Something D-O-O Economics

The WH has lots on its plate these days. But in the end, the economy is still the issue. Earlier this week, GOPers argued that the deficit would become a big issue to use against Dems in '10. Will it work?

--The deficit is one of those things that voters say they care about, but rarely vote on unless they can see its direct impact on their lives. Like, say, rising interest rates. The WSJ and WaPo both key in on this issue today, noting that rising deficit worries are having serious short-term consequences on housing. Meanwhile, Dems have little tangible proof that the recent federal outflows like auto bailouts and the stimulus have made much of an impact. In a new FOX poll, just as many people think GM will be profiting in 5 years as think it will be bankrupt. Meanwhile, just 9% in a new IPSOS poll say the economy has turned the corner, w/ 37% expecting it to get worse.

-- VP Biden's been tasked to pre-empt these attacks w/lots of photo-ops at stimulus-funded construction sites. But in the end, will a bridge project - that, btw, won't be completed for a couple years - be all that compelling to voters who are looking at high jobless rates and an anemic housing market? If so, the GOP ads in '10 pretty much write themselves: "Dems drove us deep into debt and all we got was this lousy t-shirt and a stinky economy. So much for change we can believe in."