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Blogs FeedElection Watch Weekly: Fed stays steady
22 June 2012
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Last Friday, Obama issued an executive order halting the depuration of undocumented immigrants who came to the country before they were 16. If the announcement energises the Hispanic electorate it could have large implications on the 2012 elections. Obama explained his position in a Time column and Mitt Romney gave his thoughts in an interview with Bob Schieffer. You can read my take here.
Romney completed a five-day bus tour through six key swing states. The “Every Town Counts” tour was billed as a chance to connect middle class Americans from across the country.
John Karl of the American Broadcasting Company said that reliable Republican sources informed him that Florida Senator Marco Rubio was not being vetted as a potential vice president.
“Although it is possible that Rubio may yet be asked to go through the vetting process, it has been nearly two months since Romney named his long-time aide Beth Myers to run his vice presidential search. The fact that Rubio has not been asked to turn over any documents by now is a strong indication that he is not on Romney’s short list of potential running mates.”
The Romney campaign quickly dismissed the story as false explaining that Rubio was being seriously considered for the position.
The Federal Reserve announced on Thursday that it would continue Operation Twist, its program of buying bonds to spur economic activity. Despite downgrading its outlook for future growth, the Fed has decided not to take further steps to help ease unemployment. Ezra Klein says there's a "scary" implication: the Fed isn't sure it can do much more.
Around the Web
Joel Goldstein outlines the process of selecting a vice president.
An interactive New York Times feature provides "analysis and context to some of the candidate’s truths, half-truths and exaggerations” on issues such as federal spending, job creation and health care.
Andrew Sullivan talks to James Fallows about blogging and the 2012 elections in a segment for the American Review.
Looking Ahead
We’re still waiting for the Supreme Court to decide the fate of Obamacare. Expect the decision to come out Monday or Thursday. Jonathan Cohn runs over the implications of a few possible scenarios and Orin Kerr explains why impact of the decision might not be as big as many think. The Court will also issue a ruling next week on the constitutionality of Arizona’s immigration law.
Fun Fact: There has been two ties in the electoral college. In 1800 the House of Reps broke the deadlock by picking Thomas Jefferson and in 1824 they chose John Quincy Adams.
Trivia: Which US president was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr.?
Answer to last week's trivia: Daniel Webster
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