ABC News' The Note: First Source for Political News
W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 1, 2004—
-- NOTED NOW
TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET)
FUTURES CALENDAR
Morning Show Wrap
Evening Newscasts Wrap
62 days until election day
NEWS SUMMARY
In our 24/7-cable-Internet-talk show politico-media culture, the only way to be anywhere close to first in offering an evaluation of ANYTHING in American politics is to rush beyond any sense of propriety or horse sense to analyze and dissect before an event is even over.
Thus, if it's Wednesday, it must be time to give you the world's first comprehensive scorecard on the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Missions Accomplished in New York:
— Played the press perfectly to minimize the stories they wanted minimized (the platform tussle, the protesters, the curious lineup ).
— Got the Gang of 500 to accept that "contrasts with John Kerry" are perfectly acceptable this week.
— Set bounce/bump expectations exquisitely, encompassing any eventuality — no Bush bounce (As Matthew Dowd said, there isn't room for a bounce this year, and historically, the incumbent's bounce is a sub-multiple of the challenger's and Kerry's bounce was zero … ); a small Bush bounce (As Matthew Dowd said, that's all there is room for … ); and/or a large Bush bounce (As Matthew Dowd says, Kerry wasted his convention, but the President will use his in real and effective ways … )
— Worked the issue of Sen. Kerry's anti-Vietnam protest activities into the mainstream bloodstream -- dovetailing with the Swift Boaters -- while staying on the good cop/bad cop track on the medals charges.
— Easily cleared the "competency bar" with the Gang of 500 — history will record this as a well-organized event (assuming it stays on course), and Republicans will have again proven they run an impressively tight ship.
— Flaunted a unified party, with all participants strikingly on message.
— Delivered a number of sharp strikes against John Kerry without accusations of inappropriate rancor or pettiness (Purple Heart bandages notwithstanding).
— Behind the scenes, fostered an environment to attract enough 527 money to make even Harold Ickes and Ellen Malcolm envious.
— Applied maximum force to clean up Matt Lauer-induced GWOT gaffe.
— Banished any talk of health care, unemployment, and poverty figures.
— Took under-the-radar advantage of Radio Row and satellite technology to reach battleground state markets. (And how many of even The Note's most sophisticated readers know the President was interviewed on Rush Limbaugh yesterday and the Vice President on Sean Hannity?)
— Mostly kept reporters from chasing their own (potentially anti-Bush) storylines by doling out pre-planned surprises at calibrated intervals (Bush daughters speaking role, POTUS on big screen, Tommy Franks, 9/11 families, etc.).
— Had Tuesday 10-11 pm speakers start their remarks over the cascading applause — and time their starts and stops — to whittle down network analysis time to near zero.
— Convinced reporters that "tasteful" references to 9/11 are appropriate.
— Convinced local firefighters to serve as props for a classic presidential photo op that will sand down any sharp Cheney edges.
— Cut some deal with Sam Champion and Mikos Cassadine for unprecedentedly tolerable late August weather in New York.
— Skimmed neatly past the pitfalls of an acerbic-yet-moderate Giuliani, potentially cocky Twins, and the dearth of Hollywood heavyweights (Schwarzenegger is the ultimate Action Star, afterall).
— Convinced the world that all the speakers wrote their own remarks without any undue Bush-Cheney input.
— Exploited the Gotham venue's restaurants and friendly media hot spots.
— Semi-un-demonized Karl Rove through some interviews.
— Got John McCain even more on board the anti-Kerry bandwagon.
— Nudged the Kerry campaign off message enough so that the Democratic storyline for the week is "campaign shakeup" rather than convention response.
— Ensured that disruptions in New York are blamed on protesters rather than conventioneers.
— Convinced New York papers not to write how bad this week has been for local businesses.
— Avoided any "Where is Colin?" stories.
— Got Mel Martinez a "W" of his own.
— Got Imus to talk about Jean Becker.
— Have focused attention on the "Bush Dynasty" rather than on "41's failure."
— Got Laura Bush's successful Sweet-Steadfast-Steely last-race persona a wide audience.
— Got reporters to say and write "compassionate conservative" with a straight face.
— Channeled the energy of those with visions of 2008 dancing in their heads towards getting Bush-Cheney re-elected.
Missions NOT Accomplished in New York (yet):
— Get through a day at the Sheekey Restaurant without running out of food midday.
