Research Briefing

Lawrence O’Donnell: “One Of The Big Messages Of Tonight … Is That A White House Endorsement So Far, In 2010, Is Proving To Be Worthless.” (MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)

SPECTER DEFEAT LATEST TO EXPOSE WHITE HOUSE’S LACK OF COAT TAILS

The Associated Press: “The vote also was a defeat for President Barack Obama, who supported Specter when he abandoned the Republican Party last year.” (Mark Levy, “Specter Rejected By Pa. Dems In Bid For 6th Term,” The Associated Press, 5/18/10)

O’Donnell: “[T]he White House political operation is reeling from this result, and they should be.” (MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)

• O’Donnell: “[T]he question within the party is, is the White House political operation making the right decision about these races? … And the voters of Pennsylvania tonight certainly said that the White House made a mistake…” (MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)

“[T]here is simply no way for this defeat to not raise questions the approach the White House is taking to these contested races.” (Chris Cillizza, “Incumbent Armageddon?: What to watch for,” The Washington Post’s The Fix, 5/18/10)

• “It Will Be Hard -- If Not Impossible” For White House To “Skirt The Blame For” Specter Loss. “In past Democratic defeats … the Obama White House was able to largely skirt the blame for the losses. In each case, the candidate quality was blamed and the the White House successfully pushed the narrative that if it been involved earlier or more deeply that the outcome might have been different. It will be hard -- if not impossible -- for the White House to make that case if Specter falls today.” (Chris Cillizza, “Incumbent Armageddon?: What to watch for,” The Washington Post’s The Fix, 5/18/10)
  
  
• “White House officials at the highest level played an integral role in Specter's party switch and did everything they could to convince Sestak to reconsider his bid. President Obama is on television and radio for Specter.” (Chris Cillizza, “Incumbent Armageddon?: What to watch for,” The Washington Post’s The Fix, 5/18/10)

Howard Fineman: “I think the White House right now is hunkering down. They're in a crouch looking at the tsunami to come. I think this will be big and mostly against the Democrats. They control the White House and have big majorities in the House and Senate.” (Howard Fineman, MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)

• Fineman: “If this mood is continuing … it will be a close run thing as to whether the Democrats keep control of either the House or the Senate come November.” (Howard Fineman, MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)

“Howard Fineman captures a very telling moment in Philly, where the machine chief, Rep. Bob Brady, is ‘furious at the Obama White House,’ who he thinks foisted Arlen Specter on him, then dropped Specter.” (Ben Smith, “Brady's Fury,” Politico, 5/18/10)

• “[The White House] spinners are desperate to protect whatever aura Obama has.” (Howard Fineman, “Philadelphia's Democratic Machine Is Mad At Obama For Ditching Arlen Specter,” Newsweek, 5/18/10)
  
  
• Rep. Bob Brady: “I guess that's the White House's idea of loyalty …They're gonna hear from me.” (Howard Fineman, “Philadelphia's Democratic Machine Is Mad At Obama For Ditching Arlen Specter,” Newsweek, 5/18/10)

“[I]f Specter (D) loses and Lincoln (D) gets forced into a run-off -- and the White House is backing both of them -- it could add to the perception that its political team doesn’t pack a punch.” (“First Thoughts,” MSNBC’s First Read, 5/18/10)

“[W]ith the wave coming, President Obama stands on the shore, though well within the splash zone.” (“Presidential Wave,” ABC’s The Note, 5/18/10)

Andrea Mitchell: “[T]hey will in turn blame some people in Washington for what happened, because they do think that President Obama could have pulled this out in the last couple days.” (MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” 5/18/10)