b —7:45 am: Gov. Howard Dean receives the endorsement of former Sen. Bill Bradley, Manchester, N.H.

—9:00 am: Rep. Dick Gephardt campaigns at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa

—9:00 am: Sen. John Kerry meets with Story County Democrats at Collegiate United Methodist Church, Ames, Iowa

—9:45 am: Off-camera press gaggle with White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan

—11:30 am: Gen. Wesley Clark visits Page Belting to discuss his tax plans, Concord, N.H.

—11:30 am: Sen. John Edwards meets with Chickasaw County Democrats at Tom's Restaurant, New Hampton, Iowa

—12:30 pm: Gov. Dean and Bill Bradley visit Dean's Iowa headquarters, Des Moines, Iowa

—12:30 pm: On-camera press briefing with Press Secretary McClellan

—1:15 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Black Hawk County Democrats, Waterloo, Iowa

— 2:00 pm: NPR hosts a radio-only Democratic candidate debate from Iowa

—3:00 pm: New Hampshire Political Library hosts its Lesser-Known Candidates Forum, Concord, N.H.

—3:15 pm: Sen. Edwards speaks about education at Metro High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

—5:00 pm: Gov. Dean attends a "Caucus for Change" event at Summerset Inn & Winery, Indianola, Iowa

—5:00 pm: Rep. Dennis Kucinich attends a health care forum at a free clinic, Des Moines, Iowa

—5:15 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Washington County Democrats at the Washington Public Library, Washington, Iowa

—6:15 pm: Gen. Wesley Clark attends a house party, Bedford, N.H.

—6:30 pm: Sen. Kerry meets with Linn County Democrats, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

—6:30 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Jefferson County Democrats at the Fairfield Senior Center, Fairfield, Iowa

—6:45 pm: Gov. Dean attends a "Caucus for Change" event, Altoona, Iowa

—7:30 pm: Gen. Clark hosts a "Conversations with Clark" at McKelvie Middle School Cafeteria, Bedford, N.H.

—7:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich appears live on Iowa Public Television with David Yepsen

—7:45 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Wapello County Democrats, Ottumwa, Iowa

—8:00 pm: Gov. Dean attends a "Caucus for Change" event at Polk County House Meeting

—8:00 pm: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers the State of the State address, Sacramento, Calif.

—8:45 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a town hall meeting at Collegiate United Methodist Church, Ames, Iowa

NEWS SUMMARY

Bill Bradley and Al Gore, we now know, both understand the possibilities and opportunities for the Democratic Party if Howard Dean is the nominee.

With a Susan Feeney-inspired audio-only NPR debate in Des Moines today involving all but John Edwards, Al Sharpton, and Wes Clark (press corps -- don't miss the food court!!)&.

With Ron Fournier and Mike Glover floating the Kerry and Edwards balloons … .

… . the political focus today is (still) likely to remain on Howard Dean — his Bradley endorsement; the continuing investigative work into his record as governor of Vermont, the Washington Post 's VandeHei float of a Dean payroll tax cut; and the continuing battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party (with each member having to choose — get on the moving train before it — maybe — leaves the station, or try to figure out how to stop the train … ).

Today's clip and save scorecard:

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Howard Dean has NOT won over:

The editorial pages of the Washington Post , the Wall Street Journal , and New York Times ; Tom Oliphant; Joe Lockhart; Ashton Kutcher; James Carville; Gary Hart; this blogger — LINK ; or this one: LINK ; lots and lots of Clinton-Gore alums; Zell Miller.

Howard Dean has (seemingly) won over:

Lanny Davis; Carter Eskew; 850 Fargoans; the guy who plays Ashton Kutcher's friend's father on That 70s Show (Kurtwood Smith); Peter Freyne (though he'd never admit it); Mary Matalin.

Torn:

Deborah Orin (like Fanny Dooley, she LOVES Bill Bradley, but HATES Howard Dean … ); Tom Harkin; Tom Daschle, Al From; Edward Flanagan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUT HERE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We wonder whether Matea Gold was misty-eyed as she heard a smiling Senator Bradley call the Dean campaign "one of the best things that's happened to American democracy in decades."

Bradley used the occasion to riff: "The pundits say … . but I say … " "The pundits say … but I say … " directly trying to answer the electability question. "The pundits say Howard Dean is an angry man. But I say he's an idealist who's willing to be tough in pursuit of his vision."

But faster than Joe Trippi can get up a bat (www.blogforamerica.com), the Vermont audit reports keep blowing onto Rick Lyman's desk.

Today's story involves a charge that in 1992, the Dean administration awarded a $900,000 contract to an HMO that a one-time Dean cabinet member used to represent. A state audit of that contract concluded that the cabinet member, David Wilson (now deceased), played a substantive role in the awarding of the contract despite having vowed to recuse himself. LINK

Then, in 1997, an unrelated audit discovered that an independent 1993 review of the HMO questioned some of its practices but was never turned over to the company — as was mandated by law. The Dean campaign contends the audits were overblown and politically motivated.

The story also delves into the relationship between the auditor, Edward Flanagan, and Dean.

