NEW JERSEY: Barack Obama

vs. George Bush for governor of New Jersey? (Corzine wishes.) Not only is the vulnerable Corzine trying to align himself -- closely -- with the sitting president in this blue state, but he is also trying to tie his opponent Chris Christie to George W. Bush. Corzine released a new campaign ad, "Pioneer," which "highlights Christie's past as a fundraiser" for the past president. Bush

appointed Christie as a U.S. Attorney. 
 
VIRGINIA: As Creigh Deeds continues his nine-day tour through "Deeds Country" -- the nickname he's given a section of rural southwest Virginia -- one thing is clear: "it apparently isn't Obama Country." In many of the small towns Deeds is visiting, "Obama did not break 35 percent of the vote." Like the campaigns of Virginia Democrats like Tim Kaine and Jim Webb, Obama won Virginia "because he won big in the state's suburban areas." It's a delicate balance for Deeds. When he ran for governor, he underperformed Tim Kaine in Northern Virginia, and he needs the president -- who campaigns for him today -- to pump up turnout in the most populous part of the state. Deeds' rural Virginia strategy is a good way to "force Republican Bob McDonnell to spend resources in parts of the state he might have considered safe, according to the Deeds campaign.  
 
Just as Deeds

is trying to "deflect [McDonnell's] effort to portray him as a more liberal, national-style Democrat," McDonnell is "taking the Deeds tack" on whether he supports the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

"If McDonnell comes out for Sotomayor, he risks angering conservatives in his own party." But "Virginia has a fast-growing Hispanic population, especially in rich-vote Northern Virginia, so McDonnell is also hesitant" to flat-out oppose her nomination. 
 
Look out, the ol' Macker is back. Terry McAuliffe, who hasn't made much political news since losing to Creigh Deeds in the June 9 gubernatorial primary, sent out an e-mail to supporters yesterday "encouraging people to sign a Deeds petition calling on Republican Bob McDonnell to apologize for Virginia GOP chairman Pat Mullins' remark that some college students in Wise County 'preferred welfare to work.'" The next question: "Is McAuliffe making fundraising calls to his donors on Deeds' behalf?"

From NBC's Pete Williams

Former Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) has been found guilty at his bribery trial of 11 of the 16 counts against him -- but not guilty on the other five. He was found NOT GUILTY of the most spectacular charge: planning to bribe an African official with money that was later found in his freezer.

Video: Pete Williams reports on Jefferson's conviction.

*** UPDATE *** But the jury still found him guilty of conspiring to pay that bribe, so he stands convicted of one of the charges involving the freezer case.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Rep. Keith Ellison

(D-MN) is spending his August recess in Africa. He went to Kenya and spent today in Sudan. And how did we know about it? Leave it to Twitter.

Here are a sampling of his Tweets:

In prep for Sudan trip, met with US Envoy Scott Gration. He recommends removing Sudan from "state sponsor of terrorism" list. Thoughts?

Going to bed now. Tomorrow: Darfur. To talk with oppo leaders, relief workers, regular Darfurians.

Khartoum: Gov't officials said ICC indictment of Bashir is counter to Darfurian cause b/ weakens gov'ts ability to deliver services.

Khartoum: Walked out of 2d mtg & ran straight into Pres. Omar Bashir. He has been indicted by the Inter'l Crim. Ct. (ICC) for war crimes.

Khartoum: Had 3 mtgs, one w/ Sudan VP Ali Osman Taha. All argued sanctions & sponsor-of- terror list inappropriate. Talked Human Rights.

4 years ago #Sudan's gov't & SPLM (north & south) signed comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), ending Africa's longest civil war. 2M died.

From NBC's Matthew Samuels and Alex Beinstein
RNC Chairman Michael Steele

berated President Obama about the economy, health care and cap-and-trade in an afternoon conference call with reporters.

In response to the Obama administration's claims that it has rescued the economy from the brink, Steele said, "I quite frankly do not know what they have saved it from. …We're still losing jobs, seeing unemployment up throughout the country … 2.5 millions jobs lost since Obama entered office."

Steele insisted that the stock market has climbed of late -- in spite of the government's efforts.

"The stock market is speaking about the economy," Steele said. "No health care by July 31st, cap-and-trade imploding, markets are doing what they are supposed to do -- heal thyself. More and more people are looking at the market as the solution, not the government."

On health care, he rhetorically asked, "When you can't figure out the right prescriptions for the country, how can you literally prescribe the medicine?" He added, "Chaos will ensue if this health-care plan is passed. It's no way to run a country...The administration should slow this boat down, doc it, and listen to the American people."

He took a few shots at Obama on the foreign-policy front as well.

"I still don't understand Gitmo," Steele said. "There's no plan of action. We'll just put them in Kentucky, Illinois and North Carolina without asking their state leaders."

On North Korea: "I applaud the two women coming home, but there's more than meets the eye. We need to know more."

He didn't say what more needed to be known or what more there might be than meets the eye.

"Each 100 days get scarier and scarier," Steele said. "I'm even more scared for the next 100."

NBC Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd interviewed President Obama, as part of msnbc.com's Elkhart Project, from the factory floor where Obama spoke about awarding grants from the stimulus that would benefit Elkhart.

The president talks the economy -- in a place with almost 17% unemployment -- and whether or not he needs Republicans to pass health care.

Full video of the interview here.

From NBC's Athena Jones

WAKARUSA, Ind. -- President Obama returned to Elkhart County, where he made his first outside-the-beltway trip as president, to announce a grant program to help bring jobs to this struggling community and dozens like it.

The visit was meant to show how hard hit areas would benefit from stimulus funds, even as critics argue the massive $787 billion bill is not working.

The administration is using $2.4 billion in Recovery Act money to help fund 48 projects some two dozen states. The grants will help U.S.-based companies develop and manufacture advanced batteries and electric vehicles, which officials says will result in "tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs" and help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, an oft-stated goal of the president's.

Video: In an exclusive NBC News interview, President Barack Obama answers questions from NBC's Chuck Todd and msnbc.com readers in Indiana.

Obama told the crowd he understood their economic concerns and sought to explain what his administration was doing to help.

"I know these are tough times," he told an audience of some 250 factory workers and elected officials at the Monaco RV plant here in an area known as the RV capital of the world. Navistar International Corportation, which owns Monaco, will receive a $39 million grant to build electric trucks.

Video: Speaking in hard-hit Elkhart County, Ind., President Obama announces that the federal government will distribute $2.4 billion in taxpayer grants to create electric cars and recreational vehicles.

Although the economy contracted less than expected in the last quarter, the jobless rate nationwide reached a 26-year high of 9.5 percent in June. Matters are even worse in places like Elkhart, where unemployment has reached 16.8%. Obama noted as much in his speech, pointing out the jobless rate here went up 10 points in a year -- the second greatest increase in the unemployment rate in the country.

