The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, March 4—
, 2004 -- TODAY SCHEDULE AS OF 9:00 am (all times ET):

—7:00 am: Bush-Cheney '04 senior advisor Karen Hughes appears on the morning shows—8:30 am: The Labor Department releases the weekly jobless claims report—8:30 am: Rep. Dennis Kucinich has breakfast with volunteers and African-American activists at Viva le Freda Restaurant, Tampa, Fla. —8:30 am: The Library of Congress opens the collection of judicial papers of former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun to the public and the media—9:00 am: Nonprofit organizations and political advocacy groups speaks to the press about FEC regulations, Washington, D.C. —9:00 am: Reps. Edward Markey and Mike Turner co-sponsor a briefing on the "State of Our Cities," Washington, D.C. —9:30 am: The Senate convenes for legislative business—9:30 am: Sen. Joe Lieberman delivers a speech on Iraq, his first major address from the floor of the Senate since ending his presidential campaign, Washington, D.C. —9:30 am: Gen. John Abizaid and NATO Commander Gen. James Jones testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Washington, D.C. —9:30 am: House Democrats release a report on the FY05 Bush administration budget—10:00 am: The House of Representatives convenes for legislative business—10:00 am: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: Rep. Kucinich attends a Central Labor Council meeting at the Building and Trades Union Hall, Tampa, Fla. —10:45 am: House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly news conference—11:00 am: Rep. Kucinich attends a press conference at the Building and Trades Union Hall, Tampa, Fla. —11:00 am: House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer joins leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition to denounce deficits at the Capitol, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: Sens. Charles Schumer, Jon Corzine and Byron Dorgan announce an online petition drive aimed at protecting Social Security benefits, Washington, D.C. —12:30 pm: Reps. Charles Rangel, Sander Levin, Adam Smith, Jay Inslee, and Tim Holden introduce new legislation for service workers, Washington, D.C. —12:35 pm: President Bush participates in a "Conversation on the Economy" event at Rain for Rent, Bakersfield, Calif. —1:00 pm: Politics Live on ABC News Live and AOL—2:30 pm: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Sen. Lindsey Graham testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Washington, D.C. —2:30 pm: CIA Director George Tenet testifies before the Select Senate Intelligence Committee on pre-war intelligence, Washington, D.C. —3:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich speaks about the Department of Peace at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Gainesville, Fla. —3:40 pm: President Bush attends a Bush-Cheney 2004 fundraiser luncheon at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, Calif. —5:00 pm: Chief strategist for Bush-Cheney '04 Matthew Dowd hosts an online chat on the campaign's Web site—5:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich serves food to the homeless with HOMEVAN, Gainesville, Fla. —7:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a rally and concert with Tim Reynolds and John McCutcheon at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. —8:05 pm: President Bush arrives at his ranch, Crawford, Texas—10:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich holds a MeetUp at Fuel Coffee Shop, Jacksonville, Fla.

NEWS SUMMARY

Money may not be able to buy you happiness or friends, but it sure can buy you a helluva lot of campaign ads. And unless you've been in a sensory deprivation chamber for the last 24 hours, you've heard all about the Bush-Cheney campaign's (positive) advertising onslaught that hits the airwaves today.

The spots tout the Bush Administration's "steady hand in times of change" -- and their images from 9/11 meant to emphasize the President's leadership in times of crisis is sure to occupy the imaginations of those in many a Democratic strategy meeting. Good to see Karen Hughes back on the morning shows.

Meanwhile, in a departure from his usual stump to the faithful, President Bush mentioned Kerry by name twice at a fundraiser last night, offering a peek at the "Washington insider who wants to raise your taxes and hasn't offered strategies to keep you safer" strategy coming down the pike. The gauntlet has been thrown.

The presumptive Democratic nominee, meanwhile, has a lot of fundraisin' to do to try to compete -- nudged along last night by an e-mail sent to 2 million people by the Democratic National Committee. We hear it broke all previous DNC online fundraising records. Which for the record, aren't in the same neighborhood as Howard Dean's.

