Evening Newscasts Wrap

ByABC News
October 28, 2004, 9:20 PM

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2004 — --

A product of Noted Now and The Note

ABC's Terry Moran says President Bush broke his two day silence on the missing explosives today, quoting Kerry advisor Richard Holbrooke and saying that Kerry denigrates the troops in the field with his remarks.

ABC's Dean Reynolds reports that the White House is dodging the issue of the missing weapons. This is the third day that Kerry has attacked on this issue. Reynolds points out that Kerry is doing what most candidates would, making it all about his opponent.

CBS' Jim Axelrod wraps the day with Bush who finally broke his silence about the missing explosives in Iraq. Axelrod says the timing couldn't have been worse for Bush and he had to say something, but instead he turned it against Kerry. The President needs undecideds heading to the polls feeling strongly about his position on national security. Axelrod points to Bush's appeal to Democrats today.

CBS' Byron Pitts looks at Kerry's attempt to win over voters in the mid west. Kerry laid out his domestic issues today, with a heavy emphasis on jobs.

NBC's David Gregory and Carl Quintanilla on the candidates trading blows over missing explosives in Iraq. Kerry accused the President of "bobbing and weaving" with his explanations, while Bush said his challenger was making wild charges without knowing the facts.

NBC's David Gregory reports, in a surprise, (Bush) campaign officials say Kerry's made for TV hunting trip may have had an impact. The Bush campaign is confident they will come back with Bush's emphasis on conservative cultural values.

ABC's Martha Raddatz does a timeline piece on the missing weapons.

NBC's Jim Miklaszewski says the fact remains that 400 tons of explosives went missing between early March and early April and they still have no idea where it is or who may have it today. M. interviewed an NBC camera man who was there.

Jennings/Brian Ross two-way on Diebold electronic voting machines in ten states. The state of California has ordered that they not use electronic voting machines, due to problems in the March election.

Jennings/Mark Halperin two-way on voting machines. Halperin says it's possible that the lose will accuse the winner of not being legitimately elected if there are problems and looks at new voting machines in ten states.

CBS' Mark Strassman examines early voting problems in Florida, which has had some glitches like shouting matches and claims of voter intimidation. If Florida's election is close some critics expect a repeat of problems.

NBC's Chip Reid reports on voting irregularities and lawsuits that already threaten to place Florida's vote back in the courts.

NBC's Brian Williams had the poll story. The candidates use them to shape their campaigns and the media reports on every slight swing, but just how reliable is polling data? And why -- this year perhaps more than ever - do different polls in the same state say different things? Williams looked at voter assessments of the direction of the country in battleground states and what it might mean for Bush and Kerry on Election Day.

NBC's Kerry Sanders is in Miami and talks to one married couple who mirrors the statewide trend -- they're split right down the middle. Sanders notes that the hurricanes hit Bush country hard. He said new registrations are evenly split and that, therefore, turnout might be key.

CBS' Jerry Bowen looks at the candidates' positions on global warming. Bush offers a complex proposal to cut "complexity of greenhouse gases. Bush would also claim that greenhouse gases are not a link to global warming. Kerry pledges to take the action required to take the action to cut the gases required, but offers few specifics.