Mixed signals on inmate flu shots

“There is no vaccine in Guantanamo, and there’s no vaccine on the way to Guantanamo,’’ White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

He contradicted a spokesman at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, who said that guards and then detainees were set to receive the vaccinations later this month. That prospect set off Obama administration critics, who noted that with suppliers behind on delivering the vaccine, Americans have been lining up for the inoculations.

Army Major James Crabtree, a Guantanamo spokesman, had acknowledged Monday there might be an “emotional response’’ from critics, but he said US military officials are “responsible for the health and care of the detainee population.’’

While Gibbs did not explain the conflict in information, he defended the administration’s efforts to protect the nation against the H1N1 virus.

“Obviously, the president is frustrated that there’s anybody that is in . . . a high-risk group that is having trouble getting the vaccine now, and we’re making progress on getting more and more of that vaccine each day,’’ Gibbs said.

-- Globe Staff and Associated Press

Obama coaxing schools with stimulus cash

WASHINGTON - Using stimulus dollars as bait, President Obama is coaxing states to rewrite education laws and cut deals with unions as they compete for $5 billion in school reform grants, the most money a president has ever had for overhauling schools. And it might end up going to few states.

In Wisconsin, where Obama will visit today, lawmakers are poised to change a law to boost their state’s chances. Nine other states have taken similar steps. And states cannot apply for the money yet.

“There is an appetite out there for change,’’ said Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who will travel to Madison, Wis., with the president. “This was the goal, but we didn’t know if anyone was going to respond.’’

Wisconsin lawmakers plan to vote tomorrow to lift a ban on using student test scores to judge teachers, clearing the way for an Obama priority, teacher pay tied to student performance.

California lifted a similar ban last month. And before that, charter school restrictions or budget cuts were eased in eight states - Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Duncan had repeatedly warned that such restrictions would hurt a state’s chances at the money, and the administration has considerable leverage in the nearly $5 billion competitive grant fund.

-- Associated Press

President’s approval rating shows weakness in areas

President Obama’s overall approval rating is still at a healthy 54 percent, but a new poll suggests weakness on major issues.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released yesterday also shows his approval rating down from 58 percent in the same poll in mid-September.

More worrisome for the White House, the poll numbers have flipped from majority approval to majority disapproval on the economy (54 percent disapproval now, 54 percent approval in September), health care policy (57 percent disapproval now, 51 percent approval in September), and the war in Afghanistan (56 percent disapproval now, 49 percent approval in August.)

CNN’s polling director noted that Obama’s overall approval rating is nearly identical to the 53 percent of the vote he won exactly a year ago, as his approval rating among nearly every demographic group. He is less popular among conservatives than the share of their vote he won.

-- Globe Staff