The Los Angeles Times' Getter looks at the work ahead for John Kerry to raise large sums of money quickly. LINK

"They're planning a 50-city fundraising blitz to take place over six or eight weeks. They're adding regional finance chairs to an expanding finance team. And they're setting up a joint account with the Democratic National Committee, so that a donor could write one check for $27,000 -- a $2,000 donation for Kerry and $25,000 to the DNC, the maximums now allowed by law."

Several of America's finest observe Kerry's new general election mode:

The New York Times' Halbfinger reports Kerry began his campaign in Florida yesterday, "flying here to rally voters in the battleground state that is his party's bloody shirt, naming a Democratic financier to oversee his search for a running mate and orchestrating a takeover of the Democratic National Committee." Note the DNC takeover will apparently happen sans Michael Whouley playing a lead role. LINK

John F. Harris and Manuel Roig-Franzia report on the first day of Bush v. Kerry, focusing on the ducks the Kerry camp is putting in a row. Good to hear that the Kerry folks and the DNC are playing nice already. LINK

And feeding Veepstakes Fever, Johanna Neuman of the Los Angeles Times LINK and Pat Healy of the Boston Globe LINK look at the man tasked with finding Kerry a running mate.

As for the Bush-Cheney re-elect front, we implore you not to miss Bob Novak, who smells trouble between the Bush Administration and congressional Republicans, alleging a party leadership vacuum in which the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing -- and what's more, isn't supporting it when it finds out. LINK

While the campaign is focused on raking in the bucks and organizing their operations, Novak writes, Republicans on Capitol Hill disagree with the White House on the highway bill, struggle with the budget while the President calls for permanent tax cuts, feel they were left twisting in the wind on the 9/11 commission deadline and haven't gotten their feet under them after the economic report that called the outsourcing of jobs a good thing.

He also throws in this interesting tidbit: "The disaffection is such that over the last two weeks, normally loyal Republicans -- actually including more than a few members of Congress -- are privately talking about political merits in the election of Sen. Kerry. Their reasoning goes like this: There is no way Democrats can win the House or Senate even if Bush loses. If Bush is re-elected, Democrats are likely to win both the House and Senate in a 2006 mid-term rebound. If Kerry wins, Republicans will be able to bounce back with congressional gains in 2006."

Looking for a minute at the delegate tote board . . .

It seems that The Note now works for a superdelegate! Speaking of delegates (howdya like that transition?), John Kerry breaks the 1,500 mark in our latest delegate estimate, which you can find here: LINK

President Bush is in California to discuss the economy and attend a fundraiser for his campaign. He then heads to Crawford, Texas.

Sen. Kerry has no public events today. He is down in Boston.

Rep. Kucinich is in Florida.

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:

The AP's Ron Fournier writes that while Bush and Kerry have only been really going head-to-head with each other for one day, but "partisans from both parties are already fretting over their candidate's chances." Fournier looks at the race battleground state by battleground state. LINK

Bob Kemper and Jeff Zeleny of the Chicago Tribune Note the first day of the campaign for President: Bush calls his rival by name, and accuses him of flip-flopping and not supporting the invasion to remove Saddam Hussein, while Kerry raises money and takes issue with Bush's use of 9/11 images in his advertising Blitzkrieg. LINK

Barabak and La Ganga of the Los Angeles Times wrap up the candidates' sunshiney days. LINK

AP' Lisa Falkenberg reports on Karen Hughes' speech in Dallas yesterday -- one in which she said Kerry lacked "message clarity" and that President Bush's directness makes people uncomfortable. LINK

Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times writes of Sen. Kerry's plan to hit back hard at whatever the Bush campaign throws at him - Noting one key point: between now and the summer, though, Mr. Kerry has one overriding job: raise and spend money. LINK

Lloyd Grove dedicates a lot of space to what it means to have two members of the secret society Skull & Bones square off against each other in the general election. Note Dana Milbank's upcoming role in debates too. LINK

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

In a crowded room overflowing with political reporters, the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign unveiled its first round of ads that go up this morning and will emphasize (all together now!!) President Bush's steady leadership in times of change.

The ads are positive -- focusing on the challenges the country has faced and how the Bush Administration rose to handle them -- and do not specifically address the general election battle against Senator John Kerry. But that does not mean they are without some controversy.

