Obama fires first salvo

We wondered earlier how Obama -- who is so comfortable in politics, but unproven in crisis -- would handle the worst moment of his presidency. With more politics, it appears.

If his advisors wanted him to project confidence that's what they got. We mentioned yesterday how his political arm was starting its 2010 GOTV drive this weekend, and Obama seemed to spearhead that today.

From Politico's Glenn Thrush:

PITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama — seizing on the smash-mouth spirit of the Steelers — plans to deliver his first major midterm hit on the GOP on Wednesday during a quick trip to Western Pennsylvania.

Obama has largely been on the defensive during his spring string of reasoned, low-key “Main Street” speeches in Middle America, battling critics of his stimulus and health care efforts.

But in excerpts of remarks released ahead of his speech at Carnegie Mellon University, Obama went on the summer offensive, accusing Republicans of sucking up to corporations, hewing to a bankrupt economic ideology and peddling tried-and-failed tax breaks for the rich.