"This area has been hit with a perfect storm of economic troubles," he said. "Over the last few decades, you've borne the brunt of a steadily weakening of American manufacturing in the face of global competition. You've felt the impact of the struggles of American auto industry and the repercussions that have hit the Midwest especially hard."

The White House is sensitive to the complaints of everyday Americans who say the government has bailed out banks and auto companies but hasn't done enough for ordinary people. 

When asked during an interview with NBC after the event, whether it was fair to say the fortunes of this region and the president's own are "entwined" -- as an article on the front page of a local newspaper put it -- Obama said "absolutely."

The president was not the only one out hailing what he sees as economic progress today. Vice President Joe Biden, who yesterday rattled off a list of statistics to show the stimulus was doing what it set out to do, was in Detroit today to talk about the economy, highlighting grant money going to companies there. Other administration officials spread out across the country to do the same, with Energy Secretary Steven Chu traveling to Charlotte, N.C., EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson visiting St. Petersburg, Fla., and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke hitting Kansas City, Mo.

Indiana -- which went blue in November for the first time since 1964 -- and Michigan are the largest recipients on a dollar basis of the $2.4 billion, officials said. There are seven grant recipients in Indiana and eleven in Michigan.

The grants are aimed at establishing a domestic manufacturing industry able to produce the batteries and drive systems for the next generation of advanced vehicles here in the U.S.

The program provides $1.5 billion to companies to produce batteries and their components and to expand battery recycling capabilities, $500 million to manufacture electric drive components for vehicles including electric motors, power electronics and other components and $400 million grants to purchase and test thousands of plug in hybrid and all electric vehicles for test demonstrations in dozens of locations and to build electric charging infrastructure and to educate and train workers in electric transportation technology. The $2.4 billion investment will be coupled with another $2.4 billion in cost sharing from the award winners.

Under Recovery Act guidelines, 70 percent of the money must be spent by Sept. 30 of 2010 and 100 percent by Sept. 30 of 2011, though officials said some longer term research projects may not meet this standard.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier this year, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, couldn't catch a break.

Several GOP senators (including Kit Bond, Judd Gregg, Mel Martinez, and George Voinovich) announced they were retiring. Arlen Specter then switched parties. And the GOP was finding its standing at all-time lows in polls -- even after George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were no longer in office.

But today, Cornyn held a pen-and-briefing with political reporters to emphasize how things have turned around. Republicans have recruited top prospects (Charlie Crist in Florida, Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire, Mark Kirk in Illinois) to run for the Senate next year. Fundraising is up compared with a year ago. And President Obama's poll numbers are beginning to come back down to earth.

"Who would have even thought six months ago we would be where we are today," he said. "So I am optimistic" about 2010.

During the Q&A, Cornyn was asked if he would endorse John Ensign for re-election in 2012, especially if he continued to chair the NRSC in the '12 cycle. While noting that Ensign was going through a "tough time," he declined to answer the question. "I'm not going to comment on 2012."

Video: July 28: WashingtonPost.com's Chris Cillizza and Voto Latino's Maria Teresa Kumar discuss whether Republicans voting against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are courting rejection from Hispanic voters in the next election.

Cornyn also was defensive when asked if Senate Republicans were alienating Latinos by voting against Sonia Sotomayor. First, he said that Democrats didn't suffer a Latino backlash after they filibustered Court of Appeals nominee Miguel Estrada. Second, while Hispanics voted for Obama by a 2-to-1 margin in last year's presidential election, he noted that Hispanics are culturally conservative and have the chance to come back into the GOP fold.

And when asked about his reaction to the new DNC Web video criticizing conservative "mobs" at congressional town halls, Cornyn replied, "I think they are American citizens exercising their 1st Amendment rights." 

*** UPDATE *** Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz emails First Read: "The Republican strategy of stopping every effort to fix the economy, and stopping every effort to lower health care costs, shows that not only have they not learned any lessons from the past elections but also that they may be a little presumptuous to start singing happy days are here again."

Below are Cornyn's comments on the 2010 Senate contests…..

CONNECTICUT.
After saying words of encouragement about Chris Dodd's (D) early-stage prostate cancer, Cornyn said, "His poll numbers are miserable."

FLORIDA.
On Charlie Crist: "I'd like to clone his fundraising ability."

ILLINOIS.
Touted Mark Kirk's entry into the race, and noted how Obama and Rahm Emanuel were unable to convince their top candidate, Lisa Madigan, to run for Obama's old Senate seat. "She said, 'No thank you, Mr. President."

MISSOURI.
Said Roy Blunt (R) came back "like gangbusters" with his second-quarter fundraising, after a disappointing first quarter. Remarked that Robin Carnahan (D) "seems to be unheard of and nowhere to be found."

When asked whether Blunt being from DC would be a problem for the GOP in the race, Cornyn argued that Blunt is now running in an environment that no longer looks as friendly for the Democrats.

OHIO.
Cornyn said that Rob Portman "is the best candidate we could have hoped for."

NEVADA.
On the GOP's inability to find a candidate to run against Harry Reid. "One thing is certain: Harry Reid's poll numbers are abysmal." More: "I think we have time to find the right candidate," adding that money won't be a problem for the ultimate GOP candidate.

On Rep. Dean Heller (R): "We'd love to have him run... He could and would beat Harry Reid." But so far, they don't have a candidate.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Said state AG Ayotte "will be a great candidate." Argued that Paul Hodes (D) has voted with House Democratic leadership 96% of the time, and said those votes on spending could be problematic in New Hampshire.

Denied that a current Ayotte fundraiser the NRSC is sponsoring amounted to an endorsement of Ayotte. "I respect the right of people to select a candidate," he said. "We are glad to help her, and we are glad to help any candidate."

NORTH CAROLINA.
Proclaimed that Richard Burr (R), despite his sagging poll numbers, is already winning re-election by chasing away any challengers (so far).

NORTH DAKOTA.
Mentioned that he had a recent conversation with Gov. John Hoeven (R) to encourage him to run for the Senate. During the Q&A, Cornyn said Hoeven is listening to the NRSC's overtures, but there is no timetable or hints where he is leaning on the matter.

PENNSYLVANIA.
Noted how Pat Toomey (R) had erased a 20-point deficit against Specter (D) to a one-point deficit, according to one poll.

TEXAS.
Regarding Kay Bailey Hutchison's expected retirement to run for governor -- and the special election that would set off -- said he was "very confident that we will hold on to the Senate seat." But he admitted that a special election could make things more competitive for the Democrats, noting that a special election to replace LBJ in the Senate enabled Republican John Tower to win that seat in 1961. "I think a special election is a different animal," he said. "It does present opportunities for people who are better known" -- like, say, Houston Mayor Bill White (D).