The BC04 campaign's use of Ground Zero images has angered families of 9/11 victims, reports New York Daily News Haberman and DeFrank.

The Daily News duo also has this off-message Note at the bottom of their article: "'We've been off our game for weeks,' a senior Bush strategist conceded. 'Thank goodness, there's plenty of time to get well, and plenty of grist to chop Kerry down to size.'"LINK

New York Post's Morris begins his ad write up with this: "President Bush is reaching right into Ground Zero for new re-election TV ads, with two emotional spots that use searing images of the World Trade Center and firefighters."LINK

Karen Hughes defended the Bush campaign's use of 9/11 imagery in one of its first ads on the morning shows.

ABC's Diane Sawyer Noted that some widows of those who died have objected and that the firefighters union (which has endorsed John Kerry) called the images a "cheap trick." "Well, Diane, with all due respect, I just completely disagree," Hughes responded. "And I think the American people will, as well. The ad is a reminder of our shared experience. September 11 is not some distant event in the past. It's a defining event for our future and important that we learn the lessons of that day."

When pressed whether there was any debate within the White House about using the images, Hughes responded, "I think it would be somewhat out of touch to ignore the reality of that day and how it forever changed our nation's public policy. . . . And it's important that we look at how the two candidates would approach that war against terror."

In response, uber-Democrat Donna Brazille told ABC News that "The Bush campaign will do anything to rewrite the reality that they've lost jobs, that they have not been good at keeping their campaign promises to grow the economy. It's a sign of desperation that this president is already using images of September 11."

Hughes used virtually the exact same language ("Well Katie, with all due respect, I just completely disagree") on NBC's "Today Show." Couric pressed Hughes on the next round of ads. Hughes demurred, saying only that they were coming in "fairly short order, I believe."

When Couric asked Hughes why the president's first round of ads said nothing about the war in Iraq, Hughes said that these were just the beginning of a "conversation with the American people." Hughes added that she had just returned from Afghanistan, where the people are very grateful to America, and that while she had yet to visit Iraq, she was sure the situation there was very similar.

The potentially most significant Hughes comments of the morning came on the CBS Early Show where Hughes chose to respond to criticism about the Bush campaign's 9/11 imagery by implying that the only ones with objections are Democrats.

"This is one of those things where images can make or break a candidate," Harry Smith postulated. "Could this turn into another 'Mission Accomplished'?"

Hughes responded by saying that she thinks the American people "will find it's a tasteful reminder of all we've been through together in the last three years" before adding: "I can understand why some Democrats might not want the American people to remember the great leadership and strength that President and First Lady Laura Bush brought to our country in the aftermath of that."

The New York Times' Rutenberg writes about the unveiling of the Bush/Cheney advertisements "devised to erase months of Democratic attacks by portraying President Bush as a plain-spoken leader who steadied the nation after the 2001 terrorist attacks."

The ads "offer the decidedly positive message that the country is getting back on its feet under the leadership of Mr. Bush, and that he inherited a troubled economy even before he took office," Notes Rutenberg. LINK

And the New York Times ad box: LINK

Washington Post's Kurtz and Balz look at the different approach that BC04 campaign took on the first ad blitz:

"Departing from the usual incumbent's script of boasting that things have improved on his watch, the three television ads emphasize the 'tough times' Bush has faced and contend that he has made America 'safer, stronger.' None of the initial ads offers any new proposals for a second Bush term." LINK

AP' Fournier adds a few more pieces to the puzzle that is 'how much did the buy cost and where are the ads running?': "In his first ad blitz, an extraordinary $10.5 million buy, Bush is targeting voters in 16 battleground states from 2000 - minus Tennessee but plus West Virginia and Arizona. In a show of strength, he's even running ads in the traditionally Democratic state of Delaware, which Gore won by double digits in 2000." LINK

New York Post's Orin looks at the significance of optimism in presidential campaign ads and Notes that "the upbeat mood offers a stark contrast with the anti-Bush anger that echoes through Kerry's speeches."

"What's crucial is that Ground Zero becomes an image of hope rather than defeat in Bush's ads since it's optimism that usually wins the White House -- whether it's Ronald Reagan's 'Morning in America' or Bill Clinton's 'Man from Hope.'"LINK

The New York Times' Maureen Dowd turns her sharp tongue on the Bush ads, asking "If he's so good at protecting us, why aren't we safe?"

Dowd also mentions the Reagan ad campaign: "You might call the Bush ads, an homage to Ronald Reagan's famous ads, 'Mourning in America.'" LINK

Los Angeles Times' Anderson Notes that the ad campaign "portrays Bush as empathetic to the jobless and forceful on the economy -- not, as Democrats claim, indifferent and ineffective."LINK

USA Today's team of Keen, Drinkard and Memmot report that the ad campaign will cost around $5.9 million, according to a Democrat who monitors ad purchases. LINK

Glen Johnson of the Boston Globe reviews the ads and writes that, "In each case, the ads draw on the power of the incumbency, either by framing their message against the distinctive arched windows in the White House residence or by showing the president striding in slow motion through the Colonnade outside the Oval Office." LINK

The Washington Times' Hallow and Curl report on the ad unveiling but seem ready for the next phase, beyond the positive messages: "After months of silence while a large field of Democratic rivals criticized President Bush, operatives for the Bush-Cheney re-election team are ready to mount a counteroffensive."LINK

Eric Black and Bob Von Sternberg with the Minneapolis Star Tribune report that by the end of today, Minnesotans will know they live in a battleground state: Bush/Cheney '04 advertisements will begin airing in all MN media markets. Minnesota will be in the highest "tier" of "intensity" in this ad buy. The MoveOn.org advertisement "Child's Pay" will also airing in most markets in MN. LINK

On the same day that his campaign officials were previewing the first ads to the media, President Bush amped up his standard fundraising stump speech and actually mentioned his rival John Kerry by name: "This should be an interesting debate on the issues. He spent two decades in Congress; he's built up quite a record. In fact, Senator Kerry has been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue."

The fundraiser, attended by 600 supporters, brought in $800,000 for the BC04 campaign.

Los Angeles Times' Reynolds Notes that President Bush "laid out some of the key arguments he is expected to use against Kerry" including the Democrat's position on tax cuts and the war in Iraq.LINK

The New York Times' Stevenson writes that President Bush spent the day in California "trying to convince his own party and the Democrats that the state can be a source of electoral support for him -- and not just financial support." LINK

"President Bush kicked off his general election campaign Wednesday by telling a largely Christian audience he has opened billions of dollars in federal contracts to religious organizations despite resistance from Congress. Then he headed for a pair of fundraisers that raised a total of $4.1 million for Republicans," writes Mike Allen of the Washington Post. LINK

Kerry:

The New York Times' Glen Justice Notes "Senator John Kerry fought his way through a tough and expensive Democratic primary season only to find himself on Wednesday with relatively little cash and facing an advertising onslaught by President Bush, whose campaign has roughly 10 times more money." LINK

Gina Glantz warns us not to "underestimate what $100 million can do." We've also probably learned not to overestimate what $40 million can do.

The Chicago Tribune's Jill Zuckman reports that Kerry seemed to be channeling Howard Dean yesterday, as he asked audiences in the Sunshine State to create a movement of millions donating small amounts to him on the Internet. LINK

John Kerry is in an "enviable position," write John Harwood and Jacob Schlesinger of the Wall Street Journal, as he finds himself practically unscathed through the primary process with strong party unity, a positive image and a lead in the polls. More from the Dow Jones duo: "This time, the Democratic Party couldn't have handled the selection of its presidential candidate any better."

The Wall Street Journal editorial board looks forward to a presidential election where foreign policy is a central theme and sizes up the presumptive Democratic nominee thusly: "So while Mr. Kerry emerges from the primaries relatively unscathed, he also emerges largely unknown. Democrats have rallied to him as a 20-year Senator and war veteran with the stature to defeat a sitting President in the post-September 11 world. But despite that long public life, Mr. Kerry remains an opaque figure, difficult to pin down on issues and on what drives him other than political ambition."

