Political Scene

WHITE HOUSE

Obama: Referendum bad case for party

President Obama conceded Thursday that if the midterm elections turn out to be mostly a referendum on the sluggish economy, his fellow Democrats are “not going to do well.”

In an interview with ABC News aired Thursday, Mr. Obama said the party should be able to maintain control of the House and Senate if the electorate takes a look at what the stances of Democrats and Republicans. But he said Democrats won’t do well if it amounts to a referendum on “the economy as it currently is.”

Mr. Obama said he thinks “everybody feels like this economy needs to do better than it’s been doing.”

The president rolled out a trio of new plans this week to help spur job growth and invigorate the lethargic national economic recovery. They would expand and permanently extend a research and development tax credit that lapsed in 2009, allow businesses to write off 100 percent of their investments in equipment and plants through 2011 and pump $50 billion into highway, rail, airport and other infrastructure projects.

SENATE CAMPAIGN

Palin backs GOP outsider in Delaware

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday endorsed Christine O'Donnell's Senate bid in Delaware, hoping to give another “tea party”-backed candidate a final push to defeat an establishment favorite.

The former Alaska governor announced the endorsement on radio host Sean Hannity’s program and on her Facebook page.

“Please support Christine O’Donnell in Delaware,” Mrs. Palin wrote to her supporters on Facebook. “She will support efforts for America’s energy security, patient-centered health care reform, cutting government waste and letting the private sector thrive and prosper!”

The endorsement could provide a major boost for Ms. O’Donnell, who is locked in a bitter primary against Rep. Michael N. Castle but short on campaign cash. While the Tea Party Express has pledged $250,000 to help Ms. O’Donnell, her campaign financial reports filed on Aug. 25 show that she raised about $260,000 total for her bid and had about $20,000 in the campaign bank account.

Mr. Castle, a nine-term member of Congress and a two-term governor, raised $3.2 million and had $2.6 million cash on hand.

NEVADA

Angle courts wary Hispanics

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