Today in the West Wing: May 18, 2010

The President hits the road today for another installment in his "White House to Main Street" tour. Today's destination: hard-hit Youngstown, Ohio (March unemployment rate: 14.0%). He'll tour one place that is actually doing well, the V&M factory, which makes steel pipes for the natural gas industry. Then it's back to Washington for a late afternoon meeting with Jewish lawmakers.

But behind the scenes, all eyes in the West Wing are on primaries in Arkansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. After Democrats lost the Governorships last year in New Jersey and Virginia - and the stunning loss of Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts - everyone wants to know what tomorrow means for November's mid-term vote, now less than six months away.

Pointing to the downfall of Utah's arch-conservative Republican Sen. Robert Bennett, the White House says the anti-incumbency mood is just as applicable to the GOP as it is to Democrats. True - but unfortunately for them, there are a lot more incumbent Democrats this year.

In Arkansas, the incumbent Senator Blanch Lincoln (D) is favored to win the Democratic primary race over Bill Halter. The winner will face the GOP Rep. John Boozman in November; polls show Boozman beating either one of them.

In Kentucky, political novice Rand Paul (the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul) has a double-digit lead over Trey Grayson, the Republican Party establishment's choice in the GOP race for Senate. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo holds a seven -point lead over Attorney General Jack Conway. The winners will face off in November for the seat beign vacated by Sen. Jim Bunning (R).

And in Pennsylvania, the Democratic Senate primary is going down to the wire with Rep. Joe Sestak and the longtime incumbent Arlen Specter running neck and neck. The winner will probably take on former GOP congressman Pat Toomey in November.

The Schedule

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:20PM THE PRESIDENT tours the facilities of V&M Star
Youngstown, Ohio
Travel Pool Coverage

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on jobs and the economy to workers
V&M Star
Open Press

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Jewish Members of the Democratic Caucuses
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

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Presidential Quote

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
- John Adams