**Health Care
*Politico reports that Democrats aren't so worried about Sen. Joe Lieberman's (ID) statement on the public option. "In fact, some Senate liberals even cast Lieberman's announcement as a pleasant surprise, having assumed that the maverick 2000 vice presidential nominee wouldn't back the leadership on even the preliminary procedural vote on the public option."

*The Hill, meanwhile, reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn't have the votes, as "several centrist Democrats ... have declined to say whether they would vote to allow the healthcare debate to begin on the Senate floor. They are waiting for a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and a chance to review the bill before making a decision."

*AP: "Despite the obstacles, senior Democrats cast Reid's draft legislation as a turning point. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said there is now a 'sense of inevitability ... that, yes, we're going to pass health care reform.'"

*Nancy Pelosi is referring to the public option as "the consumer option," CBS notes. "It's not really a public option, it's a consumer option," Pelosi said. "As we're mandating that people buy insurance we are saying to them, you have leverage, you have another choice. This is your consumer option."

*Count Ohio, a key battleground, among the states that will likely opt in if the governor has his way. The Plain Dealer hears this from his spokesman: "The governor believes a public option will ensure that working Ohioans have a truly affordable health insurance option and does not see a reason to opt out."

Don't miss Kyle's breakdown of how the states could break on whether to opt-out.

**President Obama
*New York Times reports that in the White House, "the debate is no longer over whether to send more troops, but how many more will be needed." Advisers "are focusing on a strategy for Afghanistan aimed at protecting about 10 top population centers, administration officials said Tuesday, describing an approach that would stop short of an all-out assault on the Taliban while still seeking to nurture long-term stability."

*The Washington Times reports that some of Obama's top donors have been rewarded with some serious perks, like "VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings." Also, "high-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents."

*Nearly one year after the election, USA Today reports on changing views of the now-president. "The tidal wave of hope that swept Obama into office has ebbed and some perceptions of the president have changed, the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. He's seen more as a down-the-line liberal, less as someone who can bridge partisan divides. Still, he retains a fair share of voter regard and his approval rating, while no longer in the stratosphere of those early days."

Gallup finds that fewer Americans think Obama should focus on the economy, though it still is the top priority. Iraq/Afghanistan, health care, and the budget have all ticked up as concerns.

*The Wall Street Journal take on the new poll with NBC: "Americans are growing increasingly pessimistic about the economy after a mild upswing of attitudes in September. But Republicans haven't been able to profit politically from the economic gloom. ... The survey found a country in a decidedly negative mood, nearly a year after the election of President Barack Obama. For the first time during the Obama presidency, a majority of Americans sees the country as being on the wrong track."

*Is Obama already in legacy-defense mode? Politico thinks so. "For the past two weeks, as he's jetted across the country to fill Democrats' 2010 coffers, Obama has been test driving a new speech that sounds a lot like one he'd be giving if he were on the ballot next year: A line-item defense of his record so far, and a sober reminder to supporters of the against-the-odds campaign slog that eventually swept him into office."

*USA Today reviews state-by-state reports, and finds: "States have reported using stimulus money to create or save more than 388,000 jobs so far this year, buttressing the Obama administration's claim that the $787 billion plan has had a significant impact on the economy."

**2012
*Sarah Palin posts on Facebook urging supporters to donate to the RGA to help next week's efforts in New Jersey and Virginia.

The Iowa Family Policy Center has invited the former governor to the Hawkeye State, Des Moines Register reports.

A CNN poll finds that 7 in 10 think Palin is not qualified to be president.

But Palin still has Levi Johnston to worry about.

*Also going to Iowa (again): Mike Huckabee.

*Ron Paul is heading to South Carolina, CNN's Hamby reports. He'll deliver a speech "on the future of individual liberty and the importance of the U.S. Constitution" at the University of South Carolina.

*Human Events interviews Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn).

**Campaign Stuff
*Roll Call reports, "The floodgates have officially opened" for rank-and-file Republicans to break with the party on the New York 23 special election. "On Tuesday, former National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) spurned the leadership by endorsing Doug Hoffman's third-party campaign in the New York special election, following the lead of Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)."

*This is quite a departure. Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.), who joined President Obama at a Florida town hall to sell the stimulus last year, now says he didn't know he was even in the state. AP: "It surprised Tallahassee reporters" when Crist said he didn't know Obama was at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, "less than 200 miles from the Capitol."

*Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) says he's actually heartened by a poll showing him in a dead heat with likely GOP opponent John Kasich. "The economy is tough and when I look at the experience of many of my fellow governors across the country, I wasn't surprised by the poll and I really wasn't disappointed by the poll," Strickland said.

*Matt McGovern, grandson of former Sen. George McGovern, is considering running against Sen. John Thune in South Dakota next year, CongressDaily's Erin McPike reports.

**Sports Alert
*First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will attend tonight's World Series opener at Yankee Stadium. MLB.com says they will escort "Yankees legend and World War II veteran Yogi Berra and Tony Odierno, who will be throwing out the first pitch." It's part of an effort to support the group Welcome Back Veterans.

It is the Fall Classic, and here are some predictions. Mike is hopeful in saying the Yankees will win in 7, while Kyle picks the National League squad to repeat as World Champs, in 7.