Jersey and the special election in NY-23.

From NBC's Athena Jones
WASHINGTON -- For the second time in as many months, First Lady Michelle Obama entered the contentious fray over health care, urging breast cancer survivors and their advocates not to lose heart in what may seem like an uphill battle to get legislation through Congress.

She made the remarks at an event she hosted with Dr. Jill Biden to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pair were joined on stage by three breast cancer survivors struggling to pay for health coverage, because their cancer, though in remission, was deemed a pre-existing condition.

The first lady said that while progress had been made battling the disease, the fight would not be finished until the health care system was revamped. She cited a Department of Health and Human Services report that showed that even breast cancer patients with employer-sponsored insurance paid an average of more than $6,200 in out-of-pocket costs per year and some paid as much as $30,000 or more, while those without insurance struggle to pay for care. She said caps on coverage hurt cancer patients and that other women suffered because they could not pay for needed screenings.

"There are people in this country who have breast cancer, but don't even know it because they can't afford a mammogram," Obama told the crowd gathered in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden on the east side of the White House. "This is not acceptable in this country. This is something that could happen to any of us."

While the first lady has spent much of her time this year focusing on non-controversial issues like nutrition, support for military families and the arts, she has increasingly begun to address areas of policy that are much more contentious. Last month, at an event with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Obama spoke passionately about health care as a women's issue, pointing out disparities in premiums for women and arguing that "true equality for women" required revamped health-care system.

Today's event seemed to be an indication that the White House has become more comfortable with using what officials have long called one of the administration's most powerful voices to push the president's agenda.

"There's a belief that if you've already fought cancer you shouldn't have to also financial insurance companies to get the coverage you need at a price that you can afford," Obama said.

She said the health care bills before Congress would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, ban caps on coverage and require basic preventive care at no extra charge, but reminded the audience that the challenge was getting the legislation passed.

"We know that there are all sorts of myths and misconceptions out there and we know there are folks who will do anything they can to stop reform, because for whatever reason, they want to keep things the way they are," she said. "From where we stand now it might seem like an uphill battle, but fortunately folks like you know a little something about an uphill battle right? You know a thing or two about overcoming long odds and rallying people to an important cause."

About 90 people from advocacy groups, religious organizations, health care providers and research organizations -- the vast majority of them women who donned the pink breast cancer awareness ribbons --gathered under gray skies in the garden for the event. About a dozen members of congress, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), herself a breast cancer survivor, were also on hand.

In stressing the importance of early detection, Tina Tchen, who heads up the White House Council on Women and Girls, said that this year alone 200,000 cases of breast cancer would be diagnosed and 40,000 women would die.

From NBC's Mark Murray
In advance of President Obama's fundraiser for Sen. Chris Dodd (D) later today, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is calling on Obama and Dodd to release the list of donors who will be attending the fundraising event.

"As you know, Obama made two key promises as a candidate -- transparency and that he wouldn't take lobbyist money or attend a fundraiser where lobbyists were donating money," NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh emails First Read. "So seems to us that they shouldn't have any objection to releasing the names of those attending today's fundraiser to make clear he is abiding by those pledges."

When we asked Walsh if Obama and Dodd oblige, would the NRSC begin releasing their own lists, as well as ban lobbyist money like Obama does, he replied: "We've made no such pledge/promise on the lobbyist money front, and neither has the DSCC for that matter. In contrast, Obama has said repeatedly that not only would he not accept lobbyist money but that he wouldn't attend fundraisers where lobbyists were giving money." 

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier this week, we wrote that if Republicans lose the New Jersey gubernatorial race, as well as the special congressional election in NY-23, one of the big stories come Nov. 4 will be the GOP's inability to win in the Northeast. In fact, losing NY-23 -- which could happen if Republicans split their votes between the conservative and moderate GOPer in the race -- would give the Republican Party control of just TWO congressional seats in all of New York state. Wow.

Well, former New Hampshire GOP Rep. Charlie Bass, who lost his congressional seat in 2006, has written an essay for the fall edition of the Ripon Forum, arguing how the Republican Party can bounce back in the Northeast. But his message is FAR different than what we're hearing from the Sarah Palins, Dick Armeys, Club for Growths, and Tea Partiers who have gotten involved in NY-23.

Bass writes:

First, we as a party need to recognize that one-size-does-not-fit-all when it comes to campaigns. It shouldn't be an earth-shattering revelation, but the fact of the matter is that the type of candidate and campaign that can win in Alabama is not going to be the same type of candidate or campaign needed to win in New Hampshire...

