Obama Tomorrow -- Raising Kaine
Pres.-elect Barack Obama has two big events tomorrow; he'll give what the transition is billing as a major speech on the economy during a morning event at George Mason University, and he and VA governor Tim Kaine, the next party chairman, will do a press event at the Democratic National Committee.
The first speech will be Obama's first extensive presentation of his economic proposal -- dubbed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan -- which he has promised will save or create more than 3M jobs by investing in health care and energy, among other industries. Cost estimations, though not confirmed by the transition, are said to range from $800B to $1T. Perhaps tomorrow we'll get a more firm projection.
Meanwhile, Kaine will replace Howard Dean at the DNC. Dean leaves having spurred the creation of the once ridiculed 50-state plan. And while Kaine, who loyally endorsed Obama during the Democratic primary and before VA's critical contest, has landed in a position key to the party's future and allowing him a direct line to the soon-to-be administration, Dean has been left out to pasture.
Dean. Passed over for any of the Cabinet or govt. posts -- HHS or surgeon general -- that might have been suitable for the Vermont doctor. Or those positions that would've been perhaps less fitting but equally hard-earned. Obama has been meticulous in wrapping former adversaries into his orbit, but Dean seems the one person who has gotten truly shafted by Obama's team. It seems unfortunate -- unfair even -- because outside of Obama's immediate campaign crew, one could argue Dean did the most -- especially as the Democratic primary appeared stalemated last spring --to keep the party from imploding over the superdelegate counting frenzy. And to allow Obama to emerge victorious, even after Hillary Clinton won several critical contests -- read PA, among others -- and made strong and many believed valid play for the nomination.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
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