Political Radar: Dodd, Chris

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Dodd: Dems Can't Pass Auto Bailout This Year

November 13, 2008 5:46 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports from Capitol Hill: An architect of the original bailout bill said Thursday Democrats lack the votes to pass bill giving auto companies a piece of the $700 billion bailout pie next week.

"I want to help them if we can, but I'm not going to give anyone a blank check, so we're going to try and do something if we can next week. I don't think the votes are there. Candidly, I don't think we have the votes to get that done. With no big change between now and next Wednesday, I'm skeptical," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who chairs the Senate Banking Committee.

Even after January, Democrats will have to gain some Republican support in the Senate to pass a new rescue package for the automakers -- and that is looking less likely.

Republicans worry that every time Congress passes a rescue package for a new industry, others will line up to create a bailout soup kitchen line.

"Those are not illegitimate concerns obviously," said Dodd, "And you want to put conditions on any resources provided to an industry that hasn't managed itself very well, but its not going to serve any of our interests if a major automobile manufacturer goes out of business between now and Jan. 20th if we could step in and keep them vibrant, we might allow them to survive."

So, while the aim and focus of the TARP is elastic and evolving, it is looking less likely that the auto industry will get in on the action.

Democrats in the House and Senate made clear earlier this week that they'd like to see some of the $700 billion go to help the troubled U.S. auto industry, which directly and indirectly employs 1 in 10 U.S. workers.

But, Republicans Thursday indicated they will be less willing to sign a big new check for Detroit than they were to prop up the financial industry earlier this year.

"People up here don't get it," fumed one Senior Republican Thursday. "Bailouts are less popular than Congress."

Be it a rescue or a bailout, any new loans to the auto industry would represent another huge outlay of taxpayer dollars and that is what frustrates Republicans, when there are no taxpayer guarantees the new money would keep the auto industry solvent.

"Spending billions of additional federal tax dollars with no promises to reform the root causes crippling automakers' competitiveness around the world is neither fair to taxpayers nor sound fiscal policy," said House Republican Leader John Boehner in a statement Thursday.

And if Republicans band against a bailout for the auto industry, Democrats admit there is no way it can pass this year, and it might be tough next year too.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., an architect of the $700 billion rescue package, is said to be crafting a sub-rescue package for the auto industry, which would cut a check from that $700 billion to the prop up the U.S. automakers. Frank's committee will grill the CEOs of the Big Three American automakers in a hearing next week.

But, Congress authorized $25 billion in preferred loans to the auto industry earlier this fall. The money is tied up in red tape and must be used to update facilities for production of more fuel efficient vehicles.

Rather than dipping into the $700 billion originally aimed at Wall Street and the financial industry, Republicans would rather re-tool those loans to make them more immediately available and not constrict their use to creating more fuel efficient vehicles.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate (and the most powerful Republican in the land when President Bush is no longer president) has not rejected the idea of a bailout for the auto industry.
But his spokesman Don Stewart said Thursday that Congress should consider how to use the billions in loans already thrown at the auto industry before allocating new money.

“Earlier this year, Congress acted in a bipartisan way to help the auto industry and protect jobs. The Congress passed and the president signed legislation authorizing $25 billion in low-interest loans to help American automakers re-tool their facilities to make the fuel-efficient cars of the future. It may be that there are changes that need to be made in order to expedite these low-interest loans. Other ideas have been floated and all will receive a review as we approach the Senate’s return next week," said Stewart.

Democrats realize that until January, when Barack Obama becomes President, they can't get anything done without the cooperation of Republicans first in the Senate and ultimately in the White House, where President Bush is no fan of another bailout/rescue.

November 13, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (28)

The Note: McCain Gamble Leaves Bailout, Debate in Limbo

September 26, 2008 9:11 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Friday's Note:

OXFORD, Miss. -- Sen. John McCain may or may not have broken the bailout bill -- and surely he didn’t do so all by himself.

But he owns it now.