Tom Oliphant of the Boston Globe says Sen. Kerry should pay attention to a point Sen. Edwards made in last Sunday's debate: his claim that he was the candidate who would win more Republicans and Independents. Oliphant looks at the results from Super Tuesday and illustrates that the former candidate's point should not be discounted. LINK

Adam C. Smith of the St. Petersburg Times writes up Sen. Kerry's visit to what the Sunshine State's papers are calling "the biggest battleground state," and says the Massachusetts Senator appeared to be "aiming mainly for moderate voters."LINK

Sidney Zion writes in the New York Daily News about the Jewish vote in the upcoming election and what John Kerry has to do to keep it Democratic. LINK

"The message John Kerry should get is that it will get him nowhere to attack Bush on Israel. He has to take the issue out of politics. How? By saying that he has no fundamental disagreement with Bush on Israel, that there can be no peace without a Palestinian partner who wants peace."

Page Six plays up the Kerry campaign's search for a loyalist at the DNC and a quieter Terry McAuliffe. Page Six also reports there are no Internet photos of Michael Whouley!!! LINK

Roll Call reports the House Democrats' answer to the Kerry battle cry as they rally around their apparent Democratic presidential nominee. LINK

The Houston Chronicle writes that although Kerry is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and although he will likely not campaign too hard in Bush's home state, the Senator "is headed to Houston on Friday anyway, in search of campaign money, symbolism and political energy, if not November votes." LINK

Roll Call's Ethan Wallison reports on the Kerry campaign's use of a controversial marketing practice to collect information about people the campaign say expressed interest in supporting Kerry in the primaries and caucuses. LINK

"The contracts with Equifax Marketing Services worth about $36,000 called for the company to find so-called 'appendages' in its massive consumer database. Appending is a practice that involves plugging bits of information into databases in order to collect e-mail addresses or flesh out consumer profiles."

The Kerry campaign has ended their relationship with this marketing group.

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

ORLANDO, FLA., March 3 -- What a difference a day makes.

Before he'd assumed the crown of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for even 24 hours, Sen. John F. Kerry faced only one persistent question Wednesday: "Do you have a short list?"

Though Kerry fueled the fire by tapping Jim Johnson to lead his search for a running mate, he bristled at the question from local Orlando reporters, insisting, "I believe (the process) has to be very private. It's a very personal process. I wouldn't begin to just throw around names."

But that won't stop everyone else from throwing around names -- and two who are frequently tossed around traveled with and endorsed Kerry only a day after a decisive Super Tuesday.

Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), Kerry's former rival for the Democratic nomination, and is partner in the Sunshine State's Senate delegation, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), endorsed Kerry in Orlando, pledging to do all they could to help their colleague win the critical swing state.

ABC affiliate WFTV asked directly if Graham, a Gore VP finalist in 2000, is on the short list in 2004. Kerry replied quickly, "I don't have a list."

But beyond alternately urging and scolding water cooler veepstakes fun, the Kerry campaign will focus in the next weeks almost exclusively on fundraising.

The campaign was off to a good start, raising $1.2 million on the Internet from the close of most polls at 8:00 pm ET Tuesday to midday Wednesday, besting previous 24-hour totals by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and maverick Sen. John McCain.

Traditional fundraisers or the meetings to arrange them are in the works, corresponding with almost every near-term campaign stop. Following a single town hall in Orlando, Kerry took his 10-car motorcade, led by 32 highway patrol motorcycles and followed by an ambulance, to a fundraising meeting that was intended to prime top Floridian fundraisers for the big push to come.

Similar meetings have been added in both Louisiana and Texas, and a full-fledged fundraiser is set for next week in Chicago.

There are also some visible physical signs of transition in the Kerry nomination to general election campaign team. On Wednesday, senior Washington-based Kerry staff scoped the campaign's new downtown digs. Kerry staffers will bid adieu to their 519 C St. home, taking over two floors of a vacant law firm, this weekend.

And, for the moment, the President's 33-to-1 monetary advantage and the cash-draining nomination process will likely prevent Kerry from going on the air with ads to counter the $4.5 million Bush-Cheney ad buy.

Forced to counter TV with paper and all too aware that the fickle free media ride only runs so long in a forgone nomination contest, the Kerry campaign will have to get creative to maintain daily interest.

