Childers Likes Obama’s Call For A Spending Freeze

Rep. Travis Childers praised the decision by the president to call for a freeze on non-defense discretionary spending as outlined in last nights State of the Union address. The First District Congressman said, “This is an important first step in reining in our deficit and ensuring that we don’t pass on to future generations the same fiscal mess that we inherited.”

I’d say it’s pretty safe to assume that Obama and his administration are reading the tea leaves from the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and obviously also the Massachusetts Senatorial special election. Nothing wrong with that, all politicians do it, but I doubt the so-called spending freeze really resonates with voters.

Of course Childers is hoping for the opposite reaction. Americans don’t like the wild spending from the Democrats (they didn’t like it from Republicans either), and anyone with a D next to their will be vulnerable on the issue.

A year ago, Childers proudly proclaimed his support for the stimulus and the millions of jobs it would create or save. He still stands by his vote, although it’s been awhile since I heard him say much about it. Today, he wants a spending freeze.

Spending is one of those issues that candidates don’t really seem to press to often, yet it resonates well with the voters. This issue comes down to how voters will view Childers: as the fiscally responsible one who supports the spending freeze or as the big spender who supported the stimulus?

Regardless, be prepared to hear Childers talk a lot more about the spending freeze than the stimulus.