Yesterday marked the first time that all six announced candidates for chairman of the Republican National Committee were together in one room. The six participated in a debate sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, which was held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington.

RCP's Greg Bobrinskoy covered the event. Over on the Crosstabs blog, he offers a rundown of the characters, the debate and the overall state of the RNC chair race.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has decided against running for the Senate. Bush had indicated his interest in the seat after incumbent Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) announced he would not seek re-election in 2010.

From a McClatchy Newspapers article, detailing Bush's decision, which he announced in e-mails to supporters today:

His e-mail says: "While I will always have more than fond memories of my years in public office and was humbled by the outpouring of support I received over the last few weeks, now is not my time to be running for office. To sum it up, in the words of Dr. Stephen Covey, I have decided to put First Things First. I will continue to stay involved in the advocacy of a vibrant, growing Republican Party and with it, 21st Century conservative solutions to the challenges we face."

You can read Bush's full statement here.

The Republican Party of Florida has released a statement that reassures constituents that all is not lost with this decision. From Florida GOP chair Jim Greer:

"While we are disappointed in former Governor Bush's decision not to seek this U.S. Senate seat, Florida Republicans can rest assured that we have a number of outstanding potential candidates. Under the leadership of Republicans like Senator Mel Martinez, former Governor Bush, and Governor Charlie Crist, the Republican Party of Florida has created a formidable cadre of qualified candidates for higher office, and we look forward to seeing their ideas for the future -- including lowering taxes on families and businesses and reigning in government spending -- in action during a spirited campaign."

President Bush's sub-30% approval rating toward the end of his term looks pretty good compared to Congress's recent ratings. Over the course of 2008, an average of just 19% of Americans approved of the job Congress was doing, down from 27% in 2007 and 25% in 2006, according to Gallup.

The 110th Congress saw Gallup's all-time low approval rating for one month. The Capitol Hill body was approved of by just 14% in July of 2008. Of course, the majority Democrats took no hits in the voting booths in November, and instead increased their majorities in both chambers.

The 111th Congress convenes today knowing that it can't get much more unpopular. With a new president and renewed shot at bipartisanship, Congress may be able turn it around.

As the saying goes, it ain't over 'til it's over. So, with that in mind, is Minnesota's extended Senate race over or not? That's apparently up for debate among Senate leadership, but what's certain is that the state will continue to have just one senator beyond today's swearing-in ceremonies.

"There comes a time when you have to acknowledge a race is over," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said at a press conference yesterday. "The race is over."

Standing at the same podium 10 minutes later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had a different take on the situation. "At the risk of boring you, let me just tell you that the race in Minnesota is not over until the people in Minnesota say it's over," McConnell said. "And the way you say it's over in Minnesota is somebody shows up here with an election certificate. And as I understand it, that's not going to happen tomorrow."

According to the state of Minnesota, it's been certified that Democrat Al Franken is leading at the end of the recount, but the state is prohibited under law from declaring a winner or issuing a certificate of election until all litigation has been concluded. Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's campaign announced yesterday that it does intend to sue, ensuring the process will be drawn out further.

Shortly after the Nov. 4 election, the Coleman campaign questioned whether it was worth the tax dollars for Franken to call for a recount and sought for some absentee ballots to not be counted. Now it's Coleman who is extending the election and calling for more absentee ballots to be counted.

"This process isn't at the end; it is now just at the beginning," said Coleman counsel Tony Trimble. "We will contest the results of the Canvassing Board -- otherwise, literally millions of Minnesotans will be disenfranchised."

Trimble called the "utter lack of uniformity in the treatment of rejected absentee ballots" from county to county the "most troublesome aspect of the recount," and said it violates the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment.

In a statement, Reid spokesman Jim Manley acknowledged that Franken would not be seated tomorrow, but called on Coleman to bring the process to a close quickly. "Shortly after Election Day, Coleman criticized Mr. Franken for wanting a recount and wasting taxpayer money," said Manley. "Now that it is clear he lost, Coleman should follow his own advice and not subject the people of Minnesota to a costly legal battle."

The Minnesota State Supreme Court has rejected the Coleman campaign's bid to have hundreds of rejected absentee ballots included in the Senate recount, the Minneapolis Star reports. The decision clears the way for Al Franken to be certified the winner by the state canvassing board.

