David Plouffe: Obama "Delivering on His Promise"

By: Tucker Reals
Topics: 2009 Elections

(CBS)

President Obama's campaign manager played down the significance of election results that saw Republicans steal two governorships from his party, and gave a glowing assessment of his boss's performance one year into the job.

"I think generally these elections tend to be overrated in terms of what they mean later," David Plouffe told "The Early Show" of the GOP victories in New Jersey and Virginia.

Plouffe said the White House was pleased to have taken New York's 23rd District in a special election for the House of Representatives, "But I think the results of that are almost less important than the dynamic in the Republican party, which is Palin and Limbaugh and Beck and others out there purging moderate candidates out of the Republican party. And I think the pathway to success is really the middle of the electorate."

The campaign manager appeared on "The Early Show" in part to publicize his new book, "The Audacity to Win," in which he shares intimate details from the campaign trail. Click here for an excerpt.

Plouffe told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith he "couldn't disagree more strongly" with some who have criticized President Obama's for lacking his campaign zeal after winning the White House.

"I think what the president's doing to rebuild the economy at the same time doing the long-term things on health care and energy that will make this country strong for decades to come is both audacious and needed," said Plouffe, "And I think he's delivering on his promise."

CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports that Mr. Obama actually made a whopping 500 promises on the campaign trail, many of which have proven difficult to keep.

Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

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by edmundsingleton November 5, 2009 5:23 AM EST: It has always been true, politics is local...; Reply to this comment


by dadirt November 4, 2009 2:44 PM EST: Put on a happy face while you do all you can to run the economy. After almost a year now they are looking at small business. Probably only ones that are unionized. Obama hasn't done anything he has promised. I don't remember hearing anything about taxing us to death and continuing to kick us while we are down. We can believe in the change, we believe he is uting the country so deep in a hole we will never get out. Inflation here we come!; Reply to this comment


by bcpats November 4, 2009 1:03 PM EST: beckie-best - - where are you to defend the dems??; Reply to this comment

by revlin1 November 4, 2009 12:14 PM EST

Get Real....delivering on what? The entire USA over to "sharia" law? When this Obama discussed Afghanistan, did anyone notice that he mentioned, "the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan"...since when does RELIGIOUS state get mentioned....I DARE HIM TO STATE . "I am the President of the Christian nation of United States of America with Judeo Christian leanings"....Will he do that? NO ON YOUR LIFE...He bows down to a Saudi prince (a financier of his fiasco) and lights candles to some Buddhist shrine in our White House..HELLO? Does this guy here in the article get WHO Obama is? The rest of us have it figued out....WHAT PROMISES? To troops, to Americans across the nation, to be bi-partisan on anything? Promises have been kept alright, TO SOROS, BOLLYWOOD AND ARAB/PALESTINIANS WHO FINANCED THIS MESS....(let's not even get into what happened with all the "organizers" and those poor people his staff PAID for to get their votes many times over....LOL)

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by AOCGUY November 4, 2009 1:21 PM EST: revlin1 - Just as we are the United States of America their "official" name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.


by bcpats November 4, 2009 11:25 AM EST: Depends on which side of the fence one is on, if the Va, NJ have any significance. A positive spin on a very negative event (for the Dems) is their only defense at this point - - along with the false statements of many accomplishments of the 'annointed one'. Gotta wonder how ignorant Plouffe thinks the rest of us are.
Well, Obama did say it was time for change....; Reply to this comment


by bhrater November 4, 2009 10:52 AM EST: These races mean nothing, just a chance for some bragging rights, even though they (Republicans) did nothing to deserve it.
It's easy to say Obama hasn't done anything,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/signed-legislation will show some things have indeed been done.
This change we voted for last November, was it expected to be done in his first year in office?
I would think before saying Obama has failed at least wait until his third year, see what he will have achieved. Some on the right want him to fail, that's not very American, but they care more about political party than country.
But to say he has done nothing and look to the people who's actions created the recession in the first place is idiotic, and only after nine month's.
I miss the good old days when war spending was kept secret, my phone was tapped, and $4 dollars a gallon!; Reply to this comment


by faceofus November 4, 2009 10:51 AM EST: After reading a number of articles and ensuing comments filled with little but hatred, it is refreshing to finally read a couple of comments that actually have something intelligent to say.; Reply to this comment


by us_1776 November 4, 2009 10:45 AM EST: Virginia has a tradition of electing opposite-party governors and so they continued that tradition. New Jersey wanted a more dynamic governor than Corzine. Corzine was directionless. And they chose a Republican candidate. And they just as easily could have chosen a Democratic candidate if a choice other than Corzine had been offered. And none of this says anything about President Obama. It's just plain local politics.; Reply to this comment


by rocketjl November 4, 2009 10:23 AM EST: David Plouffe could be right about one action accomplished. I wish he had the time to explain all the failures,reversals, and promises that Obama clearly plans to not keep.

Nice try Dave!!; Reply to this comment


by Amazingoly November 4, 2009 9:40 AM EST: Nothing stolen here, only the beginning, as voters are completely fed up with the bailouts, lack of transparency, Czars, ridiculous thousand page bills that are put together behind closed doors. Look for very few to be re-elected next year unless the course is changed fast.; Reply to this comment