But said that he, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Hutchison are all working together to keep the seat in GOP hands. 

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
As Hotline reports, Sen. Kit Bond

, who was previously undeclared, announced during the second hour of floor debate today that he would be supporting Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The retiring Bond becomes seventh Republican to come out in favor of Sotomayor. The others: Mel Martinez (FL, also retiring), Lamar Alexander (TN), Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Richard Lugar (IN).

Hotline notes that the others to watch as possible GOP crossovers: Murkowski, Voinovich, Gregg. Murkowski is set to speak tonight at 7:30.

Sotomayor, at this point, seems on track for 65 votes, subtracting out Kennedy and Byrd, who will likely not vote.

Bond, Hotline notes, said "he will support Sotomayor because he 'rejects' Pres. Obama's standard when he was in the Senate and opposed CJ John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito."

*** UPDATE *** Per NBC's Ken Strickland, Bond said at the end of his speech:

"The Senate has reviewed her nomination and has asked her its questions. There's been no significant finding against her. There's been no public uprising against her. I do not believe that the constitution tells me that I should refuse to support her merely because I disagree with her on some cases. I will support her; i'll be proud for her, the community she represents, and the American Dream she shows is possible. I will cast my vote in favor of the nomination of Judge Sotomayor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Back to Indiana: On Feb. 9, about a week before he signed the economic stimulus into law, Obama made his first trip outside of DC since becoming president, to Elkhart, IN, which bills itself as the "RV capital of the world." Today, he's headed back to Elkhart County (visiting Wakarusa), where he will deliver remarks on the economy and announce grants for the manufacture of electric vehicles and advanced batteries at 11:55 am ET. When he first traveled to Elkhart, the unemployment rate there was 15.3%; it's now 16.8% (although that has dropped from 18.9% in March). Previewing today's visit, the New York Times quotes an Elkhart resident, who says that Obama has "given to the car makers, the banks -- but what about the regular people? All I see around here is empty houses -- a ghost town."

Video:In an exclusive interview, President Barack Obama answers question from NBC's Chuck Todd and Indiana residents.

*** Obama's perception problem: That particular quote is similar to what we've seen in some polling: that the public has conflated the stimulus, bank bailout, and car bailout all into one deal, when they're actually very separate things. So the complaint is that the stimulus -- which gave most Americans tax relief, which gave money to states to keep workers employed, and which is financing transportation construction projects -- appears to be going to the HAVES (i.e., corporate America) and not to the HAVE NOTS. A Northern Virginia woman mentioned in a front-page Washington Post story expresses the same opinion: "Nothing's changed for the common guy. I feel like I've been punked." 

*** Elkhart's the new Peoria: So let's see today if Obama tries to explain to Elkhart residents -- and the nation -- how the common guy is going to benefit under the administration's policies. You've heard the line, "How is it playing in Peoria?" Well, Elkhart is this president's Peoria. How Elkhart goes, so goes the Obama presidency? By the way, one of us is interviewing Obama in Elkhart, asking him questions submitted by residents as part of MSNBC.com's Elkhart Project. 

*** Good news, bad news: Obama isn't the only administration official hitting the road today to talk about the economy. Vice President Biden

will be in Detroit; Commerce Secretary Gary Locke heads to Kansas City; and Energy Secretary Steven Chu hits Charlotte, NC. All of them have some real green shoots to talk about -- the economy no longer is in a free fall, last week's GDP numbers suggested that we're poised for a rebound, and "cash for clunkers" has given the car industry a shot in the arm. But as the New York Times notes, there's likely to be some bad news around the corner. "Data to be released on Friday are expected to show that unemployment, 9.5 percent in June, rose again in July, perhaps to more than 10 percent for the first time since 1983. For Americans, double-digit unemployment could be a psychological threshold with political ramifications for Mr. Obama." 

*** Reunited and it feels so good: The plane carrying Bill Clinton and the two American journalists who had been detained in North Korea has landed in California. Also attending the welcome event: Al Gore. So not only are the journalists reunited with their families, but Clinton and Gore are now reunited as well. Also, will all of this lead to something bigger with North Korea? Will this bring them to the multilateral talks?

Video: Rachel Maddow is joined by Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., to discuss the return of Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

*** 2005 vs. 2009: If you're a reporter who covered politics back in 2005, you know this pretty well: Brad Woodhouse and Americans United (funded by organized labor) helped defeat Bush's Social Security reform. They organized protests, ran TV ads, and held town halls to get members of Congress on the record on Social Security. All of which seems ironic now that Woodhouse -- the current communications director at Obama's DNC -- issued a statement yesterday denouncing the conservative "mobs" at Dem town halls. "Republicans and their allied groups … are inciting angry mobs of a small number of rabid right wing extremists funded by K Street lobbyists to disrupt thoughtful discussions about the future of health care in America taking place in congressional districts across the country," he said. And now the DNC has upped the ante, producing a Web video, entitled "Enough of the Mob," that conflates these protests with the so-called "birthers."

 

Video: WashingtonPost.com's Chris Cillizza and Politico's Jeanne Cummings discuss whether the recent town hall protests are the product of real, grassroots rage or are merely a political stunt orchestrated by the right.

*** Fired up, ready to go: A person who was involved in those anti-Social Security reform protests back in '05 tells First Read that they discouraged civil disobedience, frowned on arrests, and coached their people to stay on message. Indeed, these anti-Obama, anti-Dem protests do pose a potential risk for the GOP, especially as we see images of devil horns on a relatively popular congressman from liberal Austin, TX, Nazi "SS" references, and even protestors now joking about Chris Dodd's cancer. At the same time, however, these conservative protests at Dem town halls are suggesting an enthusiasm from Republicans that we haven't seen in years. To borrow a phrase from Obama, they're fired up and ready to go. By comparison, we're no longer seeing that from Democrats and liberals. Will that begin to change?

*** The Latino vote: With the Senate debating Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, it's worth pointing out how stable Obama's support among Latinos has been since becoming president -- even as his poll numbers are falling back to earth. In our Feb/March poll, Obama's approval among Latinos was at 67%; in April it was 76%; in June it was 71%, and July it was 66%. These percentages are consistent with the exit polls, which showed Obama getting 67% of the Latino vote. On the other hand, Republicans haven't made much progress with Latinos. In Feb./March, the GOP's fav/unfav among Hispanics was 25%-41%; in April it was 26%-50%; in June it was 29%-48%; and in July it was 20%-41%.

