The Washington Post previews Obama campaigning today for freshman Rep. Tom Perriello (D). “In a national election that is almost certain to be seen as a repudiation of the president and his party's policies, Obama would like nothing more than to point to Perriello as a Democrat who succeeded - not in spite of his party and his voting record, but because he championed them. Both Democratic and Republican polls show Perriello narrowly trailing Republican Robert Hurt. Perhaps for all those reasons, Obama will travel to Charlottesville on Friday to stump with Perriello, making him the only House member in the country to be bestowed with his own presidential rally this fall.”

POLITICO's Ben Smith reports tonight that former President Bill Clinton, a longtime ally of Florida Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, got close to convincing the Democratic candidate to drop out of the three-way race in the face of flagging poll numbers.

Meek's exit could have paved the way for a victory by independent candidate Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist and Meek have split the votes of Democratic-leaning voters, allowing conservative Republican Marco Rubio a comfortable first-place lead. A recent poll showed Meek with just 15 percent of the vote.

Smith reports that Clinton almost succeeded. Twice.

Clinton campaigned with Meek in Florida on Oct. 19 and 20, and thought he had won Meek over in an evening conversation the night they spent together in Jacksonville. But as the week wore on, Meek lost his enthusiasm for the arrangement, spurred in part, a third Democratic source said, by his wife’s belief that he could still win the race. Clinton spoke with Meek again at week’s end, three Democrats said, and again Meek said he would drop out.

“It was a completely done deal,” one source said.

The Crist, Meek and Clinton camps even set a date for an endorsement rally: the following Tuesday, Oct. 26.

But Meek changed his mind again last weekend, writes Smith.

From NBC's Alison Bruno and Alexandra Moe
In addition to his highly anticipated interview with Jon Stewart, President Obama yesterday held another interview that went practically unnoticed: his first-ever sit-down with progressive bloggers.

The bloggers who met with the president at the White House included AMERICAblog’s Joe Sudbay; Eschaton’s Duncan Black ("Atrios"); Barbara Morrill of DailyKos; Crooks and Liars editor Jon Amato; and Oliver Willis, who runs his eponymous site.

Sudbay focused his question on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and gay marriage. “As you say, I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage,” President Obama said when asked about his stance on same-sex marriage by Sudbay. “But,” Obama continued, “I also think you’re right that attitudes evolve, including mine. And I think that it is an issue that I wrestle with and think about because I have a whole host of friends who are in gay partnerships.”

Atrios is still processing what took place during the almost hour-long interview, he wrote for Eschaton. But he did offer a short impression on one of the president’s answers regarding spending. “This is a nice fantasy of a world of responsible politicians where the priorities of today remain the priorities of tomorrow,” Atrios said in response to Obama’s desire to boost spending in the short term but cut it down medium and long term.

Oliver Willis asked questions on crossing the aisle to work with Republicans and Obama’s status as a progressive. While Obama called himself “stubborn,” he said he would work to find any sort of common ground on an “issue by issue basis.” “I don’t give up just because I didn’t get cooperation on this issue; I’ll try the next issue,” Obama said.

As for being called “progressive," Obama quickly dismissed being labeled, but said that he did see himself as progressive, in that he believes in “that essential American Dream that everybody gets a chance to make it if they’re willing to work hard.”

Willis wrote on his blog that he was impressed by Obama’s ability to “give complex answers off the top of his head, working through his thinking in a clear and cogent manner.” He said Obama balanced being serious and being relaxed, “treating important questions with the gravity required but not afraid to crack a joke or two.”

Question: If the Rand Pauls, Ken Bucks, Joe Millers, and Sharron Angles make it to the Senate, for whom will they cause more problems -- the Obama White House or Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell?

NBC's Ken Strickland reports that McConnell and Senate Republicans are already thinking about ways how they can work hand in hand with the Tea Party class.

Key to McConnell’s success, added a former GOP leadership aide, will be to harness and channel the Tea Party agenda “in a way that’s productive rather than destructive or harmful to Senate Republicans or the country in general.”

[snip]

McConnell's strategy could include offering new members coveted slots on committees that serve their constituents’ interests, Republicans said. GOP leaders could also encourage new members to take a leading role in introducing legislation that addresses one of their campaign agenda items, but in a more scaled-back way.

For example, instead of trying to pass a bill that would eliminate the Department of Education — a much-discussed ideal in Tea Party circles but an almost impossibly unpopular one in practice — old hands in the Senate could help the newcomers draft legislation that makes dramatic reductions to its programs, something that might attract conservative Democratic support.

