Dems in Disarray Over Obama's Shift to the Center

President Obama's efforts to send a clear message to voters on the economy are being muddied by infighting among Democrats. His plans to freeze federal spending and use TARP funds for small-business lending are meeting resistance from his party on Capitol Hill, while frustrated House Democrats complain that their Senate counterparts aren't passing anything.

Administration officials downplay the disagreements, which include widespread skepticism over a proposed tax credit for job creation. "You have to separate the noise Democrats are making from what’s actually happening,” one senior official tells Politico, predicting that the president will get most of what he's asking for. "There are a lot of people who like to make statements up there to show their independence, but this is the typical back and forth of budget season."
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