Maybe they've got a short list . . .

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

Well, better late than never. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley endorsed Kerry Wednesday. LINK

Edwards:

The New York Times' Archibold writes during Sen. Edwards' concession speech "he did not tip his hand about what he might do next, though he did promise to work to get Senator John Kerry elected. Whether that means as his running mate will be determined later, but his advisers say they doubt he would say no if asked." LINK

Raja Mishra of the Boston Globe writes that Edwards ended his campaign the way it was run -- with a positive, upbeat message. LINK

Scott Martelle of the Los Angeles Times says good-bye to John Edwards. LINK

The Charlotte Observer looks at "Edwards' political future" which "seems as wide and bright as his ubiquitous smile, it's hard to see what he does between now and 2008." LINK

John Wagner of the Raleigh News Observer wraps the Edwards campaign stating that the Senator "departed to an uncertain political future." LINK

The Washington Post's John Harris takes a look of the exit strategies the candidates have used so far in Campaign 2004. LINK

Veepstakes:

The Washington Post's Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz report on Kerry's search for a running mate running down the list of the usual names, including John Podesta's favorite, Robert Rubin. LINK

Peter Wallsten of the Miami Herald says Florida Sen. Bob Graham is emerging as a frontrunner in Sen. Kerry's quest for a running mate in his write up of yesterday's visit to the uber-important battleground state of Florida. LINK

Jeff Zeleny and Kirsten Scharnberg with Jill Zuckman with the Chicago Tribune Note that Kerry has essentially posted an advertisement for his VP, as he was showered by kind words from friends and former foes alike. Kerry remarked that he won't "just throw names around" and wants "a private and respected process." LINK

Pat Healy of the Boston Globe takes a look at the addition of Jim Johnson to the Kerry campaign, "a close friend of Kerry's, which in itself says much, political analysts said: Kerry is seen as a loner in Washington, seldomly socializing out on the town and keeping most acquaintances as just that. LINK

"By contrast, Johnson and Kerry are contemporaries -- born three weeks apart -- who have gone hiking together in Idaho, where Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, have a home, and they and their wives are regular dining companions."

Johanna Neuman of the Los Angeles Times also profiles Johnson, who apparently has a very impressive Rolodex and gets a ringing endorsement from Ken Duberstein too. LINK

And in case Johnson needs a hand coming up with possibilities, Zeleny, Scharnberg, and Zuckman offer up a list of possible choices: John Edwards, Evan Bayh, Janet Napolitano, Dick Gephardt, Bill Richardson, Bob Graham, and Tom Vilsack. LINK

The New York Daily News' Helen Kennedy is giddy with veepstakes fever. (Who isn't, really?) Edwards, Graham, Gephardt, Clark (and his 'wackiness factor'), Rubin, Feinstein, Richardson, Bayh, Vilsack, and Napolitano all get mention. As does one Hillary Rodham Clinton, who doesn't think it will be offered and doesn't think she'd accept. LINK

Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor continues to push retired Gen. Wesley Clark's name for the vice president on the Democratic ticket. LINK

Lucky for us, Roger Simon knows that John Kerry will not pick John Edwards as his choice for vice president. Even luckier for us, he tells us why. LINK

"It is not just that Kerry believes Edwards has not punched his ticket, it is not just that Kerry believes Edwards has not paid his dues, it is that Kerry believes John Edwards is not ready to be President of the United States.

"Many considerations go into choosing a vice president -- most of which are wasted since the American people rarely look at the No. 2 spot on the ticket when casting their votes -- but nobody as serious as John Kerry is going to pick a man who cannot do the job of president should fate call upon him to do so."

