The Fix is still recovering from last night's State dinner -- wait, we weren't invited. But, we are up early this morning with Mrs. Fix and Fix Jr., headed out for a few days of rest, relaxation and, most importantly, jellied cranberry in a can. That means light posting for the next week -- when the Fixes take a break we do it right -- as we recharge and ready ourselves for the 2010 midterms. Of course, we always reserve the right to pen a post or two since the Fix is, as regular readers know, a labor of love. Enjoy your Thanksgiving wherever you may be and thanks, as always, for your support of the blog.
148.5 That's the number of dollars -- in millions! -- that has been spent this year on ads by the outside interest groups advocating for and against President Barack Obama's health care plan, according to a comprehensive document detailing the air wars over the legislation. As of this week, groups favoring the bill have spent $73.5 million on ads while those opposing the plan have dropped $75 million -- a stunningly large total that shows the massive political stakes tied to the legislation. For much of the fall, the groups opposed to Obama's plan -- led by the Chamber of Commerce and the 60 Plus Association -- drastically outspent those supportive of the legislation. In the first week of November, the opposition spent $12 million to just $2.5 million for the those who support the package. That margin narrowed to a $600,000 edge for the opposition in the second
Former Ambassador Tom Foley (R) issued a statement moments ago making clear that he is re-evaluating his candidacy for the U.S. Senate and may well jump into the now-open Connecticut governor's race. "I have had a number of conversations with people who are encouraging me to consider running for Governor because they believe I could better serve Connecticut today as Governor than as a Senator," said Foley, adding that he will make an announcement on his plans next week. Foley's statement today marks a significant reversal from the stance he took in an interview with the Fix late last week. At that time, Foley insisted he would not be switching races, adding: "I am involved in this race. I am committed to this race." Foley along with former Rep. Rob Simmons and former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon are running for the right to challenge embattled Sen. Chris Dodd
Politicians publicly pooh-pooh polling -- the only poll that matters, after all, is on election day! -- but every elected official privately pays close attention to the tides of public opinion. Which is why President Barack Obama's announcement next Tuesday on troop levels in Afghanistan is so fraught with political peril since a survey of recent national polls shows an American public deeply divided on what to do next in the country. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey showed 50 percent supportive of sending 34,000 more U.S. troops to the region -- a number that seems to have become cemented conventional wisdom in recent weeks -- while 49 percent oppose such a move. The Washington Post/ABC News survey showed a similarly divided public. Forty six percent of those polled said that if Obama decides to send more troops into Afghanistan they wanted him to send a larger force to "fight Al
