'Whuddya Think?'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2004 — -- NOTED NOW
TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET)
32 days until election day
4 days until the vice presidential debate
7 days until the second presidential debate
12 days until the third presidential debate
NEWS SUMMARY
What really matters is if the debate changes the outcome of the election — directly or indirectly.
Anyone who thinks we can answer that now is wrong.
Here's what we feel comfortable saying at this point:
1. Kerry aides to a person euphorically claim that their guy won. Many Bush aides last night weren't even claiming that the president won. (If they did this morning, we didnt' see it). All of the Bush post-debate talking points simply echo their pre-debate arguments — they did not attempt to build anything new off of this debate. And the "greatest hits" TV excerpts and commentary the Bush campaign sent reporters included some calling the debate a tie.
2. The instant polls done by ABC News, CBS News, and CNN/Gallup show more people thought Kerry won.
3. Check out the voter quotes in this Ron Fournier AP story. They all seem as if Stephanie Cutter wrote them herself, and this one is typical:
"' I'm disappointed in the president's performance, ' said Allan Ramsey, a 67-year-old retiree who told The Associated Press before the debate that he was leaning toward Bush. 'I didn't make much sense of the president's answers.'" LINK
4. Kerry's own advisers and supporters no longer have to be nervous that he isn't up to the challenge of a presidential debate. They were quite nervous going into this one.
5. The president seems angry at the prospect of John Kerry being president, and he did not hide that during the debate. How voters will feel about that show of anger will be interesting to see. The Kerry campaign will push this message, and it is likely something the president will have to keep in mind going into the second debate.
6. Based on our reporting with Democrats who have been unenthusiastic about Kerry to date and our intellectual sympathy with Kerry campaign arguments on this point, we think the challenger's performance will likely energize his base, who presumably were pleased to see someone stand toe-to-toe with the president they so dislike.
7. The warning lights might have actually helped Kerry by reminding him to keep his answers crisp.
8. HOWEVER, the president's new calling card — rattling off the names of foreign leaders and pointing out his experience dealing with them — stands in stark contrast to what happened in 2000 (when every time he talked about foreign policy his own supporters would hold their collective breath). In fact, for all of the possible ways decribed above in which the debate seemed positive for Kerry, the president's disciplined resitation of the "I will keep you safer" message might mean more to real voters than any of the semiotic ruminations of the media elite (and us!!) regarding Kerry.
9. In addition, President Bush had two moments in which many Americans may have been reminded why they like him so much. When the president expressed heartfelt sympathy to the families of the fallen soldiers, as well as when he announced his respect for Senator Kerry as a father, he played to his strength by reinforcing his compassionate side of his conservatism.
10. A review of the major and minor newspapers in battleground states suggests that both candidates got their message across. Kerry's "'colossal error of judgment' " line is oft-repeated. And nearly every article we read mentions somewhat prominently President Bush's apparent peevishness at times. Still, most of the coverage suggests this was a tie, which, in the battlegrounds, might go to the runner.
On to today:
President Bush makes remarks at Victory 2004 rally at the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, PA (11:25 am ET) and at a second rally at the McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester, NH (3:55 pm ET).
First Lady Laura Bush visits the Indian River County Distribution Center in Vero Beach, FL (10:00 am ET).
Vice President Cheney is in Wyoming with no public schedule.
Senator Kerry attends a rally at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL (12:30 pm ET), tapes the DNC radio address (2:00 pm ET), and attends a second rally at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, FL (6:15 pm ET). He overnights in Orlando, FLA.
Senator Edwards participates in a town hall at the Wayne Booster Community Center in Huber Heights, OH (1:45 pm ET) and attends a rally at Liberty Park in Erie, PA (5:40 pm ET). He overnights in Chautauqua, NY where he will prepare for the Vice Presidential debate next week.
Teresa Heinz Kerry holds a Conversation with Haitian-Americans at the Jean Jacques Dessalines Community Center in Miami, FL (1:30 pm ET).
The Senate convenes to resume consideration of S. 2845, the Intelligence Reform Bill at 9:30 am ET. There will be no Roll Call votes.
