The Note
W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 23—<br> -- TODAY SCHEDULE AS OF 9:00 am (all times ET):
—7:00 am: Ralph Nader appears on ABC's "Good Morning America" and NBC's "Today Show"—8:00 am: Nader is a guest on Pacifica Radio Network's "Democracy Now" —9:00 am: Sen. John Edwards holds a town hall at the headquarters of UNITE, New York, N.Y. —9:15 am: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks at the Credit Union National Association 2004 Governmental Affairs Conference, Washington, D.C. —9:45 am: Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Charlie Rangel attend a rally at the Alhambra Ballroom, New York, N.Y. —9:45 am: Off-camera press gaggle by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan—10:00 am: Nader holds a news conference at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: Secretary Tom Ridge speaks on the one-year anniversary of the creation of the Homeland Security Department at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: The National Governors Association discusses prisoner reentry at its Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: The Supreme Court convenes for judicial business—10:20 am: President Bush meets with the National Governors Association, the White House—10:30 am: Rev. Al Sharpton and local Democratic officials speak to the press, New York, N.Y. —11:00 am: Treasury Secretary Snow John Alan speaks at the credit union conference, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: Sen. Kerry holds a town hall meeting on the economy at the City University of New York, Jamaica, N.Y. —12:00 pm: The Senate convenes for legislative business—12:15 pm: Secretary of State Colin Powell and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson release the Administration five-year plan for AIDS relief, Washington, D.C. —12:30 pm: On-camera press briefing by Press Secretary McClellan—1:00 pm: Politics Live on ABC News Live and AOL—1:30 pm: Vice President Cheney delivers remarks at a Bush-Cheney '04 fundraiser luncheon at the Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn. —1:30 pm: Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks to the press at the Savoy Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. —2:00 pm: The Christian Defense Coalition and the National Clergy Council announce that they are making tickets to "The Passion of the Christ" available to all members of Congress, Washington, D.C. —2:10 pm: Vice President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney visit El Burrito Mercado Restaurant, St. Paul, Minn. —2:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a luncheon fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. —3:30 pm: Nader is interviewed live on CNN's "Inside Politics" —4:00 pm: Sen. John Edwards holds a town hall meeting at Thronateeska Heritage Center, Albany, Ga. —5:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a rally and speaks to the press about civil rights outside City Hall, San Francisco, Calif. —6:00 pm: Nader is interviewed live on PBS' "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" —6:00 pm: Transportation Secretary Mineta awards governors for their efforts to provide increased transportation services, Washington, D.C. —7:00 pm: Nader appears on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" —7:15 pm: President Bush speaks at the Republican Governors Association Reception, Washington, D.C. —7:30 pm: Vice President Cheney delivers remarks at a Bush-Cheney '04 fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, Wichita, Kan. —7:30 pm: Sen. John Edwards holds a town hall meeting at the convention and trade center, Columbus, Ga. —8:00 pm: Nader appears on CNN's "Paula Zahn Now" —9:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends an event with the Progressive Alliance at the Convention Center, Richmond, Calif. —10:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a rally sponsored by Democratization Tour and Dominican University, San Rafael, Calif.
NEWS SUMMARY
In American movies, literature, art, politics, journalism, and network news, powerful forces inexorably turn multi-force battles into two-sided contests.
So you have:
Republicans versus Democrats; Goofus versus Gallant; Oasis versus Blur; Yankees versus Red Sox; Begala versus Novak; Imus versus Stern; Torricelli versus Lautenberg; Corzine versus Schumer; Margo versus Eve; Lott versus Nickles; Post versus Times; Post versus News; Blitzer versus the world; Clinton versus Gore (no first initials specified); Ornstein versus Mann; Britney vs. Christina; Cook versus Rothenberg; Bob Schneider versus jealous husbands; Borsage versus From; USSS versus advance staff; Petrovsky versus Big; and Julia versus Sandra.
In the context of two-sided battles, most people in politics are now focused on:
Bush versus Kerry
The President's team looks to buy some TV time for positive ads starting next week in key states, while tonight's RGA speech will show the President letting it rip. For more on this, see the BC04 section below.
