GOP Leader Says National Security Won’t Drive 2010 Politics

ABC News’ David Chalian Reports:

Despite the stark divide on display in the Cheney vs. Obama battle today, the Republican charged with winning back a GOP majority in the United State Senate doesn’t believe national security will prove to be much of an Achilles heel for President Obama and the Democrats in the midterm elections next year.

“I think 2010 is likely to be about spending and borrowing and the anxiety the public have there as well as the failure to deal with other looming fiscal challenges like entitlement reform that threaten to swamp us,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Sen. Cornyn went so far as to say that he views much of President Obama’s national security policies in a positive light.

“I think the American people trust Republicans more than Democrats on national security, generally — that may fluctuate the polls,” said Cornyn. “People sort of view with some questions what the Democrats do on national security, but as long as the president is doing what he has been doing, which I view as — the preponderance of which I view as positive, then I think he’ll find the Republicans are with him and the American people will support him.”

The Texas Republican pointed to the Obama approaches in Iraq and Afghanistan and his decision to reverse course and refuse to release detainee abuse photos as encouraging signs, but continued to express concern about the president’s handling of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

“His announcing the closure of GITMO without a plan to hold the detainees, I think got a pretty significant rebuke — bipartisan rebuke — in the vote we had in the Senate yesterday,” Cornyn said.

Later in the day, Sen. Cornyn ratcheted up his rhetoric in a statement critiquing President Obama’s speech today. “His attacks today on those with differing opinions on how to best keep our nation safe reeked of the very same fear mongering that he derided moments earlier. His persistent reminders that he ‘inherited’ these problems are unproductive and trite. Americans are looking for leadership, not finger pointing and excuses for the implementation of ill-advised policies,” said Cornyn.

As former Vice President Dick Cheney prepared to share the proverbial presidential stage today with his mano a mano national security showdown with Barack Obama, Sen. Cornyn said he doesn’t expect all of his candidates to embrace Mr. Cheney on the 2010 campaign trail.

“I think the vice president is controversial in some quarters, but there is nobody that knows better than he does about what the threats are that face our nation and why it was necessary to take extraordinary measures to protect our country,” said Cornyn.

At a reporters roundtable breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Sen. Cornyn was pressed on whether or not Mr. Cheney would prove to be an effective surrogate for the Republican candidates running for the US Senate this cycle.

“I think that depends on the race and where you are,” said Cornyn. “I’d be proud to appear with the vice president anywhere anytime. But I think it depends on the circumstance and the race,” he added.

Sen. Cornyn’s comments sparked Democrats around the country, who are eager to keep the politically unpopular Dick Cheney front and center, to ask Republican senate candidates in competitive states if they would be proud to appear with Vice President Cheney.

“Will you welcome Dick Cheney to Florida to campaign on your behalf?,” a Florida Democratic Party press release asks of Republican candidates Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Marco Rubio.
As for the substance of the Obama vs. Cheney national security debate, Sen. Cornyn doesn’t seem to believe the 2010 elections will be significantly impacted by President Obama’s national security policies, barring an outside 9/11 type of event.

2010 Begins: Specter Attacks Toomey — Already

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Pat Toomey hasn’t even formally announced his candidacy for Senate yet, and 2009 is only three months old — but Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is already attacking his expected 2010 primary opponent in a new TV ad.

The ad — launching as Congress is set to begin a two-week recess — attacks Toomey as a “Wall Street trader [who] sold risky derivatives called credit default swaps — the same swaps that have now plunged us into this financial crisis.”

Toomey, a former House member, came close to knocking off Specter in a 2004 primary race, and polls show him up early among Republican primary voters in 2010. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found Specter trailing Toomey by 14 points among GOP primary voters,

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the new ad will run statewide in Pennsylvania.

Toomey said last week on ABC News NOW that he was “very likely” to announce is candidacy soon.

Biden Hits the 2010 Fundraising Circuit

ABC News’ David Chalian reports: The Obama administration will not quite yet be two months old when Vice President Biden will be dispatched for a fundraising gig for the 2010 midterm election cycle. The Vice President plans to be in Little Rock on Saturday March 14 to help Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., kick off her reelection campaign.

Supporters willing to cough up at least $150 will be able to secure a ticket to hear from the vice president.

In addition to assuming the portion of his vice presidential role that is the political fundraising circuit, Vice President Biden served in the Senate for 36 years and the relationships he has with his former Democratic colleagues will no doubt be called upon to help fill their coffers between now and November 2010.

Simply by being a Democrat in a state won by Sen. McCain in 2008 will cause national Republicans to put Sen. Lincoln’s seat on their initial target list. However, no serious Republican contender has jumped into the race. Last December, former Karl Rove aide Tim Griffin said he is considering making a run for Sen. Lincoln’s seat. Mr. Griffin served as interim US Attorney in Arkansas for six months, but it was not without controversy. His appointment was part of the investigation into the Bush Administration’s handling of US Attorney appointments which eventually led to Alberto Gonzales’ 2007 resignation as Attorney General.

Twenty months out from Election Day, Sen. Lincoln looks to be in pretty good shape to be elected to third term. In her 2004 race, she won with 56% of the vote. At the end of last year, Sen. Lincoln had $810,000 in her campaign account. It is likely no accident that the Biden event is scheduled two weeks before the end of the first quarter reporting period. With the help of the Vice President, Sen. Lincoln hopes to ward off potential Republican opponents by posting an impressive first quarter haul.

“The Vice President?s values are consistent with the values of most Arkansas families and I look forward to welcoming him to Little Rock next month,? Sen. Lincoln said when announcing the visit.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly seized on those comments.

?Blanche Lincoln?s assessment that Vice President Biden is in touch with Arkansas values begs a much greater question ? how out of touch is Blanche Lincoln with her own constituents?? said NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson.