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Assuming he chooses to seek re-election, President Bush will have some obvious advantages at the moment TBD when the Democrats effectively nominate a standard bearer.

He'll have a campaign war chest that dwarfs even Democrats' best-case scenario (minus Heinz money); he'll have the party-wide benefits of at least some of McCain-Feingold; he'll have the advantages of incumbency; he'll have a looming 9/11 anniversary; he'll have a looming convention in a city with no Big Dig; he'll have great positioning to achieve the Bush family goal of trying to neuter the Commission on Presidential Debates; he'll have an experienced campaign team and a tight West Wing ship; and did we mention he'll have a lot of campaign money?

Nonetheless, while the war is front and center, and Bush aides claim the re-elect is on hold, a very organized effort becomes visible every time any Democrat who might be nominated makes the teensiest foot fault.

Using the echo machine that some have called the "vast right-wing conspiracy," invisible hands move each and every time with simple goals:

1. Make the "vulnerable" Democrats seem so left they've left America.
2. Sow discord among the Democratic candidates.
3. Dominate the political portion of the news cycle with rhetoric that puts the Democrats on defense (because when you are playing defense, you're not playing offense).
4. Get congressional Republicans, Rush, Drudge, et al, conditioned to rowing all together when the White House/RNC says "stroke" (to build teamwork and musculature).
5. Agitate Tom Daschle (the White House's goal pretty much every day).

Yesterday's morning headlines that Senator Kerry had made some aggressively anti-Bush statements Wednesday night in New Hampshire were jumped on with full force by The Machine.

Even though Senator Kerry had said pretty much everything on previous occasions, he had not, as best we can tell, said them since the war started, and a healthy percentage of the Gang of 500 clearly felt that the "it doesn't matter so much WHAT you say in politics as WHEN you say it" rule applied.

(Here's what Kerry said on March 15 at the California Democratic convention: "I will tell you, there is a far simpler way to bring Saddam Hussein and Iraq to its knees — just send the Bush economic team over there to run the country (big cheers/applause) and that will change. I'm running for president of the United States because I believe we need a regime change right here at home.")

So even though there is a well-documented paper trail of Republican officials attacking then-commander-in-chief Clinton while he had American troops in harm's way (a fact Noted in a few of today's stories … ), GOPers with (admirable?) shamelessness went hammer and tong after Massachusetts' junior senator for saying "regime change" is needed in America.

Before we check out how the print media dealt with all this, let's review how the directive evolved from conception to implementation and release.

Only a few outlets picked up Kerry's remarks: Politicsnh.com, the Boston Globe , and the Manchester Union-Leader, among, probably a few others.

Someone (we bet we could guess who … ) sent the Politicsnh.com link to Drudge. It became his lead story mid-morning.

Boom.

(If we were less modest, we would Note that a certain network news on-line daily publication also included the MUL and Globe stories.)

The first thing we got was from the peripatetic Luke Byers at the South Carolina Republican Party. 11:42 am. It references the Politicsnh.com story.

"State Representative and Chairman of the Judiciary, Jim Harrison said, 'While American troops are just five miles from Baghdad, Senator Kerry is calling for an overthrow of our government. John Kerry owes the president, our troops and all Americans an apology for such an outrageous statement … .'"

"Harrison, a US Army Reserves veteran also asked Kerry supporters in South Carolina to repudiate his unfortunate remarks. 'Most Americans have a serious problem with what John Kerry said, I think his local supporters here in the Palmetto State should demand an apology for this ill timed and deplorable statement.'"

So: bash the statement … broach the issue of Kerry's war-time patriotism … and ask his supporters to disavow it/him, in a key early nomination state.

1:19 p.m.: Speaker Hastert's office issues this: ""Senator Kerry's remark, equating regime change in Iraq with regime change in the United States, is not what we need at this time. What we need is for this nation to pull together, to support our troops and to support our commander-in-chief."

Shortly thereafter, Rep. DeLay chimed in.

The RNC's Marc Racicot came next: "The men and women who are putting themselves in harm's way on the orders of our commander-in-chief deserve better from someone who aspires to that high office."

Later in the day, The Georgia Republican Party, lucky them, got to peg Kerry's words to his speaking at the Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Atlanta last night.

