**President Obama
*The New York Times reports, President Obama "is trying to enlist the nation's governors and his own army of grass-roots supporters in a bid to increase pressure on lawmakers without getting himself mired in the messy battle playing out on Capitol Hill."

The paper notes, "While this outside-the-Beltway strategy lets Mr. Obama stay out of Democrats' internal fights -- for now at least -- there are risks. If Mr. Obama waits too long to exert his presidential muscle to forge consensus on Capitol Hill, his moment of opportunity could pass. He could also lose control of the final outcome if lawmakers cut backroom deals he dislikes, for example, by deciding to pay for the expansion by taxing employee health benefits, a move that worries Mr. Obama's political advisers because it could cause the president to break a campaign promise."

*Meanwhile, Tom Daschle yet again has outlined a potential health care framework, this time working with John Podesta.

*A CNN poll finds "that nearly three-quarters of all Americans support the plan to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns, even though most believe that the troop movements will lead to an increase in violence in that country."

*Former VP Cheney talks to the Washington Times about the Iraq withdrawal this week: "I hope the Iraqis can deal with it," he said. "At some point, they have to stand on their own, but I would not want to see the U.S. waste all the tremendous sacrifice that has gotten us to this point."

*ABC reports that Vice President Biden will serve as the West Wing's "high point of contact" on Iraq. "The new assignment was timed to the pullout of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities this week but the vice president's specific duties are still developing and the role is open-ended."

**Supreme Court
*The New Haven ruling reax, per AP: "Conservatives who cheered the reversal as a blow in favor of evenhanded application of anti-discrimination laws said it deepened their questions about the judge's ability to keep her personal opinions and background out of her decisions." But "liberals who denounced the ruling as potentially damaging to workplace diversity efforts countered that the decision should in fact end questions about whether Sotomayor is an 'activist judge.'"

*In not ruling on the Hillary Clinton movie case, the Court signaled "that it might be ready to give corporations a free-speech right to spend their money to elect or defeat favored candidates," the LA Times reports.

*WaPo: "The Supreme Court's rejection of a decision against white firefighters endorsed by Judge Sonia Sotomayor gives Republicans a renewed chance to attack her speeches and writings but is not expected to imperil her confirmation to the high court, political and legal sources said yesterday."

*Roll Call: "The Supreme Court's decision Monday in a controversial affirmative action case officially joined the battle between Republicans and Democrats over the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the high court -- sparking a debate about whether the ruling is a rebuke of her judicial philosophy."

**Energy Bill Remains
*"The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed by only 219-212, after an epic day replete with Republican ambushes, petty betrayals, hastily rearranged flights and disappearing acts. Yet for all the apparent chaos, the action was commanded by a House speaker maneuvering with the urgency of someone who knew her reputation was on the line," Politico reports.

*"Republicans believe a handful of junior House Democrats may have taken a career-ending vote by supporting the controversial energy bill last week and are planning to launch an ad campaign in targeted districts to try to seal their fate," Politico reports. "Those likely to find themselves with targets on their back after the 219-212 vote: freshman Reps. Harry Teague of New Mexico, Betsy Markey of Colorado, John Boccieri of Ohio, Thomas Perriello of Virginia and Alan Grayson of Florida and second-termer Zack Space of Ohio."

**In the States
*South Carolina: The Hill, quoting an e-mail from Gov. Mark Sanford to supporters: "Well beyond the personal consequences within my own family, I know that at so many different levels my actions have upset, offended and disappointed friends and supporters and for this I am most sorry," Sanford wrote in the email. "In the aftermath of this failure I want to not only apologize, but to commit to growing personally and spiritually."

Here's eyebrow-raiser from Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer's interview with The State: "During an interview Monday, Bauer, who is a bachelor, voluntarily brought up the subject of his sexual orientation, which he said has been the subject of rumors. Asked, then, if he's homosexual, Bauer said: 'One word, two letters. 'No.' Let's go ahead and dispel that now.'"

JMart reports that South Carolina Repubs aren't buying his suggestion that he'd take over as governor and not run in 2010. "The consensus among Bauer's GOP foes is that he made the move to shore up his statesman credentials and could still find a way, in the fashion politicians often do, to still run for governor next year. Also, that Bauer floated the idea knowing that Sanford isn't likely to actually resign."

But there are ever-increasing calls for Sanford to resign, CNN finds.

*"John Boehner is taking a day off from fundraising this week to hit the links with Tiger Woods," The Hill reports.

*FL Sen: "Gov. Charlie Crist's lead in the Republican U.S. Senate race is still better than a 2-1 ratio, but challenger Marco Rubio showed slight progress in a new statewide poll released Monday," Pensacola News Journal reports.

Club for Growth may jump in the race to run ads against Crist, Washington Times reports.

*NY Sen: "House Minority Leader John Boehner has tapped Rep. Pete King (R-Long Island) for a slot on the intelligence committee -- a move that is likely to put the outspoken security hawk on the sidelines for the 2010 GOP Senate primary in New York," Politico reports.

*A Rasmussen poll has bad news for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, as he trails one Republican and barely leads another.

*A ruling in the New York State Senate disaster ordering the chamber to reconvene "was a victory" for Gov. David Paterson (D), the New York Times reports.

*During the Washington Times interview, Cheney also weighed in on the party's 2012 chances. "I think from the standpoint of the party, we've got some great talent out there, young people coming along that are going to do a superb job. I always remind people that in adversity, there's opportunity."

--Kyle Trygstad and Mike Memoli