On Saturday, President Bush heads to Ohio and makes remarks to the Home Builders in Columbus, and campaigns in Mansfield and Cuyahoga Falls. Senator John Kerry campaigns in Orlando and raises money in Washington, DC. Vice President Cheney is down in Wyoming and Senator John Edwards is down in Chatauqua, NY for debate prep.
On Sunday, Senator John Kerry campaigns in Youngstown, OH and RONs in Portsmouth, NH.
The vice presidential candidates are down all weekend for debate prep. Vice President Cheney preps in Wyoming. Senator John Edwards prepares in Chatauqua, NY — a location that gives him easy access to two battleground states: Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Clash in Coral Gables: morning show wrap:
Senator John Kerry emerged as the winner on the morning shows in terms of body language assessments, polls that all showed him ahead, pundits who thought he helped himself, and voter groups on ABC and NBC that both went heavily for Kerry.
The assessments cautioned however that the same polls that showed Kerry "winning" the debate did not immediately change the preference of voters.
White House communications director Dan Bartlett called "ridiculous" a Drudge Report item attributed to Bush's "inner circle" which suggested that Bush's visit earlier in the day with Hurricane victims was "emotionally draining" and that it contributed to Bush's "tired" appearance during debate.
The body language assessments:
Campbell Brown of NBC, for example, said "The president seemed frustrated as Kerry made his case." CNN's "American Morning" reported that "stylistically, Kerry seemed more at ease." CNN's Jeff Greenfield said Kerry was "the more composed figure."
The polls: ABC, CBS, CNN/Gallup all show more voters thought Kerry "won"
In reporting CBS' numbers which showed Kerry with a big 43 to 28 lead over Bush in terms of who won the debate, CBS' Bill Plante added: "Even better news for Kerry: his likeability score rose. It is now even with Bush and he is ahead among women."
The pundits:
ABC's George Stephanopoulos said Kerry was substantive, cooler and more in command. He noted that Bush scowled at various times and that he hunched over the podium, emphasizing the height difference between the two men.
NBC's Tim Russert said Bush probably solidified his base and that Kerry was "the John Kerry Democrats thought they were nominating back in Iowa." The pundits were more restrained than they otherwise would be in granting a Kerry "win" because of polls that suggest voter preferences were not immediately changed by the debate.
CBS' Bob Schieffer said he thought "Kerry made some gains last night" and that the president was "a little defensive at the beginning" though he "got better with time."
CNN's Jeff Greenfield said I think John Kerry did better in terms of debate terms. But that's a different question than saying that he helped himself in the debate. He said the undecided universe might be so small that it does not matter. He also asserted that Gore led in polls immediately after the first 2000 debate but when more attention was paid to his sighs and embellishments, the polls turned.
Senator John Edwards making the rounds:
In his various interviews, Edwards criticized Bush for continuing to refuse to face up to reality of what is going on in Iraq and refusing to do something new to make things better. Asked about what last night tells him about his debate with Vice President Cheney on "Today," Edwards said it tells him that the "facts are on our side."
Dan Bartlett making the rounds:
On "Fox and Friends," Bartlett said the Drudge Report item about Bush's closer circle of advisers blaming his poor debate performance on his being tired from visiting with hurricane victims was "ridiculous. "He wasn't tired," Bartlett said. "He was very much engaged in this debate."
On "Today," Bartlett criticized Kerry's $87 billion defense, saying: "He said that he mis-spoke. Well, in fact, he voted wrong."
The Voter Groups:
ABC's Kate Snow spoke to six voters in Columbus, Ohio. Five of six voters thought Kerry did better. One man said: "I saw a different John Kerry last night. He was composed. He was eloquent." That same man said Bush looked nervous and that he didn't address the issues. Another man said Kerry showed Bush had flip flopped on reason for Iraq War. Another man was taken by Kerry's Tora Bora argument. He was dismayed that Bush never dismissed that and he wants to know: did the US let Bin Laden to slip out?
NBC's Norah O'Donnell sat down with a small group of undecided voters — all of whom agreed Senator Kerry was better in the debate. It moved some people toward Kerry though some remained on the fence.