*** GOP watch: Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, holds a pen-and-pad briefing with reporters at 10:30 am ET to discuss the 2010 Senate races. And RNC Chairman Michael Steele holds a conference call at 2:40 pm to discuss Obama's first 200 days in office (the 200th day actually falls on Friday).

Countdown to Election Day 2009: 90 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 454 days

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The New York Times previews Obama's visit today to Elkhart County, IN. "If there are glimmers of economic improvement in the official statistics out there somewhere, it is hard to find them along the streets of this county, a place best known for making recreational vehicles and all their parts and pieces and where the rise in unemployment was among the sharpest in the nation the past year."

Video: President Barack Obama visited hard-hit Elkhart, Ind., in the midst of congressional debate over his stimulus proposal.

 "Venturing back to a region reeling in deep unemployment, President Barack Obama's latest mission in Indiana is to show that the costly stimulus plan he lobbied for is producing tangible help -- $2.4 billion in taxpayer grants to create electric cars and tens of thousands of jobs," the AP writes, adding, "His stop in Wakarusa, Ind., is part of a concerted economic campaign that also will see Vice President Joe Biden and four Cabinet secretaries holding events in five states. As Congress breaks for the summer, the public message war is on. Obama wants to persuade Americans that his economic agenda is working but also that it will take time to produce the number that people really want: more jobs."

The front-page centerpiece photo on the Boston Globe is President Clinton seated next to North Korea's Kim Jong Il with this headline: "Clinton wins pardons in N. Korea." The Globe called it "a dramatic 20-hour visit" for President Clinton. Some of the background: "About 10 days ago ... [Al] Gore, who cofounded Current TV, the San Francisco-based media company that employs Ling and Lee, called the former president to ask him to undertake the trip. Clinton agreed, as long as the Obama administration did not object.

Video: Two Americans held prisoner in North Korea were pardoned after former U.S. President Bill Clinton made an unannounced journey to meet with Kim Jong Il. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

The Los Angeles Times: "Contrary to North Korean claims, the official denied that Clinton had offered Kim an apology. He said the administration doesn't intend to ease up on the North Koreans now that they have released the journalists, but will continue trying to enforce United Nations sanctions imposed this spring after North Korean nuclear and missile tests. In contrast to the U.S. portrayal of the trip as a private mission, the North Koreans gave it the imprimatur of a state visit, issuing a formal photograph of Kim and Clinton seated side by side to mark the occasion." 

"President Barack Obama walked a careful line in arranging the release of two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea, sending former President Bill Clinton but keeping his distance to deflect GOP criticism," The Hill's Bolton reports. "A congressional source briefed on Clinton's negotiations told The Hill that the Obama administration asked Clinton to meet with Kim Jong-il after the North Korean leader rejected the administration's offer to send former Vice President Al Gore."

Video: President Obama says he is "extraordinarily relieved" that journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been freed by North Korea.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to NBC's Andrea Mitchell about her husband's mission while in Kenya. "Perhaps they [North Korea] will now be willing to start talking to us within the context of the six-party talks about the international desire to see them denuclearize," she said on "Today." Secretary Clinton also refuted a report by the government-owned North Korean news agency that President Clinton delivered an apology from Obama about the incident. "That is not true," Secretary Clinton said. "That did not occur."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says there will be a vote, and GOP Sen. Jim DeMint doesn't plan to block it.

Video: CNBC's Squawk box discusses proposed legislation that would pay car buyers up to $5,000 for trading in their old clunker and buying a new, fuel-efficient auto that was assembled in the U.S.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus now says there needs to be a deadline for health care. "'We need a deadline,' Baucus told Roll Call after a meeting between the Senate Democratic Conference and President Barack Obama at the White House. Baucus said the deadline would be 'around Sept. 15,' adding that he hoped Republicans would come around to the idea." 

Video: Health industry lobbyists have been disrupting town hall gatherings around America to prevent the spread of information about health care reform. Rachel Maddow is joined by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-TX.

This isn't going to help those moderate Democratic House members who voted for climate-change legislation... "With the fight over health care reform absorbing all the bandwidth on Capitol Hill, Democrats fear a major climate change bill may be left on the cutting-room floor this year. A handful of key senators on climate change are almost guaranteed to be tied up well into the fall on health care. Democrats from the Midwest and the South are resistant to a cap-and-trade proposal. And few if any Republicans are jumping in to help push a global warming and energy initiative." 
 

Video: Rep. Chris Van Hollen joins Countdown's Keith Olbermann to talk about health care negotiations in the House and how important a role bipartisanship will play in getting legislation passed.

House Democratic leaders have a strategy for countering protesters attempting to disrupt Members' town-hall meetings on health care over the August recess: Do nothing… House Democratic leaders are banking on the opposition buckling under its own weight and say their Members, even the most vulnerable, are ready for a partisan assault. ... Van Hollen predicted that the groups' more dramatic tactics -- which have included the display of Nazi signs, a hanging effigy of Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) and a tombstone bearing the name of Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) -- will 'backfire in a big way' because their aim is to keep citizens from having a conversation about health care." 
 
Hypocrisy watch? "Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies," Roll Call reports. "But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress. The Air Force had asked for one Gulfstream 550 jet (price tag: about $65 million) as part of an ongoing upgrade of its passenger air service."

"At least eight former staffers who worked for George W. Bush's

administration are running for office," The Hill's Wilson reports. "Even though President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney left the White House with poor approval ratings, aides who cut their teeth in their administration say the experience was invaluable. Still, it is also likely to hamper their electoral bids."

NEW JERSEY: Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie will unveil a "sweeping plan today to crack down on political corruption, including harsher penalties for officeholders charged with or convicted of crimes. Two weeks after one of the biggest FBI raids in the state, Christie's announcement today "marks a shift into politically fertile -- and volatile -- territory for Christie…Democrats and defense attorneys have long criticized Christie for letting politics guide his targets, a charge he denies." Right after the June 23rd arrests, "Christie said he could not view the allegations in a 'political context,'" although his campaign has a television ad playing up his anti-corruption creds.

Special-interest groups are "becoming more heavily invested in the New Jersey governor's race" by donating funds directly to the Republican and Democratic national governors associations: the NRA has given $90,000 to the RGA since December, and the NEA has given $200,000 to the DGA since March, according to CQ Moneyline. Unlike the national groups, which have no contribution limits, New Jersey's state party can accept "no more than $25,000…and a mere $300 if the donor has business with the state." In a year with only two gubernatorial races this fall" -- New Jersey and Virginia -- "donors have some assurance that a contribution to the national governor's association would be spent in New Jersey." Campaign finance laws are less strict in Virginia, "making it easier for individuals and organizations to give directly to a candidate." 
 