Sarah Schweitzer's story has a more equivocal lead: "A state auditor's report found that the administration of former Vermont governor Howard Dean failed to take steps to prevent the appearance of impropriety in negotiating a contract for processing health care claims of state employees." LINK

Did anyone close to Dean know that there may have been a conflict of interest? Was this an instance of the small concentric rings of expertise that govern small-state bidding processes (there are only so many experts, in other words … ) What, specifically, did Howard Dean do here? Or did not do? Or should have done?

And, what is it with Vermont and audits discovering things late?

Also, (again) who is feeding these stories over the transom?

Fifthly, what does it say about Howard Dean that the same folks who release audits critical of parts of his gubernatorial tenure (Ed Flanagan, Elizabeth Ready), now readily identify themselves as Dean supporters? (We realize this one cuts both ways).

But forget the HMO think; we are on to something bigger.

And being, as we are on the forefront of what's news, relevant, and important to the electorate, we hereby offer this exclusive nugget for you to nuzzle on:

The Note usually doesn't sip from opposition research memos, but this one is too important for us not to imbibe, and it could well tip the scales against the governor of Vermont, based on the very fluid situation in the very wet state of Iowa.

-------------------------------

From: Mike Gehrke [Mike_Gehrke@johnkerry.com]

To: research@Johnkerry

Bcc: Reynolds_C_Christina@johnedwards.com

COME CLEAN HOWARD DEAN!!

Dean exaggerates — again!

As his campaign loses steam to a chugging John Kerry in Iowa, there are new questions that MUST be answered about a key development in Howard Dean's past. A glaring inconsistency that has come to light. This one is dripping … ..

IS IT TWO? : "In the summer of 1973, Howard Dean III asked Howard Dean, Jr. to join him for dinner at a Manhattan restaurant. Prudently waiting until his father was well into his second Martini, he proceeded to the business at hand: that his life was headed in a purposeless direction … .He had a different scenario in mind: becoming a physician." ("Profiles: Running on Instinct, The New Yorker, January 12, 2004)

OR THREE? On the other hand, Dean says: "I took my father to dinner, fed him three martinis and told him I wanted to go to medical school.." ("What Makes Howard Dean Tick?" Newsweek, July 21, 2003)

Dean should be called to account for his quaffic disingenuousness. And let's see Brent Colburn try to refute this! It's not swill!!

JohnKerry.com.
Paid for by John Kerry for President, Inc.
Contributions to John Kerry for President are not deductible for tax purposes.

--------------------------------

Incidentally, If you haven't read previous stories about how Howard Dean became the Pele he is today, Mark Singer's New Yorker profile is about as good as it gets.

It quotes the usual suspects — Mr. Wolk, Mr. Dawson, La Trippi, Rick Sharp … gets the key facts right (Dean Witter has nothing to do with the Dean family, Act 60 was arguably as important to Dean's political evolution as civil unions), is pretty good on the campaign chronology, has witty insights (Dean is a "Luddite," a "quintessentia[l] physician-politician," his "evolution" on civil unions, his muse-ational thinking style, the "moment" on the Sleepless Tour when he was made aware of the movement).

"Dean's novelty … has been largely determined by adventitious circumstance (above all, by an organizational infrastructure he never imagined) and style — his verbal manner, his protestations of his un-Washington otherness — not policy substance."

It's quite positive on the whole, and Mr. Singer discloses that his daughter is a Deanie-baby.

And how 'bout them cartoons? The Note loves Roz Chast … .

The Democratic presidential candidates (minus Wesley Clark, Al Sharpton and John Edwards) participate in NPR's radio-only debate from Iowa at 2 pm ET today for 120 glorious minutes.

President Bush has no public events today.

Gov. Dean receives the endorsement of former Senator Bill Bradley this morning in Manchester and then the two travel to Des Moines.

Rep. Gephardt campaigns in Iowa before the debate.

Senator Kerry campaigns in Iowa before and after the debate.

Gen. Clark campaigns in New Hampshire today.

Senator Edwards campaigns throughout Iowa today.

Rep. Kucinich campaigns in Iowa following the debate.

Senator Lieberman, Ambassador Moseley Braun, and Rev. Sharpton participate in the NPR debate.

California Gov. Schwarzenegger delivers the State of the State address from Sacramento tonight.

ABC News Vote 2004: the Democratic nomination fight:

The New York Times ' Adam Nagourney goes deep into the maneuverings of candidates who are chasing second (or third) place — Edwards and Kerry in Iowa, Clark and Lieberman in New Hampshire — Noting, "As a result, contests within contests are being created and a whole new debate is being set up over how to define what a victory is." LINK

"This intense drive by Mr. Edwards and Mr. Kerry to not win is the latest example of the convoluted strategies so many of these candidates have adopted with the goal of emerging in February as the second person in a two-way race with Dr. Dean. Gen. Wesley K. Clark has sought to accomplish the same thing by ignoring Iowa and campaigning heavily in New Hampshire, where he is seeking to race past Mr. Kerry and post a strong second-place showing to Dr. Dean. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut is also sitting out the Iowa caucuses."

But Nagourney does not denounce the expectations game — he merely treats it as humorous and tactical and wondrous.