The Coleman campaign issued the following statement from attorney Fritz Knaak on the court decision:

“Given our campaign's unwavering commitment to ensuring that the vote of no Minnesotan is disenfranchised, today's ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court is both disappointing and disheartening.  The fact that the Franken campaign now rejects the notion of every valid vote being counted so they can attempt to declare victory on the basis of a broken process, and an artificial lead built on double counting of votes should concern all Minnesotans.  Today's ruling, which effectively disregards the votes of hundreds of Minnesotans, ensures that an election contest is now inevitable.  The Coleman campaign has consistently and continually fought to have every validly cast vote counted, and for the integrity of Minnesota's election system, we will not stop now.  The Minnesota Supreme Court has made sure that an election contest will need to be filed quickly in order to ensure that an accurate and valid recount can be achieved.”

PPP is out with a new poll showing that 44% of people now have a less favorable opinion of Caroline Kennedy than they did before she first offered herself up for consideration for the vacated Senate seat in New York. Thirty-three percent say their opinion of Kennedy hasn't changed, and 23% say they now have a more favorable impression of her.

Overall, 44% hold a favorable opinion of Kennedy while 40% hold an unfavorable opinion of her.

Fifty-seven percent of New Yorkers say they would prefer to see Andrew Cuomo get the appointment, while only 27% now would like to see Kennedy replace Clinton.

President-elect Obama announced four new nominees for posts in the Department of Justice: David Ogden, for Deputy Attorney General; Elena Kagan, for Solicitor General; Tom Perrelli, for Associate Attorney General; and Dawn Johnsen, for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel.

"These individuals bring the integrity, depth of experience and tenacity that the Department of Justice demands in these uncertain times," Obama said in a released statement. "I have the fullest confidence that they will ensure that the Department of Justice once again fulfills its highest purpose: to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Read their bios, provided by the Transition team, after the jump. (more...)

President Bush's approval ratings over the last eight years have been characterized by "extreme highs and lows," according to Gallup. "His record 90% approval rating early in his presidency following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks stands in stark contrast to his sub-30% approval ratings during most of his final year in office, which rank among the lowest ratings ever measured," Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones writes.

When averaging Bush's ratings, he ranks seventh out of 11 post-World War II presidents for highest approval rating -- just below Reagan and above Nixon. Bill Clinton ranks fourth, just below Bush's father.

President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden will meet with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill Monday, reportedly to discuss an economic recovery package. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked this morning on "Meet the Press" about the forthcoming stimulus bill, rumored to cost some $1 trillion, and he said it would cost as much as need be to get the economy back on track.

Those expected to attend the meeting include: from the Senate, Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin, and Minority Whip Jon Kyl; and from the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Minority Leader John Boehner, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Minority Whip Eric Cantor.

Obama will meet with economic advisers and Cabinet members at his Transition offices in downtown Washington later in the day.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name today as nominee for Commerce Secretary, citing a "pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government." President-elect Obama has accepted Richardson's decision "with deep regret."

The AP reports that "a federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico state contract worth more than $1 billion."

Obama and Richardson both released statements to the press today acknowledging the news.

Obama:

It is with deep regret that I accept Governor Bill Richardson's decision to withdraw his name for nomination as the next Secretary of Commerce.Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office. It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.

Richardson:

For nearly three decades, I have been honored to serve my state and our nation in Congress, at the U.N., as Secretary of Energy and as governor. So when the President-elect asked me to serve as Secretary of Commerce, I felt a duty to answer the call.I felt that duty particularly because America is facing such extraordinary economic challenges. The Department of Commerce must play an important role in solving them by helping to grow the new jobs and businesses America so badly needs.

It is also because of that sense of urgency about the work of the Commerce Department that I have asked the President-elect not to move forward with my nomination at this time.I do so with great sorrow. But a pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps, even months.

Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the President-elect and his Administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done.

So, for now, I will remain in the job I love, Governor of New Mexico, and will continue to work every day, with Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, to make a positive difference in the lives of New Mexicans. I believe she will be a terrific governor in the future.I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country.