— Have the President deliver — as he always does — on really big speeches.
But that comes on Thursday.
Today, with the theme of "A Land of Opportunity," Day Three of the Republican National Convention will be highlighted with speeches from Michael Reagan, son of President Reagan, who will introduce a tribute to his father, a keynote address from Democratic Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA), and speeches by Lynne Cheney and Vice President Dick Cheney.
President Bush holds two rallies today in Columbus, OH at 3:30 pm ET and 5 pm ET respectively. The President then flies to New York City where he will visit with firefighters in Queens at 8pm.
Sen. Kerry returns to the campaign stage with a speech before the National American Legion Convention in Nashville, TN at 12:40 pm ET. Kerry hopes he will be greeted more warmly than the last time spoke to veterans, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention, where many refused to applaud — although the campaign is pre-spinning this as a belly-of-the-beast event.
According to the campaign, "Kerry will talk about the type of America our men and women in uniform will come home to in terms of the economy, health care and vision for building a stronger America."
Kerry strategist Joe Lockhart, having made his on-camera debut on "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings" last night, is along for the ride in Nashville.
Sen. Edwards continues campaigning today in Pennsylvania, holding a 11:15 am ET front porch event in Pittston and a 12:05 pm ET rally in Wilkes-Barre.
Ralph Nader will hold a 1pm press conference in New York, where he will discuss President Bush's "failed record" on both domestic and foreign policy.
Republican National Convention: the ledes:
"The Republican National Convention spent a second night celebrating President Bush's leadership in the struggle against terrorism, praising him for putting "all his heart and soul" into the fight against America's enemies," writes David Broder of the Washington Post. LINK
"On Tuesday night, as the Republican National Convention focused on themes of compassion without ever straying far from the president's leadership in the war on terrorism, Bush's advisers had another goal in mind: to put a more human face on a wartime president portrayed by opponents, including challenger John F. Kerry, as stubborn, reckless and insensitive," writes Dan Balz of the Washington Post. LINK
The New York Times' Todd Purdum re-caps Night Two, ruled by the theme of "compassionate conservatism," describing the high points of the speeches by First Lady Laura Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- and we wish the pool would've picked up on the California delegation's Terminator sunglasses. LINK
Republican National Convention: Laura Bush:
Writeth Dan Balz in the Washington Post: "War, terrorism and national security now form the core priorities of Bush's presidency, and it was first lady Laura Bush's role to tell the country that although her husband may be tough and resolute, he is neither indifferent nor uncaring as he has led the country into war. If war has transformed his presidency, she was there to offer testimony that it has not fundamentally changed Bush. He is, she said, the same man she met many years ago at a backyard barbecue in Midland, Tex." LINK
Assessing Mrs. Bush's speech, USA Today's Andrea Stone writes, "The crowd applauded often, sometimes exuberantly." LINK
Mrs. Bush told Judy Keen this is her last convention. LINK
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch highlights those personal anecdotes from the First Lady on her husband. LINK
Republican National Convention: Arnold:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci and John Wildermuth size up the speech that "electrified the crowd" with his story and was an emphatic appeal to moderates and undecideds who may not agree with everything in the platform or with the Republican Party leadership. And if you weren't paying attention yesterday, read all the way to the end for the Governator's salty comment to firefighters he visited; it's just not every day that you hear a politician of any stripe talk like that. LINK
"Mr. Schwarzenegger's immediate job in speaking to the convention was to help promote the re-election of President Bush. But his appearance could not help but pump up his own political prospects," writes the New York Times' Michael Slackman in his recap of the actor-turned-governor's speech. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Mark Z. Barabak spent a lot of time counting during the Governor's remarks. LINK
"Schwarzenegger's remarks offered more sweep than substance and little partisan bite for such a setting. In a 23-minute speech, he mentioned America 47 times, used the word Republican 15 times and referred to Bush by name six times."
"Arnie's fighting words: American is back," headlines the New York Daily News. LINK
"Conan the American" blares the New York Post wood: LINK
Republican National Convention: Bush:
In response to his controversial comments made to NBC over the weekend and aired Monday, "Yesterday, speaking at the American Legion's national convention, Bush sought to duck the fallout from that comment with a firm statement touting his leadership in defeating terrorists," reports Rick Klein of the Boston Globe. LINK
He'll likely try to be a bit more "articulate" in the future. Here's the Los Angeles Times' Ed Chen: LINK
"Bush Backtracks on Terrorism Remark," says the Washington Post. LINK
The Chicago Tribune's Tackett on the Bush family rallying behind their President, showing us they've learned their no-response lesson from 1992. LINK
"The Family Bush steps in whenever needed, to clean up a rhetorical mess by the president, to answer a charge and always, always, to defend by going on the offensive."