Ralph Reed and a retired general were marshaled. As was the war itself: "Kerry's harsh attack contradicted an earlier promise to mute his criticisms once military action commenced and American servicemen and women were in harm's way. It also occurred while U.S. troops, many in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division based at Georgia's Fort Stewart, closed to within miles of Baghdad."

At 9:04 p.m. an e-mail came floating into in-boxes across the fruited plain from RNC Deputy Chairman Jack Oliver, making the claim that "John Kerry shocked many Americans when he called for 'regime change' right here in the U.S. By comparing our commander-in-chief to Saddam Hussein's brutal regime at a time of war, Kerry showed just what he is willing to say to appeal to liberal Democrat primary voters."

(Boy, that Matthew Dowd can poll faster than we thought … .)

Two paragraphs down, Mr. Oliver tells us that Senator Kerry's remarks were "shocking" (just in case we missed the point), and he links us to a webpage that contains this artful section:

"The Democrat Party is quickly becoming a Party that looks to blame America first, and demonstrates a willingness to say anything to attack the president. Days before the war Tom Daschle blamed any potential war casualties on President Bush. Joe Lieberman called President Bush a 'greater threat to peace than Saddam Hussein.' Dick Gephardt claimed that President Bush is 'bullying' the world. And just yesterday, John Kerry called for 'regime change' in the U.S." LINK

At some point along the way, Dr/Sen/Leader Frist weighed in as well.

And another Republican website — gopusa.com — led with Kerry.

Now, this orchestration was at a fuller and higher level than your run-of-the-mill RNC research packet, but the vectors were all in the same direction.

Normally, the Democratic campaigns ignore them.

In this case, at least a couple of things were on display.

First of all, one of the reasons that some (Robert Gibbs would say "many") Democrats are attracted to Kerry's candidacy is that he is one tough campaigner.

At a time when every campaign knows that President Bush can only be beaten by someone with national security bona fides in the eyes of the American people, Kerry's toughness and willingness to play the personal military history card are key.

Second, this Kerry-Dean tension is really something.

At 2:33 pm, responding to a query from ABC NEWS, a Kerry official sent a response our way, and in the afternoon, the major wire services ran some stories with Kerry campaign background presence in them.

Then, at 7:42 p.m., we received an e-mail from the peripatetic-her-own-self Kelly Benander of the Kerry campaign: "Kerry campaign spokesperson Robert Gibbs said, 'Unlike many of his Republican critics, Senator Kerry has worn the uniform, served his country, seen combat, so he'd just as soon skip their lectures about supporting our troops.'"

"'There is simply nothing that Tom Delay can teach John Kerry about patriotism or service to country. The Republican right wing, particularly those who have never worn the uniform, are picking the wrong fight with the wrong (D)emocrat.'"

On top of that, a Kerry aide told The Note: "We just won't allow a war hero's patriotism or love of country to be questioned by the usual gang of rightwing thugs, especially by those who chose not to serve when their time came. John Kerry has battled the Viet Cong. Tom Delay has battled fire ants and cockroaches."

And Senator Kerry himself didn't seem to be backing down in Atlanta last night. LINK

The New York Post 's Deborah Orin seems to be the only one to get the fruits of the GOP success in sowing intra-Democrat discord: "Kerry lashed out at a time when his quasi-front-runner status has evaporated — anti-war ex-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is tied with him in must-win New Hampshire and Senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) has raised more campaign money." LINK

Assuming the quote is accurate, stand back and listen to Orin's transcription: Dean campaign director Joe Trippi called "Kerry's position 'flabbergasting' and an obvious bid to court anti-war voters … 'How do you say things like that when you voted to give [Bush] a blank check for war?'"

Upon reading Trippi's (alleged) remarks, Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan told The Note that it is "sort of disappointing to see Governor Dean's staff aiding and abetting Tom DeLay and Rush Limbaugh."

Dan Balz of the Washington Post has a brief on the Hastert and DeLay criticism, plus the latter's criticism of President Clinton during Kosovo hostilities. LINK

The New York Times decided the story warranted six un-bylined paragraphs in the war section, with Hastert and DeLay, and this last sentence: "A spokesman for Mr. Kerry said the senator meant no disrespect to Mr. Bush." LINK

The New York Daily News writes that "Democratic presidential contender John Kerry waded into a storm of controversy." LINK

Following up on yesterday's killer Kerry "regime change" story, The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson chronicles the back and forth.

