ABC News' The Note: First Source for Political News
B O S T O N, July 26, 2004—
-- NOTED NOW
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The Democratic convention begins today35 days until the Republican convention99 days until election day
NEWS SUMMARY:
Things we will know by midnight tonight (or, maybe not … ):
1. Where the balance will be from the Boston podium between Kerry/good, Bush/bad.
2. How much attention the national press will give to the BC04RNC pushback in Boston and on the road with Vice President Cheney.
3. If Bill Clinton remembers how to give a big speech and command the stage (Just kidding about that one.).
4. Where the various convention-eve flaps will fall on the distraction scale, on the continuum between Dick Morris' toe sucking and Jack Kemp's support for the gold standard:
A. Teresa Heinz Kerry's "shove it" comment
B. John Edwards' returned campaign contributions
C. Christie Vilsack's op-ed
D. John Kerry's nuanced explanation to David Rogers in the Wall Street Journal of why he threw his ribbons and not his medals
5. How big Stephanie Cutter's raise will be for the front page photo in USA Today of Kerry smiling at the Red Sox game.
6. Whether Terry McAullife has any new jokes (or not).
7. The approximate number of times per day from the podium the words "strength," "safe," "strong," and "secure" will be uttered. Not to mention "respected."
8. Whether Rod O'Connor remembers to smile.
9. Whether Al Gore's tone is statesman-like or moveon-ish.
10. How quickly the CNN control room will realize that their anchors can't hear a bloody thing on the floor when the going gets loud.
11. If Boy Scouts are booed. (Or anyone booed inappropriately. )
12. If Bill Clinton has more to say about Kerry in 2004 than he did about Gore in 2000.
13. If Vince Morris's "HRC trys out for 2008" New York Post lede gets written by noon.
14. Are we able to summarize, in one paragraph, what the Kerry-Edwards plan for America's future actually is?
15. How many hours it took for the press to render all 20 portapotties unusable.
16. How many cable outlets chafed at the 24-hour notice they need to give in order to book David Wade.
17. If self-respecting print reporters have tired of writing about bloggers with even fewer readers than they have.
18. If we prefer being asked "Do you have any ABC pins?" to "Where are the best parties?"
19. How well the air conditioning works inside Fleet.
20. What the new ABC News/ Washington Post poll says tonight.
Today at noon ET, ABC News Now, our new, 24-hour news service, premiers on broadband, digital cable, and the Web. Join Peter Jennings and a gaggle of special guests for gavel-to-gavel coverage, and you will want to be there. ABC News Now is your all-access pass to the Democratic National Convention. For more information, click here: LINK
If for whatever reason you STILL don't understand how you can get ABC News Now, we, again, recommend the exceedingly clear and entertaining Robert Krulwich streaming video piece that you can launch and watch from that page.LINK
And if you want the best, up-to-the-minute convention news, tidbits, and insight, log on to Noted Now: LINK
Democratic National Convention: Teresa Heinz Kerry:
Here is the exact quote that Teresa Heinz Kerry used during her speech to the Pennsylvanian delegates, which later prompted a question by a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial writer.
"We need to turn back some of the creepy (long pause) un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that have come into our some of our politics … "
One take: She is talking about politics in general and is NOT directly referencing the Bush campaign when she makes this statement.
Another take: it's convention week — she's obviously referencing Bush.
The editorial reporter is Colin McNickle.
Here's a verbatim transcript, courtesy of ABC's Jan Simmonds:
McNickle (Tribune editorialist): (inaudible) … Un-American activity? You mentioned un-American?
THK: No, I did not say that.
M: What did you mean?
THK: I did not say that (pointing finger at reporter).
M: Well, what did you say?
THK: I did not say that.
M: I am just asking what did you say.
THK: Why are you putting those words in my mouth?
M: I thought you said something about being un-American?
THK: No I did not say that.
Later, Ms. Heinz Kerry returns.
THK to M: Are you from the Tribune Review?
M: Yes I am.