The AP's Calvin Woodward illustrates what life might be like with different Democrats as president. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont, following the AP and ABC News' Stephanopoulos, reports that Senator Tom Harkin will decide this week whether to endorse. LINK

Ed Wyatt and David Halbfinger on two big Monday speeches — Clark on taxes and Kerry on the economy. LINK

The Portsmouth Herald Notes the large number of New Hampshire teens, still not of legal voting age, devoting most of their free time to helping campaigns get ready for Jan. 27. LINK

Brian DeBose of the Washington Times reports Dean's apparent lead in the Washington, DC primary, but Rev. Al Sharpton is a close second. Please take Note, that the only other candidates participating in this primary are Amb. Carol Moseley Braun and Rep. Dennis Kucinich. LINK

The Pensacola News Journal writes that the historically conservative Northwest Florida (the last time a Democratic presidential candidate won here was John F. Kennedy in 1960) is still under a GOP stronghold. Local leaders think a "military person" could possibly be the only kind of candidate to beat Bush here.LINK

The land of 5-plus-2-equals-7:

While Senator Kerry told David Yepsen yesterday that firing Jim Jordan as his campaign manager showed leadership, it's possible that not everyone agrees.

In any case, ABC News has learned that, well, here comes Mr. Jordan, who plans to team up with what we call "The Groups" — you know, the Harold Ickes/Ellen Malcolm/Steve Rosenthal targeting efforts that are looking to build strong post-Shays-Meehan air and ground games in the baker's dozen+ states that will decide the winner of the Electoral College.

We confess we had a hint of the news to come as we read the lead of Johanna Nueman's Los Angeles Times story on the real busiest shopping day of the year, which told the tale of one Mr. Ickes phoning Jordan post-dismissal to tell him "'not to take it personally'" and "'you can always come back.'"

We are told that Jordan's allied effort will focus on the kind of message/rapid response/communications/research operations at which he has excelled over the years.

Kerry

From ABC News' Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:

ANKENY, IOWA. Jan. 5--Before the first breakfast specials of the day cooled in Ottumwa, Iowa's Country Kitchen, Senator Kerry wrapped his ever-tightening stump speech to forty-five potential caucus goers. On the surface, all looked well through Kerry's strong pitch but behind the scenes, there was a dissonant chord in the Kerry campaign.

Folk legend Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary had been denied the opportunity for a closing song as Kerry staff tried desperately to keep the Senator on schedule leading up to a live Iowa Public Television interview with Des Moines Register guru David Yepsen.

Yarrow pleaded to campaign staff, "I feel like I need to sing again."

Kerry's Iowa Political Director Mike Malaise argued, "We need to go … this is live TV."

As Kerry milled about, shaking hands and greeting supporters, Yarrow saw yet another missed opportunity for his finale and promptly made his case to Setti Warren, National Trip Director for the Kerry campaign.

The serene Warren nodded and when the brief exchange concluded, Yarrow walked away, then turned and made peace saying, "I'm Peter and I love you."

Warren called back, "I understand. I understand. I'm going in there right now to get (Kerry)."

In thankful contrast for the Kerry campaign, the scene on the second floor of the Oskaloosa Public Library had all the makings of a political love fest. As Yarrow strummed his show closer "If I Had a Hammer," he begged for the attention of his close friend of three decades, Senator John Kerry.

Kerry, deeply engaged at sealing the deal with an undecided voter, waved off Yarrow explaining, "I'm getting a vote; I'm working on a vote!"

Then, as the 50 gathered Iowans clapped and sang, Francis Schuelka turned, clasped the Massachusetts Senator and exclaimed, "He changed me from a Republican to a Democrat!"

The crowd roared, Yarrow danced, and Schuelka pitched, Kerry pledge card in hand, "Fill these out, fill these out! Don't forget to fill these out to support John Kerry, our next President of the United States!"

After such endorsement exhalations one might expect the Kerry camp to combat the Dean news of day with a simple, "Bradley who?" Instead, Senator Kerry responded to the news of Dean's latest endorsement prize with a dismissal offering, "I knew months ago that Bill Bradley was going to endorse Dean. But he doesn't vote in Iowa and he doesn't vote in New Hampshire."

The only thing the Senator forgot to add is: 'But Francis Schuelka does.'

Kerry later added that "close friends" told him "months ago" that Bradley would endorse the former Vermont Governor. As such, the Senator contends he never asked for his former Senate colleague's endorsement.

Senator Kerry did, however, step-up his rhetorical battle with Dean, hitting the frontrunner hard on several subjects including the former Vermont Governor's statements on Osama Bin Laden, repealing the whole Bush tax cut, and his judgment in general.

Speaking during an avail following his economic address, Kerry argued, "I think there are lots of voters who are concerned about being able to beat George W. Bush … I think there is a say one thing, clarify it by press release, and do another series of events in this campaign that will make it very difficult for us to be able to defeat George W. Bush."

On taxes, the Senator stated emphatically, "(Dean) does raise-His plan is to raise taxes. It is his plan … (and) I think it's a huge liability."