The Kerry camp, in defense, pulled out the magical deflecting shields of "three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star," and the banner of Kerry's war credentials, comparing them to those of his detractors.

Once again, Johnson observes that Kerry's "criticism appeared to run counter to a pledge Kerry made March 18, a day before hostilities began, when he declared he would tone down his anti-administration rhetoric once troops went into battle," and cites speculation that the recent success of firebrand Howard Dean triggered Kerry's dramatic comments. LINK

The Boston Herald's Andrew Miga also rounds up the ensuing statements of outrage and justification and picks up on the apparently jettisoned pledge to tone down the rhetoric. LINK

. The Washington Times Charles Hurt has this: "Mr. Dean and others seeking the Democratic nomination declined to comment on Mr. Kerry's remarks … ."

Mr. Hurt maybe should have tried Mr. Trippi.

"Asked about Mr. Kerry's remarks, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, South Dakota Democrat, said yesterday that he hadn't heard them, and declined to comment." LINK

The AP captures it all. LINK

The New York Post 's editorial page thinks Senator Kerry's a "hypocrite" and a "jerk." LINK

The Union Leader editorializes: "For shame, Senator Kerry." LINK

Andrew Sullivan has this to say: "The critical thing to know about John Kerry is that he doesn't know when to stop beating up on someone." LINK

All of this is sure to come up during what is a busy Invisible Primary weekend.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth Edwards will greet Democrats at the New Hampshire state party convention. Also Saturday, Rep. Dick Gephardt will speak in honor of Jackson Democrat Days in Springfield, Missouri.

On Sunday, Senator John Edwards takes part in the first "Hear From the Heartland" Forum in Des Moines, with host Senator Tom Harkin. And Senator John Kerry begins an Iowa swing-through.

Tom Beaumont of the Des Moines Register curtain raises Sunday's first Tom Harkin candidate forum. LINK

Beaumont gets an exclusive interview with Harkin, and with, more impressively, C-SPAN's Steve Scully, who says that all these events are going to air on the Lamb Channel.

At the end of today's Note, you'll find one of our Note Friday Bonus ® items: the latest contribution from our House Poet Moonlighting as Our House Satirist, on CENTCOM and John Kerry.

The politics of war

The last two paragraphs of a Hitt/Cummings Wall Street Journal look at the president's Iraq riverboat gamble: "The president is acutely sensitive to the dangers of postwar economic weakness at home, which is why he took time from war meetings this week for an extended consultation with economic analysts. Mr. Bush has left much of the lobbying for his embattled tax-cut plan to top advisers such as Treasury Secretary John Snow. But aides say Mr. Bush may soon be getting more personally involved, perhaps by directly lobbying the Republican moderates in the Senate who have supported more-limited tax relief."

"Mr. Bush's agenda beyond the tax package also faces trouble in a closely divided Congress. His proposed overhaul of Medicare, which combines cost-saving measures as well as new prescription-drug coverage, is not just on the back burner, but off the stove. Action on those issues are crucial to the president's re-election prospects. The war's final stages and Iraq's reconstruction will dictate how much clout Mr. Bush has to fight for them."

The Washington Post 's Mike Allen has this smart stuff from Camp Lejeune: "Bush even allowed himself his first public joke in weeks. 'There's no finer sight — no finer sight — than to see 12,000 United States Marines and corpsmen,' he said, pausing for applause, 'unless you happen to be a member of the Iraqi Republican Guard.'" LINK

"Aides said the White House was not taking continued progress in the war for granted, and one official said they were 'guarding against irrational exuberance.'"

While the White House's collective eyebrows remain raised at the sound of retired generals on television, former President Clinton was at least moderately contemplative, and even slightly complimentary, about his successor's strategy when he spoke to students at the University of Florida on Thursday. LINK

The Boston Phoenix continues to declare Kerry the frontrunner and goes on to say that regardless of the outcome of the war in Iraq, the president's military strategy may become a liability in the 2004 campaign. And the state's junior senator may just be the man best suited to use that liability to his advantage. LINK

"None of this is to say the war won't still be won, and even won relatively quickly — we are, after all, only two weeks into it. But, as everybody now knows, this is not the war the Bush administration expected. And eventually, when the dust clears, somebody is going to have to pay."