THK: Of course. (turns away quickly)
M: Come here. (taping her on the elbow)
THK: (Turns back to reporter) Understandable. You said something I didn't say, now shove it …
Marla Romash, Mrs. Heinz Kerry's chief spokesperson: "It was a moment of extreme frustration, aimed at a right-wing rag, that has consistently and almost purposefully misrepresented the facts when reporting on Mrs. Heinz Kerry."
Mrs. Heinz Kerry's remark speaks for itself, but to put the events in context, you should keep in mind that the journalist in question — McNickle — is an editorial writer for the extremely conservation Pittsburgh Tribune Review — which is owned by Hoover board member and Heritage trustee Richard Mellon Scaife.
The Washington Post has written of him "Scaife and his family's charitable entities have given at least $340 million to conservative causes and institutions--about $620 million in current dollars, adjusted for inflation. The total of Scaife's giving--to conservatives as well as many other beneficiaries--exceeds $600 million, or $1.4 billion in current dollars, much more than any previous estimate." (May 2, 1999)
Scaife's paper, you will recall, wrote a lot of negative stories about the Clintons during Whitewater. It is an unambiguously right-leaning paper (think Washington Times ).
The AP has it … LINK
The Boston Herald has it … LINK
But… the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gave it little attention … On the newspaper's webpage there was only a link to the AP story on the subject. More interesting: McNickle makes no mention of the confrontation in his convention blog; his last posting at 6:53 pm discusses the unseasonable cool weather in Boston. LINK
So this whole thing is a hill of beans — or a brilliant Romashian ploy to keep Fox News occupied throughout the day.
Questions that remain: Why did Mrs. Heinz Kerry say what she said and what did she mean? What will she say when asked about them? And how emotional is the phrase "un-American"?
Hillary Clinton this morning defended Mrs Heinz Kerry's remarks on CNN.
The morning shows:
The morning shows led with Kerry's first pitch and the Democrats' first day of their convention.
Kerry's First Pitch: Lots of Coverage But Not Entirely Positive:
Dan Harris began ABC's coverage and led with the "cheers and jeers" Senator John Kerry received at Fenway last night.
NBC's coverage of Senator John Kerry's first pitch at Fenway was negative. In the opening headlines, Katie Couric, who is dating Sox co-owner Tom Werner and who was also in attendance at Sunday's game, said, The Senator got a "mixed reaction" last night when he threw out the first pitch. In her package, Campbell Brown said it was "not an ideal reception" with "some of the crowd greeting Kerry with boos."
Coverage of the pitch was more positive on CBS' "Early Show." CBS' Cynthia Bowers described Kerry's first pitch as part of the Democrats' "master plan." CBS showed Kerry with the headset on at the game saying, "I'm glad to be here. This is so much fun."
Teresa Heinz Kerry: "Shove It."
On ABC's "Good Morning America," Dan Harris prominently featured Teresa Heinz Kerry's "shove it" comments though he was careful to note that the comments were made to an editorial writer of the conservative, Mellon Scaife-owned Pittsburgh Tribune.
CNN put up a graphic of the statement released by the Kerry campaign about the "shove it" statement: "This was sheer frustration, aimed at a right-wing rag, that has consistently and purposefully misrepresented the facts in reporting on Mrs. Kerry and her family."
Asked about THK's "shove off" comment on CBS' "Early Show," Senator Clinton said Mrs. Kerry, "Wants to do what she can to change the direction of the country. I think people understand that."
On CNN's "American Morning," Senator Clinton said of THK's "shove it" comment that "a lot of Americans will say, 'You Go Girl.'"
Democratic National Convention: Kerry-Edwards 2004:
Dan Balz on Boston's positive message … or so KE04 hopes:LINK
Adam Nagourney and David Rosenbaum: LINK
Marc Sandalow: LINK
Boston cackles with excitement: LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's John Harwood and David Rogers look at Kerry's aim to persuade those who show little interest in politics that he's the man who can make the country safer and help the economic status of Americans.
