News stories about the Thursday night GOP debate in Florida commented on its economic focus, the candidates' criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton, and the lack of attacks among the Republican hopefuls. USA Today reports that with the Florida primary approaching on Tuesday, the GOP candidates "jousted Thursday over who has the best background to deal with the nation's economic slump. John McCain stressed his congressional efforts to cut 'pork barrel spending,' Mitt Romney his business background and Rudy Giuliani his tenure as mayor of New York." The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Republicans "battled Thursday night over the sluggish economy and tax cuts." Romney and McCain each portrayed "himself as ready to lead while keeping a distance from President Bush. Both men said the $150 billion economic stimulus package...fell short by focusing chiefly on tax rebates for middle-class Americans."
In a front-page story, the Washington Post reports, "The mostly civil forum came at a critical moment in the muddled GOP competition, and the five remaining candidates appeared eager to avoid some of the sharper differences that have sparked tough exchanges. Instead, they played it safe and were often cordial to one another five days before Florida's primary election, which could end one or more candidacies." The New York Times similarly characterizes the debate as "some decidedly gentle sparring" in which the Republicans "all tried to cast themselves as able fiscal stewards who could steer the nation's increasingly precarious economy back to health." The Chicago Tribune reports that the debaters showed "extraordinary civility," indicating "how concerned all of these Republicans are about alienating any potential voters here."
The AP reports that the GOP candidates focused, not on each other, but on Sen. Hillary Clinton, whom they portrayed "as weak on Iraq and certain to raise taxes." The Washington Times says the "four top candidates set aside their differences as they pounded" Clinton.
Lack Of Attacks Seen As Having Benefited Romney And McCain In a "First Read" report on the website of MSNBC, political analyst Chuck Todd writes, "Overall, the tame affair was good news for both Romney and McCain, the two frontrunners in Florida; both got to sound and look presidential. Romney, in fact, may have had his best debate performance in a long time because he wasn't attacked." Similarly, in an analysis headlined, "McCain Benefits As GOP On Best Behavior," The Politico's Jonathan Martin writes that McCain "benefited from the typical reluctance of Giuliani and Huckabee to go on the attack and from Romney's preference this round for attacking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Democrats more than usual. And besides having to field questions from Huckabee and Giuliani, Romney also emerged hardly bruised at all."
NBC Nightly News reported "some brand new polling numbers," with Tim Russert saying, "Mitt Romney is now ahead here in the state of Florida. We have him at 30%. We have John McCain at 26%. Rudy Giuliani, 18%. Mike Huckabee, 13%. Look at that. Romney has doubled his votes since November. Rudy Giuliani, he has dropped 18 points." The Tallahassee Democrat quotes Brad Coker, managing director for Mason-Dixon, as saying, "Romney gets the support of most of those voting on the economy and immigration, while McCain is backed by those most concerned about terrorism."
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Television coverage last night reported on disenchantment among Sen. Hillary Clinton's supporters about former President Clinton's tactics, while print sources said that the campaign was finding him useful. CBS Evening News reported, "The Obama-Clinton feud escalated today," adding that former President Clinton's "attacks on Obama's integrity are drawing headlines, but also drawing attention away from the candidate he favors." CBS also reported on "the growing annoyance among supporters of the Clinton who is running with the actions of the Clinton who is not." ABC World News reported, "Some Democrats find the former President overzealous in his campaigning for his wife." However, "neither Clinton is backing down." On MSNBC's Hardball, NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell said, "I don't know how" the Democrats "come together. This has gotten meaner, uglier than anything I've seen in a long time and we all know that John F. Kennedy chose Lyndon Johnson, but I can't even imagine [these] people coming together."