VIRGINIA: Citing a recent poll, Politico's Ben Smith remarks on the disparity of voter intensity between Virginia Democrats and Republicans with regard to the upcoming gubernatorial election. Smith notes that "more McCain voters are rallying to [Republican candidate] McDonnell than Obama voters are to Deeds." He lists some of Virginia Democrat's recent substantial successes: "not only have they won consecutive governor's races, captured both Senate seats... but they ended a 44-year streak of giving their electoral votes to Republicans." In the descent from that electoral high, "getting pumped for yet another governor's race--every four years--isn't easy."

From NBC's Matthew Samuels
Not in my backyard. That was the message from Kansas and Michigan Republicans about the possibility of Guantanamo inmates moving to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas or the Standish state prison in northeastern Michigan.

"Leavenworth is not suitable for the 100 most dangerous terrorists in the world," Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) said on a conference call with reporters, hosted by the Republican National Committee. "Not in Kansas, not in my backyard.

"I am going to do everything I can to block this, even if it means shutting down the Senate."

Standish is in Michigan's first congressional district, represented by Democrat Bart Stupak. But Mike Rogers, who represents Michigan's eighth congressional district, expressed his outrage on the call for the possibility of moving the inmates to his state.

"These are people who are highly trained and motivated to commit jihad and murder," Rogers said. "No amount of money can be thrown at these states that will make this safe and acceptable.

He continued, "Come to Michigan, the state that holds the world's most dangerous terrorists; this is not a great selling point."

"It is not a shock to me that even the Saudis would say absolutely not; we don't want them," Rogers said of Saudi Arabia declining to take inmates.

Both Roberts and Rogers did, however, speak of their willingness to help President Obama find an alternative option -- just not in their backyards.

"I hope that President Obama will sit down and work on this with us," Roberts said.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted that the Senate will vote on the "cash for Clunkers" funding bill before the end of the week. "What I anticipate is that it will be completed before the end of the week," he said at his weekly press avail.

McConnell explained that part of an agreement to move to a final vote on the bill would allow Republicans to offer amendments. "There are a series of amendments that I think our members think would improve the proposal," he said. But passage of an amendment would make the Senate bill different from the House bill -- and that's the potential problem.

Why? Well, open your "U.S. Government" text books here:

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In order for bill to become law, the Senate and the House have to pass the exact same bill -- not a word can be different. The House has already passed its bill and adjourned for the summer. If the Senate passes a different bill, the House would either have to come back off recess to pass it (which is unlikely) or wait until after recess to pass it in September.

Senate Democrats will need to defeat all Republican amendments in order to get the $2 billion out the door fast. A Republican aide suggested the Democratic line against passing amendments would go something like this: "Let's not pass the amendment because it will delay the money. We'd be happy to address it after recess."

From NBC's Danielle Weisberg
Today on "Andrea Mitchell Reports," White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod

commented on a private strategy memo he wrote days before Barack Obama decided to run for president. In the memo, Axelrod called into question some of his candidates' character traits and their adaptability to political success.
 
Despite his early concerns, Axelrod told NBC's Savannah Guthrie this afternoon (who was filling in for Mitchell), "At the end of the campaign, my questions were answered."
 
Axelrod initially questioned Obama's ability to take criticism, as Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson detail in their new book, The Battle for America 2008. "It goes to your willingness and ability to put up with something you have never experienced on a sustained basis: criticism... I don't know if you are Muhammad Ali or Floyd Patterson when it comes to taking a punch. You care far too much what is written and said about you."
 
Another quality Axelrod questioned was that of strength -- which he believed would be a deciding factor between Obama and Hillary Clinton in order to get a way from the issue of inexperience. "But the campaign itself also is a proving ground for strength," Axelrod said in his memo.
 
Today, speaking retrospectively, Axelrod came back to the theme of strength. "It was a revelation to see him dealing with the pressures of the campaign... It was a great proving ground. I learned a lot about him and I think he may have learned about himself," Axelrod said.
 
Balz and Johnson raise an interesting point as they contrast Axelrod's correct judgment that the campaign would be a showcase for Obama to demonstrate strength with his current demands. "Now, as Obama grapples with the huge demands of his presidency, the question is whether the experience of the campaign provides a reliable indicator of his performance as chief executive."

From NBC's Ken Strickland and Kelly O'Donnell
Senate Democrats today reaffirmed their commitment to passing comprehensive health-care reform, calling the process "dynamic," welcoming all interested parties to participate in the process (doctors, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, etc) but stressing their determination to pass legislation, because, as Sen. Baucus repeatedly said, "It's the right thing to do."

Sen. Baucus called their lunch meeting with the president "enthusiastic," "comforting," and a "warm affirmation" that healthcare reform is "so necessary," and pledged to work together with Republicans to get it done "this year."

Video: USA TODAY's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page reacts to the health care message wars during the August recess.

Sen. Reid also pledged to approve funding for the Cash for Clunkers program before the August recess. He also stressed the efforts still being made on healthcare reform, saying (rough) "there isnt a day that goes by that I dont talk to several people in the White House about healthcare reform...."

NBC News has obtained a copy of the letter from secretaries LaHood and Chu to senators today on the CARS/"Cash for Clunkers" program. They urge support for more funding. 

Full letter below:

Dear Senator:

Among the efforts undertaken this year to spur economic recovery, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program has been one of those that has delivered an immediate result. Consumers have been able to trade in their older cars for new, more efficient models under this program as of July 1, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began accepting applications for the rebates from car dealers beginning on Monday, July 27.

This extraordinarily popular program is helping to revive our economy. The $1 billion originally provided was expected to last for four months. But in the week since DOT began accepting applications, dealers have submitted requests for nearly half of the available funds, and we believe a large number of applications is still awaiting submission by the dealers. Absent additional appropriations, this program will have to be suspended shortly owing to the overwhelming demand. Such a suspension would be a blow to our economy, to the environment, and to Americans' confidence in the emerging recovery.

We would like to share with you some of the benefits this program is producing. (The figures in this letter are based on submissions received from dealers as of the afternoon of Saturday, August 1. As new transactions come in these figures will be updated.)

- The CARS program is generating a 61 percent increase in vehicle fuel economy. The average fuel economy of new vehicles purchased under the CARS program is 25.4 MPG, and the average fuel economy of vehicles traded in is 15.8 MPG. This is a fuel economy increase of 9.6 MPG -- a 61 percent improvement. This far exceeds the law's requirement for a minimum increase of 2 MPG for trucks and 4 MPG for cars.

- This improvement will save the typical buyer $700 to $1,000 per year in fuel costs. In addition to the money saved on gas, people using the program will have safer cars and lower repair costs, and they will dramatically reduce the pollution released by their vehicles.