Juan Gonzaelz of the New York Daily News is firmly behind Bill Richardson as running mate. LINK

The New York Post's Lathem sees a connection between Hillary Clinton's outspokenness on outsourcing and her desire to move into NAVOBS. LINK

The Boston Herald makes a pass at Kerry's short list, Noting the Republicans are ready to take on whoever it may be. LINK

Democratic National Convention:

The Boston Globe's Yvonne Abraham reports a new face in the Kerry campaign staff -- belonging to Jack Corrigan, the campaign's liaison to the Democratic convention in Boston. LINK

Nader:

Michael King of the Austin Chronicle takes a look at Nader's run and his recent Texas tour. Nader has a tough challenge ahead of him getting on the ballot in Texas, and it seems he's having a rough time rounding up some of the old posse. LINK

Sharpton:

The New York Times reports that Reverend Sharpton will announce tomorrow whether his plans have changed. LINK

The Boston Herald reports of some questionable money troubles in the world of Rev. Sharpton. LINK

The economy:

The Associated Press looks at the fresh economic numbers on people seeking unemployment benefits. LINK

"The number of people filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week, a sign that companies may be feeling better about the economic recovery's durability and less inclined to lay off workers."

More: "The Labor Department reported Thursday that for the work week ending Feb. 28 new filings for jobless benefits declined by a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to 345,000, the lowest level in two weeks."

Still more: "In another report from the department, the productivity of American workers grew at a modest 2.6 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2003, according to revised figures. The new figure, which matched economists' expectations, was slightly slower than the 2.7 percent pace first estimated a month ago."

Big casino budget politics:

"The Senate Budget Committee unveiled a 2005 tax-and-spending blueprint yesterday that shaves $7 billion from President Bush's defense spending request, pares back domestic spending by $16 billion and orders billions of dollars of reductions in entitlement programs in moves designed to cut the federal deficit in half by 2007," writes the Washington Post's Jonathan Weisman. LINK

Politics:

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's decision not to run for reelection was largely based on his health, reports the New York Times. LINK

The Washington Post's Helen Dewar and T.R. Reid throw in another facet: "Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R), worried about health problems and dogged by allegations of a kickback in his Colorado office, announced yesterday he will not seek a third term in this fall's elections." LINK

Chris Cilizza of Roll Call reports on the mad scramble for candidates to succeed Campbell -- and takes a look at possible contenders. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Dawn Kopecki reports "The Federal Election Commission fined Fannie Mae and two major Republican fund-raising groups $132,000 for allegedly improperly channeling soft-money donations from the company to state candidates, the agency announced Wednesday."

Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times looks at how Senator Daschle's votes for the gun control amendments, despite his support for limiting manufacturer liability, will be fodder for the NRA during his reelection bid. Be sure to Note the credit Senator Craig gives Senator Kerry's floor appearance. LINK

The New York Times' editorial board discusses House Majority Leader Tom Delay's ties to lobbyists and suggests "it is clearly past time for a serious investigation of this industry."LINK

Dong-dong! New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is hoping for an Emmy. LINK

The Boston Globe reports of a new fundraising phenomenon being implemented by the Massachusetts Democratic Party. This is no joke, folks: a fundraising credit card called the "Victory Card." LINK

"For every subscriber, the Democratic party gets an initial $40 donation and about 1 cent of every $2 spent. That means if a Democrat charged $5,000, the party would see just $25, plus the $40 starting gift."

The politics of gay marriage:

As gay marriages continue in parts of the country, doubts also begin rise in the U.S. Senate as to whether a constitutional amendment would pass, writes Alan Cooperman and Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. LINK

Regarding the gay-marriage testimonies in the Senate, "sharp partisan divisions emerged as Democrats accused Republicans of trying to generate momentum for an amendment by creating a false air of crisis," writes the New York Times' Carl Hulse. LINK

Amy Fagan of the Washington Times Notes the commencement of the gay marriage debate in Congress, ushered in by Senate Majority Leader Frist's comments from yesterday's press conference. LINK

While in San Francisco earlier this week, John Kerry "promised that if elected president he would grant state-sanctioned gay couples the same 1,049 federal benefits married heterosexuals enjoy," report Evelyn Nieves and Jim VandeHei of the Washington Post. LINK

The New York Times' Marc Santora reports "Attorney General Eliot Spitzer of New York declared on Wednesday that he believes that New York law is clear that the state should recognize same-sex marriages lawfully performed in other jurisdictions." LINK

The Schwarzennegger era:

John Ritter of USA Today sings the Governator some high praise: "California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is rivaling Ronald Reagan's power and popularity in a state long comfortable with celebrity politicians." LINK