David Rogers of the Wall Street Journal (a/k/a translator of politicans who are vets) offers a look at how his service in Vietnam shaped Senator Kerry, and gives yet another (newish-to-us-sounding) explanation — furnished by Kerry — of why he threw away his ribbons and not his medals as he protested the Vietnam War: his boyhood friend, Richard Pershing, who died in Vietnam.
"Mr. Pershing's memory lay at the root of Mr. Kerry's famously conflicted performance during a 1971 demonstration in which Vietnam veterans threw away their medals to protest the war. Mr. Kerry, who had advised against the demonstration but was voted down, ultimately threw away his ribbons, not his medals — a huge distinction for Vietnam veterans, much as he dismisses it now. But Mr. Kerry says he was most worried about the impact on Mr. Pershing's family, since in throwing away his decorations he would be throwing away medals like those his friend had received."
Peter Canellos writes in the Boston Globe , "The Democratic Party yesterday prepared to begin its convention under an unusually broad, shining umbrella of unity, but with some strains and cracks showing over the most volatile issue of the election year, the war in Iraq. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Barabak and Gold lead their kitchen sink story with Kerry's ward 62 "four more years of what?" comment and Note the "departure from the day's mostly positive tenor." LINK
The New York Times ' Jodi Wilgoren writes up Senator Kerry's unexpected stop at Fenway Park on Sunday night , sounding almost like Mike Allen writing up the Bush Thanksgiving trip to Iraq. LINK
Brownstein and McManus of the Los Angeles Times look beyond the convention bounce and Nielsen ratings to define success for John Kerry's big moment. LINK
"The more important measures this year, Democratic strategists and some Republicans say, is a more subjective question: Can Senator John F. Kerry use his time in the spotlight to persuade swing voters that he is strong enough, in personality and convictions, to be president?"
Despite Kerry's support for abortion rights, Matea Gold of the Los Angeles Times looks at the concern some pro-choice groups have about the candidate's personal opposition to abortion clouding his record on the matter. LINK
The Los Angeles Times conducted a follow up focus group with some of the folks who made up the seven percent of undecided voters in the paper's most recent poll. These persuadable voters are looking this week to see what John Kerry is willing to fight for. "As a group, they tend to be more moderate, more affluent and slightly older than those who have committed to a candidate," writes Stephanie Simon. LINK
Johnny Apple of the New York Times writes from Boston: "Make no mistake, however. Mr. Kerry is no hero hereabouts." LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's Sarah Lueck looks at Senator Kerry's health care plan to make sure more Americans have insurance — and writes that businesses are casting a wary eye toward it.
The Wall Street Journal 's Bob Davis writes that going into convention week, the parties seem to have swapped places in terms of what they're emphasizing. Democrats are talking about the war in Iraq, and Republicans are playing up economic numbers, and Davis looks at the shift in focus through the prism of a U.S. House race in Connecticut.
The Washington Post completes its two part profile on Kerry, with a take as positive as the first. LINK
Democratic National Convention: tonight:
Clinton steps aside for Kerry: LINK
Or can he? LINK
Bill Clinton gets a little looser lipped than usual in his interview with Ron Brownstein of the Los Angeles Times in advance of his convention speech this evening. And once again the former president strutted his stuff by succinctly summing up his perspective on the two candidates. LINK
"'On balance,' Clinton said, 'Bush domestic policy is to cut taxes no matter what it does to the deficit and to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of people who share his values and economic interests. Abroad, his policy is to act alone whenever we can and cooperate whenever we have to.'"
"'Kerry's policy at home,' Clinton continued, 'is to say that we ought to have a government that has more fiscal responsibility and takes more initiative in education and healthcare, changes the energy and environment policy of the country to generate jobs and improve the environment and combat global warming. Abroad, he thinks we should cooperate whenever we can and act alone whenever we need to.'"
Note Note: We are only deducting a few points for Mr. Clinton's usage of "close the deal."