- To date, 83 percent of trade-ins are trucks and 60 percent of new vehicles are cars. The program is working far better than anyone anticipated in moving consumers out of older trucks and SUVs with poor gas mileage into new more fuel-efficient cars.

- New cars under the program are 18 percent more fuel efficient than the average
new car currently available. This means the program is raising the average fuel
economy of the fleet, while removing the dirtiest and most polluting vehicles from the road.

- Nearly half of new vehicles purchased under the program are from the Big Three. The Big Three's share in this program (47 percent) is above their overall share in the U.S. auto market (about 45 percent). The Ford Focus is the top selling vehicle in the program. Four of the top ten selling vehicles are manufactured by the Big Three. Of non-Big Three purchases, preliminary analysis suggests that well over half of these new vehicles were manufactured in the United States.

In response to the overwhelming popularity of the program, DOT is working closely with dealers to improve the processing of transactions to ensure that money flows quickly to dealers while preventing fraud and abuse.

- The DOT has made modifications to its online system to streamline the transaction process and speed up processing times on vouchers.

- The DOT hosted its third Webinar today, August 3, to help explain the application process to thousands of dealers across the country.

- The DOT has more than doubled the number of staff reviewing transactions in the past few days and is prepared to take whatever additional steps are necessary to ensure the program works smoothly.

As you know, last Friday the House of Representatives passed legislation providing $2 billion to extend this program. This bill would not increase the deficit; it is funded by reprogramming dollars from elsewhere in the Recovery Act.

The CARS program is an important element of our economic recovery and is consistent with the Administration's overall energy policy. We hope you will support $2 billion in additional funding for this program.

If you would like more information, we would be happy to answer your questions or arrange a briefing with the members of our staff.

Sincerely,
Ray LaHood
Lisa P. Jackson Steven Chu
Secretary Administrator Secretary
U.S. Department of U.S. Environmental U.S. Department of Energy
Transportation Protection Agency

From NBC's Mark Murray
Beginning Thursday, the conservative Club for Growth says it will launch a $1.2 million TV-ad campaign blasting "government-run health care" in Nevada (targeting Harry Reid), Colorado (Michael Bennet, Mark Udall), Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor), and North Dakota (Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan).

The crux of the ad's message draws upon the conservative argument that government-run health care will impact decisions about life and death. "Life and death medical decisions should be made by patients and doctors, not politicians and bureaucrats."

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From NBC's Athena Jones

As you might have heard, President Obama turns 48 today.

But according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Obama celebrated it over the weekend with family and friends at Camp David.

Friends from Hawaii and Chicago joined the Obama family at the retreat. They played basketball, they bowled, and they played pool.

Gibbs said, "I think he had a lot of fun over the weekend, despite some people not believing he bowled a 144."

(You may remember that then-Sen. Obama didn't have a resounding success when he bowled leading up to the Pennsylvania primary.)

*** UPDATE *** In other birthday news... Obama came into the briefing room at about 2:05 pm ET to delivers cupcakes to veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas, who turned 89 today.

Obama, who posed for a picture with Thomas, said he would leave it up to her how she wants to distribute the cupcakes

From NBC's Mark Murray
With the Senate beginning its debate on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination today, it's worth pointing out how stable Obama's support among Latinos has been since he became president -- even with his poll numbers falling back to earth.

In the Feb.-March NBC/WSJ poll, Obama's approval among Latinos was at 67%; in April it was 76%; in June it was 71%, and July it was 66%. These percentages are consistent with the exit polls from November, which showed Obama getting 67% of the Latino vote.

Video: Chris Simcox, founder of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, is challenging Sen. John McCain in next year's senatorial primary. He joins a Morning Meeting panel to discuss the politics behind Sen. McCain's refusal to support Sonia Sotomayor.

On the other hand, Republicans haven't made much progress with Latinos. In Feb.-March, the GOP's fav/unfav among Hispanics was 25%-41%; in April it was 26%-50%; in June it was 29%-48%; and in July it was 20%-41%.

Journalist Tom Edsall, writing for the Huffington Post, notes that the Republican Party's grievances against the Obama administration are having an effect with white Americans -- Obama's approval with this group has dropped from 54% in Feb.-March to 46% now in the NBC/WSJ poll -- but not with Hispanics or African Americans.

"It's all very reminiscent of the party's notorious Southern Strategy, which carried the GOP for decades," Edsall says. "But that strategy backfired spectacularly in the 2006 and 2008 elections, and there's no reason to think it will work any better in 2010 -- especially given the ever-growing importance of the minority electorate."

More: "In this respect, even if the GOP picks up a few House and Senate seats in 2010, many of the party's top analysts believe that it will remain mired in minority status through 2012 and beyond. Other analysts say it may even decline to the level of a minor regional party, with its only real strength in the South."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Drudge vs. Obama: We know we don't have to remind our friends in the media and those who follow American politics this simple fact: Matt Drudge isn't a fan of Obama. But his site's coverage of Obama has become even more negative as the president's poll numbers have declined. The latest example came yesterday, when Drudge hyped a sliced-up video (via conservative friend Andrew Breitbart) that savaged Obama on health care. The video purportedly showed Obama advocating the elimination of private health insurance, although the full transcript of that March 2007 event suggested no such thing. While the Obama administration has been hesitant to directly push back against Drudge, it made an exception yesterday with its own Web video on health care, starring its health-care spox, Linda Douglas. By the way, for those who love to complain about a liberal media, explain Drudge and its impact…

Video: NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports on Former President Bill Clinton's surprise trip to North Korea.

*** The roving ambassador: The breaking news overnight was that Bill Clinton has landed in North Korea to help release the two American journalists held there. As the Washington Post writes, "Former president Bill Clinton landed in North Korea on Tuesday on an unannounced mission to negotiate the release of two American journalists, marking his first diplomatic mission abroad for the Obama administration in a case that has deeply concerned his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued this statement: "While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment. We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission." What to watch for: Bill isn't shy, so does that mean he'll try a little freelance diplomacy? Or has he been authorized to freelance? The diplomatic palace intrigue, especially considering how the North Koreans love to pomp and circumstance up visiting dignitaries, will keep Clintonologists busy for weeks.

Video: U.S. Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood joins Hardball's Chris Matthews to explain why the Obama administration's "Cash for Clunkers" program's unexpected success is evidence that additional funding should be provided to keep the program alive.