The Clash in Coral Gables: ledes:
The Washington Post 's Milbank and VandeHei: "President Bush and John F. Kerry clashed over the Iraq war Thursday night in an intense and substantive first debate, in which the Democratic nominee charged that the war was a diversion from the more important war against al Qaeda and the president defended the conflict as crucial to the nation's security." LINK
The New York Times ' Adam Nagourney didn't see a polite exchange between Bush and Kerry; he saw arguing and belittling and starkly different views of the war in Iraq. It could also be a turning point: "Aides to both candidates viewed the debate as a moment that could shake up a contest in which Democrats feared Mr. Kerry had been at a disadvantage since Mr. Bush's nominating convention. Coming into the debate, Mr. Bush and his aides seemed jaunty and confident, though at the debate itself the president was often unsmiling and at moments appeared coiled." LINK
The Wall Street Journal Schlesigner/Harwood/Robbins team gave the advantage to Kerry, with his "punchy, short declarative sentences" and "steady" performance. While calling Kerry inconsistent, "Mr. Bush at times appeared defensive and angry, and slouched at the podium, but firmly reiterated his commitment to success in Iraq that would make the U.S. safer." LINK
The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci and John Wildermuth write that Bush and Kerry "avoided the mean-spirited excesses that have characterized much of the campaign." LINK
New York Post headlines:
--"Foes Pound Each Other" LINK
--"Kerry Comes Out 'Swinging'" LINK
--"'Bad Night' for W." LINK
Andrew Miga's headline in the Boston Herald: "I'll stay the course: Bush stands firm vs. Kerry attacks." LINK
Lynn Sweet's headline in the Chicago Sun-Times: "Kerry helped himself, Bush didn't hurt himself." LINK
The Raleigh News and Observer's headline: "Bush, Kerry clash on Iraq." LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: analysis:
The New York Times ' Todd Purdum calls the Clash "a real debate: sharp, scrappy and defining, just what the nation seemed to be yearning for during a wartime election campaign." LINK
"President Bush and Senator John F. Kerry increased the odds that the voters' verdict on the war in Iraq will decide the November election, as they deepened their disagreement over the conflict during a sharp but civil debate Thursday night," leads Ron Brownstein in his Los Angeles Times debate analysis where he also describes the president as "exasperated and even angry" at times during the debate. LINK
A key rule of debating: first do no harm — to yourself. The Wall Street Journal 's Al Hunt hung out with Republican John Sears and Democrat Hamilton Jordan, who thought "John Kerry didn't score a knockout, but he climbed off the political ropes and took the presidential fight to President Bush." LINK
Peter Canellos, the columnist from Senator Kerry's hometown paper, the Boston Globe , seems to think Kerry won. His lede: "After two months spent reacting to attacks on his own record, John Kerry last night succeeded in turning the roving spotlight of the 2004 presidential campaign onto President Bush's Iraq policies … "LINK
Kerry's "easy manner projected an unexpected confidence that has been missing for most of the general-election campaign, and he leavened his senatorial manner with more-direct answers."
USA Today 's Jill Lawrence and Judy Keen saw a "relentless attack" by Kerry in "more of a confrontation than expected." LINK
The Chicago Tribune's Zeleny, Silva and Zuckman write that the president showed "his greatest irritation when Kerry challenged Bush for asserting that Hussein had attacked the United States. Bush rocked back and looked at the audience, then leaned on the podium before jumping in to correct himself." LINK
Thomas Oliphant: "In the middle of a disjointed, subpar performance on an evening when he could have locked away a second term, President Bush made an unusually silly attempt to link the terrorists who attacked the United States on 9/11 with the dictator who used to rule Iraq." LINK
Another Boston Globe columnist, H.D.S. Greenway, despite asserting "After waffling all summer, Kerry's position on Iraq is now clear," he concludes "I believe Senator Kerry's position on all the issues — Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and the Sudan — were superior to President Bush's, but my guess is that Bush came across as the strong leader he meant to project, and that Kerry did not manage to seriously dent his armor." LINK
The New York Times ' James Bennet writes that it was a contrast: hope and fear. Don't miss the Joel Johnson quote. LINK
Walter Shapiro advises, "Snap judgments are risky in the immediate aftermath of a presidential faceoff, but, given Kerry's strong performance, the immediate impulse is to predict that this race for the White House is far from over." LINK
Marc Sandalow of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that "Bush spent most of the debate on the defensive." LINK
Kerry brought it, and voters needed to hear a little substance — and got it, writes the New York Times ' ed board. LINK
The Washington Post 's Dan Balz: "If Republicans had hoped Bush could put Kerry away with a strong performance on terrain that has been his strongest suit, they are likely to be disappointed, as the Democrat constantly challenged the president to answer for his policies. Both men accomplished many of the goals their advisers had set out in the days before the debate and probably reinforced the strong backing each already has among his most committed supporters. But for those voters who remain undecided, Bush and Kerry may have only whetted appetites for their two remaining debates." LINK
The Washington Post 's editorial board calls it a draw, as does a Washington Times analysis. LINK and LINK
Los Angeles Times editorial headline: "Kerry won. However … " LINK
"Senator John F. Kerry won Thursday night's debate on foreign policy by a comfortable margin, but Americans may yet decide that President Bush is better able to clean up the mess he created in Iraq."