“You have to go out of your way to assimilate people and give them roles,” the GOP strategist said.

From NBC's Alexandra Moe
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has spent more than $60 million of his own money during his run for governor of Florida, reports show.

Scott has personally contributed $48.8 million with his wife's trust adding an additional $11.3 million, bringing the grand total to $60.1 million.

The Naples businessman -- who claims a net worth of $219 million -- spent $50.2 million of his personal funds just on his primary bid alone.

Since the primary, Scott has used $9.9 million of his personal fortune. His Democratic opponent Alex Sink's campaign spent at least $8.6 million since she began her bid for governor in early 2009.

Scott has raised $1.1 million, plus an additional $3 million of in-kind donations most coming from the Republican Party of Florida, since the start of October.

Campaign finance figures for the week ending Oct. 15, show that Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott spent $3.9 million in his bid to succeed Gov. Charlie Crist. The Naples businessman added another $3.6 million of his personal fortune to his campaign fund, increasing to more than $60 million the money he and his wife have pumped into his largely self-funded campaign.

Read more from The Miami Herald

Obama defends his record on “The Daily Show”… Adds that progress comes “inch by inch, day by day”… President also gives shout-outs to three vulnerable Dems: Perriello, Boccieri, Markey… Murkowski’s write-in candidacy gets a boost… Murkowski also says she wouldn’t vote for Palin for president… Palin, by the way, stumps for GOP nominee Joe Miller today… Our latest VCI: -35… Jerry Brown up by 10 points in new Field Poll, as SEIU takes an early victory lap.

From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** No laughing matter: The most striking part of President Obama’s appearance on “The Daily Show” wasn’t his pitch to younger voters (though that was the purpose of the interview) or saying that outgoing economic adviser Larry Summers did a “heck of a job” (which was an unfortunate choice of words, given what Bush said about Michael Brown after Katrina). Rather, what was remarkable was that it served as the president’s most vigorous defense of his agenda, particularly health care -- against his liberal critics. Host Jon Stewart, who was polite but also aggressive in his questions, noted, "You ran, if I may, with such audacity … yet legislatively it's felt timid at times.” Obama responded that the health-care law insuring 30 million more Americans, giving patients added protections, and reducing health care’s long-term costs isn’t timid. “This is what I think most people would say is as significant a piece of legislation as we've seen in this country's history.”

*** “Step by step, inch by inch”: Then there was this Stewart question: Why haven’t you been able to change, as promised, the way that Washington works? Obama countered that he has made his administration more transparent than previous administrations, and that his lobbying rules have tried to lessen the power of special interests. “My attitude is if we're making progress, step by step, inch by inch, day by day, that we are being true to the spirit of that campaign.” Obama also said, “When we promised during the campaign, ‘Change you can believe in,’ it wasn't ‘Change you can believe in in 18 months.’ It was "Change you can believe in, but you know what, we're gonna have to work for it." Given how so many Democrats are under siege from TV ads about health care, why is it the president waited until this week to spend time defending it? Selling health care and dealing with it on the campaign trail is probably the biggest collective misstep of the entire Democratic Party. The decision to let everyone go their own way because it worked in one special election in Pennsylvania put Democrats on the collective defensive. They aren't running on anything anymore, simply explaining why they did what they did in a VERY defensive crouch.

*** Obama’s three shout-outs: By the way, Obama also gave shout-outs to three vulnerable House Democrats -- from conservative-leaning districts -- who voted for his agenda. “There were a whole bunch of Democrats -- guys like Tom Perriello in Virginia or John Boccieri in Ohio or Betsy Markey in Colorado -- who … knew it was going to be a tough battle, that these are generally pretty conservative districts, and yet still went ahead and did what they thought was right.” Obama campaigns for Perriello tomorrow in Charlottesville, VA.

*** Murkowski gets a boost: This is potentially big news for Lisa Murkowski’s write-in candidacy in Alaska: “Hours after a judge blocked the Alaska Division of Elections' effort to give voters lists of write-in candidates, the state Supreme Court stayed his ruling, providing a boost for the campaign of incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski,” the L.A. Times writes. “The lists can be shown to voters who request them, the high court ruled, but candidates' party affiliation must be removed.” This could make it easier for Murkowski to pick up write-in votes.

