Norah O'Donnell
From NBC's Norah O'Donnell and Mark Murray
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is now back on again for tonight's big Republican fundraising dinner, according to Republican sources.
"Our understanding is she will be attending and will sit at Sen. Cornyn's table," National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Brian Walsh told NBC News.
Another GOP source adds, "She's coming, not speaking… She will be recognized at the event."
Also to be in attendance at tonight's dinner, per a Republican source: GOP Virginia gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell.
From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell
Sarah Palin's dinner date with Republicans in Washington may be off, but she's still planning a political trip in two weeks to Indiana to attend a Right to Life fundraiser.
Her political travel is likely to raise new questions. Her spokeswoman said she would not commit to a Senate-House GOP dinner in June because she was focused on Alaska state business -- not politics.
On April 16, Palin will be attending the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner in Evansville, IN, as well as a breakfast the next day for S.M.I.L.E., a nonprofit organization for people with family members who have Down syndrome. Palin's spokeswoman, Meg Stapleton, said Palin will be taking a "36-hour vacation" to attend the events in Indiana. Palin's political action committee will pay for the travel.
Palin was replaced as the keynote speaker at the Republican dinner in Washington by Newt Gingrich. The event's organizers grew tired of waiting for her to commit to the party's big spring fundraising gala.
Stapleton said Palin would not agree to political events until after April 20, when the Alaska legislative session ends. "She is focused on Alaska," Stapleton said today.
And while Palin's camp claimed no hard feelings about being replaced by Gingrich, Stapleton said, "She probably would have said yes if they could have waited."
Stapleton could not explain why Palin would say yes to a political event in Indiana and not attend a political event in Washington. However, she did note that Palin wanted to honor her son Trigg, who has Down syndrome, at the S.M.I.L.E. event in Indiana.
It's possible there could be a huge increase in political travel by Palin after the legislative session in Alaska ends. "There are thousands of requests" for appearances across the country, Stapleton said.
From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell
As he announced on Morning Joe today, Sen.
Evan Bayh is forming a Moderate Dems Working group that will meet every other Tuesday before the Democratic caucus to discuss legislative strategies and ideas.
Per Bayh's office, the group's goal "is to work with the Senate leadership and the new administration to craft common-sense solutions to urgent national problems."
Video: Bayh is forming a 15-person working group focused on fiscal responsibility.
Here's part of a statement to be released very shortly from Bayh... The group will focus "on the upcoming budget negotiations and the importance of passing a fiscally responsible spending plan in the Senate."
More: "Leading the new group are Democratic Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana,
Tom Carper of Delaware and
Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas... [O]thers joining the group are Sens.
Michael Bennet of Colorado,
Mark Begich of Alaska,
Kay Hagan of North Carolina,
Herb Kohl of Wisconsin,
Mary Landrieu of Louisiana,
Joe Lieberman of Connecticut,
Claire McCaskill of Missouri,
Ben Nelson of Nebraska,
Bill Nelson of Florida,
Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire,
Mark Udall of Colorado, and
Mark Warner of Virginia."
From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and Adam VerdugoThe Clintons --
Bill,
Hillary, and
Chelsea -- just arrived at the swearing-in ceremony.
From NBC's Norah O'Donnell
The office of
Jack Kemp -- the former congressman, HUD secretary, and GOP vice presidential candidate -- announced today that he has cancer.
Per a statement, "Mr. Kemp has been undergoing tests to determine the origin of the disease and the options for continued treatment. He will continue to serve as Chairman of Kemp Partners and plans to remain involved in his business, charitable and politically related activities. Mr. Kemp and his family are grateful for the thoughts and prayers of friends and appreciate respect for their privacy at this time."
From MSNBC's Adam Verdugo
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan responded today to criticism that he's dragging his feet when it comes to bringing up legislation calling for a special election to replace embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, saying that Democrats have not ruled it out.
"All we did yesterday was to defer the question of a special election," he said in an interview with MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell.
The Republican Party in the state points to a poll it commissioned (conducted by McLaughlin & Associates), which indicates that just 14% believe Illinois' is on the right track; 79% say the state is on the wrong track. And that two-thirds support a special election.
Republicans, who obviously want a special election to have a shot at winning the seat, claim that if Democrats in the state house don't take action soon, voters will hold them accountable.
CONTINUED >>
From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell
Caroline Kennedy has reached out to Hillary Clinton to discuss her interest in the Senate seat, according to a source familiar with the replacement process. While Clinton has not made clear who she supports to fill her seat, sources say that the three Hillary supporters who recently made anti-Caroline remarks were rebuked by Clinton confidantes immediately after they made them. A message from Clinton's team was sent to Clinton fundraiser Robert Zimmerman, RWDSU president Stu Appelbaum, and Rep. Anthony Weiner.
When asked whether Clinton would back a candidate, her spokesman, Philippe Reines, said: "This is entirely Gov. Paterson's decision. Sen. Clinton completely respects the privacy of his process so will not be commenting on it or any individual candidate, nor does any third party speak on her behalf."
From NBC’s Cherelle Kantey
Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) said he thinks Jesse Jackson Jr. is still the best candidate to succeed Obama in the Senate, despite the cloud around him due to the Blagojevich investigation.
“He has really all the capacity, the talents and skills,” Rush said in an interview with MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell. “He would be … in line with the great U.S. senators that Illinois has produced in the past.”
Video: Ill. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. calls for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign from his position immediately after being arrested Tuesday, Jackson insisted that he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.Rush said he believes Jackson is being truthful when he says he had nothing to do with a scheme to purchase the vacant senate seat for nearly a half million dollars.
“I don't believe that Jesse Jackson Jr. was in any way culpable or that he participated in any acts that would be unlawful,” Rush said.
CONTINUED >>
From MSNBC's Adam Verdugo
Former New Jersey governor and head of the EPA Christie Todd Whitman said President-elect Obama's choice to head up the EPA, Lisa Jackson, will face an agency that's "pretty deep in the hole."
Whitman noted Jackson's previous experience in the EPA as qualifications that would make her ready for the job.
"She is someone who brings credibility from the environmental community to the agency," Whitman said in an interview on MSNBC with
Norah O'Donnell.
As for Steven Chu, Obama's apparent choice to head up the Energy Department, Whitman expressed concerns over his management experience.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
In an interview with MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell, RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan -- who is running for reelection to his RNC chair post -- continued his criticism of President-elect Obama for his lack of a forceful response yesterday to the Blagojevich news.
“As an American, I am very disappointed,” Duncan said, adding that Obama had an “opportunity” yesterday. “We have a lot of unanswered questions,” he continued. “He needs to answer the charges” that he was an intermediary between Blagojevich and the SEIU, Duncan alleged.
“Let’s talk about the we,” he continued. “Did he have an intermediary? What about Tony Rezko? Where did he fit in all this? …
“Barack Obama has an opportunity to be a different kind of president. … As an American I am outraged.”
CONTINUED >>