Even Johnny Apple can't help but display a bit of Victory Fever today. LINK

Mr. Apple's New York Times ' colleague, Robin Toner tries to tap into the war mood of the nation by talking to MOCs about their constituents' views. LINK

A New York Times correction proves that we aren't the only ones who think of Dan Schnur as kind of a West Coast version of Rich Galen. LINK

And we predict that we will get at least one e-mail by 11am ET tick tocking for us how this correction came about.

Big Casino budget politics

From the Jackie Calmes-penned Wall Street Journal Washington Wire: "As Republicans seek compromise between Bush and House's 10-year tax cuts of $725 billion and Senate's $350 billion, four moderate Republican senators tell party leaders they're in cement on the lower Senate number. But White House and House Republicans bank on the moderates' squishy reputation."

"Senate tax writers weigh revenue-raisers — such as closing corporate tax loopholes — to offset some cost of a tax-cut package of as much as $450 billion. But they fear lobbyists' backlash. A smaller plan still could permit Republicans' preferred tax break: a bonus write-off for companies' capital investments."

"White House enlists CEOs to lobby home-state senators on Bush's embattled stock-dividend tax repeal."

The economy

Per ABCNEWS' Schindelheim: "The economy lost 108,000 jobs in March, following a loss of 357,000 in February. That was larger than expected … and adds up to 465,000 jobs in 2 months."

Paul Krugman's column keys off of the unemployment situation, LINK but he is, shall we say, less bullish on the economy than Petroleum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony keynoter Don Evans. LINK

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary

Congressman Gephardt's less-than-overwhelming fundraising number does not appear in the Los Angeles Times , USA Today , and the Wall Street Journal . Nice timing, folks.

Gephardt's hometown paper cuts him just about as much slack as possible.

Deirdre Shesgreen of the St. Louis Post Dispatch says:

"In the first dash for presidential campaign cash, Rep. Richard Gephardt finished ahead of one of the Democratic field's best-known candidates but well behind two other top-tier contenders." LINK

The paper quotes Stu Rothenberg as saying this isn't "disastrous" for Gephardt.

The matter gets four paragraphs in the back half of a Dan Balz Pol Notes column, which includes this: " … some Democrats said yesterday they were surprised that Gephardt raised just $1 million more than former Vermont governor Howard Dean … ." LINK

Rich Oppel makes the paper for a third straight day with a money story, and he also uses the "s" word: "Mr. Gephardt's showing came as a surprise to some Democrats who thought he would raise more money because of his experience in Congress and his wide network of supporters. His fund-raising totals may reinforce doubt among Democrats about whether he can make the transition from Congressional leader to presidential nominee." LINK

The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson puts Gephardt in the "middle." LINK

The New York Daily News ' Joel Siegel lumps Rep. Dick Gephardt in with Senator Joe Lieberman as "the second Democratic presidential hopeful to report lackluster fund-raising results," then throws Lieberman this bone: "Meanwhile, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi became the second major New York Democrat to endorse Lieberman. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) previously had backed Lieberman." LINK

The North Carolina Republican party has another take on Senator Edwards' fundraising numbers, considering $1 million in local contributions to be a paltry and telling sum, writes the Raleigh News and Observer's John Wagner. LINK

. According to North Carolina GOP Chairman Bill Cobey, "'The giddiness from the Edwards camp over these numbers is sound and fury signifying nothing but the fact that Edwards can now rightfully claim that he has the financial support of liberal trial lawyers from all across America … Hooray for Edwards! He now is the anointed favorite of the liberal trial lawyer wing of the national Democratic Party.'"

Jennifer Palmieri, however, considers $1 million to be quite a bit, thank you very much, and remains grateful to the North Carolinians who contributed it.

And the amount was enough, apparently, for the "six Democrats in the North Carolina House delegation [who] announced their backing of the senior senator's presidential bid."

The Palm Beach Post story on Graham notes the hiring of Jarding and Mudcat, gets Bud Shorstein to confirm that Graham will announce officially in late April, and talks about the news that Graham will head to New Hampshire in two weeks with Steve Bouchard's help. LINK

The New York Post 's Page Six chatters: "Howard Dean is in fourth place in fund-raising behind John Edwards, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman — but he's No. 1 in the hearts of Manhattan's most liberal Democrats," including such luminaries as "Whoopi Goldberg, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Nora Ephron and Wendy Wasserstein," who turned up at a fundraiser held by Matt Gohd and Dini von Mueffling. Page Six also picks up on yesterday's Women's Wear Daily report that "Anne Klein designer Charles Nolan — who lives with Democratic National Committee treasurer Andrew Tobias — had quit his job to work on Dean's campaign." LINK

Square dancing with square jaw? Story County, Iowa's Big Band Swing Fling will feature Senator John Kerry. That's May 9.

