ABC News' The Note: First Source for Political News

W A S H I N G T O N, August 2, 2004&#151;<br> -- NOTED NOW

TODAY SCHEDULE (all times ET)

FUTURES CALENDAR

Morning Show Wrap

Evening Newscasts Wrap

28 days until the Republican convention92 days until election day

NEWS SUMMARYWith the president near the Rose Garden, Senator Kerry in Michigan and Wisconsin, Vice President Cheney in Colorado and Texas, and Senator Edwards in Florida, one thing is clear:

At least 1/92nd of the remaining politico-media news cycles until election day will be dominated by homeland security.

While the Gang of 500 is preoccupied by what Matt Lauer described this morning as what people say "at cocktail parties" about the mind of the terrorist — and about the widely speculated upon "political implications" of all this — let us tell you 10 things of which you shouldn't lose sight:

1. In the wake of yesterday's terrorism news, do any of you whose punditry included the Notion that the Democrats overdid it by emphasizing national security in Boston want to revise and extend your remarks?

2. We will give a free limited edition ABC News The Note reporter's Notebook to the first reporter or BC04RNC researcher who testifies that she or he has read, cover to cover, the new Kerry-Edwards campaign book.

3. How are we to comprehend the Notion that the candidate who is running on a platform asserting that he is for limited government — and the other guy is for big, Washington-knows-best programs — is out there touting a new plan for flex time for workers so parents can go to Little League games?

Even though the campaign and White House have offered up no details whatsoever about how this plan would work, Mr. President, we wonder how having such a thing done from D.C. can possibly be consistent with your vision of limited government. (Of course, there IS that farm law and that Medicare law . . . )

4. With all due respect to Newsweek and Gallup, hold onto your hat and hair for tonight's ABC News/ Washington Post poll. And please say "boost" or "bump," and not "bounce."

5. As important as the economy, health care, homeland security, and Iraq are as the big issues in this race, don't fail to Notice how much the presidential candidates talk about other issues out on the stump (and, eventually, in targeted emails and phone calls at the end): abortion, guns, coal, etc.

6. Read this New York Times paragraph, courtesy of Mr. Nagourney and Mr. Halbfinger:

" … (A) terror threat is much more sobering to those who live in New York and Washington, which includes much of the nation's political and news media ranks. At the same time some Democrats wondered Sunday whether Americans, after hearing so many of these threats, might begin to disregard them."

7. Read the end of Ron Brownstein's Los Angeles Times column:

"Maybe Bush will still find a set of arguments that causes Kerry to crumble as Dukakis did. Kerry might commit a major blunder."

"But more likely the president will win a second term only if he can reverse the demand for change by restoring faith in his own leadership and direction."

"In that, Bush needs cooperation from events. He may also need a different focus."

"For months, his campaign has mostly stressed the risks of change. After Kerry's strong performance last week, Bush's greatest need now is to find a compelling case for continuity." LINK

8. The national media might think it is king, but it is the local coverage that is the real target of these bus trips and daily forays of the candidates, and check out the Los Angeles Times' James Rainey's clever summary about why:

" … (A) reporter from a CBS affiliate in Pennsylvania used his eight minute interview with Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, to talk mostly about her days growing up in Pittsburgh."

"He closed by asking the candidate to come back "when" he is elected vice president. Edwards agreed."

9. USA Today 's Judy Keen makes two really good points from her time on the Bush bus trip. LINK

First, that the president's biggest applause lines are always about 9/11 and the war on terror (Although, Ms. Keen, those pre-selected audiences might see things differently than the swingers.).

Second, although BC04 has plenty of officials who know loving the media is good policy and good politics, if current trendlines continue, Ms. Keen's media section might be prescient foreshadowing:

"Many Republicans believe the news media have liberal inclinations, so they're not always happy to see journalists who travel with Bush. In 1992, his father's campaign printed caps and bumper stickers that read, 'Annoy the media: Re-elect Bush.' When reporters traveling with that campaign arrived at rallies, it wasn't unusual for audiences to cuss them out and yell, 'Tell the truth!'"

"So reporters were surprised Saturday when they filed into a muddy park in Cambridge. 'Welcome to Ohio,' one smiling person after another said. One man wasn't quite as hospitable, probably because the usually punctual Bush was running 40 minutes late. 'Where have you been?' he demanded of the arriving reporters."

10. The Boss.

President Bush meets with his cabinet at 10:35 am ET at the White House. At this writing, his plans for announcing his policy reaction to the 9/11 commission report are TBD.

On Tuesday, President Bush signs H.R. 4759, the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act at the Rose Garden, speaks at a Victory 2004 Reception in Dallas, and speaks to the 122nd Annual Knights of Columbus Convention in Dallas.

On Wednesday, President Bush speaks at a Davenport, Iowa, rally, makes remarks on Conservation Reserve Program in Mankato, Minn., and speaks at a Mankato rally.

On Thursday, President Bush signs H.R. 4613, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005, participates in an "Ask President Bush" forum in Columbus, Ohio, and makes remarks at Saginaw, Mich., rally.

On Friday, President Bush makes remarks to the UNITY: Journalists of Color Convention in Washington, D.C. and makes remarks at a Stratham, N.H. picnic. His nephew, George P. Bush, gets married in Maine this weekend, and the president is expected to attend.

Vice President Cheney speaks at a rally for the troops at NORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs at 1:00 pm ET and speaks at a reception for Rep. Randy Neugabauer at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Lubbock, Texas at 7:00 pm ET.

On Tuesday, Vice President Cheney hosts a town hall meeting in Hot Springs, Ark., and attends events in Ft. Smith, Ark., and Sioux Falls, S.D.

On Wednesday, Vice President Cheney tours and speaks at Walzcraft Industries, La Crosse, Wis., speaks about the economy at Billy Goat Industries, Lee's Summit, Mo., and attends an event at Jefferson County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena.

Today, Senator Kerry continues his bus tour, participating in a conversation with fire fighters and first responders at the Grand Rapids Fire Department at 10:30 am ET in Grand Rapids, Mich., and later attending at rallies in Grand Rapids, Mich. at 1:15 pm ET and in Milwaukee at 8:15 pm ET.

Today at 12:30 pm ET, Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, senior adviser for national security affairs Dr. Susan Rice, and policy adviser Bruce Reed will hold a conference call with reporters to discuss the new Kerry-Edwards book, "Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World."

On Tuesday, Senator Kerry continues his bus tour through Wisconsin and Iowa, reaching Missouri by Wednesday.

Senator Edwards begins his first day of campaigning solo, following the Post -convention bus tour with Senator Kerry. He attends a rally in Miami at 9:00 am ET, makes a front porch visit in Orlando at 1:20 pm ET, and attends a Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Jacksonville at 7:00 pm ET.

On Tuesday, Senator Edwards attends rallies in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, and Shreveport, La. On Wednesday, Senator Edwards attends a rally and town hall meeting in Little Rock, Ark.

The politics of national security: The AP's Deb Reichmann reports "President Bush will issue orders as early as Monday to implement some reforms suggested by the Sept. 11 commission, but White House officials still are wrangling over the best way to create a new national intelligence czar." LINK