*** The Palin question: In that three-way Alaska Senate race, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie noted on “TODAY” that the candidates were asked in their debate last night if Sarah Palin was qualified to be president. Here’s how Scott McAdams (D) answered the question: "In a strict sense she is, she isn't somebody whose ideology I support and agree with.” Here’s Joe Miller (R): “Of course she is. I mean, you look at who we have in office right now and compare the two, there is no comparison." (That is a much stronger answer from Miller than we’ve seen previously, and Palin campaigns for him today in Alaska.) And Murkowski: “If she were to run right now, I would not support her as president.”

*** VCI update: -35: With the addition of the latest CBS/NYT poll and the Bloomberg/Selzer polls, the October monthly average of our Voter Confidence Index improves from -36 to -35. Historically, that still suggests big losses for Democrats, but it’s up from a low of -41 earlier this month. President Reagan and Republicans were at -35 for the October monthly average in the VCI in 1982 (when Republicans lost 26 seats). It's worse than the -30 for President Clinton and Democrats in 1994 (when Dems lost 54 seats). And it’s better than the historical low in 2006 of -65 (when Republicans lost 30 seats). For more on the VCI, click here.

*** Brown still up in California: A new Field Poll in California has Jerry Brown leading Meg Whitman by 10 points among likely voters, 49%-39%. And SEIU is already taking some credit for Brown’s likely victory next week. SEIU spokesman Teddy Davis emails First Read, “When the story of the California governor’s race is written, people will look to Nicky Diaz Meg Whitman’s housekeeper as a turning point. But what shouldn’t be overlooked is the work that was done with the Latino community during a similar time period by SEIU through ‘Cambiando California,’ a $5 million Latino outreach campaign” that includes TV, radio, and Internet ads. Davis adds that over the final five days, SEIU’s campaign “will include 5,358 canvassers knocking on 511,264 doors and making 138,386 phone calls.”

*** Boehner to appear with Iott? Remember Rich Iott, the GOP candidate who was uncovered to participate in Nazi re-enactments? Well, the Atlantic’s Josh Green reports that Iott is set to appear with House Minority Leader John Boehner on Saturday. Asked for comment, Boehner spokesman Don Seymour emails First Read: “Leader Boehner will be rallying Republican volunteers at the Lucas County Victory Center to support the local Republican Party’s get-out-the-vote efforts. Boehner has been on the road headlining rallies for Republican candidates in Ohio and across the country, and he’ll continue his busy campaign schedule into the final weekend before Tuesday’s referendum on Democrats’ jobs-killing policies.”

*** Today on the trail: Vice President Biden stumps for Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil (D)… Bill Clinton makes three campaign stops for Pennsylvania Senate nominee Joe Sestak (D)… GOP Govs. Haley Barbour and Bob McDonnell stump for New Hampshire gubernatorial nominee John Stephen (R) and Pennsylvania gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett (R).

*** Today’s debates: It’s Paul Hodes (D) vs. Kelly Ayotte (R) in New Hampshire… It’s David Vitter (R) vs. Charlie Melancon (D) in Louisiana.

Countdown to Election Day 2010: 5 days

Click here to sign up for First Read emails. http://bit.ly/7Tlmj0
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter.

ALASKA: Per the AP, "Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she wouldn't support Sarah Palin at this time, if Palin decided to run for president. The comment came in response to a lightning-round question during an Alaska Public Broadcasting debate in which the Senate candidates were asked whether Palin was qualified to be president."

More: "Palin is backing Murkowski's GOP rival, Joe Miller, who said Palin is "of course" qualified and better than the current office holder, Democratic President Barack Obama. Democrat Scott McAdams said Palin is qualified in a "strict sense," but added he doesn't agree with her ideology. Miller beat Murkowski in the GOP primary. She's now running as a write-in."

ILLINOIS: "Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk acted amicably at the beginning and end of their last debate in the U.S. Senate campaign Wednesday, but they filled the rest of the hour with innuendo and suggestions of guilt by association," the Chicago Tribune reports. "Giannoulias sought to rebut Kirk's repeated use of a list of crime figures who got loans from the Democrat's failed family bank. Giannoulias said the Republican took donations from a host of people who pled guilty to political corruption."

NPR looks at where the Tea Party goes after Election Day. "After Nov. 3, what you see is the Tea Party really get into gear and really find its stride," Tea Party Patriots' Mark Meckler told NPR. "One of the many events Meckler and his 2,800 chapters are planning is a summit of Tea Party-backed members of Congress. There's just one catch: Only freshmen will be invited. 'Our intent is to hold a meeting, shortly after the election and before the incumbents get their hands on these folks,' he says. 'Because we want to let these folks know a few things, the freshman class. No. 1, we want them to know that if they go to D.C. and they do what they are elected to do, that we have their back. ... No. 2, we want them to know that if they don't do the right thing that we're not going to stand with them.'"

