Morning Constitutional – Friday, 16 July 2010

Good morning, everybody. The guy who blackmailed Letterman learned he was nominated for an Emmy while in jail. Now, your morning constitutional:

Too early for good news? Well, oil has stopped spilling out of the busted well in the Gulf, and while it may be premature, any good news is exciting.

Financial reform passed Congress yesterday, another big win for the Obama administration. But will Americans notice or care?

A new Pew Research poll finds that only 34 percent of Americans are aware that the government\’s bailout of the banks was actually under President Bush, while 47 percent think—incorrectly—that it was during the Obama administration.

In the Connecticut gubernatorial race, both Democratic candidates Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and former Senate candidate Ned Lamont lead their respective Republican rivals, former ambassador Tom Foley, Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele and businessman Oz Griebel, by large margins, giving Democrats hope to take the governor\’s mansion for the first time in two decades.

And, in the Connecticut Senate race, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal still leads his Republican rival Linda McMahan by seventeen points.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will officially announce at 2pm today his choice to temporarily replace the late Senator Robert Byrd.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opens a seven-point lead over Sharron Angle in the Nevada Senate race, a reverse of fortunes for Reid, who was three points down a month ago.

The Lessons of 1982: Why Democrats need not fear the ghosts of 1994.

The chicken came before the egg, scientists determine.

India unveils a new official rupee symbol.

Aaron Sorkin will adapt, produce and direct a movie based on Andrew Young\’s memoir of working with John Edwards.

Finally, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin takes Van Damme to ultimate fighting match.