The New York Times' Edmund Andrews and Robin Toner take a look at the promises then-Gov. Bush made in 2000, and how many, in 2004, have become reality. LINK
Republican National Convention: the twins:
What did Barbara and Jenna Bush do after their (not terribly well-received) convention debut?
They displaced a group of hard-partying television producers at Whiskey Bar on Sixth Avenue.
The Secret Service came in and checked out the place and told this group of producers that Jenna was coming in.
"Then we were all asked to move so she could take our section," said one.
Jenna was still wearing her outfit from the convention and sat down with six gentlemen, all dressed in suits and very clean cut.
Barbara Bush entered a short while later with an entourage of about 12-15 young girls and guys.
Ann Gerhart of the Washington Post reviews the Bush Twins' performance introducing their parents last night. LINK
"Their appearance, said CNN political commentator Jeff Greenfield, 'was frankly, the one disappointing moment in the evening.' He predicted that 'whoever wrote that material will be walking the coast" in Alaska." LINK
The Bush girls get panned in the Los Angeles Times.LINK
And in the New York Post too: "The Bush twins made their national television debut last night — with a string of weak one-liners that drew cringes from the crowd and at one point brought a soft rebuke from their grandparents." LINK
The New York Times' Jodi Wilgoren writes that the twins were "notably underdressed" for their convention speech. LINK
The Boston Globe has started "Twinspoting." LINK
Republican National Convention: 41 on Imus:
Former President George H.W. Bush appeared on Don Imus' show this morning and said that he doesn't think an atheist can be President of the United States because of all the time you have to spend on your knees.
Bush remembered how when he was president he said "you can't be president without spending some time on your knees." Bush said atheists harshly criticized him, wanting to know if he was saying that an atheist couldn't be president. In a moment of newsworthy candor, Bush said, "I said, yeah, it does mean that. One nation under God. Don't' knock it out of the whatever," referring not to what he actually said at the time but what he actually thinks.
Bush also revealed that he was hurt when his son suggested that his Administration would not "cut and run" from Iraq as they did in 1991. "Yeah, I didn't like that much. He hasn't said it since, has he? … I saw that, and frankly, it hurt a little bit."
On the topic of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Bush said there are 150 of these Swift Boat veterans and he finds it hard to believe that "these are all liars." 7:47 am.
Bush: "I'm sorry that I stole your line when I said I was humping your show."
Republican National Convention: Cheney and Zell:
ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports that Vice President Cheney's speech tonight will have three themes:
1) The Vice President "will talk about America as the land of opportunity," and what the President has done for the "cornerstones" of that opportunity -- public schools, a growing economy and health care that puts patients first. Protecting safety and security is essential to ensure future generations enjoy this opportunity.
2) He will provide the "historical context." Americans face a crossroads just as they did after World War II and start of the Cold War. The President has risen to this historic challenge.
3) The "momentous choice" between the President's "demonstrated leadership and decisiveness" and "confusion of conviction in both domestic and foreign policy" offered by Senator Kerry. This will be the only section of the speech that criticizes Kerry.