Will Scott or the POTUS himself be saved by the Racicot letter from being asked directly about the Vietnam debate challenge? (Don't worry, we don't really know what that sentence means either. We just put it in here because it sounded dramatic.)
Still, some keep their eyes on:
Kerry versus Edwards
With their "This Week" face-off yesterday and the newly added New York debate next Sunday, the temperature is being turned up at least a bit. If Andrew Kirtzman and Marcia Kramer can't inject some Empire/Gotham juice into this race, no one can. LINK and LINK
But we have two bigger questions: Will/can John Edwards do ANYTHING to shake up the current dynamic enough before then?
And, with Edwards (today) and Kerry (tomorrow) going before the New York Times ed board to win the coveted endorsement, will Gail Collins fall in love (like Richard Doak and Linda Fandel before her) with the son of a meeeal worker, or is even Gail under the electability spell?
Still, barely any paid media, and NO negative paid media. Somewhere, Alex Castellanos is scratching his head and smiling that smile he smiles.
(For more on this, see our Orinesque Kerry versus Edwards "Tale of the Tape" below.)
Nader versus the Democratic Party
Beyond Theresa Amato (Harvard '86/Pancho Villa '04) LINK, can anyone name a member of the "liberal intelligentsia" (Ralph's new favorite punching bag) who is supporting Nader 2.0/2004?
Is even Eddie Vedder on board?
But there IS one other key matchup:
Bush advisors speaking on the record and on background versus Kerry advisors speaking on the record and on background, all saying lots of insider-y and consultant-y things
Why the heck are the candidates failing in their attempts to get these people to pipe down?
President Bush is expected to announce a new phase in his campaign in a speech to the Republican Governors Association today. He meets with the President of Georgia on Wednesday, travels to Kentucky and North Carolina on Thursday, and meets with the Chancellor of Germany on Friday.
Vice President and Mrs. Cheney attend fundraisers and visit a restaurant in Minnesota and Kansas.
Ralph Nader is in Washington, D.C.
Sen. John Kerry is in New York City today. He is in Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday and Minnesota and Los Angeles late in the week.
Sen. John Edwards is in New York and Georgia today. He is in Georgia and Texas tomorrow, Texas and California on Wednesday, and California on Thursday and Friday.
Rev. Al Sharpton has an event in New York City this morning.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich campaigns in California today.
The Democratic candidates participate in a debate sponsored by CNN and the Los Angeles Times in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Kerry versus Edwards: tale of the tape:
Weekend must-reads:
Ron Fournier Noted that as the frontrunner once again, Sen. Kerry is lapsing into his old habits. LINK
The New York Times' David Halbfinger wrote Sunday on Teresa Heinz Kerry. LINK
In the Washington Post's Outlook section, Bruce Reed wrote Sunday that one of the greatest challenges facing Kerry and Edwards in 2004 will be forcing President Bush to run against them, and not the "Ghost of Democrats Past." LINK
On Sunday, Dan Balz looked at the obstacles facing Sen. Edwards as he tries to sell his relative lack of foreign policy experience as expertise. LINK
George Will eviscerates Shays-Meehan. LINK
The New York Times' John Tierney compared Mr. Likeable vs. Mr. Electable. LINK
The New York Times' Adam Nagourney outlined Kerry's and Edwards' differing strategies on Sunday. LINK
The Washington Post's Tom Edsall reported yesterday Kerry and Edwards were barely solvent in January. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
Mike Allen and Dan Balz of the Washington Post preview President Bush's speech before the Republican Governors Association and the launching of his re-election campaign, including new ads. LINK
The New York Times' Elisabeth Bumiller highlights that the Bush-Cheney ads, part of the campaign's "aggressive new phase," will begin on March 4 even if a Democratic nominee has not emerged. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Ron Brownstein looks at the next phase in the Bush-Cheney campaign and Notes "there is growing restiveness among Republican insiders over a series of recent polls showing Bush trailing the Democratic front-runner, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, in early tests of sentiment for the general election."LINK
The Wall Street Journal's Greg Hitt reports that the Bush-Cheney campaign, tapping its "huge campaign bankroll," will begin its ad blitz "as part of a broader 'tactical shift' … designed to more aggressively promote the president's agenda" and define Sen. John Kerry.
USA Today's Keen and Benedetto:LINK
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