First Word: Obama rallies Democrats on Capitol Hill

President Obama went to Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to meet with Democratic lawmakers, days before Congress will recess for a month. The president discussed legislative strategies and his economic agenda, specifically the corporate tax-cut deal he offered to Republicans Tuesday. In an effort to unify Democrats behind his agenda, Obama hopes to prepare lawmakers for the upcoming battle over the budget and debt limit.

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• Surprise, surprise…Republicans immediately reject Obama’s offer

• Obama’s agenda is to play one chamber against the other

• President Obama heads to Capitol Hill Wednesday to meet with House and Senate Democrats

• Sen. John McCain’s appearance at the AFL-CIO

• Mitch McConnell said he has yet to decide whether to support a proposal to block government funding if it includes money for ObamaCare

• U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin issued a challenge to Senator Mitch McConnell to sign the pledge to defund Obamacare

• Anthony Weiner released a video maintaining that he’s staying in the race

• Weiner’s top spokeswoman was caught hurling obscenities at a former intern who had written a tell-all about working for the campaign

• Huma Abedin is expected to take extended vacation time from her job with Hillary Clinton

• Anthony Weiner receives a musical tribute from Kristen Chenoweth on the Tonight Show

• Eighth woman alleges harassment by Bob Filner

• Lisa Curtin, director of government and military education at San Diego City College, became the eighth woman to go public with allegations about Filner 

• San Diego sued its own mayor on Tuesday and the City Council decisively rejected his request

• A report released Wednesday is expected to show the economy barely grew from April through June

• The Pentagon said it is offering no “zero option” for the number of troops that would remain in Afghanistan

• Obama administration’s surprise decision to delay a key requirement of the health care law for employers will cost the government $10 billion

• Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain will travel to Egypt next week

• Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton to host Today show?

• Ted Cruz is taking his hardball tactics to a whole new level

• Rand Paul vs. Chris Christie continues

• Nancy Pelosi says GOP has fueled low public views of Congress and Democrats can win elections by highlighting GOP obstructionism

• Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes officially kicks off her bid to be Kentucky’s next senator

• House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is considering a possible Senate run in Michigan in 2014

• Cory Booker’s getting some Oprah money

• Pennsylania sues county clerk who issued same-sex marriage licenses

• New York City’s crackdown on big, sugary sodas is staying on ice