However, the New York Times reports Clinton advisors "say they have concluded that Bill Clinton's aggressive politicking against Senator Barack Obama is resonating with voters, and they intend to keep him on the campaign trail in a major role after the South Carolina primary. The benefits of having Mr. Clinton challenge Mr. Obama so forcefully, over Iraq and Mr. Obama's record and statements, they say, are worth the trade-offs." The Wall Street Journal adds that Bill Clinton "appears to be replaying on the South Carolina stage a dynamic that continued throughout his career: At times when he battled intensely with the national press, he successfully rallied the party faithful to his side. ... Mr. Clinton blames the media for sensationalizing the back and forth with Mr. Obama. All of the campaigns have surrogates working on their behalf and criticizing their opponents' records, although no one commands the same bully pulpit and national media attention given to Mr. Clinton's words."
Clinton, Obama Camps Pull Radio Attack Ads Meanwhile, both the Clinton and Obama campaign took steps yesterday to tone down the rhetoric on the trail. The Washington Post reports both were "pulling harsh radio ads from local airwaves and seeking to play down intraparty tensions. Clinton retreated first. ... Her campaign has stopped a radio spot that suggested that Obama was a closet Republican who supported former president Ronald Reagan and the ideas of the 1994 revolt that swept the GOP to control of both chambers of Congress." The AP reports Clinton's ad used audio of Obama calling the GOP the "party of ideas," while Obama's "said, 'Hillary Clinton will say anything to get elected.'" The Hill reported that Clinton's "campaign insists its decision to pull" the ad "was not motivated by the tremendous uproar it created."
As the Republicans did during yesterday's debate, the Democrats are now also turning their attention to the economy as they make their final pitches before tomorrow's South Carolina primary. The New York Times reports after a "two-day absence," Hillary Clinton "returned to South Carolina on Thursday and outlined her economic stimulus plan in a speech here - tackling both a huge concern of many Americans and playing the optimistic good cop to her husband's bad-cop routine against Senator Barack Obama." The Greenville News reports that Clinton "dropped the attack rhetoric" in favor of an economic focus and other "domestic issues," adding that Clinton "told a packed meeting room of nearly 500 people that President Bush is partly to blame for the nation's economic troubles."
The Chicago Tribune reports Barack Obama traveled the state "also focused on the economy, including his own plan to provide tax credits to help pay tuition for college students willing to perform community service." The Greenville News reports that John Edwards "told a breakfast crowd Thursday in Spartanburg that he alone among the three Democratic candidates understands their kitchen-table concerns and fears about an economy in transition." Edwards' campaign also "released sharp criticism of the $140 billion bipartisan stimulus bill devised by President Bush and congressional leaders from both parties," saying, "the plan is another example of Washington deserting working people and the middle class."
Five polls out this morning show Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton in South Carolina and three of them show John Edwards closing on Clinton in a battle for 2nd place. NBC Nightly News reported on an MSNBC-McClatchy poll saying Obama is "leading the way in South Carolina. We have him at 38%. Hillary Clinton at 30%. John Edwards, 19%. A lot of racial overtones to the debate and discussion ... Amongst blacks, it's Obama, 59%. Clinton, 25%. Edwards 4%. With white voters, Barack Obama at 10%. Clinton at 35%. And John Edwards with 40% leading the field with white voters in South Carolina."
An American Research Group poll of 600 likely Democratic voters taken January 22-23 shows Obama leading with 45%, followed by Clinton with 36% and Edwards with 12%.
A Zogby International poll of 811 likely Democratic voters taken January 22-24 shows Obama leading Clinton 38%-25% with Edwards at 21%. Edwards has improved his position in the last few days in the survey conducted January 20-22, Obama led with 43%, followed by Clinton with 25% and Edwards with 15%.
The Anderson Independent-Mail reported that a Clemson University Palmetto Poll conducted Jan. 15-23 shows Obama leading the Democratic presidential field with 27%, followed by Clinton with 20% and Edwards with 17%. The Independent-Mail noted that Obama "picked up big gains among blacks, where three-fourths of voters surveyed support his candidacy. In the previous poll, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama split the black vote, according to the poll results. Still, the race front-runner is hard to call because of 36 percent of undecided voters."