Second, we need to emphasize those policies and positions that unite all Republicans – rather than focus on issues that divide us. It was Ronald Reagan who pointed out that someone who agrees with you on 80 percent of the issues is a friend, not an enemy.  Unfortunately, instead of emphasizing those issues that unite us, the Republican Party of today has spent far too much time focused on divisive social issues...

Third, we need candidates who reflect the values of the people of their district and their state. Our party needs to recruit and promote candidates who understand their electorate and who will reflect their values...

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
A spokesman for Nancy Pelosi is denying today's Politico report that any decision has been made about the public option in the House bill. 

"We continue to work with all the members of the caucus to build consensus," the spokesman says. 

Sources close to the speaker say leadership did not tell progressives last night that the robust public option is off the table. The votes are still being counted.

They add that the House bill will have a public option. The only question, as Pelosi told NBC News yesterday, is how robust it will be. She said in the NBC interview that her criteria is, which public option will create the most savings.

Politico had reported that after a whip count at last night's caucus, Pelosi realized she didn't have the votes for the most sweeping public option.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** White House vs. Deeds: In an interview earlier this month, Creigh Deeds (D) blamed, in part, the Democrats' national agenda as he trails Bob McDonnell (R) in Virginia's gubernatorial race. "Frankly, a lot of what's going on in Washington has made it very tough," he said. But now the White House is blaming Deeds. A senior administration official tells the Washington Post that Deeds made several mistakes in his campaign. "I understood in the beginning why there was some reluctance to run all around the state with Barack Obama," the official said. "You don't do that in Virginia. But when you consider the African American turnout that they need, and then when you consider as well they've got a huge problem with surge voters, younger voters, we were just a natural for them." Said another official: "Obama, Kaine and others had drawn a road map to victory in Virginia. Deeds chose another path." Ouch.

*** Why pile on Deeds -- now? But why are some folks at the White House trying to throw Deeds under the bus -- at least right now? For one thing, Obama is campaigning for Deeds on Tuesday (this reminds us of that New York Times story about the White House pressuring David Paterson to get out of his race right before Obama was set to make a stop in New York). Also, Obama is now appearing in a TV ad for Deeds. Finally, the C.W. was already beginning to settle -- without the White House's help! -- that Deeds has no one to blame but himself for his campaign struggles. While McDonnell has effectively used national issues like the health-care debate, cap-and-trade, and even card check against Deeds, this month's Washington Post poll -- which had the Republican leading the Democrat by nine points among likely voters (53%-44%) -- showed that Deeds isn't facing a stiff political headwind in this race. If anything, it's a very gentle breeze. In that Post poll, Obama's approval rating in Virginia was 58% among registered voters and 53% among likely voters -- that 53% matching the percentage Obama won in Virginia last year. Perhaps more surprisingly, incumbent Gov. Tim Kaine, who also has become DNC chairman, had a 60% approval rating.

*** When you're losing on the economy, you're likely not going to win: Indeed, Deeds is losing this race on the issues. Per that Post poll, likely voters trusted McDonnell more on the economy (53%-39%), transportation (49%-37%), the budget (52%-36%). education (51%-40%), and even health care (44%-42%). The only subjects that Deeds outscored McDonnell were on women's issues (47%-41%) and abortion (44%-42%) -- and that's after all the scrutiny on McDonnell's controversial 1989 thesis. So here's our question: Why couldn't have folks at the White House have waited until after Nov. 3 to throw Deeds under the bus? Today's Washington Post story, plus the earlier New York Times one on Paterson, doesn't look at all like the highly disciplined and discreet Team Obama we saw during the presidential campaign. Bottom line: There's no good for the White House to pile on Deeds; it seems like an unnecessary headache at this point. By the way, here's a tiny reminder to the White House: The reason both Corzine in NJ and Owens in NY-23 are showing no fear in using the president is that both Democrats only need DEMOCRATS to win their respective races, as both feature three-way dynamics, which make base turnout critical. Deeds doesn't have that luxury. 

*** The campaigner-in-chief: President Obama today continues to wear his campaign hat. Beginning at 2:00 pm ET, he hits two fundraising events in Boston for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D). Then he heads to Connecticut, where he does a fundraiser for Sen. Chris Dodd (D) at 6:45 pm. Before those fundraisers, the president delivers a speech at 12:30 pm at MIT on energy and climate change. By the way, Republicans who are running against Dodd have some activities tied to Obama's visit today. For starters, Linda McMahon (wife of WWE's Vince McMahon) is airing a TV ad in Connecticut. And Tom Foley is holding a press avail at 2:30 pm. Interestingly, both Patrick and Dodd may find themselves in a similar situation to Corzine's -- in need of the president simply to ratchet up Dem support. Patrick is facing a three-way race in 2010 (Dem-turned-indie plus a VERY solid Republican recruit), while Dodd is simply trying to get back disaffected Dems to his side.

