Research Briefing

White House Pledge Of “Full Support”

Weighing Specter Down In Re-Election Bid

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “I Know It’s An Election Year.  …[I]t’s Clear That Campaign Fever Has Come Even Earlier Than Usual.  But We Still Need To Govern.” (President Barack Obama, State Of The Union Address, Washington, DC, 1/27/10)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HEADS TO PENNSYLVANIA TODAY,

ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER SPECTER’S PARTY SWAP

Today, Vice President Biden Will Appear At Rally With Specter In Scranton. “[T]he vice president heads east, where he'll be the main attraction at a rally for Sen. Arlen Specter. The event, Friday afternoon at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, brings Biden close to his native Scranton for the first time since becoming vice president.” (“Biden Hits Trail To Help Fellow Democrats,” CNN’s Political Ticker, 4/22/10)

One Year After Biden “Was At The Center Of The Effort” To Convince Specter To Swap Parties. “According to White House officials, the vice president was at the center of the effort to convince Mr. Specter to change parties. They said that this has been the subject of years of bantering and discussion between the two men – who often sat together while riding the Amtrak train back home – but that the conversation turned earnest after Mr. Biden lobbied Mr. Specter to vote with the White House on the stimulus bill.” (Carl Hulse, “Specter Switches Parties,” The New York Times’ The Caucus Blog, 4/28/09)

BUT WHILE SPECTER HOPED TO RIDE OBAMA’S COATTAILS TO RE-ELECTION,

HE’S NOW BEING DRAGGED DOWN BY HIS SAGGING POPULARITY

Specter’s Decision To Switch Parties Was Aided By Promise He Would Have “Full Support” Of White House. “More than that, White House officials said that they had assured Mr. Specter that he would have the full backing of Mr. Obama should he change parties. They also said that the president would happily campaign for Mr. Specter and raise money for him if that was necessary. At the White House press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed that Mr. Obama pledged his full support to Mr. Specter. ‘Full support means full support,’ Mr. Gibbs said.” (Carl Hulse, “Specter Switches Parties,” The New York Times’ The Caucus Blog, 4/28/09)

And When Obama’s Approval Rating In Pennsylvania Was At 66 Percent, Sen. Specter’s Approval Rating Was At 56 Percent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1120 RV, MoE +/- 2.9%, 4/29-5/3/09)

•  And Specter Led Prospective Republican Opponent Pat Toomey By 20 Points, 53 Percent To 33 Percent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1120 RV, MoE +/- 2.9%, 4/29-5/3/09)

Now Obama Has Dropped To 45 Percent Approval In PA, And With Him Specter Has Dropped To 44 Percent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1412 RV, MoE +/- 2.6%, 3/30-4/5/10)

•  And Specter Now Trails Toomey By Five Points, 46 Percent To 41 Percent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1412 RV, MoE +/- 2.6%, 3/30-4/5/10)

NOW WITH OBAMA CONSIDERING ADDING TO PENNSYLVANIANS’ TAX BURDEN,

IS SPECTER HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS?

70 Percent Of Pennsylvanians Say America As A Nation Is Overtaxed. (Rasmussen Reports Poll, 500 LV, MoE +/- 4.5%, 4/15/10)

But Just This Week, Obama Called Value-Added Tax “Novel For The United States,” Among Options To Pay For Binge Spending. JOHN HARWOOD: "[C]ould you see the potential for value-added tax in this country?" OBAMA: "I know that there's been a lot of talk around town lately about the value-added tax. That is something that has worked for some countries. It's something that would be novel for the United States. And before, you know, I started saying, 'This makes sense or that makes sense.' I want to get a better picture of what our options are." (CNBC's "Str eet Signs," 4/20/10)

Obama's Economic Team Has Already Calculated How Large VAT Would Need To Be In Order To Pay For Their Binge Spending. "[S]ince any Social Security plan would probably preserve benefits for those nearing retirement, it would not help the administration achieve its goal of reducing the deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product, from 10 percent, within a decade. One way to reach that 3 percent goal, by the calculations of Mr. Obama's economic team: a 5 percent value-added tax ..." (John Harwood, "Reduction Is Theme Of President's Next Act," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, 4/18/10)

Executive Director Of Obama's Fiscal Commission Says VAT Among Options To Pay Down Deficit. "The Executive Director of the White House panel charged with reducing the national debt told Fox Wednesday a value-added-tax or VAT would be among the options up for consideration. 'We need to talk through all sides of this equation,' Bruce Reed told Fox in an interview ..." (Major Garrett, "Key Player On Debt Commission Says VAT In The Mix," Fox News' "Row 2 Seat 4" Blog, 4/21/10)

Obama Economic Adviser Paul Volcker Says VAT Needed To Get Obama's Deficits Under Control. "The United States ... may need to consider a European-style value-added tax, White House adviser Paul Volcker said on Tuesday. Volcker ... said the value-added tax 'was not as toxic an idea' as it has been in the past ... 'If at the end of the day we need to raise taxes, we should raise taxes,' he said." (“Volcker: Taxes Likely To Rise Eventually To Tame Deficit," Reuters, 4/6/10)