Obama's Town Hall in Nashua N.H. Video

Obama made it clear that he's bent on getting healthcare done. It's interesting the number of ways he's talked about it over who knows how many speeches. Perhaps it will sink in with the media and the public. He also made it sound like healthcare will start anew. He said republican and democrat's health reform ideas will be aired on C-SPAN this time.
Tomorrow, Obama will address democrats' questions at their retreat beginning at 10 am eastern.
Updated with full video

Key elements of the new Small Business Lending Fund are below:

Limited to Community and Smaller Banks Which Devote a Higher Share of Lending to Small Businesses: The Small Business Lending Fund would support lending among small- and medium-sized banks (with assets under $10 billion). These banks devote the highest percentage of their lending to small businesses in their communities, accounting for over 50 percent of all small business loans nationwide, even though they make up only about 20 percent of all bank assets.

Program Would Be Separate and Distinct from TARP to Encourage Participation: By transferring, through legislation, $30 billion to a new program that would be distinct from TARP, the Administration’s proposal would encourage broader participation by banks, as they would not face TARP restrictions.

A Core Function of New Fund Would Be Offering Capital With Incentives to Increase Small Business Lending: The Administration’s core proposal for the new lending fund is an initiative to invest in smaller banks capital under terms that provide strong incentives to increase lending. As participating banks increase lending to small firms compared to 2009 levels, the dividend paid to Treasury on that capital investment would be reduced.

Administration Will Discuss with Congress Additional Ideas to Enhance Credit for Small Businesses Through the Small Business Lending Fund. While the Administration is presenting its plan to provide capital with an incentive structure to maximize small business lending, it looks forward to discussing with Congress other ways that – in addition to what is described above – the Small Business Lending Fund could be fully deployed. WH

Read more about the small business lending program here.

Obama Visits Nashua New Hampshire Feb. 2

Update Feb. 2: Watch video here.

Update: Obama will appear at Nashua High School North for a town hall to be held at 2:15 pm eastern. The event is likely to be live streamed at MSNBC.com. There will be an audio stream at WhiteHouse.gov.

Jim Demers, Concord lobbyist and former Obama campaign co-chairman during the New Hampshire primary campaign confirmed that President Obama will visit Nashua on Tuesday.

"I’m aware that he is going to be coming to the Nashua area and it is my sense that he will be carrying the message from his State of the Union address to the people here," he said. "It is one of many stops across the country he has planned."

Demers said polls indicate Obama remains "very popular in New Hampshire. Union Leader

Obama Has Big Lead in New Hampshire

Survey USA: Fiercely independent New Hampshire, which was expected to be a 2008 battleground, is poised today to award Democrat Barack Obama a larger share of the presidential vote than it has given any Democrat since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WBZ-TV in Boston. Four days until votes are counted, Obama defeats John McCain 53% to 42%%. New Hampshire voted Republican in 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 2000. New Hampshire voted Democrat in 1992, 1996 and 2004, but no Democrat running for President in New Hampshire has received more than 50% of the vote in the past 44 years. Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll 3 weeks ago, Obama is flat, McCain is up 2.

Men Shifting to Obama

I just heard a man at the New Hampshire rally yell "We love you Senator!" Obama's says McCain is trying to suggest that it's a plumber he's fighting for. Obama: How many plumbers do you know making a quarter of a million a year?
For the first time, Obama is up with men: 49% to 44%

Gallup: With only a few exceptions, most voter subgroups have shifted in Obama's direction since mid-September, about the time that the economic crisis came to dominate the news headlines. The following outlines some of the more notable shifts among voter subgroups.

Gender

Women, who had been strong supporters of Obama for much of the campaign, quickly returned to the Democratic fold after they had moved more toward McCain after the Republican convention in early September. Women have supported Obama by an average of 53% to 39% over the last four weeks.

As recently as the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5, men continued to show a preference for McCain, but in the last week, Obama has gained the lead among men, 49% to 44%. Even with that recent movement among men, the data continue to reflect a gender gap, with women significantly more likely than men to support the Democratic nominee.

Obama to Supporters: Don't Be Too Cocky

Good advice. 
Obama needs to win this in a landslide so that there is no doubt who the next president is.

CNN: “For those of you who are feeling giddy or cocky and think this is all set, I just say one word — I guess it’s two words for you — New Hampshire,” Obama told a high-dollar fundraiser crowd in Manhattan, referencing his loss to Hillary Clinton in January’s primary. “I’ve been in these positions before where we are favored and the press starts getting carried away and we end up getting spanked … and so we want to make sure we are closing strong, right through the tape.”

The morning after the last presidential debate, Obama displayed a mix of wistfulness and humor about one part of the political process coming to an end.

“We had a fun night last night. I’m deeply sad that after 26 debates we have no more debates,” he said to laughter. “I was hoping to have several more.”

Post Debate Poll Wrap

Some excellent news in New Hampshire and New Mexico. First New Mexico:

Rassmusen: New Mexico has been near the top of the list of “Red States” that Democrats hoped to “Turn Blue” in Election 2008 and Barack Obama is poised to do so with just over a month to go until Election Day.
While John McCain was up by two points in this key southwestern state a month ago, Obama now has a 49% to 44% lead in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state.
Obama is viewed favorably by 53% of New Mexico voters, McCain by 47%.

New Hampshire.

Rasmussen: The last week and-a-half has brought plenty of discouraging news from around the nation for John McCain’s Presidential campaign and the latest polling from New Hampshire isn’t going to change that pattern. Barack Obama now enjoys a ten point lead in the Granite State.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in New Hampshire Obama attracting 53% of the vote while McCain earns 43%. This is the first time Obama has held a significant lead in the state since July and the first time he’s held a double digit lead since June. Polls in August and September showed the race to be a toss-up. In fact, less than two weeks ago, McCain was up by two points, 49% to 47%.

More New Hampshire polling
All battleground polling

Daily tracking polls

Gallup: Obama is up 1 to 49 and McCain is down 1 to 42

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday again shows Barack Obama attracting 51% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%. For each of the past eight days, Obama has been at 50% or 51% and McCain has been at 44% or 45% (see trends). New polling shows Obama pulling away in New Hampshire and opening a growing lead in the Electoral College projections.

Electoral college (270 to win):

Rasmussen: With these changes, Obama leads in states with 217 Electoral College votes while McCain is ahead in states with 174 Electoral College votes. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 264, McCain 185.

RCP's electoral map: Obama 264 McCain 163 Tossup 111
Electoral-Vote's map: Obama 363 McCain 185 Tie 15
Zogby: Obama 234 McCain 179 Too Close 125

Obama in Manchester New Hampshire Video