*** A slam clunk? Majority Leader Harry Reid could try to pass the legislation pumping an additional $2 billion into the "cash for clunkers" program as soon as today, NBC's Ken Strickland reports. But Republicans senators are in the driver's seat over whether the program gets the money it needs to continue. An objection from a single member, Strick adds, could force Reid to delay the Senate's August recess, or force the "clunkers" vote into September. GOP Sen. Jim DeMint says he hasn't decided if he'll delay action, but his tone yesterday suggested otherwise. DeMint described the program as "mass chaos" after hearing complaints from home state car dealers. Other Republicans are against it ideologically; they consider it another bailout where the government gets to pick the winners and losers. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham was on TODAY saying he supports the program. Obama will discuss "clunkers" and health care when he lunches with all Democratic senators later today -- which just happens to be his 48th birthday. Also at today's lunch, will conservative Dems like Ben Nelson complain to the president about the pressure they're receiving from the left on health care?

*** Primary colors: Just how focused is John McCain

on the primary challenge he's expected to get next year from Minuteman founder Chris Simcox? Enough, it seems, that he voted against Kathleen Sebelius back in April (when Republicans were criticizing her record on abortion). And yesterday, he announced his intention to vote against Sonia Sotomayor (arguing that she's a judicial activist). McCain now joins veteran GOP senators Orrin Hatch and Chuck Grassley who are voting against their first Supreme Court nominee, ever. All three had voted to confirm Breyer and Ginsburg. So why the change? There are a number of reasons, including that Obama and Clinton politicized Roberts and Alito, that the NRA decided to score the Sotomayor vote, and that the GOP primary electorate -- in, say, Arizona -- may treat Sotomayor as a litmus test. Still, McCain's no votes on Sebelius and Sotomayor appear to be head-scratchers to many in Washington, since he preaches bipartisanship and the idea of giving deference to a president.

*** Then and now: Speaking of, here's a line from a speech McCain delivered last year, per NBC's Chris Donovan: "When President Bill Clinton nominated Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsberg to serve on the high court, I voted for their confirmation, as did all but a few of my fellow Republicans. Why? For the simple reason that the nominees were qualified, and it would have been petty, and partisan, and disingenuous to insist otherwise. Those nominees represented the considered judgment of the president of the United States. And under our Constitution, it is the president's call to make… It is part of the discipline of democracy to respect the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government, and, above all, to respect the verdicts of elections and judgment of the people. Had we forgotten this in the Senate, we would have been guilty of the very thing that many federal judges do when they overreach, and usurp power, and betray their trust."

*** PhRMA and Obama: There has been very little reporting on what, exactly, various stakeholders have gotten in return for cutting health-care deals with the White House. Today, the L.A. Times delves into the deal the White House cut with PHRMA and its head, former Dem/GOP Rep. Billy Tauzin. The deal, apparently: "Tauzin said he had not only received the White House pledge to forswear Medicare drug price bargaining, but also a separate promise not to pursue another proposal Obama supported during the campaign: importing cheaper drugs from Canada or Europe. Both proposals could cost the industry billions, undermine its ability to develop new cures and, in the case of imports, possibly compromise safety, industry officials contend."  Question: Would candidate Obama, circa 2008, attack a President Obama for taking off the table the Canada drug import issue?

*** Craig in trouble? Is White House Counsel Greg Craig's job in jeopardy? That's what the Wall Street Journal says. (Note that Craig represented Bill Clinton during the impeachment proceedings, but was a key foreign policy aide to Obama during the presidential campaign.) "Obama administration officials are holding discussions that could result in White House counsel Gregory Craig leaving his post, following a rocky tenure, people familiar with the matter said." However, the article doesn't really offer a reason why he would be ushered out, the White House is pushing back HARD on this rumor, and the piece really doesn't seem to characterize its sourcing.

*** Specter vs. Sestak: Joe Sestak will make his primary challenge against Sen. Arlen Specter official today, setting up one of the best primary races for next year's midterms. Sestak already kicked things off at 8:30 am ET in Folsom, PA. He then holds an events in Pittsburgh (at 1:30 pm) and Johnston (5:00 pm), and he will also appear on MSNBC's "Hardball." 

*** The more things change, the more they stay the same…: One of us yesterday penned a piece about how Obama, who campaigned on changing the ways of Washington, has continued one its oldest traditions: rewarding top fundraisers with plum overseas posts. That this is still happening -- even after a campaign in which Barack Obama raised so much money from small donors -- suggests just how dominant money (and the people who can raise it) is in American politics. "As long as there have been big campaign contributions, big fundraisers have gotten plum assignments," said Georgetown professor Clyde Wilcox, who studies campaign finance. He added, "Even during the Lincoln presidency, people who marshaled together political machines needed to be accommodated… Rewarding your political supporters is as old as the republic." 

*** Do we need these posts anymore? Of course, this begs the question: Do these positions matter anymore? Should the American taxpayer pay for pricey residences in far-off lands that are far from danger zones? Most foreign policy observers say that, yes, they do matter, because removing these posts would reduce access to key leaders and be seen as a "slap in the face" to other countries. What's more, you never know when -- or where -- a crisis could happen. Still, they say, they wish the practice would change.

*** 2009 watch: As a new poll (Monmouth University/Gannett) shows Chris Christie with a 14-point lead in the race for New Jersey governor, the Corzine campaign has launched a TV ad featuring Obama from his campaign stop last month. (Hat tip: Cillizza.) 

Countdown to Election Day 2009: 91 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 455 days

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The New York Times front-pages, "The fate of the 'cash for clunkers' program remained uncertain on Monday even as sales figures from automakers demonstrated that people had flocked to dealers to trade in old gas guzzlers. The White House urged the Senate to add $2 billion to the program, as the House voted to do last Friday before leaving for its August recess. Still, dealers around the country stopped promising the rebates to car shoppers on Monday, because of uncertainty about how much of the $1 billion initially allocated had been used up, or when or whether more money would be available. The Senate begins its recess this Friday."

Video: Why are Congressmen on both sides of the aisle opposed to extending the Cash for Clunkers program? Rachel Maddow is joined by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH.

The AP: "Senate discussions are expected to continue Tuesday after the Obama administration and backers of the 'cash for clunkers' program picked up support from three lawmakers who wanted the program limited to the purchase of even more fuel-efficient vehicles."

Turning to the economy… "In public appearances this week, President Obama will attempt to regain the initiative on the economy after what one senior administration official called several 'rocky' weeks of declining support for the president and his major policy efforts," the Washington Post says. "He and his Cabinet advisers will fan out across several swing states to declare that the recovery has moved from the rescue stage to rebuilding, even though unemployment continues to increase."

Health care: L.A. Times uncovers just what the Obama admin promised the pharmaceutical industry in return for their support. "For his part, [PHRMA head Billy] Tauzin said he had not only received the White House pledge to forswear Medicare drug price bargaining, but also a separate promise not to pursue another proposal Obama supported during the campaign: importing cheaper drugs from Canada or Europe. Both proposals could cost the industry billions, undermine its ability to develop new cures and, in the case of imports, possibly compromise safety, industry officials contend."