On the day of Vice President Cheney's convention speech, Rick Lyman of the New York Times takes a look at his dual role as an icon and a lightening rod. LINK
Calling Cheney the "the first bona fide conservative to speak during prime time at this convention," Bob Novak stirs up a little trouble by pointing out the dichotomy between the delegates who love him and the party heavyweights who think the ticket may be a little better off without him. LINK
We love Novak stories in which influentials confide things to him that they won't say publicly, but by Noting Cheney's role in the campaign, his place in the party, and his conservative status (as opposed to the moderates who've spoken until now) pretty much answers his "will he be kinder and gentler" question. Kerry biographer Nina Easton writes a serious (by serious, we mean long and detailed) profile of the Vice President, Noting his "image enhancement" of late, campaigning style, and more. LINK
"As a national security powerhouse with a staff that rivals the NSC, as the president's go-to man with Congress, the fundraiser GOP congressional candidates most often turn to for help, and as President Bush's most intimate policy counselor, Richard Bruce Cheney appears to have surpassed all 45 of his predecessors in power and influence," write Richard Cooper and Mary Curtius of the Los Angeles Times. LINK
Dick Cheney, beloved as ever by the GOP base, says the Washington Post. LINK
USA Today's Susan Page writes about Cheney's "gravitas" four years ago as compared to his possible "gravity" this year. LINK
Zell says: the party left me. LINK
Republican National Convention: politics:
The Wall Street Journal's John Harwood writes that this election is not about achieving freedom from fear, but is rather about the freedom to fear -- terrorism and the safety and security of the homeland. No amount of talk about compassion or optimism is likely to change the fact that fear is a powerful impetus -- and one that will guide voters at the polls -- and it's President Bush who stands to gain from it. LINK
Per the Washington Times, "The word to Republican speakers at the national convention is that bashing Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry is fine." LINK
The strategy: jab Kerry when the networks aren't watching on the first night, then turn to compassion and domestic policy with a couple of crowd-pleasers of a different stripe on the second night, writes the New York Times' Adam Nagourney. LINK
Ohio delegates have some of the best seats on the convention floor and a centrally located top rated hotel. The Los Angeles Times' Abcarian looks at what it's like to be the most wooed folks in town and peeks ahead at the Buckeye State's political itinerary from now through election day. LINK
"Since he took office, President Bush has made 22 visits to Ohio. (GOP spokesguy Jason) Mauk said that between now and the election Nov. 2, the president, Vice President Dick Cheney or their wives will visit Ohio about once every five days."
The Arizona Republic looks at convention/Republican attempts to reach out to Latinos, Noting that there is a lot more work to be done than a Costa Rican-born woman giving the Pledge of Allegiance. LINK
Knight-Ridder's write-up of yesterday's convention speakers indicates the theme of yesterday resonated. LINK
No Child Left Behind remains controversial in the states, but isn't getting credit for improving students' test scores or blame for failures either, writes the Wall Street Journal's June Kronholz.
Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post goes through Rudolph Guilianni's speech from Monday night and finds that his "charges lack context." LINK
Florida delegates have hurricanes on the brain. LINK
Religious leaders and themes rarely slotted for RNC primetime. LINK
Terry Holt in his new BC-04 capacity. LINK
In case you haven't been able to find him in the Garden, don't fret. Walter Shapiro announces, "Instead of buttonholing alternate delegates from Wyoming on the floor of Madison Square Garden, I flew to Ohio to gauge how the GOP TV spectacular is playing with actual voters at the bull's-eye of Campaign 2004. Judging from my breakfast conversations at Paul's restaurant, just over the Columbus city line in the middle-income community of Whitehall, the convention was mostly stoking the passions of stalwart Republicans." LINK
Republican National Convention: money:
Edsall and Birnbaum on industry, influence, and money, in the Washington Post: LINK
The New York Daily News reports that ABC News's Brian Ross sends "Brian's Angels," as the Lloyd Grove dubs them "into the heart of big-money corporate darkness." LINK
Republican National Convention: protests and security:
"The demonstrations grew demonic at the Republican National Convention yesterday," leads the New York Post's story on the protesting and detaining throughout the city. LINK
1,000 arrested. LINK
And the man who is accused of assaulting the police officer from Monday night has been arrested. LINK
Republican National Convention: battlegrounds:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "First lady applauds Bush's resolve" LINK
Columbus Dispatch: "First lady sets tone for Bush" LINK
Raleigh News and Observer: "Speakers see gentler side of Bush" LINK
Minneapolis Star Tribune: "GOP comes out swinging" LINK
The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that Cheney will visit Sin City on Friday. LINK
"…(A) sunny contrast to Monday's emphasis on the war on terror," is how the Philadelphia Inquirer's Hutcheson describes Tuesday night's program. LINK
Lancaster County, PA is exactly the type of area in which Karl Rove hopes to dramatically increase Republican turnout. LINK
"The question isn't whether Bush will win Lancaster County, but by how much. The national party wants to squeeze enough votes out of the conservative electorate to offset traditionally heavy Democratic turnout in urban centers such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh."
