The first challenge of President-elect Obama's first term and of the 111th Congress looks likely to be the passage of a major stimulus package. Obama has been clear that it is his first priority and while he's generally been reluctant to assign a dollar figure to it, he's usually cited a range of between $500b-$1tr. Over the past few weeks, it's become clear that the final number would likely be at the high end of that range and sure enough, now we're starting to get a more specific number:

President-elect Barack Obama is laying the groundwork for a giant economic stimulus package, possibly $850 billion over two years, in his first test of legislative give and take with Congress.

Obama's economic advisers are assembling a recovery plan and reaching out to members of Congress and their staffs.

Obama aides cautioned that they have not settled on a specific grand total. But they noted that economists from across the political spectrum have recommended spending similar or even larger amounts to jolt the worsening economy.

To aid in the passage of Obama's package is a campaign to be launched by progressive groups in order to pressure wavering members.

Despite the uncertainty, Obama got help Thursday from 20 progressive groups investing more than $4 million in advertising and other events to push moderate Democratic and Republican lawmakers to help pass the package. Whatever the details, the package should be on the new president's desk, ready for him to sign, the day he takes office on Jan. 20, members of the group said in a conference call.

A wise acknowledgment that there is likely to be resistance by many folks all over the country to such a large injection of money we don't actually have into the economy. But if what I saw last night is any indication, it's not just moderate and Republican districts where people will need convincing.

I attended an economic forum held by Congressman-elect Jim Himes here in my parents' district (CT-04) and while not widespread, the idea of another stimulus package was met with some real resistance. Of particular concern was the idea that new members would be asked to vote for it mere hours after being sworn in on January 6th (how else would it be on Obama's desk on Jan. 20th?) Will there be time for these Freshmen to actually take the package back to their constituents between their swearing in and their voting for it? How many of them are holding similar forums to gauge the concerns of people in their districts before they're even in Congress? Jim Himes deserves a lot of credit for going on this listening tour of his district before he's even entered Congress and if it is indeed their intention, I hope the House leadership is aware of the sensitivity of having new members vote for something this sweeping mere moments after having been sworn in. As I saw first hand last night, it does not play well and could put some of these new members in an awkward spot with some of their constituents before they've even barely had a chance to break in their new offices.

There's more...

Jim Himes, Democratic challenger to my Republican parents' congressman, Rep. Chris "last Republican left in New England" Shays, has a new radio ad up that features Barack Obama urging a vote for Himes.

You can listen to it HERE.

In it, Obama does more than just say "I urge you to vote for [insert Democrat here]", he talks about why voters should send Jim to Washington:

I need your help in electing Jim Himes to Congress on November 4th. If we want to change the way Washington does business then we need to send the right people to Washington. Jim Himes is the son of a hard working single Mom. He left a successful career in business to build environmentally friendly affordable housing. He's someone who will expand opportunity for all Connecticut families.

This is a particularly big get for Himes for a couple of reasons. First of all, CT-04 -- my old stomping grounds -- is a D+5 district. Obama is absolutely going to crush this district and pairing Obama and Himes is crucial for Jim to win. Shays keeps winning because Democrats and Independents keep voting for him. Obama is sending the signal that that is not an option this year. Also, in 2006, Shays's Democratic challenger went into election day with many polls having her tied or winning but where she lost it was with the anemic turnout among voters in the district's largest city, Bridgeport. We know that won't be a problem this year at the presidential level. Obama is doing his best to make sure that the surge of voters that turns out for him trickles down to Jim. Help Jim keep this ad on my parents' radio by contributing to his campaign HERE.

For all his post-partisan language throughout the campaign, Obama's actions have told a different story. At every opportunity -- particularly during the several special elections we had earlier this year -- Obama has exploited his list and his online (and off) infrastructure to help the Democratic candidates. Barack Obama knows that the larger his majority, the larger the mandate and the more change he can make. That's, in part, what this ad is about.

Larry Sabato, who recently moved CT-04 into the "Leans Dem" category, issued his "The Last Word - Almost" projections for what to expect on Tuesday. Take a look at Sabato's graphic below to get a sense of what sort of majority -- and with it, mandate -- Obama just might have beginning in January.

There's more...

As reported by Ctlocalpolitics.net:

...Jim Himes has a new campaign manager, Dana Houle. Houle was a chief of staff to Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH), and one of the contributing editors at Daily Kos.