The New York Daily News writes up the Clintons' hope to tamp down 2008 speculation with their unvarnished support for John Kerry. LINK
The Boston Globe 's Paulson and Healy report "In a break from past practice, the Democratic Party is not inviting the archbishop of Boston to offer a blessing at the Democratic National Convention, but instead is inviting a Paulist priest who has taken Senator John F. Kerry's side in a national debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should receive Communion."LINK
The New York Times ' David Halbfinger writes about the efforts to keep all the speakers' messages on a positive plane. " … the word has gone out from Senator John Kerry himself that speakers must accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. Gauzy testimonials to Mr. Kerry's principles, proposals and biography are in. Rants questioning Mr. Bush's veracity or military record, or denouncing his "creed of greed," in Mr. Kerry's phrase of a few months ago, are all very much out." LINK
Bob Novak writes that the only real suspense in former President Bill Clinton's speech tonight is how long it will go, and looks at the Clinton shadow that persists over the convention: "Although Clinton's appearance will be out of the way three days before Senator John Kerry's acceptance speech, this is still more Clinton's Democratic party than Kerry's." LINK
The New York Times ' Monica Davey profiles Illinois Senate candidate and Democratic "It" guy Barack Obama. LINK
The Chicago Sun-Times' Scott Fornek writes about a comment Obama made to Atlantic Monthly a couple of months ago that hits the stands today: "'Sometimes [Massachusetts Senator John] Kerry just doesn't have that oomph.'" Obama points out that now, Kerry does. LINK
Kit Seelye looks at the risky return of former Vice President Al Gore to the convention stage. LINK
Gov. Howard Dean will formally release his roughly 150 delegates, reports the New York Daily News. LINK
Democratic National Convention: labor disputes:
Menino's image rehabbed … just in time: LINK and LINK
Boston firefighters agree to union contract: LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's Christopher Conkey profiles Wes Boyd of MoveOn.org.
Democratic National Convention: protests:
The New York Times ' John Kifner reports that protesters are shunning their designated "free speech" cage — er, area. LINK
The Boston Herald reports the anti-abortion group fighting to protest in front of John Kerry's home will file suit against the Secret Service for not permitting them to. LINK
Democratic National Convention: the Democrats:
The rules committee of the DNC yesterday approved a commission to evaluate the timing and scheduling of the party's presidential primaries. LINK
The Boston Herald's Guarino "found" a 1994 column by Iowa's first lady and convention speaker Christie Vilsack. "In inflammatory columns for her local newspaper "obtained" by the Herald, the normally soft-spoken Vilsack tore into several minority and ethnic groups while lampooning non-Midwesterners for regional dialects." LINK
Delegates are more liberal than their party: LINK
The Macker has remade his party: LINK
Kerry has remade the campaign's relationship with the Hill: LINK
Those Senate (D) candidates who aren't coming: LINK
That thorny issue of same-sex marriage: LINK
Ah, the old days of Jim Jordan articles in the Boston Globe : LINK
Big donors don't like to stay in Southie: LINK
Did Chuck Schumer prevent Elliot Spitzer from addressing the convention? So wonders the New York Post 's Fred Dicker. LINK
Democratic National Convention: the money:
Politicians and Big Money: LINK
Determining who's rich: LINK
The New York Times ' Richard Oppel and Glen Justice look at the $44,000 in contributions Senator Edwards returned after learning that the corporate lawyer who raised the cash is being accused of reimbursing his employees for campaign contributions. LINK
The Chicago Tribune's Zeleny and McCormick look at the convention within the convention — fundraising. "While the purpose of the Democratic National Convention may be to crown Kerry and tell his story to the American public before sending him on to face President Bush in the fall campaign, the convention's real party is unfolding in fashionable night clubs, hotel suites and harbor cruise ships. It's a convention within a convention that revolves around fundraising: past, present and future." LINK
Democratic National Convention: the media:
The New York Times ' Jim Rutenberg looks at the plans of ABC, NBC, and CBS to cover the conventions — and the jocular competition between the anchors on how they'll present their coverage and who will see it. LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's Carl Bialik and Elizabeth Weinstein offer mini-profiles of the bloggers. LINK
Jennifer 8. Lee of the New York Times also checks out the blogger culture at the FleetCenter. LINK
Democratic National Convention: opinion pieces and editorials:
The Post : What Kerry needs to do: LINK
Where does Kerry stand on the issues? LINK
Mario Cuomo offers up some message advice to Senator Kerry in a Boston Globe op-ed. LINK
Jesse Jackson throws in his two cents in his own Boston Globe op-ed. LINK
The Wall Street Journal ed board looks at the ABB ("Anything But Bush") Democrats: "Perhaps U.S. voters will find this reason enough to return Democrats to power. But we wonder. Successful challengers to incumbent Presidents are usually associated with some cause larger than themselves."