Republican National Convention: media:
Howie Kurtz' chronicle of Tom Brokaw's last week is a lovely trip down memory lane. LINK
Republican National Convention: the Democrats:
The DNC is upping the ante and actually is putting out a real honest to goodness, 30 second television spot that will run not just in the Big Apple, but also in the battleground states and national cable, DNC convention spokesman Matt Bennett e-mails us.
The ad features three phrases you've heard a lot about from Democrats -- "catastrophic success," "miscalculations," and the "unwinnable war on terror."
And it goes on the air tomorrow.
Note to those following the RNC's poking fun at Jay Carson's statements on John Kerry. There's plenty more where that comes from!
Matt Bennett should love Glen Johnson today for this lead: "No sooner had Band-Aids decorated with mock Purple Hearts appeared Monday afternoon on the floor of the Republican National Convention than the opposition sprang into action."LINK
The New York Post's round-up of New York delegation activities includes an observation that Senators Clinton and Schumer have been out of sight since the convention launched on Monday. LINK
"The low-key Democratic response at the convention is a sharp contrast from the GOP counterattack in Boston, where party luminaries included Giuliani."
Republican National Convention: potpourri and 2008:
New York hotel concierges are none too pleased with the no tipping policy many delegates seem to be following, reports the New York Post.LINK
There's buzz out there about Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in response to some biggish scheduling and more, the Boston Globe's Sarah Schweitzer reports. LINK
Rudy "sticking his toe in the 2008 waters?" wonders the New York Daily News. LINK
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback leads the Finnegan/Wallsten Los Angeles Times story on the jockeying goings on for 2008. And be sure to Note Senator Frist's support for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. LINK
The New York Times' Carl Hulse reminds us -- as if Note readers needed reminding -- that it's not just about this year; possible presidential contenders in 2008 are doing some very powerful wooing of key delegations and supporters this week. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:
The Wall Street Journal's Jake Schlesinger traces the partisan divide that followed the unity of the country after the 9/11 attacks, and how it has shaped not only the foreign policy and national security debates, but also bled into other issues from civil liberties to the role of government and colored how the campaign is both portrayed and perceived.
In the battleground states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the race is still very tight according to polls by the Democratic firms of Hart Research and Lake Snell Perry & Associates. In Wisconsin, the poll suggests that the gender gap has widened -- Kerry now holds a 10-point lead among women (53% to 43%). In addition, the "Swift Boat" ads that have played heavily in Wisconsin have not significantly affected his standing in the presidential race, according to this data. Just 29% of voters have heard about the ads say they have made them feel less favorable toward Kerry, while 14% actually feel more favorable and 55% say they have made no difference.
527 media guru Jim Jordan was quick to add his own two cents telling us, "However much it may contradict the current conventional wisdom, the reality is that in critical swing states John Kerry is not only holding his own, but in some states is actually expanding his lead."
But don't forget: the Republicans have been "privately" brandishing their own new state polls to delegates and donors all over New York, particularly some new Keystone State numbers …
Nader is on ballot in Florida.LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Kerry-Edwards '04:
In response to questions about the Kerry campaign's post-GOP convention strategic focus, Kerry campaign senior adviser Joe Lockhart told ABC News' Dan Harris in a television interview that the candidate will turn his attention most fully to the bread and butter quatrain of jobs, health care, education, and energy independence.
Lockhart said the campaign staged its convention around the theme of Kerry as a war hero in order to cross the national security threshold.
Lockhart said he believes the candidate has credibly crossed that threshold.
So Lockhart said the campaign rejects the idea that the dynamics of a post 9/11 election are fundamentally different from a pre 9/11 election. It is still "the economy, stupid." And it will be, for Kerry, in the last nine weeks.
Sources tell ABC News' Harris that Kerry is upset because the largely unsubstantiated attacks on his war record gained so much traction, because they appear to have caused some slippage in the polls and -- perhaps most importantly -- because his campaign failed to respond quickly and ferociously enough to the story.
One source close to the candidate says Kerry is telling his staff to shed the "Democratic mentality" -- and respond more effectively to GOP attacks. While former Clinton spokesman Lockhart has been brought on board (He pointedly told reporters on the campaign plane in his inaugural briefing last night that the initial overture was made by .ommunications chief Stephanie Cutter herself.), sources on all levels of the campaign swear there's no management shakeup in the offing.
More staff additions could be made, though.
Just in case you missed the seismic Al Hunt column yesterday afternoon pondering a staff shakeup in the KE04 camp, it's front and center on wsj.com.