In the battle over perceptions, it really is this simple: There was a deal before McCain came back to Washington. There was not a deal by the time the evening ended. And now there might not be a bill -- or a first presidential debate Friday in Mississippi.

Holding that very heavy bag are McCain and his GOP colleagues in Congress. Steve Schmidt gets his wish: McCain is in the middle of the action -- amid friendly fire, political gamesmanship, competing loyalties, reelection fights, and a White House with no juice left.

(And, oddly, the whole distraction has an upside for Team McCain: We’re not talking about Gov. Sarah Palin, whose slow media rollout is maybe not going slow enough.)

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

“Democrats immediately blamed McCain for disrupting the effort at compromise, saying his decision to suspend his campaign and return to Washington shifted the klieg lights of the White House contest to the tense and delicate congressional negotiations,” Michael D. Shear and Jonathan Weisman write in The Washington Post.

Oh yes, the debate.

We know that at least half of this strange non-team that saw the bailout bill go from done deal to just plain done Thursday at the White House will be making the trip to Ole Miss.

Sen. Barack Obama’s A team is already in Oxford, Miss., for a debate that would be fraught with symbolism and historical significance even if its very existence wasn’t still in doubt.

“Come hell or high water, we’re going to Oxford,” an Obama press aide said late Thursday, per ABC’s Sunlen Miller.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

September 26, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Dodd, Chris, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Washington | Permalink | User Comments (135)

The Note: DNC Takes Sharper Tone as Hillary’s a Hit

August 27, 2008 10:37 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Wednesday's Note:

DENVER --

One Clinton down, one to go. (And yes, the party’s getting there, even if that other Clinton is heeding his wife’s words and going a bit early.)

To the extent that a single speech can suck the drama out of a convention that was stuffed with it -- and a party that’s grown sick of it -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton did her part Tuesday night.

With two political futures at stake, she gave the party something to be excited about -- and to ensure that if her backers don’t come around to Sen. Barack Obama, it won’t be her fault. (If she didn’t heap on the praise, at least she was genuine.)

The Denver Post goes with capital letters: “THE TEAM PLAYER.”

If you looked carefully enough, you saw a message coming together at the Pepsi Center -- a procession of speakers competing for sound-bite-of-the-night (and how about Gov. Brian Schweitzer, D-Mont.?) in bashing Sen. John McCain -- then Hillary tying it in a neat bow for the Democratic Party to marvel at.

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

Now, it’s Bill Clinton’s chance to make sure it doesn’t unravel. (And it falls to Obamaland to reconsider/redesign/spin the setting for Thursday night. A Greek temple? Were they out of Roman thrones?)

As for Wednesday’s marquee speech (with apologies to Joe Biden, who has a pretty big night on tap himself):

“Take away the context of this campaign year, and they could be pals, perhaps even big and little brothers of the Democratic family -- the so-called first black president mentors a prospective real black president. But context is everything in politics, and because of that, their relationship is anything but close,” David Maraniss writes in a Washington Post must-read-and-digest.

“He intends to do what is expected of him, according to many friends and associates, and try to convince the public that Obama has the toughness and wisdom to be commander in chief,” Maraniss continues.

“But though the speech might be as important to Clinton as it is to Obama, those close to him say he will deliver it with lingering feelings of estrangement that have surprisingly little to do with the fact that Obama defeated his wife in the primaries. ... Clinton associates, long familiar with his habits and rhythms, say it would take little more than phone calls on a somewhat regular basis to keep him satisfied.”

(Mr. President, we ask again: Is he ready?)

“We’re not nervous at all,” Obama advisor Anita Dunn said in the campaign’s morning convention conference call, per ABC’s Sunlen Miller.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

August 27, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (76)

The Note: McCain Gaffe is Obama Gift

August 22, 2008 8:36 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Friday's Note: An entirely fictitious memo that will be read some time before Sen. Barack Obama arrives in Springfield, Ill., on Saturday:

To: Number Two
From: Barack Obama

Congratulations. You have agreed to be part of a historic campaign to save the country from more of the same with a vision to take us to a better place, via a new course for America. Enclosed you will find your poncho for Thursday night.