A SurveyUSA automated poll of 685 likely Democratic South Carolina primary voters taken January 21-23 shows Obama leading with 45%, followed by Clinton with 29% and Edwards with 22%. The poll was conducted for WSPA TV Greenville and WSCS-TV Charleston.
The New York Times today endorsed John McCain for the GOP presidential nomination, "There is a choice to be made, and it is an easy one. Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe. With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field."
The New York Times also backs Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, "This country faces huge problems, and will no doubt be facing more that we can't foresee. The next president needs to start immediately on challenges that will require concrete solutions, resolve, and the ability to make government work. Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president" despite the "enticing" upside of a Barack Obama presidency.
The AP reports Dennis Kucinich "is abandoning his second, long-shot bid for the White House as he faces a tough fight to hold onto his other job - U.S. congressman."
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To largely favorable media reviews, the White House and Congress yesterday reached agreement on a $150 billion economic stimulus plan. Under it, says the Washington Post, "117 million families would receive rebate checks, including 35 million with earnings too low to have qualified under an earlier" White House "proposal that limited checks to income tax payers." The plan "would also include $50 billion in temporary business tax breaks." The money "would be borrowed and would increase the federal deficit." The Wall Street Journal notes "one important provision" that "temporarily raises the dollar limit on mortgages that can be bought or guaranteed by government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The current limit of $417,000 would rise above $600,000 and perhaps as high as $730,000 in the most expensive areas, congressional leaders said."
Media reports are hailing the compromise as a remarkable bipartisan achievement. The CBS Evening News called it "the biggest show of bipartisanship since 9/11," and NBC Nightly News notes the deal "came together with remarkable speed." The Washington Post says it "represented the first time since divided government returned to Washington a year ago that the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue sheathed their swords and came together on a major initiative without any bloodletting first." The New York Times remarks that both sides "had to agree to numerous compromises after more than a year of acid relations between Congressional Democrats and the White House."
For example, ABC World News noted "Democrats had wanted more help for the working poor, including an extension of unemployment benefits and more money for food stamps. They didn't get it." The AP notes Speaker Nancy Pelosi "agreed to drop increases in food stamp and unemployment benefits during a Wednesday meeting in exchange for gaining the rebates of at least $300 for almost everyone earning a paycheck, including those who make too little to pay income taxes."
Generally, the plan's substance is also being favorably received by major media outlets. The Wall Street Journal, for example, notes "economists said the measures, coming as the risk of a downturn rises, could boost growth this year by between three-quarters of a percentage point and a full point." And ABC World News reported, "Economists we spoke to today say this isn't a perfect plan. But it's a good enough plan. And if it can be enacted as quickly as it was negotiated, it could make the difference between a slowdown and a recession or a short recession and a long one." Likewise, the Christian Science Monitor says the plan "may be enough to avert or end a recession." McClatchy reports that according to Mark Zandi, chief economist for forecaster Moody's Economy.com, "the compromise announced Thursday would generate $1.26 in spending for every dollar of tax rebate, or 24 cents more per dollar than the administration's original proposal, Zandi estimates."
The Washington Times reports "some Democratic senators signaled that they may halt a quick approval of the deal to fight for the inclusion of measures such as unemployment insurance and infrastructure spending." The Washington Post, however, reports "officials on both sides suggested that the senators may make noise for political purposes without really undercutting the agreement."
As part of its report on the economic stimulus deal reached yesterday between the White House and Congress, NBC Nightly News reported last night, "Wall Street in New York seemed to like this news today. The Dow gained more than 108 points. NASDAQ was up 44 1/2 points. S&P gained 13 1/2 points on the day." USA Today reports, "While stocks fluctuated throughout the session, trading was decidedly more calm than on Wednesday, when Wall Street executed a stunning turnaround that transformed a sharp sell-off into big gains for stocks."
