The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 30—
, 2003 -- Today's Schedule (all times Eastern):

—9:00 am: Senate convenes for legislative business—9:20 am: Vice President Cheney meets with Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, White House—10:00 am: House convenes for legislative business—10:00 am: Governor-elect Schwarzenegger meets with Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, D.C.—12:00 pm: General Wesley Clark holds a book signing, D.C.—12:00 pm: Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun speaks at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio—12:05 pm: President Bush makes remarks at a Bush-Cheney 2004 fundraiser luncheon , Columbus, Ohio—2:15 pm: President Bush makes remarks on energy at Central Aluminum, Columbus, Ohio—5:00 pm: Reverend Al Sharpton attends a UNITE rally, White Plains, N.Y.—5:30 pm: Senator John Kerry goes on a downtown walk, Portsmouth, N.H.—5:45 pm: Governor Howard Dean holds a town hall meeting, Seattle—7:00 pm: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld addresses Empower America's 10th Anniversary Dinner, D.C.—7:00 pm: Reverend Sharpton attends the Connecticut NAACP convention, New Haven, Conn.—7:50 pm: Senator Joe Lieberman makes remarks at the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo's annual meeting, Getzville, N.Y.—7:55 pm: President Bush makes remarks at a Bush-Cheney 2004 fundraiser reception, San Antonio—9:00 pm: Governor Dean keynotes the Ada County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Boise, Idaho

NEWS SUMMARY

Sure, we can wait to see how the markets react (Greenspan, though, baked that into the cake); for POTUS Buckeye remarks; craftily spun Democratic statements; and, most of all, for next month's readjusted figure.

But whether you write it "seven-point-two" or "7.2," the immediate impact is, well, immediate.

It's not just the economic numbers, it's boy oh boy look at the economic numbers.

ABC News' Ramona Schindelheim reports that this morning's economic growth number — 7.2% in the third quarter, was the best showing for the Gross Domestic Product since the first quarter of 1984 and was above most estimates. The GDP got a three-pronged boost: spending by consumers, businesses and the government.

Schindelheim: Armed with child tax credit checks and a bit more money in their paychecks, consumers spent with abandon. Consumer spending grew at a 6.6% pace in July, August and September. (One economist estimated last week that consumers spent about two-thirds of the child tax credit checks and saved the rest.)

Business spending — largely in the form of computers and electronics — rose by 11.1%, the best increase since the start of 2000. Businesses actually spent less on structures.

Government spending rose as well. The shrinking U.S. trade deficit helped improve the GDP, as did lower inventories.

For the next three months leading up to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, and the State of the Union, and seasonal shopping, and Sunday talk show after Sunday talk show, the notion that "the Bush presidency=a failed economy" ain't going to be the dominant storyline.

Sure, there are a lot of "buts" (jobs, income distribution, what fueled the growth, etc.), but, to quote economist James Carville's favorite expression "if 'ifs and buts' were beers and nuts, we'd have a heck of a party."

And The Note, as you know, almost always covers what "is," as opposed to "what ought to be," and what is is that this is a H-U-G-E political development.

In initial Administration reaction, Rob Nichols trumped Ron Bonjean — with the former sending around a muscular audio clip of reax from Secretary Snow, while Secretary Evans just did a "paper" statement.

As for the Democratic presidential candidates and their world, beyond an Edwards' prebuttal, we haven't heard much from them on the economy so far today. We share Ed Gillespie's and Dan Bartlett's interest in seeing how they handle this.

While the Republicans are dealing with big issues of war and peace, inside the world of the Invisible Primary, your major touchstones today are:

1. A possibly looming SEIU endorsement of Howard Dean — huge enough that if you don't know what that is, or why it is huge, you need to do a Google or two (or read below) — although General Clark is, ABC News has learned, getting his own SEIU meeting today to try to head that off.

2. Adam Nagourney has a very smart Clark/Dean electability piece in the New York Times (and, no, it doesn't contain the word "Kucinich"). LINK

3. Those aren't "boos" you will hear at the John Edwards' New Hampshire event today, but, rather "Lous," as the Tar Heel snags a big Granite State endorsement from Mr. D'Allesandro.

4. Dean versus Gephardt (If nothing else, watching Chuck Todd say "faggot" on C-SPAN created a bit of history.).

5. Kerry versus Lieberman.

6. ABC News exclusively gets more Sharpton versus Dean.

President Bush attends a campaign fundraiser and makes remarks on energy in Columbus, Ohio. He then heads to San Antonio for another fundraiser.

Vice President Cheney meets with Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning. Schwarzenegger will hold a media availability after the meeting.