Yes. We. Can. To make sure that we do, I thought I might provide a few pointers:

New kinds of leaders provide new kinds of leadership. Think of that before you hit the stump.

Remember how many houses you have. Also remember how many houses John McCain has.

Pay attention to how few leaks sprung while your name and a few others were in the mix. Before you decide to leak something, call or Berry me -- or get in touch with David Plouffe, and he can tell you why it’s a bad idea.

Once a week, John Kerry will call. Be polite.

Twice a week, Howard Dean will call. Let it go to voicemail.

Every day, Rahm Emanuel will call. Write down everything he says.

You will be asked about Hillary Clinton. Smile -- but you’re on your own on this one.

PS: You will not influence me by trying to influence Michelle.

Obama’s running mate arrives -- soon (promise! with only a full week wasted on silly speculation!) -- to a lovely big gift from McCain.

Forgetting how many houses you have is a maybe-three-times-an-election-cycle gaffe that breaks through and has a life of its own. (Yes, that WAS Mike Allen’s voice on the morning shows Friday . . . )

It provides a handy new storyline for a campaign that needed one -- perfect defense for the elitism charge, and also a line that buttresses the charge that McCain is out of touch on the economy.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto and Amanda Temple contributed to this report.

August 22, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (34)

The Note: Veepstakes Wait Fuels Parties’ Angst

August 21, 2008 8:31 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Thursday's Note: Everyone wants their convention to be a party that showcases one big happy family -- but which side looks ready to nab most-likely-to-be-dysfunctional honors?

(Wait before you answer that, at least until the running mates are chosen.)

As we still wait for that text message (still no leaks -- remarkable), the best-laid plans of both campaigns threaten to overshadow their big weeks. Two candidates who define themselves by reaching into the middle are seeing trouble spots emerge inside their bases.

Sen. John McCain has loaded his convention lineup with a fantasy team of "pro-choice" all-stars: Rudy and Arnold and Joe Lieberman -- not your father’s GOP (unless your father is George H.W. Bush, we suppose). (What’s a delegate to think when a platform is a handy scorecard chronicling featured speakers’ disagreements with dogma?)

Sen. Barack Obama has seen his convention stuffed with enough Clinton drama to provide a tasty Denver buffet. (And those persistent "dream" ticket rumors -- if there’s no there there, how does it bode for catharsis?)

Then there’s the concerns of a suddenly very worried Democratic Party. As for why: It’s an identical Obama 45, McCain 42 spread in the new Wall Street Journal/NBC and New York Times/CBS polls.

"Sen. John McCain has all but closed the gap with Sen. Barack Obama, underscoring how international crises -- and some well-placed negative ads -- have boosted the prospects of the Republican presidential candidate," Laura Meckler writes in The Wall Street Journal.

Clinton alert: "Only half of those who voted for Sen. Clinton in the primaries say they are now supporting Sen. Obama. One in five is supporting Sen. McCain."

Can a convention do all this? "Slim majorities said neither candidate had made clear what he would do as president, suggesting that both need to use their conventions to provide voters with a better sense of their plans for addressing the deteriorating economy, high energy prices, access to health care and national security," Michael Cooper and Dalia Sussman write in The New York Times.

This is a feat: "Nearly half of those surveyed said that they expected [McCain] to continue the Bush administration’s policies if he were elected president. But voters, by a wide margin, view Mr. McCain as better prepared to be president than Mr. Obama, and as more likely to be an effective commander in chief."

Feel the angst growing? "It's not panic time -- yet -- but some Democrats watching Barack Obama say his campaign should have gotten a wake-up call this week, not only from his appearance alongside John McCain at the Saddleback Church but from a major poll suggesting he no longer leads his GOP opponent," Carla Marinucci writes in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto and Amanda Temple contributed to this report.

