Is Voter-Vault the Key to a Midterm Election Win?

Making News

President Bush Signs Border Fence Bill ()

President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act today, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of new fencing along the US-Mexican border. While many Republican praise the new law, Bush has renewed calls for a greater overhaul to the nation's immigration policy, one that would include a guest-worker program and provide a path to citizenship.

Guests:

• Dave Montgomery: Regional Correspondent for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Main Topic

GOP Confident over Get-Out-the-Vote Strategy ()

National polls show the Democrats poised to take over the House and possibly the Senate. Yet, despite everything from Congressional scandals to Iraq, President Bush insists he is still confident the Republicans will win. What makes him so confident? Does he know something we don't? Will the "voter vault"--a huge database of demographic, financial and other personal information on individual voters that is the driving force behind Republican get-out-the-vote operations--control the outcome of congressional elections around the country? Will micro-targeting voters deliver the winning margins Republicans need to hold on to congressional power? Lawrence O'Donnell guest hosts.

Guests:

• Jano Cabrera: Democratic strategist
• Jared Craighead: Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party
• Michael Cornfield: Vice President of Public Affairs for ElectionMall.com
• Eli Pariser: Director of the political arm of MoveOn.org, @elipariser
• Peter Wallsten: White House Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, @peterwallsten

Links:

• Wallsten's article on challenge facing GOP in November midterm elections

Reporter's Notebook

Ford Taurus, RIP ()

Americans once purchased over 400,000 Tauruses a year, but Ford says it expects to sell less than half that number in 2006--and there won't be a next year. Taurus made its debut in December, 1985. By the early 90's it had became the best-selling passenger vehicle in America. But Taurus' sales have plummeted in recent years. This week marks the end of an era as the last Ford Taurus rolls off the production line in Atlanta.

Guests:

• John McElroy: Veteran automotive journalist