The Boston Herald's David Guarino writes that "by any measure, Kerry sailed over the bar." LINK
On Iraq and North Korea, Bush and Kerry have far different ideas about what constitutes both diplomatic efforts and coalition building, the New York Times ' David Sanger writes. LINK
Bob Novak (get well soon, sir) says "the debate was a significant boost for Democratic morale, which had been slipping badly. Republicans could have been happier, but they were not dismayed." LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: battleground takes:
Let's start with, oh, say, Florida:
THE MIAMI HERALD frames the debate by putting Bush on the defensive. "The war in Iraq took center stage in the first presidential debate Thursday, with President Bush resolutely insisting he has protected the nation as Senator John Kerry pointed to mounting casualties, accusing Bush of making a ''colossal error of judgment.''' LINK
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL: "Kerry — known for run-on sentences that lose the audience — was forced to answer in under two minutes in a debate format complete with flashing red lights to signal time limits. He looked mostly comfortable, albeit serious, at his lectern alongside the president. Bush, in cutaway shots as Kerry spoke, clenched his jaw several times. Moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS repeatedly allowed the candidate short follow-up comments, despite the strict rules of engagement hammered out by the two campaigns before the debate." LINK
The FLORIDA TIMES UNION is the third Florida newspaper we checked and the third to mention President Bush's facial expressions. LINK
The Columbus Dispatch headline: "Bush, Kerry give no quarter" LINK
Columbus, Ohio partisans feel better about their choice for president … on both sides. LINK
Fournier's analysis gets prominent play in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. LINK
You may or may not be surprised at the Cleveland Plain Dealer's "Five Ohios" installment. Three gave the win to Bush and two to Kerry. And Kerry's two are from the Appalachia region and the Central/Exurbia region. LINK
The Philadelphia Inquirer's debate story headline is a neutral "Trading jabs on Iraq." Thomma and Kuhnhenn break down their arguments. LINK
Under the headline "America Votes: Kerry may have earned another look," Philadelphia Inquirer political reporter Dick Polman concludes "In the end, he may not sway enough of the undecided watchers, but he did demonstrate that he belonged on that stage. And if he is going to recoup lost ground in this race, that was his first essential task."LINK
The Philadelphia Daily News ed board, which acknowledges its endorsement of Senator Kerry, scores one for the Senator from Massachusetts, Noting "OK, GIVEN that we've already endorsed John Kerry, it would be fair to think we would view the senator's performance during last night's presidential debate with some positive bias." LINK
"But the man smoked President Bush."
Peter O'Toole and Maeve Reston of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette give lots of mention to Senator Kerry's repeated attacks on the president, the president's dismissal of those claims, and are also sure to point out "Bush appeared impatient with the constant critique, insisting that Kerry's attacks were at odds with the senator's own past positions and arguing that Kerry's statements disqualified him from being an effective commander-in-chief." LINK
The Denver Post: Leads with Nagourney's "Differences Over Iraq Dominate Debate." LINK
The Denver Post Notes only a handful of their undecideds were swayed by the debates. LINK
The Denver Post also Notes "There were no pulled punches, no ducked questions and no tiptoeing around the incendiary issues of war and terror Thursday night." LINK
The Santa Fe New Mexican's Terrell watched the debate with supporters of each candidate at Santa Fe Community College and is unable to determine a winner. Pre-debate leanings remained the same post-debate. (The paper leads with Terrence Hunt's AP story.) LINK
"New Mexico Voters Stand By Their Man" reads the headline for the Albuquerque Journals' front page debate story. LINK
" … several Republicans and Democrats from Gallina to Las Cruces said nothing in the 90 minutes of debate on Iraq, terrorism and nuclear weapons would change their minds."