Senator Edwards is in California with no public events, although he has an endorsement press conference call with legendary New Hampshire state Senator Lou D'Allesandro. He will attend private meetings and fundraisers today before heading to Texas.

General Clark holds a book signing in D.C. today.

Governor Dean campaigns in Seattle and Boise today.

Senator Kerry was scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire today, but he's cancelled most of that to be in D.C. for the climate change vote.

Congressman Gephardt has no public events scheduled for today. He heads to California tonight for private events. His daughter Chrissy campaigns in Iowa today.

Senator Lieberman will be in D.C. today for the climate change vote. Tonight, he heads to New York for the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo's annual meeting.

Congressman Kucinich is in D.C. with no public events.

Reverend Sharpton attends a UNITE rally in White Plains, New York, and the state NAACP convention in New Haven, Connecticut.

Ambassador Moseley Braun has a private paid speaking engagement at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

ABC News Vote 2004: The Invisible Primary:Presidential candidates (or their designated surrogates) should read this USA Today cover story by Mimi Hall on the questions being raised about the differences in homeland security needs across the country. LINK

The New York Times ' Christopher Marquis takes Note of the Center for American Progress' foreign-policy fest's bad-news-is-good-news-for-us tone. LINK

And the Boston Globe says "congressional Democrats are moving to claim the center on homeland defense in the 2004 election by holding up the needs of what they say are underfunded local police and emergency responders against the Bush administration's heavy spending on Iraq." LINK

Dean:The question now is not whether the Service Employees International Union and a majority of its 1.6 million members prefer Howard Dean; rather, it's when they'll do it. Dean was the only presidential candidate to speak at a major (and private) SEIU political conference in Baltimore last week, but the horse's mouth is more direct.

Writing in this week's New Republic, Ryan Lizza got Andy Stern, SEIU's president, to say:

"'It's come down to the one candidate who has demonstrated enough support among our members … which is Howard Dean. And anything else we did would really not be true to what we said, which is that members are the soul of this union. There is only one candidate who you could honestly say has enough support to merit an endorsement. With the AFL, it was [Dick] Gephardt or no endorsement. With SEIU, it's Dean or no endorsement, and no endorsement could win … .

Some people like Dean, but they don't think the union should endorse.'"LINK

On the trail in San Francisco Wednesday, Dean seemed very confident that he'd get the nod, and soon.

Clad in a trademark purple SEIU sweater, Dean stood on a makeshift stage in Lafayette Park with SEIU local 250 president Sal Rosselli.

Rosselli a huge fan of Dean's. He and New York local 1199's Dennis Rivera have been two of Dean's biggest advocates with other SEIU leaders. But SEIU bylaws prevent him from officially endorsing anyone until his parent union makes its own decision.

When actor Rob Reiner reminded the crowd of more than 1,000 that Dean had just received the endorsement of the California Teachers Association, Dean glanced at Rosselli and piped up. "And so does someone else I know … "

Reiner appeared momentarily confused.

"Who?" Reiner asked. He turned and look at Rosselli. "This guy?"

"We're working on it," Rosselli said.

In a brief interview after the event, Rosselli was circumspect, and would only say that he was "personally" lobbying other SEIU members on Dean's behalf.

SEIU's Sara Howard tells The Note to be cautious about believing the hype.

"It's hardly news that there's a lot of passion for Dean among SEIU members," says Howard. "And, as Stern makes abundantly clear, the decision whether to endorse at all won't be made until the Executive Board comes together on November 6."

More outward signs the deal is not yet done:

The Note has learned Andy Stern and SEIU officers will meet with General Clark this afternoon in Washington.

Howard Dean waded into the world of New York City politics yesterday by urging his supporters to vote against the Mayor's proposed revision to the city charter to allow non-partisan elections. LINK

"But Dean also said he would "support nonpartisan elections" similar to those held in California, where all local races are nonpartisan, in a questionnaire submitted to the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, a research group founded by Independence Party activist Lenora Fulani. "

"Dean's office did not dispute his statement in the questionnaire."

And, of course, the Gephardt campaign couldn't resist.

"'Like his positions on Medicare and affirmative action, once again Howard Dean is trying to have it both ways,' said Kim Molstre, a spokesman for the campaign of Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt."

Dean is also taking a big hit in the Nevada papers for his Yucca flip-flopping.

Dean is devoting a lot of time during his three-day swing out West to fundraising.

There was an $1,000 a ticket deal last night in Oakland, followed by a second tier event for $100 contributors. In Boulder, Colorado on Tuesday morning, Dean raised more than $50,000. He had two events in Las Vegas Tuesday night.