Regarding Dean's Iraq position, Kerry insisted, "Howard Dean exercised the same judgment as those he criticized … This is duplicitous position that the Bush campaign will exploit to a fare-thee-well."

Speaking during an avail following his economic address, Kerry argued, "I think there are lots of voters who are concerned about being able to beat George W. Bush … I think there is a say one thing, clarify it by press release, and do another series of events in this campaign that will make it very difficult for us to be able to defeat George W. Bush."

At during a brief stop at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Des Moines, Kerry implored in an amended stump speech, "We can't have someone at the top of the ticket who is going to cost us votes."

Though Kerry did not specifically mention Dean by name, the down ballot inference was not lost on a receptive crowd.

Read more from the trail with Kerry on abcnews.com: LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Ron Brownstein writes up Kerry's denunciation of "big oil, big pharmaceuticals and big HMOs" and Notes that Kerry has a new campaign slogan: "A fighter with results."

LINK

The AP's Ron Fournier reports that Kerry "is finding new political life in Iowa with a coalition of veterans, firefighters and undecided voters wondering about the viability of a Howard Dean or Dick Gephardt presidential nomination." LINK

The Boston Globe 's Pat Healy reports on Kerry's wooing of female voters.

LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont writes up Kerry's plan to help the middle class. LINK

Gephardt:

From ABC News' Gephardt campaign reporter Sally Hawkins:

MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, Jan. 5th--Iowans love jokes about their weather. While Rep. Gephardt has trimmed several laugh lines from his speech in an effort to tighten it up, he's worked another one in about the Iowa wind. The Congressman says that as a part of his Apollo 21 energy program, he would promote the use of environmentally friendly natural resources like solar power, ethanol, soy diesel — and wind.

After listing off several energy alternatives to Saudi oil, he now says, "And, you've got a lot of wind here in Iowa", which draws a response from the crowd so loud that he often has to pause before continuing. "Tony Blair said the other day he's going to put windmills up and down the coast of Britain. Well, that wind has to come from somewhere. Let's get it before he does!"

As the newest reporters on the campaign trail have puzzled looks on their faces, the joke never fails with Iowans.

His speech wraps up with another weather joke only an Iowan could love. As he asks the audience for support on caucus night, he frequently adds, "January 19th will be a warm, balmy evening." Once again, the joke falls flat for most out of towners, but Iowans fall to pieces. The lines took on a new meaning today as the sign at a local bank in the south eastern part of the state read -4 degrees.

While sleeping less and campaigning more, the Congressman is taking steps to stay healthy as he makes his way around the bitter cold state. Gephardt's wife Jane returned home to DC yesterday after coming down with a bad case of the flu, but the Congressman is determined to stave it off.

At the end of a long day as the campaign staff and ever-growing group of reporters flash-mobbed the lobby of the Mount Pleasant Super 8 (his "favorite hotel"), Gephardt was asked if he too was getting sick by a reporter who noticed his voice was a little raspy. Gephardt grinned and said emphatically, "No. I don't get sick. No time for that." "Are you taking your vitamins?" one reporter asked. "I'm taking everything," he said. "C, E, K, B … .you name it, I'm taking it."

The campaign announced the addition of state directors in Delaware, Virginia and Tennessee and a Wisconsin field director which brings the number of states where Gephardt has full-time paid staff to fourteen.

Also today, after a short rally in Des Moines with about 200 union members from the Alliance for Economic Justice, Gephardt held a conference call with reporters to slam President Bush's visit to an elementary school in Gephardt's hometown of St. Louis in anticipation of the 2nd anniversary of the signing of "No Child Left Behind." "George Bush always makes time for campaign photo-ops in the Midwest and fundraising events, but he's shortchanging our future by not taking the time to make critical investments in public education", he said.

Dean:

Jim VandeHei reports in the Washington Post on Dean's efforts to strike a more conciliatory tone on the trail, as "he increasingly acts and sounds like a candidate marching toward victory and concerned about limiting the damage." LINK

Read the last paragraph on taxes, please.

And read this whole story about an overheard conference call, just for hits and giggles. LINK

From ABC News' Dean campaign reporter Reena Singh:

FARGO, N.D., Jan. 6 — Former New Jersey Senator and hall of fame NBA player Bill Bradley joins Al Gore in support of Gov. Dean. The endorsement announcement will be made this morning in Manchester in front of an estimated 250 supporters. Following the event, Dean and Bradley travel to Iowa for an appearance at the Dean's Des Moines headquarters.

The Governor spent most of Monday in Iowa before taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa, (the site where Buddy Holly's plane tumbled from the sky in 1959) and touched ground as late afternoon sun fell on frozen fields. The high of the day in Fargo was nine degrees below zero.

While in North Dakota, the Governor spoke to approximately 820 people in the chandelier lit ballroom of the Ramada Plaza Conference Center. State director John Crabtree had hoped for 450, set up for 500 and "almost fell over" when he got the final tally.

Supporters swarmed the stage following the event and as Gov. Dean slowly made his way down the rope line, former North Dakota Governor and Gen. Clark supporter George Sinner waited patiently in the wings. "I think I detect something," said Sinner. "He won't leave the people alone." When asked if that was such a bad quality for a politician, he replied, "No, not bad for a politician." Pressed on whether he detected a winner, Sinner said, "I think so."