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton writes in a Wall Street Journal op-ed about a New York program to keep jobs in New York, rather than outsourcing.
The Big Four: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin:
AP: They're tied in Florida … LINK
Florida's business climate is steady: LINK
The 9/11 report sold out in Tampa: LINK
Florida's delegation will be seated up front: LINK
Columbus, Ohio's ward 62 gets some scene setting play in the Los Angeles Times. LINK
Reporting from Columbus, Ohio, the Cincinnati Enquirer's Gregory Korte writes, "If Ohio is a bellwether of the nation, Ward 62 is a bellwether of the bellwether." LINK
The Toledo Blade's James Drew and the Columbus Dispatch's Joe Hallet each have a vivid account of Kerry's remarks and baby-holding in Ward 62 in Columbus on Sunday. LINK
The Columbus Dispatch's Darrel Rowland writes about the financing of the convention with a focus on the Ohio delegation. LINK
The Columbus Dispatch's Catherine Candisky reports that the Ohio delegates "are diverse in background, yet remarkably united in their views, citing the economy and jobs as the top issue facing the nation this presidential election year." LINK
Candisky also reports, "Sarah Bender, 17, of Medina, Ohio, appears to be the youngest delegate in the nation." LINK
In a week of coming together, the Philadelphia Inquirer looks at what's tearing Democrats apart. "The biggest disconnect between ordinary Democrats and their leaders — and between Democrats and the rest of the country — is over the Iraq war." LINK
The scream-off between Kerry opponents and supporters gets so loud you can hardly they guy they're hollering about. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Katherine Skiba looks at Rep. Tammy Baldwin's convention role and preparation to speak about health care. LINK
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert reports that Wisconsin delegates "are enjoying the fruits of the state's battleground status." LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
President Bush to act soon on intelligence recommendations: LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: battleground states:
Thanks to so much veepstakes talk, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is emerging in the Democratic Party spotlight, at least that's what the Des Moines Register reports. LINK
Gannett News Service on Iowa's place — and front-row seats — at the convention. LINK
Special treatment for battleground delegates. LINK and LINK
How Boston's convention will affect New Hampshire, "interfering with everything from commuting to grabbing a pizza." LINK
St. Louis rapper Nelly's grandfather is in a tough race. LINK
Democratic volunteers begin early in Oregon and labor unions particularly feel a sense of urgency in the 2004 election. LINK
A sign of the economic times? A DuPont plant in Washington, W. Va. is adding 10 jobs, but the company expects thousands of applicants for the entry-level positions. LINK
The perks of being from both a battleground and the home state of the vice presidential nominee are great seats at the convention for delegates from North Carolina. LINK
In Nevada, the gaming industry is making a large push to register voters, all in an attempt to have casino-friendly politicians at all levels of government. LINK
The Nation's Newspaper:
USA Today 's bonanza of convention stories take on:
--the "liberal" label LINK
--the worries over negativity LINK
--being Al Gore LINK
--security LINK
--Al Jazeera's presence LINK
--lobbyists in the arena LINK
--the parties LINK
--logistical media coverage LINK
--decorating the backrooms of the FleetCenter LINK
--Walter Shapiro on the goals and message of the convention LINK
--Kerry at Fenway LINK
--a chat with Mellman, Devine, and Vilsack LINK and LINK
--the GOP's rapid response LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney v. Kerry-Edwards: USA Today 's cover story by Susan Page starts, "The presidential election this year is as tight as the one that took 36 days to settle in 2000. But the battleground is taking a different shape than it did on Election Day four years ago, USA TODAY /CNN/Gallup state polls indicate." LINK