Depending on whom you talk to, the campaign has nearly accumulated enough (or nearly enough) matchable dollars from donors to receive the full $18.6 million in federal funds.

Tuesday, Dean hinted at a reason why he might decide to fund himself:

"This campaign is two way: you get on the blog, we pay attention to the blog, and we listen to you, and we respond," he told nearly 2,000 students at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "We're going to use television commercials … that's why we need a lot of money … because Karl Rove is going to say all sorts of unspeakable things, most of which, of course, are not true … .But the end of the 30-second spot where 'us telling you' is at hand … ."

Who was that handsome guy in the dapper charcoal gray suit hanging around Dean events this week? Probably Mo Elleithee, formerly a national press secretary for Senator Bob Graham's recently kiboshed presidential campaign.

Elleithee told ABC News he's been talking to several other presidential campaigns about potential employment opportunities and decided to accept Dean's invitation to see what their roadshow is like.

Elleithee said he hasn't made a decision about which campaign he'll join, or whether he'll join one. He worked for Bill Bradley in 2000, ran Janet Reno's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and has a resume of communications experience with Democratic staffs from New Mexico to Virginia.

Howard Dean did some fundraising at Jerry Brown's house last night. LINK

Dean staff v. Gephardt staff: unnecessary roughness?:The AP's Mike Glover reports on the Dean campaign's complaint about one of their staffers being harassed by a Gephardt staffer. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Ken Fuson reports on the Des Moines incident. LINK

From ABC News' Gephardt campaign reporter Sally Hawkins:

In the middle of Gephardt's speech at an Iowa senior center, Hunter Allen, the Dean tracker, began talking loudly on his cell phone and reporting what Gephardt had just said about Dean in his speech.

John Lapp, Gephardt's Iowa campaign director, asked him to leave telling him he was being rude since the speech was still going on. Allen left, but returned after the speech was over. During the Gephardt Q&A, Allen tried to get in on the media scrum and he walked around the periphery of the group, trying to find a spot. He finally went right behind Gephardt and tried to stick his arm in the pack to record. Both Lapp and [Gephardt body man] Mike Kelley appeared behind Gephardt and begin talking to Allen. Lapp held Allen's arm in an effort to guide him toward the door. Kelley was looking on. They exchanged words and their body language was heated.

The argument got louder and louder. Allen argued back that he should be allowed to stay and denied doing anything wrong.

After presser, Lapp and Hunter had a heated exchange (transcript below).

Lapp: "You have … got to behave yourself at these meetings or you're not going to be able to come. OK?"

Hunter: (Inaudible) "But … "

Lapp: "No. You can not take the spot of a reporter. (inaudible) … tracker. Do not cut in front of the reporters. If you can not behave yourself at these forums, then don't come. OK? You have got to … .I'm going to call Jeannie — and if you can't behave yourself, then you can't come back. You have got to behave yourself."

Hunter: "You have to understand something, I was not taking anyone's spot … ."

Lapp: "You were."

More from Hawkins: Just last weekend, Lapp told me that recently, Gephardt trackers were routinely thrown out of Dean events and, if Hunter was going to be disrespectful to Gephardt, then he was not welcome. Then, after Hunter began showing up at Gephardt events, Lapp said he called the Dean campaign to work out a truce. They would let Hunter stay and, in return, the Gephardt trackers would be able to do their thing tracking Dean.

Statement From Gephardt campaign:

Gephardt's Iowa press secretary, Bill Burton, said, "There were 100 people in the room, at least 20 media members, seven video cameras, and various recorders. He was even carrying a recorder. Show us the evidence. This comes on a day when Dean is hurting because of attacks on his Medicare and affirmative action positions so it seems like an act to divert attention."

From ABC News' Dean campaign reporter Marc Ambinder:

Allen, a young Dean staffer recently assigned to track Gephardt's presidential campaign in Iowa, alleged Wednesday that he was accosted, shoved, and called an anti-gay slur by members of Gephardt's staff.

Allen said a dispute began when his phone began to vibrate about 10 minutes into Gephardt's's speech.

"I wasn't sure if it was OK to be on the phone during the speech," he said.

But he said he decided to answer it and said he ducked down to the ground and covered his hand with his mouth to mask the sound.

Allen said the call ended very quickly, but not before he said a Gephardt staffer noticed, and walked over to him.

"[He] pushed me outside and said, 'Stop disrupting this event,'" Allen said. "I apologized."

When the speech ended about 15 minutes later, Allen said he was "standing with other reporters, as trackers do. [The staffer] grabbed my shoulder and told me I was bothering other reporters."

