Dick Cheney vs. Joe Biden (and why it's good for Democrats)

1. The twin appearances by Vice President Biden and former vice president Dick Cheney on Sunday talk shows yesterday were highly anticipated by political junkies and, by and large, they delivered. Cheney, appearing on "This Week" with Jon Karl, took umbrage with President Obama's initial description of the attempted Christmas Day bombing as the work of an "isolated extremist," arguing that it is evidence of a "mindset" that suggests the current administration does not understand the state of play with regard to the central national security issue of the post-9/11 world. "What the administration was slow to do was to come to that recognition that we are at war, not dealing with criminal acts," Cheney told Karl. Biden, who appeared on "Meet the Press" and "Face the Nation," pulled no punches when talking about Cheney. "All I know is he's factually, substantively wrong on the major criticisms he is asserting," Biden said of Cheney. "Why he's insisting on that, he either is misinformed or he is misinforming. But the facts are that his assertions are not accurate." While today's coverage is sure to focus on the Cheney versus Biden dynamic, the underlying debate is a good one for the White House for two reasons. First, the most recent Washington Post/ABC poll showed President Obama's approval ratings on most domestic issues were mediocre but on the issue of terrorism his numbers were strong with 56 percent approving of his handling of the issue and 39 percent disapproving. Given that data, Republican strategists would much prefer a message focused on the economy and health care rather than terrorism. Second, as we've noted before, Cheney is a flawed messenger at best. In an Associated Press survey conducted in mid-January just 38 percent had a favorable impression of Cheney while 55 percent saw the former vice president in an unfavorable light. The more Cheney talks -- about almost anything -- the more people (especially independent voters) are reminded about what they didn't like about the last administration. And, that's very good for the Obama White House.

2. With just 15 days left before the Texas Republican primary, Gov. Rick Perry has moved into a commanding lead over Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, according to a new poll conducted for five of Lone Star State's largest newspapers. Perry received 45 percent to Hutchison's 29 percent. Debra Medina, who was picking up momentum until she suggested that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks might have been an inside job, was at 17 percent. The numbers inside the poll were equally dispiriting for Hutchison's chances. Perry had the most committed supporters with 66 percent saying they were "absolutely certain" they would vote for him on March 2; 56 percent said the same of Hutchison. Tested against likely Democratic nominee Houston Mayor Bill White, Hutchison led 42 percent to 34 percent while Perry held a 43 percent to 37 percent edge -- results that undermine Hutchison's argument that she is the far stronger general election candidate for Republicans. There is much talk that Medina's support, which was largely born of a distaste for the two frontrunning candidates, may collapse in the wake of her 9/11 comments; if it does, her supporters -- the most conservative, anti-government element of the party are a more natural fit in Perry's camp.

3. Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha's widow, Joyce, is the subject of intense speculation that she may step in to fill out the remainder of her late husband's term, a move that would significantly strengthen Democrats' chances of winning the special election expected to be held on May 18. Joyce Murtha will make no decision or announcement until after her husband's funeral, which is set for tomorrow, according to an informed Democratic source. If Joyce Murtha does run, she is likely to clear the Democratic field. If she decides against the contest, there is likely to be stiff competition for the nomination, which will be decided at county conventions across the southwestern Pennsylvania seat. Among the Democrats mentioned: former Lt. Gov. Mark Singel, former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer and state Sen. John Wozniak. The seat, which is the only one in the country that went for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, is regarded as competitive by the two parties. Democrats have won five straight House special elections while Republicans view the seat as a chance to build momentum heading into November.

4. A new Des Moines Register poll shows Gov. Chet Culver (D) in extremely tough shape for his reelection race this fall. Roughly one in three voters (36 percent) approve of the job Culver is doing while 53 percent disapprove -- the first time in the Register poll that Culver's disapproval score is above 50 percent. Even among his supposed base, Culver struggles; just 37 percent of labor households approve of the job he is doing while 57 percent disapprove. Not surprisingly, Culver doesn't perform particularly well in head-to-head matchups with leading Republicans. Former four-term Gov. Terry Branstad (R) leads Culver by a 53 percent percent to 33 percent margin while 2006 lieutenant governor nominee Bob Vander Plaats held a more narrow 43 percent to 40 percent edge. While the news in the poll wasn't good for Culver, it did bring out some of the best/worst spin we've heard since Joe Lieberman's "three-way tie for third" comment in the 2004 New Hampshire Democratic primary. Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan, despite his candidate trailing by 20 points, issued this statement about the Register data: "Branstad should have gone up in the polls after announcing." Riiiight.

5. Ned Lamont, the man who ousted Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary only to lose the general election to Lieberman running as an independent, will formally enter the open seat governor's race tomorrow, according to the Hartford Courant. Lamont will face off with Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, who narrowly lost the 2006 Democratic governor's primary; in a recent Quinnipiac poll, Lamont led Malloy 27 percent to 11 percent but more than four in ten (44 percent) of Democratic voters didn't have a preference in the primary. Lamont, who spent $16 million of his own money in his 2006 race, has brought on a brand new consulting team for this bid. Joe Abbey, who managed state Sen. Creigh Deeds' Virginia governor's bid last fall, will play the same role for Lamont. Fred Yang will handle the poll, Doc Schweitzer the ads and Jim Crounse the direct mail effort.