Fahrenheit 9/11:Michael Moore's Bush-basher has done what only the most crazy thought possible: earned more than $100 million. LINK
Given a national ticket price average of $6.25, that means that somewhere around 16 million people have seen the "documentary." That's a whole lot of voters, even thought most of them were Democrats …
Michael Moore will appear multiple times from the floor this week, although in no official capacity. (Remember, Senator Kerry has "no plans" to see Moore's movie.) LINK
And Michael Moore will be traveling to Crawford, Tex. on Wednesday a few miles from the Bush ranch to screen "Fahrenheit 9/11." LINK
Nader/Camejo '04:
"Democrats Sunday rolled back the welcome mat for longtime party activist Ralph Nader, saying he is not welcome at the Democratic convention because his independent presidential bid threatens to siphon votes away from John Kerry," writes Scripps-Howard News Service. LINK
The Boston Globe reports 70 percent of delegates don't think much of Ralph Nader Deaniacs vote Kerry, dis Nader. LINK
Ed O'Keefe's Kerry campaign report:
At 5:04pm Eastern, Senator John F. Kerry's campaign 757 "Freedom Bird" left the skies of one battleground state allegedly bound for another. But the presumptive Democratic nominee's 5-day march on the "Freedom Trail to Boston" took a sudden detour after take-off, delivering the often tardy nominee-to-be in Beantown three days ahead of schedule.
A grinning Senator Kerry stepped behind the flying bar of the more commonly referenced "Hair France", summoned former Senator John Glenn, and announced, "This plane has been diverted to the Red Sox-Yankees game."
News made a 20,000 feet prompted a flurry of activity even as the candidate explained, "This is embargoed until David Wade says so."
Writers hurriedly slid corporate credit cards through pricey air phones as photogs bickered over the size of the traveling pool that would accompany Kerry. The job of a television producer, however, was made a slight bit easier by a serendipitously placed NBC satellite truck outside Fenway in an otherwise locked down convention host city. (Thanks Katie)
Fortune did not shine, however, on the 15 passengers aboard the campaign's second plane, a Gulfstream jet supposedly bound for Cape Canaveral regardless of the candidate's evening plans.
As the charter hovered over Cleveland, the passengers, including ABC's Dan Harris and NBC's Kelley O'Donnell, realized the plane was headed in the wrong direction. Despite the Kerry campaign's best efforts to divert the diverted plane, fuel concerns forced the jet to Boston, only to depart again for Florida almost immediately upon arrival.
At 7:10pm Eastern, two black suburbans shuttled the man of the hour into the heart of Fenway, allowing the candidate to emerge virtually undetected almost an hour later out from the Red Sox dugout.
The commotion prior to Kerry's arrival caused one wishful thinking fan to explain to his son, "I think it's the president of the United States, honey."
Part time Sox owner Tom Warner's gal pal Katie Couric shied away from cameras; former Senator John Glenn hit the dirt right outside the dugout; and, when the Democratic Godfather-for-a-week assumed his post along the first base line, Senators Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Maria Cantwell, and Richard Durbin paid their respects.
An ESPN camera equally obsessed with Ben Affleck and the Senator, trained on Kerry for an interview in the top of the 5th inning.
As Derek Lowe mowed down Jeter, a raspy-voiced Kerry shunned Grady Little, gushed over the Green Monster, forgave Roger Clemons and rejected steroid abuse controls as a central campaign theme, riffing awkwardly, "Well, it's not the centerpiece of my platform … steroids are bad, they're wrong. It defeats what sports are really all about."
Though Teresa Heinz Kerry did not make it to the 7th inning stretch, Kerry watched as much of the game as security concerns would allow. Departing just before midnight, the presumptive Democratic nominee was airborne for Florida (again) at 12:28am Eastern, over 48 hours before he is expected to return and having spent just over 5 hours in his beloved hometown.