Allen said he checked with the other reporters, who told him that he was not in their way.

But Allen he repositioned himself behind the press scrum.

Allen said the staff member then raised his voice, and asked, "What the F*** do you think you're doing?"

Allen said he responded that was "just trying to do my job."

At that point, Allen says another Gephardt staffer moved over to where he and the first staffer were arguing.

"The other guy grabbed me and pushed me toward the [back] door. As he was pushing be out, he called me a faggot."

"He looked at me, with a smirk on his face, and said 'faggot.'

Gephardt campaign spokesperson Kim Molstre told The Advocate that a Dean staffer was at the event and had to be escorted outside, adding that no derogatory statements had been made. 'If it had been true, which it's not, that staffer would have been fired,' she said. 'There was someone [from the Dean campaign] at the event and they got unruly and they were escorted outside. But that word was never said.'" LINK

Unnecessary roughness, part II:In the meantime, the falling action over the Kerry campaign separating itself from an Arizona supporter over the allegation that the supporter tried to pry people away from Lieberman by claiming the Senator's faith keeps him off the campaign trail three days a week continues.

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

Though Senator Kerry spent a relatively calm day signing books in Iowa, behind the scenes his campaign staff worked to beat back allegations in yesterday's Arizona Republic which contended that Mario Diaz, Senator Kerry's Arizona campaign manager, and state Representative Ben Miranda, also affiliated with the Kerry campaign, had been calling legislators to encourage them to switch support from Lieberman to Kerry because Lieberman "can't campaign three days a week."

Lieberman campaign manager Craig Smith reacted in a release, stating, "We were greatly disturbed by news reports [Wednesday] morning that John Kerry's campaign attempted to use Senator Lieberman's faith against him for political gain … If true, John Kerry should take swift action to rebuke these statements and disassociate himself from these individuals who have used these tactics on his behalf."

The Kerry camp responded, "The Kerry campaign (Wednesday) morning severed its association with Rep. Ben Miranda. We have investigated the matter thoroughly, and we are fully satisfied that no member of the campaign was responsible for the incidents in question."

Senator Lieberman and Senator Kerry discussed the potentially explosive accusations early Wednesday and both camps appear to be satisfied with the actions taken following that conversation.

From ABC News' Lieberman campaign reporter Talesha Reynolds:

In the past month, three Arizona Latino legislators endorsing Senator Lieberman have left his camp in favor of Kerry. When Miranda reportedly tried to lure more lawmakers to Kerry by using Lieberman's religion against him, claiming he could not campaign three days out of the week because of the Sabbath, State Representative Robert Meza, a Lieberman co-political director in Arizona, called the action "total desperation."

When asked whether this incident would ultimately help or hurt Lieberman's campaign efforts in Arizona, spokesman Jano Cabrera said the religious comments "should have nothing to do with politics and the outcome should have nothing to do with politics."

But Meza says that among Latinos — a critical target for Democrats hoping to win the state — Lieberman's religion actually works in his favor. Meza says that despite the Latino community's strong ties to Catholicism, they tend to empathize with Lieberman as a minority. "They see him as one of them."

The same goes for African-Americans. Lieberman speaks to issues important to minorities using personal experience, telling audiences that he is part of an immigrant family, grew up poor, went to public school, and marched behind MLK. In black churches, Lieberman quotes scripture as effectively a seasoned minister, eliciting amens and applause. And he is almost universally received as genuine.

The Kerry campaign has apologized and ended involvement with Miranda. So, is this the end of the story? Cabrera says although "this was a reprehensible act," the campaign must take the Kerry team at its word that the matter is resolved. "We told them to take swift action and apparently they did."

David Lightman of the Hartford Courant reminds his readers that Representative Miranda used to be a Lieberman supporter. LINK

"In an interview with the Courant Wednesday, Miranda, who had joined the Lieberman campaign in March, denied making any such statements about Lieberman's work schedule, adding that when he was with the Lieberman campaign, 'everyone knew that he did not work on the Sabbath. We planned around it.'"

The Boston Herald's David Guarino reports on the Arizona incident. LINK

Deborah Orin writes up Miranda's controversial remarks and the Kerry's campaign severing its relationship with him. Ms. Orin goes on to call the Arizona primary "a key contest in the Democratic 2004 race." LINK

Coverage also from the Globe's Pat Healy: LINK

Gephardt:The Boston Globe 's Brian Mooney profiles the Congressman and writes, "For nearly 20 years, Gephardt has been cultivating support in Iowa, targeting the constituencies that can deliver at caucus time." LINK

From ABC News' Gephardt campaign reporter Sally Hawkins:

On his two-day, nine-stop mini-tour du jour, Gephardt seemed upbeat and pleased with the larger than expected crowds. His energy level was put to the test with upwards of 20 reporters vying for 10-minute windows of alone time with him. Most ended up switching in and out of the campaign's rented mini-van in between events, which made the campaign slightly behind schedule, a rarity.