The Dean campaign has approximately 30 to 40 volunteers statewide and over 900 people signed up on the Web site. Most of the state's supporters were recruited from Meetups. North Dakota is important for the campaign due to the state's decision to move up their primary to Feb. 3.

The highlight of the Fargo appearance came during the question and answer period. Dean advisers were diligently tight-lipped about the endorsement, but were unable to rein in their candidate. Staffers cringed on the sidelines when the Governor said, "Tomorrow morning, there is a strong story out that I am not going to comment on, that Bill Bradley is going to endorse me."

Bradley's endorsement has been long expected especially since former Bradley campaign manager Gina Glantz joined the Dean Team. Like Dean, Bradley campaigned hard for healthcare and the Governor has said that he has referred to the former Senator for advice throughout his campaign.

Bradley is from Congressman Gephardt's home state of Missouri and as former New Jersey Senator has strong ties in both the Garden State and New York. It is unclear what type of position Bradley will play in the campaign, but another Dean all-star endorser, Al Gore, will soon hit the road in Iowa and South Carolina for the Governor.

Read more from the trail with Dean on abcnews.com: LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Matea Gold and Mark Z. Barabak write up the Bradley endorsement and quote Dean's version of "I'm a uniter, not a divider": "If there's a candidate in the Democratic Party that can bring together the two candidates for president the last time [who] fought like crazy, maybe we're not the weakest candidate." Gold and Barabak also note Dean's endorsement from Dolores Huerta, cofounder of the United Farm Workers of America. LINK

The New York Times ' Jodi Wilgoren on the Bradley/Dean endorsement. LINK

The Washington Post 's David Broder and Ceci Connolly write up the Bradley endorsement and Note that Dean's rivals have "cranked up their rhetoric and mobilized their ground troops in an effort to deny the early favorite a victory in the Iowa caucuses two weeks from Monday." LINK

The AP's Nedra Pickler reports on the expected Bradley nod. LINK

The Chicago Tribune's Zeleny, McCormick, and friends report on the Dean endorsement. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson writes that criticism keeps rolling off of Howard Dean, much to the consternation of his rivals and the delight of his campaign.

LINK

Johnson also reports on the Bradley endorsement, blind quoting a political analyst as saying the endorsement will give Dean some good coverage, but not much political value. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's editorial board writes that Dean should open his record and that he is setting a bad precedent. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Marc Hansen and his wife have received hand-written letters from Dean supporters who write these letters during their Meet Up meetings. LINK

The Union Leader's Tom Fahey writes up Dean's criticism of the No Child Left Behind act yesterday. While calling the act a "federal bureaucracy run amok," Dean also said he would not repeal the bill if elected president, but would just work on changes. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Nick Anderson and Matea Gold — warmly dressed, we hope — report that even though there aren't many delegates at stake in North Dakota, "candidates are coming nonetheless, because even victory in a sparsely populated state can help them claim momentum." LINK

Clark:

From ABC News' Clark campaign reporter Deborah Apton:

MANCHESTER, NH, Jan. 5 — For the first time since Gen. Clark announced his candidacy, Clark is staying on message. The underlying theme of patriotism remains the same, but never before have press and staff alike been able to consistently mouth The General's stump speech from beginning to end and know exactly when he'll pause for applause, oohs, and ahhs.

The new stump was developed for the "True Grits" tour of the South last week and adapted for New Hampshire, says Clark's communications director, Matt Bennett. It focuses on Clark's Southern values; broken down into categories: family, faith, patriotism, and inclusiveness. Clark speaks about his childhood-his father's death, his "only child" status, his move to Arkansas where he chose to attend the Baptist church because of its stained-glass windows, his gun collection and how he used to shoot cans and hunt with his stepfather.

Clark uses the religious faith portion of the program to tie in an attack on the Republicans saying that only one political party lives their faith and that's the Democratic Party. The Republicans, on the other hand, talk about religion a lot. Clark told Dover area residents Monday that "you'd think [Republicans] have a pipeline to the Lord God Almighty sending down an instruction sheet every morning to them."

"He has developed enormously as a candidate," Bennett told ABC News. "He's found a stump speech that he likes and he's sticking with it." But while Clark often boasts he's not a politician (evoking the memory of the first and only other election he participated in for homeroom student council president), the quintessential repetition of the stump speech seems to trigger a move towards the political norm of drilling the message home.

And, while the stump is the same, the questions from the audience can evoke fresh answers. At a Monday evening "Conversation with Clark," a woman's question on electability led Clark to say: "What you're looking for is people with good judgment in public office and good judgment comes from experience and experience usually comes from previous bad judgment."

Read more from the trail with Clark on abcnews.com: LINK

The Wall Street Journal 's Jake Schlesinger delves deep into The General's tax plan, calling his tax code overhaul and promise of smaller and simpler taxes for the middle class a "stark contrast" to the tax policy of Howard Dean, "who so far has unveiled no broad tax-relief plan and has called for the repeal of all tax cuts enacted under President Bush — including breaks given to lower- and middle-income families."