Relishing in a 9-6 Red Sox win, Kerry grinned in between eye rubs to admit, "I was a little nervous in that first inning. I thought, 'They're going to blame me!'"
In spite of the evening's victory, several Gotham based reporters chided the Senator over his seemingly stricken Sox. Kerry replied, "It's easy to be a Yankees fan. Why don't you try something hard in life?"
Say, for instance, running for president?
Kerry's motorcade rolled into the Courtyard Marriott in Cocoa Beach at a spritely 3:45am Eastern. Perhaps, the early hour fogged normally attentive campaign minds, but this is the candidate's first Marriott stay since receiving the endorsement of several major labor unions.
Senator Kerry resumes his pre-convention journey, speaking alongside former Senator Glenn at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on Monday. The Bay State Senator's naval roots shine on Tuesday in Norfolk, Virginia. And, the tour wraps in Philadelphia before reaching Boston-officially-on Wednesday.
Gloria Riviera's Edwards campaign report:
Alone in hotel suites across the country. Under the narrow, dim light of his first-row seat on his campaign plane. Scrawled in longhand on the legal pads he knows so well. Blocked out in columns and bullet points and taken from there. In unexpected moments of pause found on highways and in hallways. In the very early and very late hours. Senator Edwards has written, re-written, practiced and is now fine-tuning the speech he will deliver at the Democratic National Convention in Boston Wednesday night.
While chief speechwriter Wendy Button has been traveling with the Senator full time and is never far from neither the candidate, a bulging folder of papers or her laptop, a senior campaign official familiar with the process and outline of the speech said Edwards has known what he has wanted to say "from the very beginning" and that it comes from his heart. The fine-tuning changes of the last two and three days have been simply about finding language he is "completely comfortable with" as he sets out to introduce himself to Americans, the majority of whom he believes still do not know him very well at all.
And as for his running mate, Senator Kerry? "This is his chance to put it all together in a way Americans have never heard before," said the senior official. "His speech will help define him to the voters and that is what he is trying to accomplish."
Edwards will address three themes: his own biography, John Kerry and their relationship and finally, their vision for the future. Campaign platform issues of "Two Americas" and the war in Iraq will factor into what now runs as a 20-minute speech without applause. Campaign reporters, especially those familiar with Edwards' primary run, can't help but wonder if a certain fictional character will get a mention. Of late this has been a single mother whose husband is in Iraq with the National Guard. Initially it was a father who had lost his job, and then there was a young girl without a winter coat. Reporters at times wondered aloud to the Senator, was the young girl related to the father? But Edwards took the imagery very seriously, and if I were a gambling off-air I'd bet on being introduced to a character in need Wednesday evening.
Senator Edwards was relaxed on the way home to Raleigh, NC from San Antonio, TX. He has a full day of campaigning in the Raleigh-Durham area on Monday, before taking Tuesday morning down before heading to Boston for a 4pm arrival. He will be "invisible" in Boston before his speech, though he did say he will take a 5 to 6 mile run on Wednesday.
Special Note feature: The return of The Note Bard:
Finally, a preview of the week in Boston from The Note Bard:
Speak, Kerry, Speak
Break out the bubbly, or chilled Pelligrino:The convention is here and Mayor MeninoCannot slow the march of this dreamy Dem ticket:Nor will cops go through with once threatened pickets(Recall '68, when the forces for peace Suffered big at the hands of Chicago police:Though Dems this year faced only the blocking of meetings: Hardly as dark as those Grant Park beatings.) Now Dems must strut their candidate across the stage,To answer big questions over four fateful days:
Is the Party still Liberal to its core?Is Liberalism less scary if its Leader's a bore?Will he confuse the convention with the Senate's dull floor? Will he speak as ponderously as Heinz ketchup pours? Are the Dems unwilling to wage a real war? Will they screen huddled masses surging to shore? Can they stimulate, not overregulate, small-business stores? Are they ready, at last, to silence Al Gore? Will they try to spend less while accomplishing more? Can they love teachers unions while raising test scores? Can they dodge gay marriage but support unions galore? And honor life in its essence if not in a spore? Can they not hate the rich while loving the poor? And keep the church from the state but be spiritually pure? Can they not just oppose but say what they're for? Can America hate lawyers but still Edwards adore? Are they Everyman's party-or Whoopi's and Moore's?