Let's all see if Senator Kerry makes any controversial remarks while attending this Bridge Over Troubled Waters event.

LINK

Rachel Smolkin's very smart AJR take on the very big media and the presidential primary process. LINK

The Muscatine County Democrats will host Gov. Howard Dean and Rep. Dennis "Kusinich" [sic] for Earth Day on April 12.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and the Republican controlled state legislature are teaming up to restructure the state's child-welfare system in a way "no state has done before." LINK

Politics

What Washington-based interest group is powerful enough to get Ken Mellman and Terry McAuliffe at the same table?

Democrats promise to use affirmative action issue against Republicans and President Bush in 2004, the Orlando Sentinel reports. LINK

Someone's been tapping their judicial sources … The 3-judge panel set to rule on the new campaign finance law is either unable to come to agreement, deliberating methodically, or up to something more interesting. LINK

The Washington Post 's Juliet Eilperin puts some House members on the couch and gets them to talk about their inferiority complex in relation to the other (some say: "more august") body. LINK

The New York Post 's Page Six has the latest installment of Clinton v. Gere v. Clinton, although no punches were thrown at Queen Noor's book party. LINK

And that's "Gere," not "Gore," just to be clear.

The New York Post reports that the Recording Industry Association of America is courting Rudy Giuliani. LINK

It's not the Ramblin' Beach Guys, but it IS John Heilprin and Scott Lindlaw, and the rest of the fellas. LINK

Per an e-mail recently obtained by The Note: After touring big arenas like Jenny's Chinese Buffet and that pajama party in some guy's living room, the Skidds are going back to their roots.

If you aren't going to be in Manchester to hear Governor Rendell and meet and greet a bunch of New Hampshire Democrats, this is precisely where you want to be tomorrow night.

The boys in the band are returning to the site of their historic debut last December at the Rhodeside Grill, 1836 Wilson Blvd. at North Rhodes St., in Arlington. 703-243-0145.

That's April 5, five bucks, three bands.

Also on the bill: Baltimore alt-country superstars Heyfield and funk-rock pioneers Ode Street. Doors open about 8 p.m. and the Skidds begin rattling windows throughout the 703 area code about 10 p.m.

Steve Scully normally makes great choices, but if he doesn't send a C-SPAN camera (or two) to this event, we are going to start habitually questioning his judgment in The Note.

Bush Administration strategy/personality

The Washington Post 's Al Kamen loops us all in to Margaret Tutwiler's potential return; Margaret Tutwiler's real estate trifecta; and some spicy curry for Gordon Johndroe. LINK

George Bush bud, Chelsea Piers chairman, and Pataki-appointed director of the Ground Zero-centric Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Roland Betts gets a New York Times Public Lives today. LINK

. The Times ' Robin Finn, who terms the dynamic Betts a "virtual octopus," includes all the good stuff, from Betts and Bush's lively fraternity days at Yale and their co-ownership of the Texas Rangers; to Betts' 30-year interracial marriage to Lois Phifer (they "met as teachers in Harlem; she put him through Columbia Law School"); to his now-defunct yet remarkably successful film production company Silver Screen Management Inc ("Beauty and the Beast," "Gandhi" and "The Killing Fields"), about which he comments: "'Going to movie sets was one of the most boring things I've ever done, and one of the hardest was sitting through a screening next to a director and then having to tell them, when the lights came up, that their film was awful.'"

The depth of Betts' friendship with Bush is evident throughout the piece, and not just because "Candid photographs of the president of the United States are scattered around the office like family snapshots" or because of the "shot of Mr. Bush, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, and himself 'looking hungry' at Camp David, two weeks ago: 'Laura was redecorating and asked me if I wanted it.'"

The sports-loving Betts is currently building a golf course at his Connecticut home, and the indoor ice-skating needs of daughter Jessica, "now a White House pastry chef," are credited with Betts' Chelsea Piers brainstorm.

But really, Chelsea Piers is New York City's "third-most-visited site"?

The phenomenon of seeing "Karl" and "Rove" in print these days may not be as rare as we had initially thought.