What does that mean? Mike Lee, the probable next senator from Utah, said, "when he gets to Washington, he'll be voting the Tea Party agenda, including 'no' votes on tax hikes, deficit spending and raising the debt limit. 'Our current debt is a little shy of $14 trillion. And I don't want it to increase 1 cent above the current debt limit and I will vote against that,' he says. Even if it leads to government default and shutdown? 'It's an inconvenience, it would be frustrating to many, many people and it's not a great thing, and yet at the same time, it's not something that we can rule out,' he says. 'It may be absolutely necessary.'"

Time magazine on the Tea Party: "We'll read the public's reaction on Election Day, but the verdict inside the GOP has already been rendered. Republicans propose to take a fresh shot at being the party of smaller government (or no government), and anyone who won't sing that hymn is being thrown out of the choir. The budget-stomping bull of New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie, is the party's new role model, while in the GOP stronghold of Utah, longtime Senator Bob Bennett was rudely dumped simply because he engaged in earmarking and voted for the bank bailout. Small-government purists have captured GOP nominations for major offices from New York to Alaska, Colorado to Kentucky."

"President Obama will go on a four-city blitz right before election day, traveling to Philadelphia, Bridgeport, Chicago, and Cleveland over the final campaign weekend, Democratic officials said Thursday," the Washington Post writes. "He will hold major rallies in three of the cities -- Bridgeport, Cleveland and Chicago -- and do a canvassing event in a Philadelphia neighborhood. Vice President Biden will accompany him to Cleveland. On Nov. 1, the Monday before election day, First Lady Michelle Obama will campaign in Las Vegas and Philadelphia, officials said."

NBC POLITICAL UNIT GOVERNORS RACE RATINGS CHANGES
ME: TOSS UP to LEAN R
NH: TOSS UP to LEAN D
WI: TOSS UP to LEAN R
MI: LEAN R to PROBABLE R
IA: LEAN R to PROBABLE R
GA: TOSS UP to LEAN R
AL: LEAN R to PROBABLE R
CA: TOSS UP to LEAN D

For full NBC Governors, House, and Senate ratings map, click here.

It was the first appearance ever by a sitting president on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," but President Barack Obama was serious in his defense of his administration's efforts over the past two years.

"We have done an awful lot that we talked about in the campaign," the president told comedian Jon Stewart during a taping of the show Wednesday, according to a pool report. "And we are going to do more."

"Over and over again we have moved forward an agenda that is making a difference in people's lives," the president said, citing the health care overhaul that he ushered to passage and the steps his administration has taken to address the economic downturn.

Stewart challenged Obama to explain how he has delivered on his promises of "hope" and "change" – pledges that many of his supporters in 2008 are still waiting to see fulfilled. "Legislation has felt timid at times," the comedian said.

"Jon, I love your show," the president responded. "But this is something where I have a profound disagreement with you, this notion that health care was timid."

"What happens is it gets discounted because the assumption is we didn't get 100 percent of what we wanted, we only get 90 percent of what we wanted -- so let's focus on the 10 percent we didn't get," Obama added.

Obama also defended the tenure of National Economic Council director Larry Summers, saying that Summers had done "a heckuva job."

"You don't want to use that phrase, dude," Stewart responded, alluding to former President George W. Bush's infamous use of the same compliment.

Riffing on Obama's famous 2008 chant, Stewart later quipped that the slogan could be modified to: 'Yes, we can – but…"

"Yes, we can -- but it's not going to happen overnight," the president replied.

The broadcast is scheduled to air at 11 p.m. ET.

Stewart, along with Comedy Central colleague Stephen Colbert, are the hosts of a joint rally Saturday that is being billed as a jokey but organized response to political extremism. (Colbert's tongue-in-cheek schtick at the event is his pledge to "Keep Fear Alive," while Stewart aims to "Restore Sanity." Over 100,000 people are expected to attend.

In the course of the hard-fought West Virginia Senate race, Democrat Joe Manchin has already shot a rifle at a Democratic piece of legislation and suggested that the health care bill might need to be completely repealed -- statements that recently prompted Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain to quip that the popular governor might be better off running as a Republican in 2014.

In his latest ad, Manchin distances himself from both political parties and promises to "shake up Washington" if elected.

"I'm as mad as you are with what's going on in Washington," he says in the ad, appearing against a bucolic West Virginia landscape. "Both Democrats and Republicans are dead wrong. They put their party first, their personal agenda second, and our country last."

