Tales from the Trail

There’s something about the number four.

It’s FOUR days to the midterm elections which still leaves plenty of room for last-minute commotion.

For example, in the Florida (yes, Florida) three-way Senate race, former President Bill Clinton ended up having to issue this statement today: “I didn’t ask Kendrick to leave the race, nor did Kendrick say that he would.”

Comedian Jon Stewart caps off his weeklong visit to Washington, which included the interview with President Barack Obama on “The Daily Show,” with his Rally4Sanity (there’s that FOUR) on Saturday.

And then on Sunday, the two former Presidents Bush will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Game FOUR of the World Series.

Since the younger Bush was part-owner of the Texas Rangers, there’s little doubt which team he’s rooting for – hint, it’s probably not the San Francisco Giants.
 
Of course, Sunday is also Halloween so beware of the FOUR pounds of leftover candy…   

WASHINGTON - The economy is in tatters and job losses abound, but there are pay raises to be had in these trying times.

You just have to get elected.

Joe Biden, who will become vice president on Jan. 20, will receive a salary of $227,300 — $6,200 more than predecessor Dick Cheney. Close behind is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will get a $6,100 jump to $223,500.  

Senators and members of Congress will get a $4,700 increase, bringing their salaries up to $174,000. House and Senate leaders’ salaries will rise to $193,400 from $188,100.

Today is Veterans Day, a government holiday. President Bush will give a Veterans Day address at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York.
 
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery.
 
President-elect Barack Obama‘s visit with Bush at the White House on Monday dominated the morning news shows, along with interviews from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
 
Obama pressed Bush to help the struggling auto industry, The New York Times reported. It says Bush indicated he might support some aid if Democrats accepted the free-trade deal with Colombia.
 
Palin told Fox news and others she wanted to do more media interviews during her turn as Republican John McCain’s vice presidential running mate during the recent election. And she isn’t ruling out another run for high office.
 
“If there is an open door in ’12 or four years later and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, my state, my nation, an opportunity for me, then I’ll plow through that door, but I can’t predict what’s going to happen,” she said.
 
Economic woes dominate other big U.S. newspapers. The Washington Post says Fannie Mae and AIG are still struggling despite their federal takeover.
 
The Wall Street Journal leads with strains mounting on the federal financial bailout. Fannie Mae may need another cash infusion, it says, and American Express has won quick approval from the Federal Reserve to become a bank holding company, which makes it eligible for cash from the Treasury.
 
U.S. stock futures are down Tuesday morning, pointing to another drop on Wall Street following a slide in Asia and Europe earlier in the day.

For more Reuters political coverage, click here.