Schlesinger — and the headline writer — point out that Clark's speech was timed to keep him in the news while — almost — everyone else in the field is focused on Iowa, where he is not competing in the caucuses.

Los Angeles Times' Eric Slater calls Clark's tax plan a "decidedly liberal approach," and Notes The General's direct address to Karl Rove in his stump speech. LINK

"'Karl, I want you to hear me loud and clear,' Clark said. 'I am going to provide tax cuts to ease the burdens for 31 million American families, and lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, by raising the taxes on 0.1% of families — those who make $1 million a year. You don't have to read my lips; I'm saying it.'" "'If that makes me an old-style Democrat, then I accept that label with pride and dare you to come after me for it.'"

The New York Daily News' Helen Kennedy writes up The General's tax plan under our favorite headline: "Clark plan soaks rich." Though the story itself clarifies: soaking the "super-rich." LINK

The Boston Globe 's Joanna Weiss details The General's tax plan. LINK

The Washington Post 's Paul Schwartzman on Clark's tax plan. LINK

Edwards

From ABC News' Edwards campaign reporter Gloria Riviera:

MASON CITY, IOWA, Jan. 5 — A heavy snow didn't keep John Edwards from jogging with supporters Sunday morning in Des Moines, but 24 hours later, zero degree temperatures and a to-the-bone wind chill was enough to keep the Senator inside and on the hotel treadmill (a machine he hates) for Monday's a.m. run.

The Senator says he does some of his best thinking on his "RUN TIME" — as it is noted on the to-the-minute daily schedules. Perhaps the treadmill was better than nothing for fine-tuning the speech he gave later that morning in front of the single largest audience of national press to turn out to date for Edwards alone.

The big five networks, NPR, The Washington Post , The New York Times , USA Today were all on hand to hear Edwards deliver his current caucus-tailored stump speech in front of a mixed crowd of supporters, staff and press totaling just over a 100.

Against the backdrop of the campaign's latest slogan "A New Beginning for America," Edwards barely looked at his prepared text, instead leaning both hands on the podium before shaking his fist or extending and outstretched hand to the crowd. "We are done with infatuation," he tells crowds, "It is time to pick a President."

For what it is worth, today was the first time this reporter has heard an audience member (actually the grand total was two at two separate events) tell Edwards he came across as "presidential."

At the day's last event in Mason City there was a somewhat heated exchange between Edwards and a gentleman in the audience who asked Edwards for his opinion of the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, GA (recently renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation). When Edwards said he hadn't really given the school a lot of thought, but he would get back to him — the man rather gruffly retorted, "That's what they all say."

And there is was again, that Rock the Vote flash of fire. "You are not talking to the other guys," Edwards came back, "You are talking to me. You will have an answer."

Edwards will stay in Iowa until Wednesday morning before making quick stops in two other states (guess which ones!). There are two striking difference between Edwards' events here and elsewhere. He gets the largest crowds here but perhaps more importantly, Edwards is more impassioned and the crowds more readily engaged in Iowa than anywhere else. Still, whether that translates into caucus goers on the 19th is difficult to say definitely with two weeks to go.

Working in New Hampshire on behalf of Edwards, campaign chairman Ed Turlington Noted a small coincidence. He was in Iowa when he heard about Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean, and he'll be in New Hampshire tomorrow morning when a certain former Senator (for whom Turlington served as a deputy campaign manager in 2000) announces his endorsement of a certain forrmer governor. "While Bill's endorsement is something any candidate would want, it is something on a list of items voters will consider," said Turlington.

Look out for a new ad of the "Just Do It" genre to debut before the big day. And in case you were light on bedtime reading, the Edwards' press is printing again for a final pre-caucus pamphlet (similar to the "Real Solutions For America" platform outline) to be presented later this week.

Read more from the trail with Edwards on abcnews.com: LINK

Edwards criticized Dean's ideas for a tax repeal, reports the Raliegh News and Observer. LINK

The AP's Mike Glover reports on Edwards' "strategy of staying above the fray." LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Frank Santiago reports Edwards' continuing emphasis on optimism. LINK

Lieberman:

From Lieberman campaign reporter Talesha Reynolds: Manchester, NH, Jan. 5 — Another day, another endorsement … for Howard Dean. Former presidential candidate Bill Bradley is set to give his support to the good doctor and Senator Lieberman has no choice but to remain optimistic. He downplayed the news, insisting that endorsements just don't mean that much. "Politicians don't pick presidents, the people do," he said.

Lieberman asserted, as he has with renewed vigor since Al Gore's endorsement of Dean, that he is the Democrat who can defeat George Bush. The Senator has made a complete transition from his integrity themed stump speech to a message that echoes Kucinich's line from the Iowa debate, "I can win, if you vote for me."

Senator Lieberman has said for weeks that he feels "something happening" in New Hampshire. A "Joementum," if you will. And he was not pleased when a reporter asked, if Lieberman was really gathering support, why there weren't more people at the day's events, which by then had included a diner stop where Lieberman shook a few hands, two sparsely populated healthcare events, and a high school event full of students not yet voting age.