While some of the more conservative journalists and bloggers in the area tried to make hay out of this, supposed, '9th-inning' move on Himes' part, the Stamford Advocate, one of the larger dailies in the district, ran the following comment from previous Himes' campaign manager Maura Keaney in a front-page story, today, entitled: "Himes shakes up his staff."

There's more...

I think I threw up a little in my mouth as Republican Congressman Chris Shays's new ad began:

The hopefulness of Obama. The straight talk of McCain...

...and still more as it ended...

Everyone has a congressman, we have Christopher Shays.

Is this guy serious? I know he likes to blur the distinctions between himself and his Democratic challenger every two years but this is ridiculous. But, I suppose, what else is the last remaining Republican congressman from New England who represents a D+5 district to do?

Watch it:

The truth is, Shays is a staunch supporter of John McCain's -- in fact is one of his honorary Connecticut co-chairs -- and is actively trying to defeat Barack Obama. And as for Shays' claim to be "independent", well, the Jim Himes campaign dispatches that myth:

Statistical analysis of Chris Shays’ votes reveals that when it counts, Shays has been a loyal servant of the Republican Party. On the closest votes—when his vote has the most power to affect the outcome, when the Republican Party most needs his support, and when 4th District residents most need him to make the right choice—Shays has lined up behind his Party’s leadership 89% of the time, or nine out of ten times.

This finding—based on analysis of the 1,752 votes cast in the 110th Congress—shows that Shays is not “purple” as he claims, but is, in fact, a true Republican partisan. Real political courage doesn’t mean crossing the aisle when it’s safe and easy; it means exercising independent judgment on the close votes where your decision can really make a difference.

Every two years Shays pulls this crap and it's about time, now that the 4th district has such an excellent Democratic alternative in Jim Himes, that the 4th district stood up and said "we don't need a fake Democrat when we've got the real thing."

There's more...

You'll recall from two years ago that Connecticut's statewide primary elections are unusually late, and this year is no exception. Back down in my parents' district -- CT-04 -- and all throughout Connecticut, today is primary day.

Jim Himes, the progressive Democrat poised to take out Chris Shays -- aka the last remaining Republican congressman in New England -- in CT-04 this November, does have a primary opponent he needs to dispatch. While Jim was endorsed for the Democratic nomination at the Democratic state convention in May, Lee Whitnum forced the primary election via petition. Whitnum's remarkable lack of a resume or any fundraising to speak of makes one wonder why she would even bother, but the Himes campaign is taking the challenge seriously, as they should.

First of all, this primary is going to be an extremely low turnout election, so nothing can be taken for granted. But also, this primary is an opportunity. The more people who do turn out for Jim today, the bigger a warning shot he can deliver to Shays. It's also a chance to raise Jim's profile in the district. All today, Jim will be greeting voters at various voting locations throughout the district (you can see the schedule HERE) and he'll be joining supporters at a results watching party tonight at The Black Bear Saloon in Norwalk after polls close at 8pm.

In addition, today's primary has given newspapers an excuse to write primary endorsement editorials and, well, you can't buy the sort of write-up Jim got from The Darien News-Review on Friday:

Jim Himes is uniquely qualified to serve as our representative in Washington. A Rhodes Scholar, a former Goldman Sachs VP, and currently an executive at the nonprofit group Enterprise Community Partners, Jim has spent the last several years using his considerable talents to bring out the best in our community.

At Enterprise, Jim helped transform neighborhoods throughout the metropolitan region by leading the effort to build thousands of affordable housing units, many of which made use of green technologies to reduce utility costs. Jim understands that we can create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and preserve our environment by making a commitment to building green and investing in new technology. [...]

Most impressive has been the integrity and character Jim has displayed throughout his campaign. He speaks from the heart, and he brings new ideas and fresh energy to bear on the challenges we face. For all these reasons we believe Jim Himes will be an outstanding Congressman and he has earned our enthusiastic support.

So, if you're in the district, don't forget to vote for Jim today (find polling place HERE.) If you're not in the district, you can still support Jim by contributing to Jim Himes for Congress to help send the last Republican from New England left in the House packing and give my parents some real representation in congress for a change. Also, check out some primary day pics over at the Jim Himes blog.

There's more...