We missed this appearance in yesterday's New York Times which has Mr. Rove doling out legal advice. LINK

Friday Note bonus:

The latest contribution from our House Poet Moonlighting as Our House Satirist:
TRANSCRIPT OF KERCAMP (Kerry Campaign) OFFICIAL BRIEFING APRIL 3 2003

Note: Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, recently added to the Kerry Campaign's already impressive group of communications strategists, conducted this briefing from KERCAMP headquarters on April 3, 2003.

CNN: We are waiting the KERCAMP daily briefing, which is scheduled to begin momentarily. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks is expected to address directly the disappointing reports for the first quarter fundraising totals, which many analysts feel could produce a major reassessment of the Kerry Campaign. Some analysts have questioned whether the Kerry Campaign had enough fundraising staff in place, while others have noted what appear now to have been premature announcements of greater forward progress than perhaps is indicated by the situation they find themselves in now. Let's go now to KERCAMP Commander Vince Brooks.

BROOKS: Ladies and Gentlemen. Our fundraisers continue to make good progress across a broad swath of the donor community: large donors, small donors, and in their continuing toward the Heinz Family fortune. We have encountered some resistance among donors attempting to fight off demands for the $2k maximum allowed under the new law. Our message to them is as it has been from the first day: it would be better for you to make the contributions now, when first asked, and enjoy a respite from our relentless calling and also our gratitude, than to flirt with the Edwards regime and pay heavily later when he has been repatriated to North Carolina.

I have some video clips today, which would help to show our efforts in progress and the good results we are achieving. First video, please.

You will see here an aggressive deployment of Kerry fundraising operatives at an event in San Francisco, and you will note the large number of pledge cards being collected. You can see how these appeals are being welcomed.

Next video:

This is John Kerry on the phone, and while we cannot share the audio with you, this is typical of the way he spends most of his days, building what we believe to be an aura of inevitability. The phone, by the way, is specially equipped with a feature that permits the Kerry High Command to program in numbers of prospects, permitting the Senator with the entry of a single digit, and with high precision, to locate a donor anywhere in the United States.

I am happy to take your questions.

FOX: You say that the campaign is making good progress, but isn't it true that you were taken by surprise by the Edwards announced fundraising totals — that you expected, as we all expected, that your campaign would have significantly outraised him?

BROOKS: I would not say that we were surprised, and I do not believe that we ever have said that we would achieve any particular number. We have always said that we would have to work hard to raise the money needed for a successful campaign, and with the largest cash-on-hand of any candidate in the field, we believe that we are well on the way to doing that.

FOX: Follow up, please? That is not the impression we got from Jordan.

BROOKS: I no longer address questions about Jordan, having left the Middle East and my position with Centcom, but I am sure that our people in Amman can help with that question.

ABC: Isn't it clear that something in your fundraising plan did not work as anticipated, and if so, what changes are you making?

BROOKS: We believe that our plan is working well. We understand, as all campaigns do, that as events unfold and new opportunities arise, we adjust as necessary to keep the plan current and effective. All of the campaigns have needed to take into account conditions as they change, such as the impact of the new law, the war, and the discovery that our candidate was Jewish. The last, of course, offers us major new opportunities that we will be capitalizing on as time goes by, and we'll update you on that.

CNN: But can you understand that some believe that the race should be reassessed — that Edwards cannot be counted out, as originally believed?

BROOKS: We cannot control the reassessment, as you put it, that others might believe is appropriate. We are confident that our plan for victory is progressing well, that in the end John Edwards cannot overcome the more experienced, better trained, and personally wealthier John Kerry. I note also that as a strategic matter, Edwards has taken a clear, consistent and risky position on the war, a mistake that the Kerry campaign, with its greater flexibility and mobility, did not make.

The question is — who will win the White House — not today, or tomorrow, but in November of next year? There can be no doubt that John Kerry will.

NBC: We hear some disturbing reports about his treatment of staff in the wake of yesterday's news. Can you comment on that?

BROOKS: I can only tell you this: unlike Edwards, whose brutal treatment of his chiefs of staff and campaign management team is a matter of public record, and condemned throughout the political community, John Kerry will always act in strict observance of all the rules for dealing with lazy, incompetent, or underproducing finance staff.

BBC: Can you tell us what that means?

BROOKS: No. Thank you for your time and attention. Tomorrow's briefing is set for 2 p.m. in Portsmouth, NH.