The Detroit Free Press lets the wires handle the news out of the debate, but lets Julie Hinds handle the atmospherics and she declares the debate more substance than style. LINK
"A combative John Kerry went on the offensive in Thursday night's presidential debate, telling U.S. troops that 'help is on the way' to get them out of a conflict that reflected a 'colossal error of judgment' by President Bush," leads the Detroit News. LINK
"Bush, Kerry spar over Iraq," reads the Manchester Union Leader headline above Terrence Hunt's Associated Press story. LINK
The Seattle Times watched it with two single women, yielding this headline: "Two single women voters give Bush debate edge."LINK
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer also watched it with women, yielding this headline: "Female viewers not swayed to switch votes, but reassured." LINK
The Charleston Gazette's headline: "'They both had some good points': After local DebateWatch, viewers' minds remain set." LINK
The Portland Press Herald's headline: "Bush, Kerry fail to convince these young voters." LINK
Mike McWilliams from the Iowa City Press Citizen has reactions from local men and women on last nights debates.LINK
An Arizona Republic editorial claims Senator Kerry scored big. LINK
KE04 Arizona field staff claims their phones were ringing off the hooks, the Web site bombarded, and they made 10,000 phone calls around the state.
The Clash in Coral Gables: analysis with juicy blind quotes from advisers:
Time magazine's John Dickerson: "The presidential candidates seemed to fight the first debate to a draw, which probably helps John Kerry. Challengers have to show that they can stand on the same stage as the president and Kerry did that in discussing the most important issue facing voters this election." LINK
It's not that Kerry pulled off any great coup. He made his points just as the president did. But for Kerry, who voters regularly judge less qualified than Bush on the issues debated Thursday night, fighting to an even score may be a win in the short term. Kerry was able to make a case that Bush's certainty 'can get you into trouble.' The president made his case too, but he's had less trouble doing that than Kerry has. The Bush team would like to paint Kerry as incapable of handling serious issues of national security. Did they succeed? A Bush adviser put it bluntly: 'We are on defense. We were counting on Kerry being Kerry and he came to play. We didn't expect that.'"
The Washington Post 's EJ Dionne looks at how the "rational voter" will sort through the debate facts and spin. LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: the voters:
Some analysis from ABC News Polling Director Gary Langer, after reviewing last night's poll:
"John Kerry won the first debate and with it a shot at reinvigorating his campaign for the presidency. But in the first blush, vote preferences among viewers were unmoved. Among a random sample of 531 registered voters who watched the debate, 45 percent called Kerry the winner, 36 percent said it was Bush, and 17 percent called it a tie. It was a clean win for Kerry: Independents by a 20-point margin said he prevailed. Moreover, while 70 percent of Bush's supporters said Bush was the winner, considerably more Kerry supporters — 89 percent — said their man won."
"As is customary, the debate did not immediately change many minds. Bush's support was 50 percent among viewers before the debate, and 51 percent after it; Kerry's, 46 percent before, 47 percent after. Ralph Nader had 1 percent before and a tad less than that after. This kind of immediate reaction is typical in presidential debates, which tend to reinforce viewers' preferences rather than change them. But the debates — an essential window on the candidates' style as well as their substance — can affect the race more subtly as voters move toward their final judgments."
"The results of this survey are not among all registered or likely voters; instead they are among registered voters who watched the debate Thursday night. Still they are similar to the race overall, 51-45 percent among likely voters, in an ABC News/ Washington Post poll earlier this week."
"Political party allegiance of debate viewers also was quite similar to its division among all likely voters nationally. Among debate viewers, 35 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 35 percent as Republicans and 24 percent as independents. It was a 36-35-23 percent division among all likely voters in the last ABC/Post survey."
"Partisanship drove views of who won, but again the advantage was to Kerry. While 69 percent of Republicans said Bush won, more Democrats, 81 percent, said Kerry won. And among independents, 48 percent said Kerry won, while 28 percent picked Bush."
