Politics Today: Health Care Takes Center Stage

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in Politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

**Health care takes center stage...

**President Obama hits the road to campaign for embattled N.J. governor and to speak at NAACP's 100th anniversary celebration...

**Sotomayor hearings, day 4...

**2012 GOP frontrunner already? Not so fast...

HEALTH CARE: Yesterday, it was the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that moved a $600 billion health care bill out of committee. Today, two of the three House committees working on health care are expected to vote on the House Democrats' $1.5 trillion proposal.

5013485"Votes were planned Thursday in the Education and Labor and Ways and Means committees on a $1.5 trillion plan that majority House Democrats presented this week. The legislation seeks to provide coverage to nearly all Americans by subsidizing the poor and penalizing individuals and employers who don't purchase health insurance," reports the Associated Press' Erica Werner.

"A third House committee, Energy and Commerce, also was considering the measure Thursday, but the road was expected to be rougher there. A group of fiscally conservative House Democrats called the Blue Dogs holds more than half-a-dozen seats on the committee — enough to block approval — and is opposing the bill over costs and other issues."

"The Senate's health committee approved a bill that would vastly expand health care in America, the first time in 15 years a congressional panel has endorsed coverage for all," add the Washington Post's Ceci Connolly and Lori Montgomery.

"'We are now closer to the goal of health reform than we have ever been,' Obama said. But the 13 to 10 party-line vote, after rancorous comments by the top Republican on the committee, underscored the mounting tensions in Congress and the country over the president's signature item. From one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other, lawmakers, lobbyists and the president himself all moved quickly to position themselves for the intensifying battle. In the House, a mini-rebellion was erupting over cost controls ... while several influential industry groups broke their polite silence and issued pointed attacks on core elements of the legislation."

Meantime, President Obama is working overtime on health care, scheduling meetings with Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, two swing votes and two members who were targeted by an ad campaign from Obama's political organization, Organizing for America, urging them to get on board with health care.

Yesterday, Mr. Obama met with Senate Republicans, delivered remarks in the Rose Garden urging Congress to pass health care and sat with the medical correspondents from the big 3 TV networks to talk about the legislation.

CBSNews.com's Stephanie Condon on CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook's interview with the president: "President Obama ... told ... LaPook that he would support measures designed to tax the wealthiest Americans. In legislation introduced yesterday, House Democrats proposed raising the taxes of those who make more than $1 million a year by 5.4 percent.

"'I think the best way to fund it is for people like myself, who have been very lucky and are in the top -- not just 1 percent, but top half percent -- of the income ladder to pay a little bit more,' Mr. Obama said.

The president acknowledged the House and the Senate may have different ideas about how to pay for reform. He did not specifically express support for House Democrats' proposed tax increases or another particular proposal on the table.

However, he said, 'The general notion that those of us who are the best off can pay a little bit more upfront to help reform a system that will save us money over the long term, I think that's a good idea.'"

CBS News' Chip Reid, "Small Businesses Balk at Health Care Plan"

New York Times' Robert Pear and David M. Herszenhorn, "Health Care Vote Illustrates Stubborn Partisan Divide"

Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O'Connor, "Obama plays waiting game on health bill"

Washington Post's Shailagh Murray, "Obama Eyes the Purse Strings for Medicare"

Wall Street Journal's Laura Meckler, "Democrats Turn Up the Heat on Insurance Industry"

PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY: Mr. Obama will turn his attention to helping an embattled Democratic governor by heading to New Jersey to campaign for Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J. Corzine is badly trailing Republican Chris Christie (12 points in a Quinnipiac Poll this week) ahead of November's election – only 8 months after the Democrats took the White House and gained seats in Congress.

What's wrong? Well, it seems that New Jerseyans, rightly or wrongly, are blaming Corzine for high taxes and the economy. Also, it seems they just don't like him. The Quinnipiac Poll showed Corzine with a 33 percent job approval rating, compared to Mr. Obama's 60 percent rating in the same poll. Corzine's folks have to hope that some of the president's magic will rub off.