August 21, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (21)

Giuliani: Sad to Leave Race; McCain 'Best Choice'

January 30, 2008 5:00 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani told reporters during a flight from Texas to California this afternoon that he was disappointed not to stay in the Republican race but that he was proud to be supporting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"It's disappointing to lose a race for president because you believe you're the best candidate, but I had made it clear before I had to make this decision who I thought the other best candidate was," said Giuliani. "I think I made it clear during a debate that if I had not been running, I would be supporting John McCain. So I'm not running, and I'm supporting John McCain and he is far away the best person to be the commander in chief of the United States."

Giuliani, who has confirmed but not officially announced that he is dropping out of the presidential race, is expected to formally declare his intentions and endorse Sen. John McCain later today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the site of this evening's GOP Debate.

"It has great significance to do this at the Reagan Library, for me and for John McCain," he said. "And Ronald Reagan had a high regard for John McCain. John McCain also sees Ronald Reagan as his hero. So we share that very much in common. Obviously it is fortuitous that we can do it there, since the debate is gonna be there tonight."

Giuliani said he did not know who approached whom about the endorsement idea, but that both campaigns had been talking for some time about the possibility if the results in Florida turned out as they did.

During the days leading into the February 5 Super Tuesday contests, Giuliani said he plans on stumping for McCain, likely in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and possibly California.

"I offered that to him and he said he would like us to do that," he noted.

During his chat with reporters, the one time national frontrunner admitted that his risky strategy, of focusing on big delegate states and while being less competitive in the smaller earlier states, was not the right course.

"Obviously the strategy didn't work. So we're going to go back and try to figure out why," he said. Giuliani continued, "I believe, although I haven't had the chance to review it, it was...the only strategy available to us. Could we have done it in a better way? We'll think about that."

Asked why he was supporting John McCain and not any of the other GOP candidates, Giuliani said he was convinced McCain was the best choice.

"This is not a why not Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. I admire both men," Giuliani explained. "I went through a unique experience with them for a long time. I have grown to respect them. I am convinced that John McCain is the best choice for president of the United States."

Will Giuliani run for public office again? He said it was too early to tell, but that he planned to remain active in both the private and political sectors.

"I'm not thinking about public office right now. I never make 'never' statements. I found in life, when you make a never statement, you could still change your mind, but you have it up on YouTube nowadays," he said with a laugh. "All I can tell you is my intention is to be in private life. I am gonna give some thought to exactly how."

January 30, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Giuliani to Drop Out, Endorse McCain

January 29, 2008 8:57 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Rick Klein Report: Rudy Giuliani will board a plane to California on Wednesday morning, as planned. But, sources tell ABC News, once there, instead of participating in the GOP debate, he will drop out of the presidential race and endorse Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Giuliani came down to greet supporters at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. Responding to a friendly cheer from the audience, Giuliani laughed and quoted "that famous philosopher Yogi Berra, 'It's not over until it's over.'"

But it appeared over.

"Like most Americans, I love competition. I don't back down. . . but there must always be a purpose," Giuliani told supporters as his poor third-place showing became clear on the widescreen TVs. "Elections are about a lot more than candidates."

Negotiations between the two campaigns had been ongoing as Florida returns came in, with ABC News and other organizations projecting a McCain win in the Sunshine State.

"We ran a campaign that was uplifting," Giuliani said, not officially leaving the race but speaking in the past tense. "The responsibility of leadership doesn't end with a single campaign."

Giuliani has made clear throughout the campaign that if he weren't running, he would most likely be supporting McCain for president.

January 29, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (30)

Giuliani Cites Hillary Success As Inspiration For Florida Victory

January 29, 2008 2:37 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: At one of his final campaign stops in Florida on Tuesday, Rudy Giuliani surprisingly looked towards Hillary Clinton as inspiration, pointing out her come from behind victory in New Hampshire as evidence that he could do it too.

"Hillary Clinton was suppose to lose by 7 or 8 points, she won," said Giuliani. "So if you go out and vote, it can make a very big difference in this. There is plenty of time to vote."

Asked about the future of his campaign, Giuliani was hesitant to look beyond today.