Gephardt also told ABC News that if Howard Dean wins Iowa and New Hampshire, "everyone else is toast." Over one of his favorite meals, a Wendy's single burger with pickles and a chocolate frosty, he also spoke about the differences in this year's race vs. 1988. "Today, there are more cameras. I mean, satellite trucks were a brand new thing in 1988 and there were no cable stations. Now, everyone knows your every move!"

Kerry:More from ABC News' O'Keefe:

As reported yesterday in The Note, Kerry also picked up two additional New York Congressional endorsements, one from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, the other from Rep. Tim Bishop. On a conference call announcing the endorsements, McCarthy cited Kerry's gun safety record as her primary motivation for supporting him. When asked why McCarthy chose Kerry over former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, McCarthy blunted, "I have nothing but respect for Dick Gephardt … but at this point, I believe John Kerry can get his message out to a broader audience."

Bishop, who did not serve with Rep. Gephardt, identified with Kerry's environmental record, though he too expressed admiration for Gephardt.

In Josh Benson's final story for the New York Observer (before jetting off to Salon), he explores John Kerry's reaction to constantly being asked about Howard Dean. We can only hope Mr. Benson continues to include such juicy details such as the Chinese take-out fundraiser when he starts filing for Salon. LINK

Lieberman:A Washington Post editorial endorses the longshot McCain-Lieberman climate change bill. "Today's vote may be a purely symbolic step toward real change, but it is nevertheless an important one. We hope the Senate sees fit to pass the bill." LINK

The Washington Times ' Barry Casselman thinks the foreign policy positions of "two guys named Joe," as in Lieberman and Biden, are on the right side of history. LINK

Clark:Adam Nagourney of The New York Times questions the electability of candidates Clark and Dean and looks for an answer to the question, "What would Democrats be willing to sacrifice for a candidate who convinced them that he could beat the president?" LINK

The AP's Stephen Frothingham says Clark spoke out at the New Hampshire forum, "Every Child Matters," on behalf of children's needs saying that if elected President, some military projects' funding would have to wait behind programs aiding children, such as the health care program he announced earlier this week. LINK

The New York Post 's Deborah Orin questions why President Clinton supported Clark in the beginning of the candidate's presidential run, and why Clinton is now saying he wasn't promoting The General. Orin also questions the former President's role in other Democratic political races. LINK

Orin (who is all over the paper today) also spills some ink on the latest Quinnipiac poll numbers showing General Clark losing by 4 points (but faring best among the Democrats) against President Bush in the head-to-head match up. LINK

From ABC News' Clark campaign reporter Deborah Apton:

What did Ron Klain, Mickey Kantor, and Bill Oldaker miss at the red, white, and blue themed evening fundraiser for The General (yes, their name tags were still on the reception table at the end of the evening, unclaimed … )? Well, most importantly, they missed The General's general, wife Gert, dancing to some Rusted Root on stage following her husband's remarks. Her arms were up in the air, her feet were moving, and she was grooving. After watching Clark attempt to dance at an African-American Methodist church service Sunday, it's evident which one of this couple has rhythm.

Clark is always trying out some new lines for his stump speech and last night was no different. He chose this fundraiser to preview a new one: Many in the Bush Administration say, "it's better to be feared than liked. Well that may work on the frontier in Texas in the 1850s … " Insert giggles from audience.

And some Clark campaign staffers in Little Rock are waking up this week to find out they're being re-assigned to Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Edwards:Today is a big one for Camp Edwards as the North Carolina Senator receives the nod of New Hampshire Senator Lou D'Allesandro.

The Note hears there was a real connection between the candidate and the Granite State kingmaker whose endorsement was sought by all nine contenders.

From ABC News' Edwards campaign reporter Gloria Riviera:

"This used to be a helluva good country. I can't understand what went wrong with it."

These lines were first spoken in Dennis Hopper's 1969 directorial debut, Easy Rider, the story of two men in search of "real" America. They might as well have come from John Edwards at a campaign fundraiser held at Hopper's home in Venice Beach last night.

Edwards gave the Hollywood crowd his campaign speech and was asked to explain why he thinks he can win. "The people [Bush] needs to get re-elected with are the middle class," said Edwards. And when the middle class sees two candidates on stage they will see that Edwards understands them and Bush does not. That connection is the secret weapon.