Mr. Obama will attend a rally at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., at 3:15 p.m. ET along with a fund-raiser. The rally is expected to attract 17,500 people.

Christie "welcomed" Mr. Obama's visit with a Web video saying, "Your election didn't end the people's hunger for change here in New Jersey. People found that high taxes, high spending, overzealous regulation and lost jobs is not the way they want a New Jersey future to be. They know that to get the change we need in New Jersey, we have to start by changing governors."

Newark Star-Ledger's Claire Heininger, "President Obama visits N.J. to bolster Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election bid"

Tonight, the president heads to New York to speak to the NAACP as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. He will tell "the nation's oldest civil rights organization that government, families and neighborhoods must work together to improve their communities," reports the Associated Press' Philip Elliott.

"Obama also planned to urge young people to aspire to surpass their role models and resist the lure of mediocrity during a speech Thursday to the NAACP. White House aides said the president did not intend to introduce new programs or policy, instead striking an inspirational tone on the 100th birthday of the civil rights groups."

The Hill's Sam Youngman, "Job worries for Obama at NAACP"

5161860SOTOMAYOR: "Barring a monumental mistake, Sonia Sotomayor has to endure only a few more hours in the witness chair before she can look ahead to her eventual confirmation as a Supreme Court justice," writes the Associated Press' Mark Sherman.

"Sotomayor returns for a third and final day of questioning Thursday, having avoided saying much on a range of hot-button issues, including guns and abortion. Her unwillingness to be pinned down on almost any topic frustrated even some friendly Democrats. 'I think your record is exemplary, Judge Sotomayor, exemplary,' said Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., who quit the Republican Party earlier this year. 'I'm not commenting about your answers, but your record is exemplary.'"

"Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor revealed only what she wanted to, and nothing more, during two days of grilling by the Senate Judiciary Committee," report McClatchy Newspapers' Michael Doyle and David Lightman.

"The 55-year-old New York native showed her human side; at one point, pivoting in her chair to whisper to her 82-year-old mother, Celina, 'Thanks, Mom.' She flexed her prosecutorial muscle, speaking of her time in the district attorney's office. She stayed calm, praised precedent and respectfully cited conservative justices. …

"So far, Sotomayor has stayed completely in control even as the Judiciary Committee's 19 members alternately tried to shake and support her. Nowhere has her self-command been more evident than in her refusal — despite repeated efforts by Republicans and Democrats alike — to offer hints about her thinking on the nation's most politically sensitive disputes."

CBSNews.com's Declan McCullagh, "Sotomayor Ducks Questions About Gun Rights"

CBS News' Andrew Cohen, "After 2 Days, Sotomayor Still Standing"

Wall Street Journal's Naftali Bendavid, "Nominee's Testimony Avoids Advocating Liberal Stands"

Associated Press' Nancy Benac, "Richer portrait of Sotomayor emerges in hearing"

Time Magazine's Jay Newton-Small, "Republican Grilling of Sotomayor Doesn't Help with Hispanic Voters"

CBS News' Sarah Dutton, "To Confirm or Not to Confirm: Polling on Court Nominees"

NY Times' Peter Baker and Charlie Savage, "Post-Sotomayor Nominations Are at Stake in Hearings"

Washington Post's Ann Gerhart, "Sen. Specter Well-Prepared to Pepper Sotomayor With Questions"

2012: Gallup Poll: "About one in four Republicans and Republican-leaning independents make Mitt Romney their top choice for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, giving him a slight edge over Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the choice of 14% of Republicans, with much smaller numbers choosing current Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Haley Barbour of Mississippi."

Take a deep breath. OK. Now, before everyone talks about what this poll really means, let's turn on the time machine and go back and look at early polling before the last two presidential elections.

Gallup, Nov. 12, 2002: "Given a list of seven names, Democrats who are registered voters continue to favor Al Gore, who gets 36% of his party's vote. Three men are tied for second place at 12%: Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry."