Will Kerry answer these questions with Purple Heart courage?Or will he, with rushes of syllables and francophile flourish, Suggest that in his Boston, royal shipments of tea Would have been served, not dumped, alongside dishes of brie: While THAT King George might have escaped the fury of cannon Absent UN approval and blessings from Annan.
So while Clinton rouses the crowds and signs all of their books And Obama offers, prime time, the Party's new look; Nothing, nothing, counts in four days of this week Until John Forbes Kerry steps forward to speak.
TODAY'S CONVENTION SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Beginning at 4:00 pm ET:— Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic Party, addresses the convention.— Thomas Menino, mayor of Boston, addresses the convention.— Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio) addresses the convention on "the Kerry plan to create new and better jobs at home and a stronger economy for the middle class. — Rep. Jim Turner (D-Texas), vice chairman of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, addresses the convention. — To celebrate the Democratic partys women Senators, the convention will include a segment on Monday featuring a video and all nine Democratic women Senators — Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) — together on stage. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) addresses the convention on behalf of the group. — Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Was.) addresses the convention on "the plan to create affordable and available health care for all Americans." — Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) addresses the convention. — House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) addresses the convention on the "Kerry-Edwards plan to strengthen America's position in the world." — House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) addresses the convention. — David Alston, Vietnam Swift Boat Crewmate of John Kerry, addresses the convention. — Former President Jimmy Carter addresses the convention. — Former Vice President Al Gore addresses the convention. — Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) introduces her husband, former President Bill Clinton. — Former President Bill Clinton addresses the convention on John Kerry's "proven leadership, real experience and optimistic vision to strengthen America."
TODAY'S CANDIDATE SCHEDULE (all times ET):
KERRY / EDWARDS— 10:00 am: Senator John Kerry attends a town hall meeting at Kennedy Space Center Visitors' Complex, Cape Canaveral, Fla. — 10:00 am: Senator John Edwards holds town hall meeting at North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Raleigh, N.C.
BUSH / CHENEY— 3:30 pm: Vice President Cheney delivers remarks at luncheon for Washington State Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, Kennewick, Wa. — 9:35 pm: Vice President Cheney delivers remarks at reception for congressional candidates Goli Ameri and Jim Zupancic, Portland, Or.
TODAY'S EVENTS SCHEDULE (all times ET):
— 9:30 am: Daily DNC Convention press briefing is held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, Ma. — 10:00 am: RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and other republican leaders hold a news conference to discuss the opening day of the Democrat convention, Boston, Ma. — 10:00 am: The National Association Realtors release June existing-home sales figures. — 10:00 am: Fmr. Vermont Governor Howard Dean addresses California delegation, Boston, Ma. — 10:00 - 11:50 am: The African American Caucus, Latino Caucus, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, Native American Caucus, and Ethnic American Caucus hold meetings, Boston, Ma. — 11:00 am: Boston Hip Hop Summit is held featuring Russell Simmons and track star Reggie Lewis, Roxbury, Ma. — 12:00 pm - 1:50 pm: The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus, Disabled Caucus, and Veterans Caucus hold meetings, Boston, Ma. — 12:00 pm: Democratic Consultant and CNN Personality, James Carville emcees a "Salute to Veterans" featuring General Wesley Clark (ret.), Senator Max Cleland, Senator Bob Kerrey, General Tony McPeak, and John Kerry's crewmates from Vietnam, Boston, Ma. — 12:00 pm: March for a Voice and the Black Tea Society hold a protest in the Boston Common, Boston, Ma. — 12:00 pm: ABC News Now debuts on digital airwaves everywhere.