But attendee Chris Moore, a former Kerry supporter, didn't exactly buy it. He wants to know why Edwards considers himself a better candidate than his eight rivals. 'I'm sure there is some strategy why no one answers the question,' he said. 'But I just thought why not give us a kernel?'

It was the second time in one day Edwards was pressed for a game plan of sorts. Earlier Curtis Owens told Edwards he had his vote, but he wanted to know the logistics for success. Stock and trade answer: Compete in Iowa and NH, win South Carolina and carry southern states. But Owens said he worries the campaign won't have the money to see the plan to fruition.

The Hopper's home, filled with modern art including an original Warhol of Hopper himself, a Peter Maxx rendering of Chairman Mao and works by Kenny Sharif and Manuel Ocampo, played host to a crowd of more than 100 L.A. types who mixed and mingled and asked whether Edwards wears boxers or briefs.

Well? No answer.

Dude, where's my host?

Incidentally, the much-heralded host-to-be Ashton Kutcher was not able to make it in the end due to reported fire-related plane cancellations. Victoria Hopper says Kutcher is eager to help and may campaign for Edwards Kutcher's home state of Iowa.

John Wagner, who was seen sharing giggles with Hopper, has his take on the thang for the folks back home. LINK

Kucinich:Not so fast! The national Green Party, whose leader Ralph Nader is supportive of Kucinich but still hasn't announced whether he himself will run, disavowed the New Hampshire Greens' Monday endorsement.LINK

A botched defense contract resulting from Bush's "competitive sourcing" initiative has Kucinich, who rails against Pentagon budget bloating on the stump and whose district the contract affects, up in arms.LINK

And Kucinich gets his picture on the Fed Page!

Sharpton:From ABC News' Sharpton campaign reporter Beth Loyd:

Sharpton is still stormin' mad. After a meeting with the folks at Rolling Stone magazine where he talked policy and rock 'n' roll. Sharpton told ABC News that the bottom line is he wants an explanation from Dean on his affirmative action views. And it's fair to say the attacks on the issue will continue until he gets an answer with which he's satisfied.

Said Sharpton:

"Howard Dean brought race into this when he said he was the only one that talked race to whites. I said, 'Fine, since you're the only white talking race to whites, let's look at what at what you said."

"There seems to be a little elitism in Mr. Dean if he feels that he can attack everybody but nobody can question him on the issue. We are talking about Howard Dean who's attacked every candidate every debate. So, what are we in — bully politics?"

"What is strangely missing is he's not denying he said it. It seems to me like they're trying to deal with everything but the issue. Did you say it, Dean? Do you still believe it? If you don't, when did you change? And why?"

So, what's the point? What's the strategy? Sharpton said, "I think what it does though is to put Howard Dean front and center where he's going to have to start answering questions and not get away with just making these blanket charges at everybody else … . Dean: What do you have to say? It seems to me he's got laryngitis the last 24 hours."

As for the charge that he is casting himself as the new Jesse Jackson, he says that is wrong — every generation has its leaders. But he went on to show his disappointment. "Unfortunately, sometimes those that are before you have a hard time adjusting to support you."

Iowa:The Des Moines Register 's David Yepsen has part two of his assertion that the caucuses are worthy. LINK

Governor Vilsack is going to have to read this one twice. An Ames dateline, hot odorous trapped air, and a "Nasal Ranger" create a ripe opportunity for a lot of pig/politician jokes. We're going to refrain from making any (here) and allow you to come up with your own. LINK

Democratic National Convention:The Boston Herald's Ellen Silberman writes, "A major portion of the Central Artery could be closed during the Democratic National Convention to protect politicians and partygoers, forcing rush hour traffic to snake through city streets around the FleetCenter, the Herald has learned." LINK

[We'd love to read more, but the Herald's site is being very Globish today.]

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:More tariff-ic numbers for the White House!

A Public Opinion Strategies poll of registered voters in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia out today shows "overwhelming support for the president's decision to place temporary tariffs on imported steel."