From msnbc.com's Tom Curry:

Seattle, Wash. -- As he walked through a middle-class neighborhood in Lake Stevens, Wash., last weekend targeting likely Democratic voters who hadn't yet mailed in their ballots, House Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen came face to face with a tax question that might affect this year's races in this Democratic-leaning state.

Ed Moriarty, a sales representative for Motorola, greeted Larsen and had a cordial conversation on the congressional race, then asked, "What's your position on the state income tax?"

If voters approve the measure, called Initiative 1098, the state would impose a tax on incomes above $200,000 for individuals and on income above $400,000 for couples. It would cut property taxes and business taxes on small firms.

"I don't have a position," Larsen replied, saying to Moriarity with a chuckle, "I'm like you; I'm going to talk to my wife. I really haven't spent any time going through the initiatives." Larsen is facing a strong challenge from Republican John Koster who opposes the income tax.

Lake Stevens voter Moriarty seemed inclined against the tax saying to would affect "the small business guys, partnerships, 'S' corporations and LLCs, they pay personal income tax…. I just think it's a slippery slope myself."

To Larsen's noncommittal stance, Moriarty said, "That's fine. I'm just curious."

Over a cup of coffee at local supermarket, Larsen said, "People are not associating any of these initiatives with any other race. They don't equate these with any candidates."

Seattle-based pollster Stuart Elway agreed with Larsen's assessment, saying, "I don't think the initiatives are associated with the candidates. Mostly it's a matter of state issues and federal candidates."

He added that the tax measure is unlikely to spark a big surge among conservative voters. "We are such a high turnout state -- always in the top two or three, and the Secretary of State is predicting 66 percent turnout this time -- that the 'enthusiasm' is already baked into the data."

Matthew Parker, a spokesman for Koster, said "I think it will help our turnout," but added, "I don't think it will dramatically change turnout."

Republican Senate candidate Dino Rossi opposes the proposed income tax, while Sen. Patty Murray has not taken a position on it. In the tight House race in Washington's Third Congressional District, Republican Jaime Herrera opposes the tax proposal; her Democratic opponent Denny Heck has taken no position on it.

Prominent Seattle attorney Bill Gates Sr., one of the sponsors of the ballot measure, said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday the political environment this fall probably makes it more difficult to pass the tax proposal.

"Things are in a bad state (economically) and people are feeling some pessimism... it may be in many cases it would influence them to vote 'no.' On the other hand, I think the people in this state are anxious to have the best possible public education system, so that would influence them to go ahead and give approval to 1098," he said.

Sandeep Kaushik, spokesman for tax initiative supporters, said "We see 1098 as fitting into a larger national debate that is going on about taxation and particularly around the question of taxing the wealthy. We haven't seen much movement on the federal level in recent months… but here in the Northwest we have seen efforts on the state level to take action." In January, Oregon voters upheld the state legislature's decision to increase the state's income tax on higher-income people.

According to non-partisan Tax Foundation, if voters approve the tax, Washington would be the first state since Connecticut in 1991 to enact a personal income tax. Seven states have no state income tax.

Supporters of the measure have raised $6.3 million to push for passage; foes have raised about an equal amount. Major funders of the pro-tax side are the Service Employees International Union, the National Education Association, and the state employees union, as well as Gates himself. Gates is the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Jr.

Major donors to the 'no' side include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and now a major real estate investor, and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama appear in an ad for Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias.

This is the first ad in which Michelle Obama appears.

President Obama appeared in one for congressional candidate Cedric Richmond (D), who's running in LA-2 against incumbent Republican Ahn "Joseph" Cao, the most vulnerable Republican in the country. On the front page of Richmond's Web site, by the way, is a photo of Richmond between... the president and first lady.)

A top Democrat is backing out of the Chicago Mayor's race. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced he won't run for mayor. He's the latest in a number of high-profile Democrats who have backed out of the race in recent weeks, including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rep. Carlos Gutierrez.

NBC Chicago's Edward McClelland writes: "That leaves Rahm Emanuel as the biggest name in the race, and the now even-money favorite to become the next mayor. Emanuel was always a lock to make the runoff, but now he’s got a chance to win on Feb. 28. If he doesn’t, he may end up facing Carol Moseley Braun or James Meeks, the finalists in the black community’s search for a consensus candidate. Either of them will have far more difficulty appealing to the “Anyone But Rahm” crowd than Tom Dart. Emanuel, who just looked like Evil when he entered the race, may end up becoming The Lesser of Two Evils."