"We're focused on winning here, today. That's our focus," he said. "We're very comfortable with the early vote, we think we did very well."

"And we are not going to entertain any hypotheticals," he added. "That would make no sense in trying to get out a vote. We want to make sure that we say to people in Florida, 'Do not listen to the polls, look what happened in New Hampshire.'"

Finally, at the press avail outside a sandwich shop in Del Ray Beach, Florida, reporters took another shot at having Giuliani predict his future.

"We're headed for California tomorrow, absolutely," he responded when asked if he would be in California tomorrow for the Republican Debate scheduled there.

January 29, 2008 in Dodd, Chris | Permalink | User Comments (7)

Giuliani Says The Test Is Florida

January 28, 2008 1:13 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds and Rick Klein Report: Former mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., staked his political future on Florida, casting his political fate with New York transplants and a few million other voters, as the Sunshine State sheds light on a scattered Republican field in the last contest before the primary campaign goes national.

"We are going to win today -- and then of course, if we don't win, we figure out another strategy. But the idea is to win today, and to turn this thing," Giuliani told Robin Roberts on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday. "I think we're really going to surprise people."

Giuliani said he's counting on early voting to have come through big for him -- and said he still thinks the Florida gamble was worth it.

"The reasoning was that this was the state where we would have the chance to do the best, given my positions, given the pros and cons, given the resources we had, it would be better to apply them to a state this size," he said. "If you contemplate defeat, you're going to have defeat. If you contemplate victory, you give yourself the best chance of winning."

Giuliani is committed to Wednesday's Republican debate in California, but it feels like the end is near for Rudy -- the lackluster crowds, the devastating quotes, the serene, almost resigned demeanor of his staff.

Flying from Sanford to St. Petersburg, Florida on Monday morning aboard his first ever campaign press plane, Giuliani touted Florida as test he will pass.

"We realize that this is the place where we have to test ourselves - where we have to test our campaign. It was the best choice given the realities that we had," said Giuliani. "We're going to win here."

Giuliani continues to express optimism, even as some begin to write his presidential political obituary.

"I believe we're going to win. I believe that our early voting strategy was a very good one. We have every indication that it was, and I think our positive message will appeal greatly to the people of Florida."

At two stops at Florida airports on Monday, the crowds have been light and the enthusiasm, at times, tempered. But outwardly the campaign and its candidate feel that by the end of the day, when all the votes are counted, they will prove the skeptics wrong.

January 28, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Giuliani: Negative Campaigning Causing Primary To Descend To Clinton/Obama Level

January 26, 2008 6:48 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: "Some of my opponents are engaging in negative campaigning, using words like dishonesty. This is the thing that our primary will descend into the kind of thing that Senator Clinton and Senator Obama had going on," said Rudy Giuliani this evening at a press availability in Orlando.

"So I'm gonna try and remain positive, we're gonna talk about the things we can do for America, the things we can do for Florida. And I think that is going to be the winning strategy in Florida."

For the past two days, the former New York City Mayor has been playing "mister nice guy", trying to stay above the fray in the back and forth between John McCain and Mitt Romney.

"The reason that I am being positive is I believe that is the way to win," added Giuliani. "It seems to me we sorta got that message when we say what happened in Iowa with Mike Huckabee. I think the American people are sending us a message. They want us to be positive."

When a reporter tried to see if Giuliani would pick sides, Giuliani declined.

"We gotta get above that, so I'm not going to get involved in that back and forth," Giuliani said when asked whether agreed with John McCain that Mitt Romney should apologize for his remarks earlier this year about the surge. "I think what we should talk about is what is our position on Iraq. My position on Iraq, and it has always been, you've all covered me from the beginning of this campaign, it was the same now as it was in the beginning, our goal in Iraq is an Iraq that is stable and an Iraq that acts as an ally."

Through it all, the former Republican national frontrunner said he still believes he would win on Tuesday despite slagging poll numbers saying, "Florida will pick me and I believe they will pick the next Republican candidate."

January 26, 2008 in Dodd, Chris | Permalink | User Comments (5)