ABC News' The Note: First Source for Political News

 

Share

0

Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi wisely reminds us that, when it comes right down to it, it's all about the candidate, not the consultants. Ex.: "A new circle of advisers can hand John Kerry a new line of attack, such as stating that the W in his opponent's name stands for 'wrong.' But they can't stop Kerry from holding up a rifle he received as a gift while visiting Racine, W. Va., and quipping, 'I thank you for the gift, but I can't take it to the debate with me.'"LINK

In The Hill, Dick Morris thinks that the Clinton loyalists in the Kerry campaign still have the same loyalty and alleges that the leak of the Clinton-Kerry pre-surgery conversation "came, undoubtedly, from the Clinton people, who wanted to hype the role their former president was playing in the Kerry operation, precisely to cast the senator as weak and dependent on Clinton's advice." LINK

If all the people of the world good vote for the U.S. President (which, of course, is a tad absurd for obvious reasons), Sen. John Kerry would win the election, according to the Boston Globe 's write-up of a University of Maryland survey. LINK

Perhaps this is who Kerry was referring to re: foreign leaders?

"In 30 out of 35 countries polled, from all regions of the world, a majority or plurality would prefer to see John Kerry win the US presidential election-especially traditional US allies. The only countries where President Bush was preferred were the Philippines, Nigeria, and Poland." LINK

Taking his Salon transatlantic, Sidney Blumenthal says "at this moment of disdain a discovery that cast light on Bush's character suddenly emerged, having the potential to alter the momentum of the campaign." (Not sure Kerry will enjoy the phrase "reeling in treat" to describe his campaign . . . ) LINK

Oliver North takes on John Kerry's anti-war activities. LINK

Amy Keller reports the Reserve Officers Association will screen the film a new documentary of John Kerry's anti-war protest called "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" this morning. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post reports that it "seems that the Bush campaign is inflating its crowd counts by 45 to 75 percent" after comparing his own count to those of the Bush campaign. Milbank also Notes that the number of battleground states might be shrinking. LINK

Your pooler David Sanger of the New York Times enjoyed writing his daily dispatch with the Bush brothers in Florida. LINK

"Mr. Bush took no questions from the reporters who accompanied him, which helped keep him on the message of the day. He stayed focused on the weather — and flew back into some, as Washington was placed under a tornado watch just as the president took his last helicopter trip of the day, back to the White House."

The New York Times ' account of Bush's change of face on NID budgetary authority leads the paper. The duo of Bumiller and Shenon Note that the action was "an acquiescence to a major recommendation of the Sept. 11 commission." LINK

Bush's big domestic agenda, which he touted at the Republican Convention, may crimp plans to curb the deficit, reports the Wall Street Journal 's John McKinnon.

Bravo to McKinnon for hitting those transition costs!!!!