The Chicago Tribune's Zorn: "This news -- Sheriff Tom Dart won't run for Chicago mayor -- vastly increases the odds that Rahm Emanuel, with his huge campaign warchest, will not only win the February 22 mayoral "primary," but make it probable that he'll take more than 50 percent of the vote, eliminating the need for a run-off election on April 5."

Lynn Sweet quips in this headline: "Dart out: All of a sudden, Rahm Emanuel has a public schedule."

Carly Fiorina's (R) Senate campaign in California just released this statement:

"Since she was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning, Carly has been successfully treated for the infection she had as a result of reconstructive surgery following her victory over breast cancer. This morning, her doctors gave her the good news that she will be released from the hospital today and can resume her busy campaign schedule tomorrow. Carly is grateful for the outpouring of well wishes and prayers from so many Californians. She is excited to get back on the campaign trail and to move forward toward a triumph over Barbara Boxer next Tuesday."

Alaska won't be allowed to provide a list of approved write-in candidates after all.

Earlier we noted:

"The Alaska Division of Elections has come under fire for providing a list of certified write-in candidates to voters at polling places, an unprecedented move that critics suggest was done to aid Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is running as a write-in," Roll Call reports. "The state Republican and Democratic parties have joined to sue the Division of Elections to force the agency to stop providing the list, the Anchorage Daily News reported Tuesday."

Now AP reports:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska judge blocks elections office from providing list of write-in candidates at polls.

NBC's Adam Verdugo reports from California: Meg Whitman reiterated that she would not pull negative ads in her bid for California governor, a race in which she has broken campaign finance records for pouring in more than $140 million of her own money.

"They called me a whore, they called me a liar, they called me a Nazi," Whitman said of Jerry Brown's campaign, adding that Brown asked the unions to do the dirty work for him.

She said she will continue to run ads "about his record."

She made the comments in a news conference after an event she held at an Internet shoe retailer, which sells shoes on, where else, eBay.

Whitman said the event brought her back to her days as the company's CEO. She used eBay as an example for how she would create jobs. She said she kept fees low for sellers on eBay, and she equated those low fees to her approach on taxes -- keep them low.

The event was primarily focused on jobs and job creation. Small businesses, she said, are the engine of job growth and that California is one of the only states to have a "factory tax," which businesses have to pay when they invest in equipment that is used to produce goods.

She called the new Los Angeles Times/USC poll that showed her down in her match up against Jerry Brown "bunk."

At the end of the event, the owner of Sneaks Kicks, Jordan Geller, presented Whitman with a personal gift: her high school yearbook.

Now, you might think, where would someone who didn't go to high school with Whitman find such a thing?

Where else? eBay.

Chris Christie has officially canceled the largest infrastructure project in the United States.

Proponents of the tunnel say the Republican New Jersey governor's decision will cost New Jerseyans 6,000 construction jobs and 45,000 more jobs once completed. Plus, New Jersey has already spent about $600 million on the project and federal money already allocated may have to be repaid.

Christie said the Garden State didn't have the money, particularly for potential overrun costs.

Christie had delayed his official decision after federal officials urged him to reconsider.

The New York Times: "Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey, put a second and final stop on Wednesday morning to the most expensive public works project under way in the country, a proposed rail tunnel under the Hudson River that could have doubled commuter-train service to Manhattan. Mr. Christie had canceled the project earlier this month, saying that New Jersey could not afford its rising share of the projected costs."

The (Newark) Star-Leger: "There is no light at the end of this tunnel. Gov. Chris Christie today terminated the over-budget Hudson River commuter train tunnel, America’s largest public works project, ending for now the two-decade-old quest to expand rail capacity between New Jersey and midtown Manhattan. ... [T]he only visible sign of the proposed 9-mile tunnel is a support span in the area where the tunnel was to begin in North Bergen. Still, up to $600 million has already been spent, mostly on design and planning work. ... Proponents said the project would have created 6,000 construction-related jobs a year and close to 45,000 permanent jobs once completed. They also said it would have provided transfer-free rides to Manhattan, gotten 22,000 cars off the roads every day and eliminated nearly 70,000 tons of greenhouse gasses gases each year. Without the new two-track tunnel, which would have been able to handle an extra 25 trains per hour during peak periods, New Jersey is left with a century-old two-track tunnel that can handle 23 trains."

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican, met with Christie last week to try and change Christie's mind -- to no avail.