That top Democrats are complaining to the media and to the campaign is not terribly surprising or newsworthy. Outside Democratic strategists seem to have been put on this earth to complain about general election campaigns they're not running.
But it IS true that the level of dissatisfaction has risen, and it IS true that mid-level to junior-level Kerry staffers regularly e-mail reporters asking THEM for news about the latest staff shake-up speculation. And what Hunt says about how the Kerry campaign makes decisions rings true based on ours and others reporting.
The general public doesn't care about this stuff, but it does seep into the media's coverage of the steadiness of the campaign, and the internal quality of a campaign often reflects on the candidate.
Howie Kurtz gets this:
"James Carville, a commentator and former Clinton strategist, said he told senior Kerry aides that they badly needed 'someone who can drive a communications message.' Describing what he called the campaign's sluggish responses and muddled message, Carville said, 'They're a perpetual committee listening to a perpetual focus group, and it's got to change.'"
We won't even get into the report about all this that appeared on CNN yesterday afternoon.
"Some of Mr. Kerry's own advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed his lost month of August to his own lackluster performance on the stump, as well as a few tactical blunders, such as his insistence, under prodding from Mr. Bush, that he would still have voted to authorize force in Iraq even if he knew all that he does now about the failure to find unconventional weapons. One of Mr. Kerry's confidants said Mr. Kerry had expressed frustration that the campaign seemed unable to gain any traction in recent weeks," the New York Times' Halbfinger and Wilgoren report.
Kerry campaign reporter Pat Healy of the Boston Globe Notes some of the strategizing going on in the Kerry camp about how to limit President Bush's post-convention bounce. LINK
Kurtz keys off the $45 million ad buy announced by Kerry's team.
"The announcement comes as the Kerry team is retooling in the wake of criticism that it was slow to grasp the impact of the Swift boat group's assault on the nominee's Vietnam War record. Cutter confirmed that two recent additions from the Clinton White House will be given expanded roles. Former presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart will accompany Kerry on the road, while Joel Johnson will run the campaign's war room. John Sasso, who managed Michael S. Dukakis's presidential campaign in 1988, will assist from the Democratic National Committee." LINK
(We'll resist the usual jab at Al Hunt for his reliance on Mr. Carville.)
The Los Angeles Times' Matea Gold writes about "an increasingly loud chorus of alarm in Democratic circles about the state of Kerry's campaign." That kind of sentence from a Nashville dateline is downright nostalgic. LINK
"There are signs that Kerry himself is uneasy. He spent much of the last two days huddled with campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill and other top advisors in Nantucket, Mass., where he was vacationing during the Republican convention. In recent days, the senator also has solicited advice from longtime friends about whether he needs to reshuffle his staff, according to Democratic sources."
Of course, those meetings were supposedly about debate prep, Matea …
ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:
The Los Angeles Times' Wallsten and Glionna see Mel Martinez' win giving "President Bush a boost in a key battleground state." LINK
"At the Republican National Convention in New York, the Florida delegation kept a watchful eye on the primary results. Now the race will go national. In a contest that could tip the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, political bigwigs, cash-rich special interest groups and the parties' fundraising machines will all exert their influence. So will President Bush, who hopes Martinez will boost Republican-friendly Hispanic turnout on Nov. 2, especially in South Florida. Signaling their co-dependence, Martinez won a coveted speaking role at the party convention Thursday -- right before President Bush." LINK
He did get a presidential phone call last night. LINK
Robert Gibbs' gift keeps on giving.
On Michaelangelo Signorile's show on Out Q, a gay-themed network on Sirius satellite radio, Alan Keyes said this of homosexuality and applied it to Mary Cheney: "The essence of ... family life remains procreation. If we embrace homosexuality as a proper basis for marriage, we are saying that it's possible to have a marriage state that in principal excludes procreation and is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism." LINK
The Chicago Tribune reports that Steve Schmidt called the remark inappropriate. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:
Note to hyperactive media: most voters really seem to like the touch screen machines. LINK
Success in Broward and Brevard, but questions remain.LINK
Sighs of relief from supervisors of elections. Were they expecting problems, too? LINK
"Challenger Arthur Anderson pulled ahead of incumbent Theresa LePore in a tight race Tuesday night for the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections post," the Palm Beach Post reports. LINK
A tight race: 52 percent to 48 percent.
