Thursday, June 18, 2009
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Fits To A "Tea"
At first glance, recent polling offers little evidence that GOPers are poised for a strong mid-term. But look just beneath the surface, and you'll see that trouble may be brewing for Dems.
-- Numbers from the NBC News/WSJ and CBS/NYT polls show the GOP hitting all-time lows in public approval. On the other hand, Dems and Obama appear to be holding their strong ratings.
-- But there are warning signs for Dems. The deficit and gov't spending have shot up the list of top issues, and, at least according to the NBC poll, is the clear #2 priority for voters. To whom are voters looking to fix the problem? Clearly not Obama, as 60% of CBS' respondents say he doesn't have a plan to address the burgeoning deficit.
-- Still, right now, they're not blaming Obama or Dems. NBC's poll shows 41% of voters put the blame on George W. Bush, while only 7% blame GOPers. Just just 6% point a finger at Obama. But once we get deeper into health care reform and talk of $1T deficits, will voters still blame Bush?
-- What does all of this mean? While cong. Dems and Obama still enjoy high approval, there's danger on the horizon if they don't begin to address the growing deficit. It's clear from interviews with GOP cong. candidates that they plan to make this a huge part of their campaigns. Will Dems have an answer?
Cretul Intentions
Even though a good crop of potential GOPers has already emerged against Rep. Grayson (D-FL 08), FL House Speaker Cretul (R) looks as though he may jump in.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Special Elections
CALIFORNIA 10 (D/CONTRA COSTA COUNTY -- TAUSCHER)
1. Cheaper By The Dozen
With 11 candidates already to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-10), mortgage officer/ Danville Planning Commis. Tiffany Attwood (D), the "self-described 'soccer mom'" said 6/15 that "she'll make it a dozen." Attwood: "I know it sounds cliched, but I want to make a difference. I really want to help those people. I have some big ideas and I want to see people feel like we really can get out of this." She "not[ed] her work in home mortgages and how her family situation has put the economic crisis into perspective."
Attwood "notes she's the only minority woman -- she's of Latina-Filipina descent -- in the race." Her "priorities are responsible homeownership, open dialogue on solutions for health care reform, and federal help for small-business owners in order to boost the district's employment (Richman, Oakland Tribune, 6/15).
Editor-in-Chief: Amy Walter
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