Wednesday Morning: Cameral Shift for the Bailout Bill; Palin's Debate Chops; and the Obama Campaign's Tough Radio Ads

Good morning!

The bailout -- rescue! -- plan continues to dominate the news. The package failed in the House on Monday, but Congress has not given up: the Senate will vote tonight (after Rosh Hashanah ends at sunset) on a revised version of the plan. Among the added goodies in the updated bill: extensions of some business tax breaks including renewable energy incentives; a fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax to prevent it from kicking in for some middle-class Americans; and increased deposit insurance by the FDIC. Democrats are hoping the additions will help the bill gain enough Republican support to get through the Senate and then win over the additional dozen net votes needed for the bill to pass the House, though the changes may drive away some Democrats. Senator-candidates McCain, Obama, and Biden will all return to Washington tonight to vote in favor of the bill, which will require 60 votes to pass.

The Vice-Presidential debate is tomorrow, and the Obama-Biden campaign is ramping up the expectations-lowering for Biden by eagerly circulating a bevy of news stories about Sarah Palin's surprising debate success during her gubernatorial campaign. Politico's summary:

Palin proved herself to be a comfortable and confident debater, not exactly deeply versed in the issues but unusually adept at dodging controversy and quick to take advantage of opponents' missteps. Not one to throw an unnecessary punch, Palin took a patient approach, waiting for her rivals to expose their weak points - and then striking fast.

Palin did an interview with conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt yesterday, making the case for herself as an average gal who, if elected, would "put government back on the side of the people, of Joe six-pack like me." But after the relatively soft questions from Hewitt, Palin was in for some criticism following another shaky interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric. Couric asked Palin what newspapers and magazines she reads, and Palin couldn't -- or wouldn't -- name any, responding that she reads "all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years." The interview also covered a range of social issues. In statements that will reassure conservative values-voters but that may give pause to social moderates, Palin reiterated her opposition to abortion or emergency contraception including in cases of rape or incest and referred to homosexuality as "a choice" (though she was quick to note that one of her best friends is gay).

On the Democratic side, Politico's Ben Smith reports that out in the battleground states, the Obama campaign is quietly releasing harsh anti-McCain radio ads. The ads' topics reportedly include abortion, stem-cell research, and a suggested link between the Iraq war and the tanking US economy. McCain has been taken to task by Democrats and the media over dubious claims in his television spots, which his campaign regularly circulates to reporters. The Obama campaign, in contrast, rarely publicizes its negative ads (radio or TV), which makes them harder for reporters to track and fact-check. CMAG's Evan Tracey told Smith radio is a handy medium for sneaky ad releases:

Obama has to be a little more protective of his brand than McCain does, so there may be a choice that they're making there that we don't want to be pounding McCain as hard as we can on our highest-profile medium that has our picture on it.

The Obama campaign responds that they're not trying to bury the ads, they just don't release them because they might confuse the daily message. Uh, right.

And finally, another reason to think about voting early: NPR's Patti Neighmond reports this morning on a new study that says more deadly car crashes and vehicle-related injuries happen on presidential election days than on the prior and subsequent Tuesdays. The author of the study speculates that the reason could be that drivers are distracted by political issues or are speeding to the polls to avoid missing too much work, or that there is decreased police presence because officers are voting too. Drive carefully on November 4th, you guys!

-- Evie Stone

10:44 AM ET | 10- 1-2008 | permalink

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