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Despite recession fears, slowing profits and signs the credit crisis isn't over, the stock market is attracting a new wave of buyers: investors who are escaping pricey, low-yielding bonds."
Was Selloff A "False Alarm"? Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal says Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faces a perception problem: It looks like he is too ready to respond to a falling stock market." The "drumbeat grew more intense yesterday as critics and others confronted the possibility that the global selloff was at least partly a false alarm." Meanwhile, USA Today says the Fed is "expected to slice rates again at the conclusion of their two-day meeting Wednesday."
Recession Not Foregone Conclusion Following Wednesday's report from the Congressional Budget Office suggesting the economy would see slower growth but was not headed for recession, a number of media reports this morning are analyzing the actual state of the US economy. McClatchy says "mixed economic indicators now point to a slowdown, but not recession." The Wall Street Journal says the "number of US workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week for a fourth straight week, suggesting a resilient labor market might keep the nation's economy from sliding into recession."
But the public is definitely worried about the possibility: The Los Angeles Times reports, "Americans are more worried about the nation's fiscal health than they are about their own pocketbooks, with a sizable majority believing the country is on the road to recession, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found."
More Bad News For Housing Sector ABC World News reported, "Sales of pre-owned houses dropped 13% last year. That's the biggest yearly drop in a quarter-century." The AP says reports "David Wyss, chief economist for Standard & Poor's, said he believed sales of existing homes would continue declining until the middle of this year with prices probably falling for all of 2008."
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The AP reports the Senate "granted at least a temporary victory to the White House on Thursday, turning back an attempt to increase court oversight" of the government's surveillance program. In a 60-36 vote, the Senate rejected "increased powers for the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court came as senators worked against a Feb. 1 deadline" to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Similarly, the Wall Street Journal calls the delay "a small initial victory," while the Washington Post used stronger language, calling the "lopsided" vote "a notable victory for the White House." The Politico also reports that opponents of retroactive immunity, led by Sens. Christopher Dodd and Russ Feingold, "will offer amendments to strip the provisions out of the base Intelligence Committee bill, although this latest vote shows they face a high hurdle in winning Senate backing to do so."
The New York Times reports the "key procedural victory" in the Senate yesterday "moves the Bush administration a step closer toward the twin goals it has pursued for months: strengthening the NSA's ability to eavesdrop without court approval, while securing legal immunity for the phone companies that have helped the agency in its wiretapping operations."
Meanwhile, the AP (1/25, Hess) reports, "Ending months of resistance, the White House has agreed to give House members access to secret documents about its warrantless wiretapping program." The Politico reports that House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers "said the panel still wants additional information, and he would like the White House to allow all the members of his committee to see the same material, but he acknowledged that the offer" from the White House "was worth accepting." The New York Times says the access "could ultimately help persuade skeptical lawmakers in the House, which so far has rejected the immunity idea, to sign on to the White House's plan."
The AP reports a federal judge on Thursday said that CIA interrogation videotapes "may have been relevant to his court case, and he gave the Bush administration three weeks to explain why they were destroyed in 2005 and say whether other evidence was destroyed." The New York Times reports the order "came in the case of Hani Saleh Rashid Abdullah, a Yemeni electrician who is challenging his imprisonment at the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba."
On a related issue, the Washington Post reports that the Bush Administration "has drawn fire from civil liberties groups over its use of national security letters, a kind of administrative subpoena that compels private businesses such as telecommunications companies to turn over information to the government." Newly "released documents shed light on the use of the letters by the CIA," which "has employed them to obtain financial information about US residents and does so under extraordinary secrecy."
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Jay Leno: "Did you all see 'American Gladiators' the other night? Not the NBC show, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."
Jay Leno: "Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee are both asking their staffs to work without pay. They want them to work without pay to help them get across their message, 'I'm the best one to fix the economy.'"
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