Video: President Barack Obama's spokesman said Monday that the president remains fully committed to his campaign promise not to raise taxes on the middle class to help pay for health care reform. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

The fallout from Geithner and Summers' comments on middle-class taxes "reminded White House political aides that breaking the president's promise not to raise the middle class tax burden would be blow to his re-election chances in 2012 and would prove noxious to his party in the 2010 midterm elections," the AP's Elliott writes.

Video: Apparently the new conservative talking point is to push a "town hall gone wild" strategy. Do they really think this is going to get legislators to vote against the health care reform bill? Rachel Maddow is joined by MSNBC political analyst Eugene Robinson.

The New York Times writes about conservatives' rowdy protests at congressional town hall meetings -- organized by the same folks who brought you those tea parties. "The protests, organized by loose-knit coalition of conservative voters and advocacy groups, were a raucous start to what is expected to be weeks of political and ideological clashes over the health care overhaul President Obama is trying to push through Congress. The conservative groups, including FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity, are harnessing social networking Web sites to organize their supporters in much the same way Mr. Obama did during his election campaign. Democrats said they expected supporters of the health care overhaul to mobilize against Republican events later in the month."

The Hill: "Lobbyists and special interests spent more than a million dollars during the first six months of 2009 honoring a man who is no fan of K Street: President Barack Obama. Corporate sponsorship paid for Inaugural festivities as well as events after Obama took office. For example, Ford Motor Co. spent $105,000 to help sponsor the NAACP's annual convention last month, at which Obama spoke. Michelle Obama spoke at a March lunch that was sponsored by several companies. The Congressional Club took donations of $27,500 from Lockheed Martin, a major defense contractor, among others, for the event."

Senate debate begins today on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, the L.A. Times writes. "[W]ith the outcome assured, the only remaining questions are whether the National Rifle Assn. can claim to have swayed votes against her and whether President Obama can claim a victory for bipartisanship."

The AP adds, "Republicans have lined up almost solidly against President Barack Obama's nominee, taking what strategists in both parties call a steep political risk in opposing Sotomayor, although a handful of GOP senators are siding with Democrats to support her."

Video: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, previews the Senate vote on the appointment of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

According to Roll Call, "Anyone looking for high drama or a nail-biter of a vote will likely be disappointed, as the outcome is all but guaranteed." Kennedy and Byrd are not expected to vote Thursday on her confirmation, which leaves 58 Democrats for her. And six Republicans for her (Graham, Alexander, Lugar, Snowe, Collins, Martinez). That would give 64 votes. The paper wonders if the Alaska senators might go the opposite way of their respective parties. "[T]he only major question marks on the final tally come from Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Mark Begich (D). Murkowski, vice chairwoman of the Republican Policy Committee, has often charted an independent course from her party, and she could join Alexander as the only members of the GOP hierarchy to back Sotomayor's nomination. Begich, meanwhile, is one of a handful of Democratic moderates whom conservatives and the National Rifle Association have targeted as possible converts in the waning days of the confirmation process."

The PMA bubble. Roll Call notes that the ethics committee looking into PMA contributions and Democrats involved is moving slowly and secretively. "It is not known whether the ethics panel is examining a small group of senior Democratic appropriators who received significant campaign contributions from PMA or the potentially larger pool of Members who designated earmarks for PMA clients or received campaign funds from those sources. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.) and panel members Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.) and Jim Moran (D-Va.) received about $4.8 million in campaign contributions over the past decade from PMA and its clients. The lawmakers helped those clients secure tens of millions of dollars in targeted projects during that period.
 
More: "Other lawmakers who have received notable contributions from PMA, including Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Christopher Carney (D-Pa.), also did not return calls seeking comment. Aides to Rep. Norm Dicks (Wash.), the third-ranking Democrat on the Appropriations panel, and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) said Monday that their offices had not been contacted to date by the ethics panel." Could this bubble burst for Democrats in 2010 and cost them several seats, a la Abramoff in 2006 for the Republicans?

Sarah Palin received a slew of honorary gun memberships while addressing the NRA in Anchorage, so reports the NRA on its blog.

The National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a hit list of 70 seats it hopes to challenge in. Last week, Chairman Pete Sessions said he'd like to get that number up to 80. Republicans are down 79 seats in the U.S. House and would need a pick up of 41 to regain a majority this cycle.

COLORADO: Former GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez appears to be leaning toward running for Senate against Dem appointee Michael Bennet.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: "While national Republicans are quickly falling in line behind former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, several local party activists said they are still unsure what kind of candidate she will be in the Granite State's 2010 Senate race," Roll Call writes. "Although most Republicans only had kind words to say about the telegenic Ayotte, even her supporters had a hard time describing her political leanings. Meanwhile, several other Republicans are considering running for the Senate and could force a divisive primary that wouldn't be decided until just a few months before the winner will face the likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Paul Hodes."

"The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not endorsed anyone in New Hampshire, but they are making little secret of which candidate they want to win the nomination," The Hill adds. "… Ayotte (R), who resigned last month in order to explore a race, will benefit from a fundraiser at NRSC headquarters on Sept. 22, according to an invitation for the event."

NEW JERSEY: New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie is now 14 percentage points (50%-36) ahead of Democratic Governor Jon Corzine in the New Jersey gubernatorial race, according to a new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll.

PENNSYLVANIA: Rep. Joe Sestak is announcing his long-shot bid for Senate today at a VFW hall. He then heads "across the Keystone State to Pittsburgh, Scranton and Harrisburg before finishing the day with an appearance on 'The Colbert Report.'"

Video: Politico's Jonathan Martin and MSNBC political analyst Michael Smerconish discuss the competition converted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania will face in both Republican challenger Pat Toomey as well Democrat Joe Sestak.

"Both candidates will be extremely well-funded in what could prove the most costly primary of 2010. Through June 30, Specter had $7.56 million in the bank, while Sestak had accumulated $4.26 million. The potential for a primary has motivated several prominent Keystone Democrats to show early support for Specter. On Monday, Specter rolled out 20 new names of Democratic elected officials who would serve on his advisory committee."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
It appears that one of the hurdles for the Senate to extend the Cash for Clunkers program has been removed. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins had previously expressed concerned that the program wasn't strong enough on promoting fuel efficiency.

Video: The government's cash for clunkers program gives July auto sales a boost amid doubts about whether it will continue beyond this week. CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports.

But concerns have been eased after being briefed by the White House on the program's preliminary data, according to a senate aide. The senators are holding a news conference at 5:00 pm ET today in the Senate studio.

The remaining hurdle appears to be on the Republican side of the aisle where some feel the program is just another government bailout. Their objections would likely cause a procedural slowdown, delaying a vote until after the recess in September.