"What a negative question to ask," Lieberman said, and then explained that retail campaigning meant reaching out to people one by one. "The crowds that you see that matter are on primary day or election day," he said. "That's what it's all about."

Tuesday, the campaign will unveil a new television ad for New Hampshire markets, and it will release its first radio ad. The television spot touts Lieberman's centrism and electability, claiming that he is the "only one" in the race who is sufficiently tough on terrorism and kind to the middle class.

The Union Leader's Paula Tracy reports that Lieberman said yesterday that he would limit insurance company profits to 2 percent a year in order to reduce the cost of health care. LINK

His home state's Hartford Courant details Lieberman's Feb. 3 states ad-campaign. LINK

The Washington Post 's Howard Kurtz does an ad watch on Lieberman's new spot. LINK

Moseley Braun:

From ABC News Moseley Braun campaign reporter Monica Ackerman: South Carolina, that's where Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun's campaign manager, Patricia Ireland, believes the campaign will do their best. Moseley Braun often says she is doing better than other better funded candidates. The latest South Carolina Pew Research Center poll has the Ambassador tied with Senator John Kerry at 3 percent. Moseley Braun recently opened up an office in the February 3rd primary state. It's the campaign's only field office. Ireland says they were able to gather 6,000 signatures in South Carolina in six days, all with the help of volunteers.

In New Hampshire, Ireland says she doesn't have much of a read. As far as Iowa is concerned, she doesn't think they'll play well.

Ireland says they can't afford to pay the accountants enough to both file for the 4th-quarter and do the matching funds paperwork. Instead, campaign staffer Jessie Washington has been put in charge of the "tedious" matching funds work.

As far as 4th-quarter funds are concerned, Ireland estimates that they took in between $150,000-$200,000.

"I didn't sign onto the campaign to beat my head up against a wall; I think this campaign can do something," Ireland says optimistically.

Read more from the trail with Moseley Braun on abcnews.com: LINK

Iowa:

The Des Moines Register 's Ken Fuson reports on USA Today 's Walter Shapiro's "strategic decision" to cover Sunday's debate from his hotel room. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Bill Reiter asks: "Do the debates really matter?" LINK

The Des Moines Register 's David Yepsen writes: "The passion in the (Democratic) party and on the left is healthy, as long as they remember to think with their heads and not their anger." LINK

South Carolina:

In an effort to boost voter turnout in South Carolina, the Reverend Jesse Jackson is planning a rally February 2 at the Statehouse in Columbia. LINK

Kucinich:

The Des Moines Register 's Tony Leys reports that Rep. Dennis Kucinich said Monday that there would be no mad cow in a family-farm system. LINK

Ad-ing it up:

The AP's fabulous Ms.Fouhy looks at the last 15 ads standing in the MoveOn.org competition. LINK

The New York Times ' Michael Janofsky writes up Republicans' taking affront to two advertisements submitted to Moveon.org's competition that show a face of President Bush morphing into Adolph Hitler. LINK

(Our own inboxes tell a similar tale — no chance we "missed" this one!)

Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times explains the Jewish community's outrage over the Moveon.org ad competition submission President Bush to Adolf Hitler. LINK

The Washington Times ' Ralph Z. Hallow Notes the puzzlement of Bush's political advisers and supporters with the conservative Club for Growth's anti-Dean ad airing today in Des Moines. Republican strategist Alan Hoffenblum urges the group to heed Lee Atwater's golden rule: "Never interfere with your opponents when they are in the middle of destroying themselves." LINK

The group's US Newswire release Notes the ad "criticizes former Vermont Governor Howard Dean's tax-hiking ideology as hopelessly out of step with the rest of America"and features one Stephen Moore saying Dean's "'liberalism may play well with latte-drinking, body-piercing, public radio listening crowd, but it won't play with hard-working Americans.'"

We wonder how different the spot is from last year's ad comparing Dean to Mondal, Dukakis, and McGovern?

Along with the ad, Moore is expected to announce "the Club's $4 million campaign that will combat ads by left-wing groups being largely funded by liberal activists and businessmen George Soros, Peter Lewis and others." LINK >

Hear that, Mr Jordan? Stay tuned, folks!

From the outside:

And in our effort to bring you today's news this morning, ABC's Gayle Tzemach offers this preview of a few events on tap today:

The Chamber of Commerce's Tom Donohue talks political priorities this morning. He is expected to announce a plan to direct "unprecedented resources to 33 of the most competitive congressional races — 24 House contests and 9 Senate races."

Donohue vows the recent BCRA decision won't keep the Chamber's dogs from hunting, promising the group will "hold fund-raisers and endorsement events, put expert political organizers on the ground in key districts, and launch a massive get-out-the-vote campaign."

And he plans to announce the launch of a multimillion dollar capital campaign to, among other priorities, "bolster" legal reform efforts and "increase" the group's "policy expertise and influence."

Also today at the National Press Club comes the launch of the Unity '04 Civic Engagement and Voter Empowerment Campaign, which its organizers call a "non-partisan initiative leveraging the resources of 130 organizations determined to increase Black voter turnout and make sure each vote is counted on Election Day."

