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Political Notebook

GOP aims to rally ranks with new policy effort

May 1, 2009
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Reeling congressional Republicans launched a new policy effort days after their latest setback - the sudden defection of Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the Democrats.

House GOP Whip Eric Cantor announced yesterday that the National Council for a New America will hold its first event tomorrow in suburban Washington, D.C. Expected to attend are: Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who ran for president last year and could run again in 2012; Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, another possible 2012 contender; Jeb Bush, the former president's brother and former governor of Florida; and Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, a former national GOP chairman.

The council hopes to rebut Democratic portrayals of the GOP as the "party of no" by pulling together a cohesive set of policies in opposition to Obama.

On a conference call, Cantor told reporters that "what we're aiming to do is to join together in a conversation with the American people" on major looming issues such as healthcare, energy, and national security.

GLOBE STAFF

Clinton trumpets 100 days at State Dept. in Web post
At first at least, President Obama was a little resistant about making a big deal about reaching 100 days in office, though he ended up having a series of events, capped by a prime-time news conference.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, his former campaign rival, is having no such hesitation tooting her own horn. She marks 100 days in office today, and on Wednesday, the State Department posted on its website a recitation of her accomplishments so far.

"Secretary Clinton is already the most traveled Secretary of State in a new administration," says the "State Department 100-Day Report." "The work undertaken on these trips . . . contributed to early and significant progress on the following priorities: Afghanistan/Pakistan policy, the Middle East, Iraq, Asia, Russia, North Korea, the Western Hemisphere, the climate crisis, engaging in public diplomacy, and other core issues."

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Minn. governor pressured to name Franken to Senate
A liberal-labor coalition is trying to squeeze Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who will likely soon decide whether to allow Democrat Al Franken to take his seat in the US Senate.

With the switch of Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the Democratic fold this week, that would bring the number of seats the party controls to 60 - enough if all the Democrats and two like-minded independents fall in line to overcome Republican filibusters and push through legislation without a GOP vote.

Americans United for Change, the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, and the Minnesota AFL-CIO yesterday unveiled a new TV ad that will start running today to urge Pawlenty to certify the results giving Franken the victory over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman if Franken is declared the winner by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Pawlenty was on John McCain's short list for vice president last year and is in the conversation as a possible Republican presidential nominee in 2012.

GLOBE STAFF

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