The New York Times ' James Dao looks at how some undecided voters in battleground states saw the debate — few minds changed, but some leaners came away strengthened in their positions. LINK
"Here at a principal skirmish line in one of America's key battleground states, Senator John F. Kerry became a little more presidential Thursday evening, and President Bush was somewhat diminished — at least in the eyes of the majority of the voters who watched the first debate between the two candidates," writes James Rainey of the Los Angeles Times about the Allentown, PA focus group he observed. LINK
USA Today 's headline for Kathy Kiely's report on their focus group reads: "No minds made up just yet in this room: Undecided voters wait to hear more." LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables:the campaign spin:
Sobering talking points from Ken Mehlman's e-mail to supporters: "President Bush spoke clearly and from the heart last night about the path forward — toward victory and security — in the War on Terror. The president spoke candidly about the difficulties facing our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as these countries prepare for their first free elections. The terrorists will continue to fight these steps toward freedom because they fear the optimism and hope of democracy. They fear the prospects for their ideology of hate in a free and democratic Middle East."
"John Kerry failed the one test he had to pass last night: he failed to close the credibility gap he has with the American people as his record of troubling contradiction and vacillation spiraled down to incoherence."
ABC News' Karen Travers asked Nicolle Devenish what she thought the headlines this morning would say: "Kerry failed to close the credibilty gap," is how she responded.
Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill calls it a win: "Tonight's debate was a decisive victory for John Kerry because America saw him as our next President. He showed strength, conviction and a steady command of the facts. He offered clear plans for Iraq and fighting terrorism. George Bush has a record of failure to defend, and he failed to defend it. The president just gave us more of the same shallow promises. However, the Republican spin machine is already hard at work. We need your help to beat back their distortions. Right now we need you contact the media and speak your mind."
Special Note: has anyone else noticed the huge DNC banner ads on many of today's newspaper websites?
Ryan Lizza has the best recap from the spin room: LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: fact check:
The Washington Post 's Glenn Kessler fact checks Bush and Kerry's statements and finds they "made few major factual errors … although on occasion they stretched the truth or left out inconvenient facts — or may have confused viewers as they spoke in policy shorthand." LINK
www.factcheck.org has a post on the $200 billion figure, the 10 million figure, Poland, and more.
"No mistake was so glaring that it was likely to do lasting damage to a candidate," declares the Los Angeles Times' Paul Richter in his fact check story. LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: the blogs and websites:
Two of the most powerful bloggers — Andrew Sullivan from Andrewsullivan.com, a conflicted Bush supporter, and Mickey Kaus of Kausfiles, a conflicted Democrat, both give it to Kerry. LINK; LINK
The consensus in The Corner is: it's a tie: LINK
Fred Barnes thinks Kerry won but not enought to unsettle things. LINK
Hugh Hewitt calls it a decisive Bush victory. LINK
Thorn-in-CBS-eye Powerline is not so sure it was. LINK
"I've taken more than an hour to try to talk myself out of concluding that John Kerry won tonight's debate. I haven't succeeded. Senator Kerry, I think, edged President Bush on substance and, surprisingly, looked better throughout."