Among those leading this effort are the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Urban League, SEIU, and the Lowery Institute. Today's launch will also see the release of a September survey of 570 voters attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Legislative Weekend.

The survey found "African American voters expressed a prevailing sense of despair that jobs 70%, the quality of public education 67%, health care 67%, the availability of affordable housing 61% and civil liberties 59% have gotten worse."

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

Some of the $2.8 million raised yesterday by President Bush at a St. Louis fundraiser will show up in the Bush-Cheney 2003 campaign finance reports, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jo Mannies reports. The timing of the checks allows some of the cash to be counted toward the 2003 haul. Meanwhile, the president talked about the accomplishments of his administration, including the war on terror and the passage of Medicare overhaul, defended No Child Left Behind and faced protesters demonstrating against the administration's plan to change overtime pay rules. LINK

The New York Times ' Richard Stevenson reports that President Bush spent "the first day of the working year" celebrating the "No Child Left Behind" bill that he signed into law almost exactly two years ago, Noting that the Democratic candidates are attacking Bush on an issue "they once considered their own." LINK

The WashPost's Allen turns in the day's best dateline, relaying from an airborne gaggle that while the president has instructed his staff to cooperate with the FBI investigation of the leak of a CIA operative's name, Scott McClellan wouldn't discuss whether or not staffers have been urged to sign forms letting reporters out of promises of confidentiality. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Ed Chen looks at reaction to President Bush's education plan, to which both conservatives and liberals give a thumbs-down. The main points of contention: conservatives are discontented with the top-down, federal mandates for a local issue, and liberals say it hasn't been funded properly and is costing school districts a lot of money. LINK

Slate's Chatterbox doesn't care for Mrs. Bush's story on the poem her husband apparently did not write for her. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar previews President Bush's immigration reform proposals and reports that "Most of the Democratic presidential contenders support "earned legalization" programs for undocumented immigrants similar to the plan expected to be offered by the White House — although in some cases their proposals would create quicker routes to citizenship. The plan offered by Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, for example, calls for citizenship after five years." LINK

Politics:

The New York Times ' David Brooks on the conspiracy theories, congealed incivility, and easy villainy of Campaign '04. LINK

The New York Daily News reports that the short list of people looking to challenge Senator Chuck Schumer is now five, including former Atlanta Falcon/Fox Sports analyst Tim Green, and a former cosmetics executive. LINK

New York's Senior Senator and a former Reagan Administration Treasury official work together to offer second thoughts on the principle of free trade. LINK

The New York Times ' Sheryl Stolberg writes up Bush ally former Rep. John Thune's decision to challenge Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle for his seat this year. LINK

AP reports that former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate on Monday, saying he doesn't expect anything to be handed to him because of his relationship with the White House. LINK

Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley is expected to announce in about two weeks whether he will seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by six-term Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, reports Frank Morris of the Carolina Morning News. LINK

The New York Times ' Jennifer 8. Lee reports the resignations of three top enforcement officials at the EPA. LINK

The Schwarzenegger era:

The Los Angeles Times' Peter Nicholas, Joe Mathews and Miguel Bustillo deconstruct the process of writing Gov. Schwarzenegger's first State of the State address, including larger themes like jobs, worker's compensation and the state's economy that will form its main focus. LINK

The San Francisco Chronicle's Robert Salladay and Mark Martin preview the speech, calling it, combined with the budget he will turn in on Friday, the Governor's first chance to fulfill his inaugural promise to "do the extraordinary," and deal with deficits and the state's economy in an office where his power is limited by initiatives. Without new taxes, the cuts will be necessary to get the budget in line — in higher education, MediCal, family programs and prisons. LINK

Those cuts are expected to amount to at least $2 billion, the Los Angeles Times' Evan Halper reports. The California Teachers Association reportedly cut a deal with Schwarzenegger to back the cuts in order to keep hands off of Proposition 98, which guarantees K-12 schools and community colleges annually increasing money from California's general fund. State officials say that the cuts are temporary and the money will be put back next year. LINK

So much for going back to work after coming off the campaign. Lloyd Grove reports that according to sources, California First Lady Maria Shriver was asked to resign as a contributing anchor and correspondent for "Dateline NBC" after her activist role on her husband's campaign. Grove outlines the he-said-she-said ("we're in talks, trying to work it out")-spokesperson said ("she's still on the job"). He also Notes Shriver's cordial relationship with NBC anchors and Jeff Zucker. Print this one out and use as a score card when the final announcement comes out. LINK

Big Casino budget politics/Medicare:

Medicare and Robert Pear, perfect together.

LINK

The Economy:

The Wall Street Journal 's Aaron Lucchetti reports that the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 134.2 points on Monday to close at 10544.07, the highest close since 2002.

Paul Krugman on Robert Rubin's dire economic warnings. LINK

Bush Administration strategy/personality:

E.J. Dionne deconstructs President Bush's budget strategy. LINK

The Washington Post 's Mike Allen profiles Commerce Secretary Don Evans. He comes off as a good man. LINK

The Washington Post 's Richard Cohen on the anti-taxers (Grover Norquist) LINK