Says a Stand Up for Steel release, "Overall, 74 percent of registered voters in these four states favor the president's decision to put the tariffs in place … This issue unites voters across party lines, with 76 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of Independents and 73 percent of Democrats supporting the president's decision."The New York Times ed board looks at what could have been a slam dunk image for the president's re-election campaign and how it could become another example of political photo-ops gone bad. LINK

President Bush's speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln in front of the "Mission Accomplished" sign could be fodder for Democratic ads in the 2004 campaign, writes the New York Daily News' Helen Kennedy. LINK

The Christian Science Monitor's Liz Marlantes writes that the challenges facing the president and his administration are similar to those that tested Lincoln and LBJ: "How to bolster public confidence and optimism in the face of a difficult mission, while still maintaining his credibility — and preparing Americans for the possibility of tougher days ahead." LINK

President Bush spoke at a Christian youth center in Dallas yesterday, alluding to the importance of religion in his own life and his recovery from heavy drinking, Washington Post 's Dana Milbank reports. LINK

Senator Zell Miller became one of the first Democrats to endorse President Bush in his re-election campaign, the Associated Press reports. "Often a subject of party switch rumors, Miller cautioned not to read too much into the endorsement. 'This does not mean I am going to become a Republican,' he said. 'It simply means that in the year 2004, this Democrat will vote for George Bush.'" LINK

Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard looks at Miller's announcement as well. LINK

Speaking between fundraising stops, Bush pushed again for his stalled energy bill. LINK

According to the Ohio News Network, Bush will be making 13th appearance in the Buckeye State today to raise some money and pitch his energy plan. LINK

Bush will visit San Antonio this evening on the second leg of a two-state fundraising swing, where he is expected to ad to his growing war chest. LINK

From ABC News' Bush-Cheney '04 campaign reporter Karen Travers:

Vice President Cheney spoke before approximately 400 people Wednesday evening at a Bush-Cheney '04 fund-raiser at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington at an event that raised $475,000 for the campaign.

Cheney warmed up the audience by filling them in on his schedule for today, telling them that this morning he will greet a brand new Republican governor who is about to take office in California at the White House. Without even hearing a name, the crowd broke into cheering and whistling.

Cheney followed that up: "Arnold ran the ideal campaign. One day he was not even a candidate, the next day he's the governor of California. I never had it that easy."

Big Casino budget politics:

Once again, even with (or, perhaps, because of) the president's remarks trying to unstick the Medicare/prescription drug deal, the reporting is all over the map on just how close things are.

The New York Times ' Robert Pear continues to be the most bullish on a deal. LINK

President Bush sent a message to Congress that it's "time to finish the job" on Medicare legislation, the Washington Post reports. LINK

But as Bush urges the passage of a Medicare package, opponents say he is doing little to help move the legislation along. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Vicki Kemper looks at the president's interest in the fine print of the Medicare bill: "White House officials have signaled in recent days that while passage of a Medicare prescription drug benefit is important to Bush, whose public approval ratings on domestic issues have been slipping, the details of the legislation are not." LINK

Meanwhile, the Post 's Amy Goldstein reports, "President Bush urged Congress yesterday to 'finish the job' on a $400 billion Medicare prescription drug proposal, amid deepening signs that House and Senate negotiators are failing so far to surmount ideological differences that have thwarted attempts to redesign the program for years." LINK

Reports the New York Times : What began as a "fairly modest goal:" to "repeal a long-standing tax subsidy for exporters, worth about $55 billion, which has been declared illegal under international law, and replace it with new tax breaks of comparable value" is now one big ole bill "to offer corporations $128 billion in new tax relief over the next decade." LINK

The New York Times ' Hulse tells us, "In separate letters to House leaders this month, (Secretary of State) Powell and (Attorney General) Ashcroft said the spending proposal now awaiting Senate action would hinder the work of their departments" and warned of serious consequences if the funding doesn't come their way. LINK

The Washington Post 's Dan Morgan and Juliet Eilperin look at how the success or failure of much of the president's agenda hinges on the abilities of Senator Grassley and Congressman Thomas to broker a deal. LINK

A bi-partisan group of Senators, led by McCain, Dorgan, and Stabenow, has introduced a bill that would allow for re-importing U.S.-made drugs from Canada, where they're up to 80 percent cheaper. LINK

The politics of national security:Lotsa news today: Speeding troops to the Street, loan rangers lose their fight, Tenet takes a hit, and Dems fight for the offensive.

The New York Times ' Sanger and Schmitt report the president wants to accelerate plans to put thousands of new Iraqi cops on the streets. The plans are "driven by two political realities: Only a trickle of new allied foreign troops will be coming into Iraq to bolster the American-led occupation, and soon Mr. Bush will have to begin spending the $87 billion that Congress is about to approve for military operations and reconstruction." LINK

Knight Ridder's William Douglas contrasts recent foreign policy comments from the president and his Veep and find they "reflect the rival views and crippling schisms dividing the administration's senior councils." LINK

Columnizing Iraq:Tom Friedman writes Iraq is no Vietnam but warns if the president "doesn't treat the next year as his second term, when he must do all the right things in Iraq without regard to politics, it is the only second term he's going to see." LINK

While Maureen Dowd invokes a McNamara analogy in her take on the Bush Baghdad logic. LINK

In the Wall Street Journal , Al Hunt launches with a Vietnam-era quote, calls the John Podesta thinktank "hot," and echoes the increasingly oft-heard (from Dems) refrain that, ridiculous as it sounded six months ago, "national security may well be the Achilles heel for this president's re-election."

