National

Obama, Boehner Aim At Each Other In Final Hours

By Mark Memmott

Published November 1, 2010 at 6:04 AM PDT

This story was published more than 14 years ago.

President Obama at a rally in Cleveland on Sunday.

As Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep tells us, on this last day before the midterm elections there were two reports on the show that play off each other nicely. They present the final arguments made over the weekend by President Obama on behalf of his fellow Democrats and House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio on behalf of Republicans. The two men pointed fingers at each other.

"President Obama's message in the final days," reports NPR's Ari Shapiro, "is that fixing America requires the parties to work together. But he says Republicans are more interested in winning elections."

And, Ari reports, at Cleveland State University on Sunday the president gave "a crowd of 8,000 supporters a partisan version of his unity, hope and change message from two years ago."

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"We're not seeing that from the other party," Obama said. "I guess they're feeling cocky, maybe."

And, quoting Boehner, he said "the Republican leader of the house says, 'this is not a time for compromise'." If you'd like to listen, here is Ari's report:

Also from Ohio, NPR's Don Gonyea reports that Boehner has been telling Republicans "to keep up the pressure, right through Election Day." In each of his speeches over the weekend, Don says, Boehner recalled "something President Obama told Republicans (last year) as they fought over health care" policy.

"He said, and I'll quote, 'that's what elections are for'," Boehner told the crowds. "Well, Mr. President, you're right. That's what elections are for. And on Tuesday, the American people, I think, are going to send a very loud message to Washington. A very loud message."

The likely Speaker if Republicans do indeed take control of the House after tomorrow's election also had a joke he likes to tell:

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"Remember when Ronald Reagan was president?" he asks.

"We had Bob Hope. We had Johnny Cash. Think about where we are today. We've got President Obama. But we have no hope. And we have no cash." Here is Don's report: