Evening Newscasts Wrap: ABC News Political Unit

W A S H I N G T O N, August 28, 2004 &#151; <br> -- A product of Noted Now and The Note

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BUSH ON THE STUMP

ABC' Kate Snow introduced a Jonathan Karl piece by noting that President Bush "ignored questions" about the alleged Israeli spy in the Pentagon. Karl reported that Bush "better win" in Ohio given its electoral history but that he's facing a tough sell in a state that has lost 236,000 jobs and whose unemployment rate rose from 3.9 to 5.9% since January 2001.

NBC's David Gregory included sound from President Bush praising Kerry's war record in an interview with Matt Lauer: "I think him going to Vietnam was more heroic than my flying fighter jets. He was in harm's way. I wasn't. Then again I served my country. If my unit had been called up I would have gone."

CBS' Mark Knoller included the number of lost jobs as well as news of an increase in Ohio residents living below the poverty line.

KERRY ON THE STUMP

In a voiceover ABC' Kate Snow reported that Gen. Wesley Clark "went after President Bush," criticizing him for not serving in Vietnam and accusing Bush of being an "indecisive and incompetent" commander in chief.

NBC's V/O focused on Kerry's message and totally ignored Clark's attacks, instead reporting that he "defended Kerry."

Mark Knoller introduced CBS' Byron Pitts package saying that Kerry is "still playing defense" because of the Swift Boat ads. Pitts reported that "some in the Kerry campaign concede Kerry could use the downtime" that the convention is offering him.

BUSH WAR RECORD:

CBS played video and sound from former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes saying he was ashamed at helping George Bush get into the Air National Guard in 1968. CBS' Russ Mitchell reported erroneously that "President Bush has always said he received no special treatment in entering the national guard."

PROTESTS:

ABC's Bob Jamieson wrapped all the convention protests, from anti-Starbucks today to bicyclists last night to the two men who planned on blowing up a New York subway station. Jamieson Noted that last night's arrests --