SBVf "T":
Keeping up the same schizo characterization they have for over a week, today two New York Times stories call the SBVf"T" charges "unsubstantiated" (Rutenberg and Nagourney LINK) while another calls them "largely unsubstantiated" (Halbfinger and Wilgoren LINK).
Of course, the Times is sometimes writing about Kerry's medals, and they're sometimes writing about his post-war political activities.
Rutenberg's story examines the good cop/bad cop thing, as does Nagourney's.
Ben Ginsberg, who resigned last week as chief outside counsel to President Bush's campaign due to his involvement with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, writes in Wednesday's Washington Post that there is a double standard about how the media is not scrutinizing the lawyers and advisers of John Kerry.LINK
We don't have the energy this morning to explain yet again why we disagree in this case.
House Administration Chairman Bob Ney is planning a little less conversation and a little more action on the 527 debate -- he will hold hearings in the next few weeks. LINK
Politics:
The Washington Post links an Internet report and the decision by Ed Schrock not to seek re-election. LINK
Mixed reactions to Schrock's decision from gay rights groups. LINK
ABC News NOW:
Tonight, Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) delivers his keynote address, and it's the Cheneys' big night. You can see part of the evening on broadcast television (including our own), but you can see the whole thing gavel-to-gavel and anchored by Peter Jennings on ABC News Now, our 24-hour news service available on digital cable and via our broadband service on ABCNEWS.com. And all day long, we're looking at highlights, talking to delegates and VIPs, answering viewers' questions, truth squadding, and keeping an eye on the protests. And we're also watching the latest developments in the battleground states with a show devoted to them, co-anchored by ABC News' Linda Douglass and David Chalian every day at 3:05 pm ET. Today's targets: Florida and New Mexico.
Here's how and where to watch: LINK
TODAY'S CONVENTION SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Wednesday's theme is "A Land of Opportunity." — Wednesday's program runs from 7 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Speakers/Tributes include (not in specific order): — Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) addresses the convention. — Michael Reagan, son of President Reagan, addresses the convention.— Tribute to President Ronald Reagan is held.— Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) delivers the keynote address. — Mrs. Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, addresses the convention. — Vice President Dick Cheney addresses the convention.
TODAY'S CANDIDATE SCHEDULE (all times ET):
—11:15 am: Sen. John Edwards holds a front porch visit, Pittston, PA—12:05 pm: Sen. Edwards attends a rally at Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre, PA—12:40 pm: Sen. John Kerry addresses the 86th annual National American Legion Convention at the Gaylord Opry Land Resort, Nashville, TN—1:00 pm: Ralph Nader holds press conference on "Bush's Failed Record: A Review of Domestic and Foreign Policy," New York, NY—3:30 pm: President Bush speaks at a rally, Columbus, OH—10:25 pm: Vice President Cheney addresses the Republican National Convention, New York, NY—5:00 pm: President Bush attends at rally, Columbus, OH—8:05 pm: President Bush visits with firefighters and supporters, Elmhurst, NY
TODAY'S EVENTS SCHEDULE (all times ET):
—8:00 am: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Mary Matalin, senior adviser to BC04, deliver remarks the Florida delegation hosts an event, New York, NY —8:00 am: Karl Rove, political adviser to the president; and Dan Senor, former Coalition Provisional Authority spokesman, deliver remarks to the Washington, West Virginia, and Vermont delegations, New York, NY—8:00 am: Gov. Marc Racicot, chairman of the BC04; Steve Schmidt, deputy communications director of BC04; Alberto Gonzales, White House counsel, deliver remarks to the Nevada delegation, New York, NY—8:45 am: The Republican National Committee holds their daily briefing at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY—10:00 am: Andrew Card, White House chief of staff; Terry Holt, national spokesman for BC04; Tim Adams, national policy director of BC04; and Blaise Hazelwood, political director of the Republican National Committee, deliver remarks to the Maine and Massachusetts delegations, New York, NY —10:00 am: The Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Convention Response Team hosts its daily morning press conferences at 275 7th Avenue (between 25th and 26th streets), 15th floor, New York, NY—10:00 am: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger attends an After School All-Stars Event in Harlem, New York, NY—11:30 am: Jenna and Barbara Bush introduce White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card at the Official Youth Convention, New York, NY—4:00 pm: Former President Bill Clinton attends a book signing at Barnes & Noble, Metairie, LA