Obama's Presser

It was distinguished, it was Presidential, it was deferential, it was occasionally charming (the puppy stuff was cute). It even broke a little news, as Barack Obama sought to lay out his economic priorities early in his first term. Even the one slip-up, mentioning Nancy Reagan's séances, was defused with aplomb. It was a solid first press conference.

The reason to move cautiously and deliberately is that George Bush has 75 days to go, and the financial world changed plenty in these past 75 days. We don't really know where we'll be on January 20. But foregrounding public works, extension of unemployment insurance and food stamps, and aid for state and local governments as part of a second stimulus is pretty encouraging, because that's what's needed. I think there is a growing consensus around these items, and if the current White House occupant won't move in that direction, the new one will. Of course, 75 days is a long time, perhaps too long to wait.

On a slightly different note, I think Gallup needs to take a deep breath and not run a daily tracking poll on Obama's favorability rating before he even gets in the Oval Office. The election is over. The polls can wind down as well.