*** Public option here we come -- or not: Here's a twist… Just as Harry Reid, per the New York Times, is now pushing for a public option (with a state opt-out), Politico is reporting that Nancy Pelosi does NOT have 218 votes in the House for a robust public option. Given the pressure Reid has received from progressives on the public option, we can understand why he's now trying to embrace the public option plan. But here's what has folks scratching their heads: Why did Senate Democrats devote so much time to trying to win over Olympia Snowe (and possibly Susan Collins) if they were later going to opt for legislation that she couldn't support? And here's a final thing that has to be frustrating the White House: The public option is STILL the central debate in health care, when according to estimates, it would attract just about 12 million Americans (about the size of Pennsylvania)?  and

*** Palin endorses Hoffman: Sarah Palin has stepped into the GOP civil war in NY-23 by endorsing conservative third-party candidate Doug Hoffman over the more moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava. On her Facebook page, Palin wrote, "[B]est of all, Doug Hoffman has not been anointed by any political machine. Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty. Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of 'blurring the lines' between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race." (Of course, Reagan also had that 11th Commandment: Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican.)

*** Can you spare some change? Here's a fun number… Since 2000, Jon Corzine and New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg have remarkably spent a combined $371.2 million on their campaigns. Bloomberg's total: $243.6 million ($74 million in 2001, $84.6 million in 2005, and $85 million SO FAR in 2009, a record for a municipal election). Corzine: $127.6 million ($65 million in 2000 for U.S. Senate, $40 million in 2005 for governor, and $22.6 million so far on his reelection this year -- he had promised to spend $40 million to $50 million on this race). By the way, the country of Bloomborzine, funded just by these campaign expenditures, would have the 213th largest GDP in the world -- between Tonga and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe. (Here's another comparison: In his 2009 race, former T-Mobile exec Joe Mallahan, a Democrat, has spent a Seattle mayoral record of his own money for the campaign, $230,000.)

*** Mrs. Popular: In our final look at women and politics as part of this week's NBC/MSNBC focus on women, First Read takes a look at First Lady Michelle Obama, who appears on Jay Leno's show tonight. The first lady has become a political asset for the White House, but that wasn't always the case. In Sept. 2008, in the thick of the general election, her fav/unfav in our NBC/WSJ poll was a pedestrian 40%-31%. But when we surveyed her again this April, it had grown to an impressive 64%-11%. In fact, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, she's now more popular than her husband is: his fav/unfav in the poll is 55%-42%; hers is 61%-25%. 

Countdown to Election Day 2009: 11 days
Countdown to MA Special Primary: 46 days
Countdown to MA Special Election: 88 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 375 days

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"The president's politicking on Friday begins in Cambridge, Mass., with a quick 'official' event at MIT to challenge the nation to lead the global economy in clean energy," the AP's Elliott writes. "That appearance significantly brings down the cost of flying the president to fundraisers designed to raise money for two politically anemic Democrats, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut." Obama's expected to bring in $1 million for Dodd.

The White House responded to Dick Cheney's charges of "dithering" on Afghanistan. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs called Cheney's shot "curious" since "the vice president was for seven years not focused on Afghanistan. "Even more curious," Gibbs went on, "given the fact that an increase in troops [for Afghanistan] sat on desks in this White House, including the vice president's, for more than eight months."

"The Senate has long been seen as opposed to the federal government selling health insurance in competition with private industry, but now senior Senate Democrats and White House officials are strongly considering including such a measure in health care overhaul legislation, officials say," the AP says. "The provision would permit individual states to drop out of the system, a design that could make it more palatable to moderates who have opposed the "public option."

But is the public option in trouble in the House? Politico: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi counted votes Thursday night and determined she could not pass a 'robust public option' — the most aggressive of the three forms of a public option House Democrats have been considering as part of a national overhaul of health care. Pelosi's decision—coupled with a significant turn of events yesterday during a private White House meeting—points to an increasingly likely compromise for a trigger option for a government plan."

"Rep. Paul Hodes (N.H.), who is in his second House term, and freshman Rep. Mike Quigley (Ill.) called on the House Oversight and Government Reform panel to initiate an investigation into Countrywide Financial's 'Friends of Angelo' VIP program and whether it was used to gain influence over federal officials. They made their case for the investigation in a letter to Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), the panel's chairman, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member."