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Strategy Memo: Raising The Health Care Stakes

Today, President Obama announces what the administration is portraying as a significant step toward health care reform, an agreement among "stakeholders" to reduce costs. He'll meet with these parties this morning before delivering remarks in the EEOB. Later today, the president hosts the NCAA men's basketball champion UNC Tar Heels.

The Senate begins consideration of the Credit Card Holders' Bill of Rights -- the Chris Dodd version. The House passed its own version of the bill two weeks ago. The House will take up the war supplemental appropriations bill this week. Today, no committee hearings are scheduled in either chamber.

And the big political news as the week begins comes out of Florida, where multiple reports indicate that Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will be announcing his candidacy for the Senate tomorrow.

Check out highlights of all the Sunday talk shows you missed at the RealClearPolitics Video page.

**President Obama
*The AP lead on health care: "President Barack Obama's plan to provide medical insurance for all Americans took a big step toward becoming reality Sunday after leaders of the health care industry offered $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program."

*Washington Post: "The pledge comes amid a debate over how, or whether, to overhaul the nation's health-care system, and Obama administration officials predicted that it will significantly increase momentum for passing such changes this year."

*New York Times adds: "At this point, administration officials said, they do not have a way to enforce the commitment, other than by publicizing the performance of health care providers to hold them accountable."

*Obama used his weekly address to promote a credit card bill of rights. The president said too many Americans are victims of "fine print that hides the truth" - including sudden rate hikes, unfair penalties and hidden fees. "Instead of abuse that goes unpunished, we need to strengthen monitoring, enforcement and penalties for credit card companies that take advantage of ordinary Americans," he said.

*USA Today sums up the Correspondents Dinner remarks. We thought his ribbing of Michael Steele was the highlight. Also funny: "In the next 100 days, I will be so successful, I will be able to do them in 72. ... I will learn to go off the prompter, Joe Biden will learn to stay on the prompter."

*Gallup: "President Barack Obama appears to be slightly more popular with Americans at the start of his second 100 days in office than he was, on average, during his first 100."

**Congress
**"The House expects to clear its version of a $96.7 billion war spending bill this week, after lawmakers added money above President Obama's request and sidestepped a difficult issue on terror detainees," NYT reports. "In the Senate, lawmakers are set to return to the issue of credit cards by taking up a measure that would put new limits on how the card companies can change their policies and fees and market the cards."

*AP: "It's a political squall that won't die: What did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi know about harsh questioning of detainees, and when did she know it?"

*"Republicans say new revelations about a CIA briefing Pelosi received in 2002 have given them their best shot yet at blocking a sprawling probe into Bush administration interrogation techniques by allowing them to insist that its targets would include the speaker of the House," Politico reports.

*In Baghdad Sunday, Pelosi "told Iraqi officials on a visit Sunday to Baghdad that America would need to improve its intelligence in their country after U.S. troops pull out," AP reported.

**Republicans
*Michael Steele, who marked 100 days as RNC chair, may find his "standing as a national leader ... on the line" this week at a special RNC meeting in Maryland. LA Times: Steele "plans to deliver a major speech at the party gathering, which could relaunch his chairmanship and stop him from sliding into irrelevance and becoming little more than an object of ridicule for his opponents."

*Big word of the day, courtesy of The Hill's Reid Wilson: "As Republicans undergo an omphaloskeptic examination of their own party amid historic losses,the party must reach out to more voters, top GOP officials said Sunday."

*Different takes on the GOP from John McCain and Dick Cheney. The 2008 nominee for president told ABC: "We can have people in our party who do not have the same views on specific issues, as long as we share common principles. We have to understand that maybe a candidate that can win in one part of our country, like the South, may not be able to get elected in Pennsylvania."

Cheney, however, sided with Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell, saying on CBS that he didn't even think Powell still considered himself a Republican.

*The DNC asks what year it is in a new web video.

**Campaign Stuff
*FL Sen: The Pensacola News Journal first reported it. The Miami Herald and others confirmed it. Gov. Charlie Crist is running for Senate, and he'll face former State House Speaker Marco Rubio in the GOP primary. "It's probably going to be low-key," Florida GOP chair Jim Greer told the St. Pete Times about Crist's Tuesday announcement. "It's his intention not to do anything that would take away from what he's got to be focused on in the coming weeks. There's a lot to do with being governor."

*The Hill notes how Crist's decision shakes up the entire state government, with all major statewide elected officials looking to now change jobs. ""It's the biggest opportunity they've had in decades," Florida political analyst Justin Sayfie said of Democrats. "This is a golden opportunity for Democrats to regain control of the Florida cabinet."

*Awkward night at the Kentucky GOP dinner Saturday night, where both Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning spoke. "There is no hiding the fact that there is tension in the air this evening," state House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover said during his remarks, according to the Louisiville Courier-Journal.

Bunning "touted his conservative credentials and congressional voting record and asked his fellow Republicans for support in the coming year. He reiterated his re-election plans," AP says. "I am nobody's puppet. I am my own man," Bunning said during his remarks. "I hope and pray I can count on your support in the coming months. The battle is going to be long, but I am prepared to fight for my values. I hope you are with me."

*The Newark Star-Ledger, on the Republican primary in the New Jersey gubernatorial race: Steve Lonegan's "creeping poll numbers have forced his opponent to redirect ad spending against him. In short, there are signs Chris Christie has grasped the risk of underestimating Steven Mark Lonegan."

*Today, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta announces his candidacy for the New Hampshire first congressional district seat held by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

*George Stephanopoulos reported this weekend that senior campaign officials who came to believe rumors about John Edwards' affair had a plan to "sabotage" his candidacy should he look like a potential nominee.

**White House Correspondents Association dinner: Chronicled by WaPo, the Examiner, Politico, etc. Mike had had a solid time at the Capitol File after party, where celeb sightings included Eva Longoria, Dule Hill, and Christian Slater.

--Mike Memoli and Kyle Trygstad