The reasons why Dems are on the verge of losing the House… And why Republicans could fall short… Why the anger and high emotions we’re seeing feel different from past cycles… GOP continues to expand the House playing field… Our primer on midterm turnout… Wrapping up the final Crist-Meek-Rubio debate… Matt Lauer’s challenge to Brown and Whitman… And profiling PA-17.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Why Dems are on the verge of losing the House: Over the last two days, we’ve explained how Republicans could win control of the House, or how Democrats could be able to hold on to their majority. Today, we turn to the why. Here’s why Democrats are on the verge of losing the House and maybe (though much less likely) the Senate. Part of it would be history (a president's party almost always loses seats in a midterm cycle). Part of it would be the nation's disinclination of one-party control. Much of it would be due to the nation's high unemployment rate (9.6%), and the economic stimulus' inability to reduce it substantially over the past two years. Just those four items in one stew would be enough to put Democrats on the verge of a loss in House control, but it doesn't end there. Another culprit would be Democrats’ inability to sell the public on the health-care law and their inability to fire up their base. Outside GOP money has played a role, too, by expanding the playing field. And there's this: Democrats, after two years in FULL control, were unable to deliver on their biggest thematic promise to change the way the Washington works.

*** Why Republicans could fall short: And if Republicans are unable to win the House and rack up substantial Senate gains? Part of it would be the sheer number of seats they need to gain to win majorities (39 for the House and 10 for the Senate). Part of it would be the Tea Party pushing the GOP too far to the right, especially in non-GOP friendly states and districts. And much of it would be due to the Republican Party's inability to develop new ideas after its defeats in '06 and '08 (after all, our poll shows the GOP with a lower fav/unfav than the Dem Party).

*** Why this cycle feels different: We’ve seen plenty of anger, frustration, and high emotions in past campaigns. But the anger this cycle -- culminating in Monday’s stomping in Kentucky -- feels so much more different. Just think back to the contentious town halls in the summer of 2009, Joe Wilson’s “You lie,” and Newt Gingrich agreeing that the best way to describe the president is as a Kenyan anti-colonialist. More recently, we’ve seen the Carl Paladino phenomenon, a candidate’s security detail handcuffing a reporter, and Frank Caprio telling the president to “shove it.” And then there's all the women candidates (from both parties) aggressively saying, "Man up." Maybe our memories are too short, but the level of anger, disrespect, and incivility seems to be at an all-time high right now.

*** 1992 and 2010: The only comparison to now that comes to mind is 1992 after the congressional check-writing scandal. Folks forget: The reason a Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan had openings was due to distrust of the parties and Washington in general. And 1992 and 1994 were more intertwined than people realize -- just as in some ways 2008 and 2010 are both alike and different in some ways. The same national disappointment in 1992 and 1994 propelled Bill Clinton into the presidency and Republicans into the congressional majority two years later. Is that what's happening here -- hunger for change propels Obama in 2008 and Republicans two years later? But it's also not THAT easy of an explanation. The long-term discontent needs to be factored in as well. The 1992 and 1994 cycles didn't have the long-term frustration; these last two, actually three cycles (toss in 2006) include a worry of LONG term discontent.

*** Expanding the House playing field: Those of us who live in the DC area are seeing just how wide the House field is expanding, with the DCCC now running TV ads to protect Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents a district Obama won with 57% of the vote in 2008. As Hotline reports, the DCCC has purchased “$21.6 million worth of air time in 66 districts… Among those 66 districts, many were once considered safe Democratic seats, including those held by Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.). Only three of the seats in which Democrats are advertising are held by Republicans.” Bottom line: Democrats are doing what they can -- just so they might be able to get their congressional majority back in 2012. And the reason Dems are having to go into these once-safe seats is largely due to outside GOP groups. Democrats aren’t going to win or lose the House because of these groups. But these groups are impacting the size of the wave that’s coming… Any gain over 52 seats may be directly attributable to the GOP outside groups. By the way, if Democrats had this kind of extra money in 2006, they would have gained the extra 20 seats in 2006 that they eventually picked up two years later.

*** Midterm turnout: In yet another effort to turn out younger voters, President Obama this afternoon tapes an appearance for Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show,” which will air later tonight. With so much focus on turnout, it’s important to offer this reminder: Historically, fewer people turn out to vote in midterm elections than in presidential contests -- about 30% less, on average, since 1980. For instance, in 2006, the turnout was 86 million (more than 40% of the eligible voting population). In 2008, however, it was 133 million (almost 62% of the eligible voting population). Also, don’t miss msnbc.com’s Carrie Dann’s preview of Saturday’s Stewart/Colbert rally.

