LIANE HANSEN, Host:
This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Liane Hansen.
BARACK OBAMA: The American people are by your side. We're going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet. That's my commitment and that's the American people's commitment.
HANSEN: Coming up, we'll hear more about the recovery effort in Joplin. But first, we turn to Mara Liasson, NPR's national political correspondent. Hi, Mara.
MARA LIASSON: Hi, Liane.
HANSEN: President Obama certainly isn't the first president to be overseas on official business when disaster strikes at home, but what's the significance of a presidential visit to a disaster area? Is it symbolic or does it mean more relief aid will follow?
LIASSON: And the president has just been in Europe for a week. There have been a lot of photos of him speaking to parliament, hoisting a pint in Ireland. But he knows that the photos of him with the people of Joplin today are much more important to his political future than anything that he did in Europe this week.
HANSEN: There are two other domestic issues for the White House this week, a Democratic victory in a special election for New York's 26th Congressional district, and Democrats drew a hard line on Medicare. What's the latest there?
LIASSON: Now, how the Medicare debate will affect the ongoing talks about deficit reduction is another question. Republicans very much want Democrats to agree to some changes in Medicare as part of those talks. But none other than former President Bill Clinton said this week that he hopes Democrats don't use the special election in upstate New York as an excuse to do nothing about Medicare.
HANSEN: Meanwhile, the field of Republican presidential candidates continues to take shape. Tim Pawlenty is in. Mitt Romney appears to be heading in that direction. And Sarah Palin announced a bus tour. Does it seem to you that the crop of candidates is narrowing?
LIASSON: But also Texas Governor Rick Perry this week, after saying absolutely no to all the questions about whether he wanted to run, suddenly opened the door. So, it's possible, even at this late date, that we might get other Republican presidential contenders stepping into the race.
HANSEN: Mara Liasson is the national political correspondent for NPR. Mara, thank you very much.
LIASSON: Thank you, Liane. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.