Two thirds of Barack Obama's newly appointed three-person vice presidential search team met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this afternoon, Pelosi's office told The Hill.
Pelosi met with former Fannie Mae CEO James Johnson and former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met with Johnson and Holder earlier today (see Walter Alarkon's Briefing Room post here).
Former first daughter Caroline Kennedy, the third member of Obama's VP team, was not present at either meeting.
Former Republican Congresswoman, and Florida Secretary of State, Katherine Harris is making the media rounds to express her outrage over her portrayal in the HBO movie "Recount" about the 2000 presidential recount in Florida.
"The historic facts are so distorted," Harris said, appearing on Hannity & Colmes with her lawyer. "It's rather outrageous."
The film has been a frequent target of conservative media critics who blast the movie for its favorable portrayal of Al Gore's legal team while showing George Bush's team in a unfalteringly light.
"The last thing I like is the spotlight," Harris said.
Harris used her role in 2000 recount to propel her to a congressional seat, and an ill-fated Senate run.
Alaska Congressman Don Young (R) has reported "no activity" in terms of fundraising for his legal defense fund.
A document filed with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shows that since the fund was approved by the committee on January 9 there have been no contributions to the fund.
The Alaska Republican is under federal investigation for a case stemming from a state bribery investigation involving VECO, a company that services pipelines and builds oil exploration equipment..
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In a much talked about memo following the GOP's special election loss in Mississippi Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) sounds the alarm on the three straight special election losses calling the defeats "canaries in the coal mine, warning of far greater losses in the fall."
For those who have not yet read the memo, a full copy is after the jump.
"The political atmosphere facing House Republicans this November is the worst since Watergate and is far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost thirty seats (and our majority) and came within a couple of percentage points of losing another fifteen seats," Davis writes.
In addition to its frankness, the memo is drawing much attention for the Virginia Congressman's use of the term "tar baby" in his explanation for how the GOP should deal with the immigration issue.
Reports that Davis used the term have been widely circulated, but here is the full quote, unedited:
Remember, Hispanic voters are a swing group in this election and future elections. John McCain, being from a border state, may be out of sync with many Republicans but he has standing among Hispanics. Barrack Obama has not made the sale to Hispanic voters. Thus, this issue is a tar baby for anyone who touches it, with land mines everywhere. But the Democrats control Congress and are doing nothing. This needs to be highlighted. Put the onus on them to produce a bill. Put them on defense.
With the Democratic presidential primary still in flux and Hillary Clinton coming off a big win in West Virginia, undecided superdelegates grow more important each day. The Hill's Manu Raju caught up with two who have yet to endorse a candidate -- Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Montana Sen. Jon Tester (D) -- to see what they are thinking about the race.
Tester said he will back the candidate with the best chance to win in November, but that he will wait until Montana's June 3 primary to decide.
"You know, we're looking at all the time what's going on," Tester told The Hill. "I want to make sure we can go with who can win in November. "
In an online discussion on Firedoglake Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) promised that hearings will be held over the Pentagon's program of using retired military officials to promote the Defense Department's agenda in the media, first exposed in a New York Times article.
When asked during the course of the discussion if there would be hearings on the matter, Reid said, "The answer is yes. I have personally spoken to Chairman Levin and he is tremendously concerned as I. And we are proceeding accordingly."
Reid also had a message for Republicans potentially looking for pickups in Nevada. When one commenter asked if Democrats will carry the state in November, Reid responded, "Damn right!"
WNBC, NBC's New York affiliate, is reporting that according to several New York Republicans, Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) will resign in the next 72 hours.
Fossella admitted yesterday to having an affair that led to a now-three year old daughter, as The Hill reported. Fossella was arrested and charged with a DWI in Alexandria, Va. April 30.
From WNBC:
Several top New York Republicans said that Congressman Vito Fossella's resignation will come within the next 72 hours -- if not late Friday then certainly by Monday.
There was political concern about how best to preserve the seat for the Republicans -- questions about immediate resignation versus finishing out his term and retiring -- but the calculation is there's nothing to be gained from Fossella sticking around. While Staten Island Republicans believe Fossella could at least serve out his term (the rest of the year) national Republicans want him gone. Now.
Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.) was just sworn into the lower chamber and delivered a brief speech. Rep. William Jefferson, the most senior Democrat from Louisiana who is battling federal charges, introduced Cazayoux on the House floor.
Unlike Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) -- whose first floor speech on Iraq following her swearing in last month attracted boos -- Cazayoux stayed clear of any controversy.
He thanked this family, friends and constituents and said he is looking forward to working with his colleagues in the House.
Cazayoux defeated Woody Jenkins in a special election Saturday for retired Rep. Richard Baker's (R-La.) seat.
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