*** The final Crist-Meek-Rubio debate: For “TODAY” this morning, here's how NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reported on last night's final Florida Senate debate, which was moderated by NBC’s David Gregory: "All three candidates knocked the Republican Party, including the Republican, Marco Rubio... 'Now, I think the Republican Party is to blame for much of what's happened in Washington.'" Here’s the Miami Herald’s write-up: “In Crist's last chance to chip away at front-runner Marco Rubio, with only one week left before the election, the governor frequently found himself playing defense in response to tough questions from moderator David Gregory… In three separate lines of questioning, Gregory pressed Crist to explain his defection from the Republican Party, unwillingness to say which party he would caucus with in Congress if elected and his changed positions on issues like adoption by same-sex couples, which he now favors.”

*** Tear down these negative ads: “Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman were pressed by NBC's Matt Lauer to end their negative advertising for the final week of the gubernatorial campaign,” the L.A. Times reports. “Lauer, who moderated a discussion involving the two candidates and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, asked each of the candidates to take down their negative ads until Election Day. Brown flinched at first, saying ‘negativity is in the eye of the beholder,’ but came around when the crowd began to articulate its disapproval.” More: “Whitman said she would continue to air ads that show where Brown stands on the issues. ‘I will take down any ads that can be construed as a negative attack. But I don't think we can take down the ads that talk about where Gov. Brown is on the issues,’ Whitman said.”

*** 75 House races to watch: PA-17: The Democratic nominee is Rep. Tim Holden, who was first elected in 1992. The GOP nominee is state Sen. Dave Argall. In 2008, McCain won 51% in this district, while Bush won 58% in 2004. As of Oct. 13, Murphy had about $163,000 cash on hand, versus Argall’s $55,000. Holden voted for the stimulus, but against both cap-and-trade and health care. Cook rates the race as Likely Democratic; Rothenberg rates it Democrat Favored.

Countdown to Election Day 2010: 6 days

Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter.

“The portable fan that Gov. Charlie Crist insists on at every public appearance could be seen and even heard during Tuesday's televised debate, but it didn't keep the independent U.S. Senate candidate out of the hot seat,” the Miami Herald writes. “In Crist's last chance to chip away at front-runner Marco Rubio, with only one week left before the election, the governor frequently found himself playing defense in response to tough questions from moderator David Gregory of NBC`s Meet the Press.”

“In three separate lines of questioning, Gregory pressed Crist to explain his defection from the Republican Party, unwillingness to say which party he would caucus with in Congress if elected and his changed positions on issues like adoption by same-sex couples, which he now favors. Holding up a copy of the Republican platform, Gregory asked, `’Were you unaware that was an entrenched part of the Republican Party, or did somehow you change for political expediency?’”

The New York Times writes how Washington lobbyists are raising money for Dave Camp, Republican congressman who would assume the powerful Ways and Means Committee if Republicans take back the House. “Across Washington, lobbyists have been working behind the scenes now for months to prepare for this possible power shift. Former aides to Mr. Camp, who now work as lobbyists, are checking in with their onetime boss, chatting with him and his aides about staff appointments he might make when he takes over the Ways and Means Committee, and what tax or health care issues will be at the top of his agenda. Other lobbyists have gone to his staff to try to get to the head of the line in presenting proposed tax changes that will benefit their clients.”

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer blogs, “This should come as no surprise given the track record of Congressional Republicans over the past two years. Rather than listen to the American people, Congressional Republicans have repeatedly shown their loyalty to these special interests by retreating behind closed doors to strategize with their lobbyists on the most critical issues for the American people.”

The Washington Post runs a front-page profile of the man who might be the next House speaker. John Boehner’s “rise is partly the result of a tireless fundraising operation that has poured money into fellow Republicans' campaigns, and partly a reward for his willingness to fashion himself into the uncompromising leader of the opposition to President Obama... Yet he insists he will be a very different kind of politician if the GOP wins Congress and he is elected speaker. He'll help bring the animosity between the two sides under control, he says, by allowing Democrats greater freedom to have their say on the floor of the House and letting them bring their proposals to a vote.”

Who needs 2010? "Leading GOP candidates for president are getting an early start on 2012 in the last days of the 2010 campaign season," The Hill writes. "Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), for instance, plans campaign stops this week on behalf of Republican candidates in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, which just happen to host the first three contests for nominating a Republican presidential candidate. But the perceived GOP front-runner for 2012 is hardly alone. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, will all make stops this week in Iowa, which hosts the first-in-the-nation caucuses in January 2012."

Today, Barbour, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal are in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Source watch: Former Rep. Susan Molinari has left Bracewell Giuliani to start her own lobbying firm.