Deconstructing reconstruction:Paybacks are beached as Congress takes the loan provision out of the $87 billion funding request. LINK

But the conferees did cut "about $1.7 billion from the administration's original request for $20.3 billion in rebuilding aid, mostly for projects the committee members considered unnecessary, such as housing developments, a ZIP code program, garbage trucks and new prisons," reports the Times .

We guarantee the White House will take as much Note of Rep. Frank Wolf's use of the adjective "arrogant" as ALL the major papers did. The Wall Street Journal also writes on Senator Stevens' unhappiness with Ambassador Bremer.

The Washington Post Notes that "in a sign of lawmakers' unease over the resources flowing to Iraq, the negotiators gave voice-vote approval to a proposal by Senator Ted Stevens to establish an inspector general for the Baghdad-based Coalition Provisional Authority."LINK

While the Los Angeles Times writes that "over the administration's opposition, the compromise requires the Pentagon to expand access to health-care coverage for National Guard and Reserve troops when they return home. LINK

Reports the Boston Globe : "The Bush administration has doubled the value of a contract to rebuild Iraq's oil industry, to $2 billion, sharply driving up the projected cost of restoring the country's prewar capacity." LINK

Intel re-tell:The Wall Street Journal notes Hill GOP-ers are settling on their Tenet-ive Fall Guy.

Reports the New York Times , Senators Roberts and Rockefeller are demanding the CIA turn over docs dealing with prewar Iraq intelligence "disconnects and inconsistencies." LINK

Wilson:A deputy attorney general nomination might get caught up in the Wilson case. LINK

California's new governor:Marc Sandalow and Zachary Coile of the San Francisco Chronicle report Governor-elect Schwarzenegger expressed some policy preferences on Capitol Hill yesterday (for the assault weapons ban, against drilling off the coast of California) … LINK

The Los Angeles Times also plays up the celebrity factor. Note Note: What does it mean to work together "like a jewel?" LINK

USA Today 's Andrea Stone writes, "This was not the kind of feel-good premiere Arnold Schwarzenegger had in mind when he came to the nation's capital Wednesday. But with the worst wildfires on record ravaging Southern California, he was forced to use his first trip as governor-elect to ask for federal aid." LINK

Schwarzenegger spent yesterday stumping for money among Capitol Hill leaders, calling himself the "Collectinator." And the puns ran deep.LINK

Playing judicial politics:The Los Angeles Times' Nick Anderson questions the timing of today's vote in the Senate on whether or not to confirm Judge Pickering's nomination to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. LINK

The Wall Street Journal 's David Rogers looks at the fight over judgeships on the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, complete with an ugly Democratic filibuster that's payback for past Republican stalling on judicial nominees, as an proxy war between the parties for control of government.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board is incensed over the expected filibuster of another judicial nominee, Janice Rogers Brown.

Politics:Senator Graham's decision on re-election looks likely to come Monday, reports the Miami Herald LINK complete with the Senator's memo to his staff. LINK

Senator Graham swings back and forth over whether he'll seek re-election, declining to say when he will announce. LINK

But everybody should keep watching Breaux too.

Planned Parenthood says "the stakes are so high," it will weigh in on the presidential race. LINK

The Washington Post 's David Cho and Jo Becker profile the fundraising and mentoring success of Congressman Tom Davis. LINK

ABC News Vote 2003: Kentucky and Mississippi:Bob Novak discusses the importance of a Democratic victory in Mississippi, and how Musgrove's attack ads have him down in the polls.LINK

USA Today 's Jim Drinkard gives an overview of the Kentucky gubernatorial race. LINK

The Clintons of Chappaqua:The New York Daily News' James Meek reports Hillary Clinton's Center for American Progress speech revived "speculation she many challenge [Bush] for the presidency."LINK

Note Note: Dozens of reporters covered this event, but only James Meek and his Jamie Summers (Bionic Women for those of you under 30 … ) caliber hearing picked up on the '04 angle — not since Howard Fineman "heard" HRC make fun of John Edwards's good looks on the Senate floor have we seen such a display of audible fortitude.

The New York Post 's Vince Morris was on hand to hear Senator Clinton's "harsh new attack" on President Bush's Iraq policy, but didn't hear any 2004 angle to her speech. LINK