OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: DSCC gets new chief

A possible perk for Bennet — it’s been reported he wants a spot on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Committee assignments aren’t out yet, so there’s still hope for him.

TOMORROW’S AGENDA TODAY: President Obama will speak to members of the Business Roundtable and then will deliver remarks at the 2012 Tribal Nations Conference.

TWEET OF THE DAY: “At @whitehouse congressional holiday reception. Hope the good cheer rubs off on a few scrooges in the House. Decorations are beautiful.” — Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) 

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It was especially great chatting with Rob Lowe. We have a mutual interest in General Grant and the Civil War.” — Newt Gingrich, on his “Parks and Recs” cameo

POLL POSITION:

{mosads}A majority would blame congressional Republicans if Washington fails to reach a deal in deficit talks to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” according to a Washington Post-Pew Research survey. It found that 53 percent said they would blame Republicans, while 27 percent said President Obama would be at fault.

RACE FOR 2016:

Hillary Clinton is sending consolation letters to a number of losing Democratic candidates in congressional races in New York. The revelation that Clinton is cultivating her New York base comes as speculation over a possible 2016 presidential bid for the secretary of State mounts.

And New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) responded testily to a report that he had encouraged Clinton to run for mayor of New York. “Why do you think I encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for mayor?” Bloomberg said according to Capital New York. “I mean, did you hear me say that?”

BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has entered the tax fight with its first targeted attacks of the 2014 cycle, blasting out a press release in the districts of 40 House Republicans the committee feels are vulnerable.

OHIO: Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio.) was arrested in August for public intoxication. 

SENATE SHOWDOWN:

GEORGIA: Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) leads most potential primary challengers for his Senate seat, according to a new poll, but his biggest challenge would be against former presidential candidate Herman Cain. According to a survey from the Democratic-leaning Public Policing Polling, Cain leads Chambliss 50 to 36 percent in a head-to-head match-up. And Newt Gingrich said he would not mount a primary challenge to Chambliss.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Rick Santorum immediately jumped on Tuesday’s defeat of the U.N. disabilities treaty to promote his advocacy group in favor of conservative Republicans.

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) resigned late last month from FreedomWorks, a prominent Tea Party organization, in a dispute over the direction of the group.

Arizona Sens. John McCain (R) and Jon Kyl (R) said they have no idea where Gov. Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.) is. “No, everybody keeps asking me that,” Kyl told The Hill. “I didn’t know she was missing.”

The actor Samuel L. Jackson thinks first lady Michelle Obama is a “superwoman” and would make a good first female president.

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