The Caucus

The New York Times’ bloggers report on Michelle Obama’s charm offensive on the elitism charges against her and her husband and on John McCain’s latest economic proposals. Ariel Alexovich writes that Stephen Colbert flattered Mrs. Obama on his show Tuesday, even giving her a chance to rebut charges of elitism. When the faux newsman called her an elitist with “silver spoons in her mouth,” she responded that her family growing up had four spoons. Jill Abramson notes that Obama also addressed the elitism charges at a campaign event Tuesday, where she highlighted her working-class upbringing on the South Side of Chicago. Jad Mouawad talks to economists who argue that McCain’s temporary gas tax cut could increase gas prices instead of lowering them.