Gallup, Aug. 9, 2005: "There are two leading candidates for the GOP nomination at this point (should they end up running, of course): Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Twenty-seven percent of Republicans who are registered to vote pick Giuliani as their nominee, while 24% pick McCain. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice comes in third with 19%, followed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist with 9%, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 4%, and New York Gov. George Pataki and former Virginia Gov. George Allen with 3% each.

"On the Democratic side, there is no contest. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is chosen by 40% of Democratic registered voters. John Kerry and John Edwards -- both from the 2004 Democratic presidential ticket -- tie for second with 16% and 15% of Democrats' votes, respectively. Everyone else in single digits, including Delaware Sen. Joe Biden with 9%, and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark with 5%."

In 2002, John Kerry was barely a serious choice and turned out to be the Democratic nominee. And in 2005, Rudy Giuliani led the Republicans while there was "no contest" on the Democratic side as Hillary Clinton was the top choice. Barack Obama wasn't even in their poll!

Deep breath... recent history indicates it might be a little early for accurate 2012 presidential polling...

ALSO: Vice President Biden heads to Virginia today, first stop: Alexandria for a meeting of his Middle Class Task Force. Then he's off to Richmond for an event touting the president's economic stimulus plan.

Tonight, he attends a fund-raiser for another 2009 gubernatorial candidate – Virginia Democrat Creigh Deeds, who's running a tight race against Republican Bob McDonnell.

Richmond Times-Dispatch's Jeff E. Schapiro, "Gubernatorial candidates about tied in poll"

Tomorrow, the National Governors Association annual meeting convenes in Biloxi, Mississippi. Govs. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, and Mark Sanford, R-S.C., will not be attending.


HILLARY CLINTON

Washington Post's Glenn Kessler, "Clinton: U.S. Urges 'Multi-Partner World'"

LA Times' Paul Richter, "Hillary Clinton's star power overshadowed, analysts say"

NY Times' Mark Landler, "For Clinton, '09 Campaign Is for Her Turf"

CIA

Washington Post's Joby Warrick, "CIA Assassin Program Was Nearing New Phase"

FINANCIAL INDUSTRY

Washington Post's Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Brady Dennis, "Obama Hears Dissent on Plan to Reform Financial Regulation"

NY Times' Zachary Kouwe, "Paulson to Face Questions on Deal to Save Merrill"

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

Time Magazine's Mark Thompson, "Obama, Lawmakers Fight Over F-22 Cuts in Funding Battle"

GOV. MARK SANFORD

Greenville News' Tim Smith, "Gov. Mark Sanford postpones meetings to take trip with his wife"

The State's John O'Connor and Gina Smith, "Sanford also was MIA in 2008"

SEN. JOHN ENSIGN

Las Vegas Sun's Lisa Mascaro, "Ensign's $96,000 question: Severance pay or gift to Hamptons?"

FUTURE RACES

The Hill's Aaron Blake, "Dem primaries clear up after second-quarter fundraising"

2010 CA Governor: Orange County Register's Martin Wisckol, "Sanchez mentioned as possible candidate for governor"

2010 NY Governor: NY Times' Danny Hakim, "Cuomo Leads in Fund-Raising, but Paterson Spends More"

2010 CO Senate: Denver Post's Jessica Fender, "Sen. Bennet takes in another $1.2 million"

2010 CT Senate: Hartford Courant's Edmund H. Mahony, "Dodd, Opponents Compare Local Vs. PAC Money Received"

2010 FL Senate: Jacksonville Observer, "Rubio Denies Interest in Switching Races"

2010 IL Senate: Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, "Kirk making it official: He'll run for Senate"

2010 KY Senate: CQ Politics' Greg Giroux, "Bunning May Be Running, But Grayson Collects"

2010 MO Senate: Springfield News-Leader's Malia Rulon, "Blunt has edge in campaign funds"

2010 NH Senate: Manchester Union Leader's John DiStaso, "Steve Merrill's in Ayotte's corner"

2010 OH Senate: Columbus Dispatch's Jonathan Riskind and Joe Hallett, "Portman ahead in cash, but not polls"