Josh Chafetz, writing on the influential conservative OxBlog agrees. LINK
A draw is what Captainsquarters calls it: LINK
The liberal DailyKos revels in conservative blogger anxiety. LINK
Josh Marshall urges the faithful to win the spin wars. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Kerry-Edwards '04:
In Washington Wire, Jackie Calmes writes that while the way the flip-flop charges have stuck to Kerry have created loud whispers of concern, speculation over a Kerry Cabinet continues (the Fantasy Cabinet game!). Oh, and former President Clinton will campaign for Kerry, she says. LINK
The Clash in Coral Gables: potpourri:
The Washington Post 's Mike Allen leads his quick wrap with the image of President "rock[ing] back in irritation" during the debate and gets Karen Hughes to say "On his face, you could see his irritation at the senator's misrepresentations." LINK
The Washington Post 's Mark Leibovich takes a look at the foreign press coverage of the debate. LINK
The Washington Post 's Laura Blumenthal profiles Kerry foreign policy adviser Frank Lowenstein, who helped the Senator prepare for his first debate. LINK
The New York Times ' Alessandra Stanley writes that "it was body language as much as rhetoric and one-liners that distinguished the two candidates in last night's debate." And never underestimate the value of reaction shots. LINK
Nader has the will and a way to get in to last night's debate. But alas he was turned away. His analysis of the candidate's performances can be found here: LINK
But getting back on the ballot in Wisconsin had to have cheered him up a bit. LINK
Nader-Camejo:
Nader has the will and a way to get in to last night's debate. But alas he was turned away. His analysis of the candidate's performances can be found here: LINK
But getting back on the ballot in Wisconsin had to have cheered him up a bit. LINK
The Miami Herald wraps Nader's four day swing through Florids. LINK
We've said it before but — today could be the day we find out about Nader's place in Arkansas, for reals. LINK
If your interest in ballot access or Nader's candidacy rises above an 8.5 — you really should read this Toledo Blade article in full. The gist, Ohio officials are confused about how to execute an order to remove his name from the state's ballot. 1) post signs informing voters that votes for Nader will not be counted. 2) Spent an estimated $31,000 to repairing ballots without his name, 3) cover his name with a sticker. What to all of these ideas have in common? They can only lead to trouble. LINK
Note: Nader's campaign says it ain't over in Oregon. They are appealing the Secretary of State's decision to keep him off.
ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has a sampling of how some Ohio counties are dealing with the task of removing Nader's name from the ballot. LINK
"Cuyahoga County is reprinting 11,000 absentee ballots without Nader's name. None of the ballots printed with his name were mailed, said Michael Vu, elections board director."
"Geauga County had sent out about 750 ballots that included Nader's name. Suzanne Hassett, elections board deputy director, said the board will include a notice on bright blue paper in bold ink saying Nader's name has been removed."
"Lake County officials placed a notice in the slot where Nader and his running mate's name would have appeared, said Linda Hlebak, the board's deputy director. Some 6,600 ballots had already gone out and any cast for Nader will not be counted, she said."
"Portage County is using a blend of options given by Blackwell, including snickering over Nader's name, said elections board director Lois Enlow."
"John Schmidt, deputy director of Summit County's elections board, said his office will send out 25,000 absentee ballots, but none have been printed yet."
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
"Thousands are expected to attend President Bush's campaign visit to the McIntyre Ski Area," reports the Manchester Union Leader. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:
President Bush got some good "comforting the Hurricane victims" press. LINK
The Washington Post 's Richard Morin and Dan Balz report "there is little if any hard evidence that security moms will have a distinctive impact in this election — or that they even exist as a distinct group, according to the latest Washington Post -ABC News poll and interviews with strategists from both parties." LINK
"An inquiry by Senator John Kerry's campaign into how it can legally finance any recount that may follow this year's election has ignited a debate between the Bush campaign and some members of Congress over whether unlimited soft money contributions can be used for that purpose. And there is no concrete answer yet from the Federal Election Commission," reports the Washington Post 's Glen Justice. LINK
"Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader, was admonished by the House ethics committee on Thursday night for improperly trying to win the vote of a Michigan lawmaker during a heated floor fight over a health care bill last year," reports the New York Times ' Carl Hulse. LINK
"Porter J. Goss, the new director of central intelligence, has chosen four House Republican aides for senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency, including the No. 3 job in the agency," reports the New York Times ' Douglas Jehl. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the Big Four battlegrounds: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin:
Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times looks at the weather battered battleground of Florida and how the Bush-Cheney team is adjusting its game plan in the Sunshine State. Note Karl Rove "flying blind" and Mehlman at the Delano!!! LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:
New registration statistics from New Hampshire! Between the presidential primary and now, 15,000 Granite Staters have registered to vote. Independents and Democrats gained thousands of new registrants, Republicans lost about 100 registered voters since January. LINK
Politics:
Because one of us used to edit the Harvard Crimson and is familiar with its news values, we trust that this comment from Antonin Scalia is correctly related, although we confess we are still not entirely sure what he meant: "I even take the position that sexual orgies eliminate social tensions and ought to be encouraged." LINK
"I'm tired from the debate" will not be an accepted excuse for missing the New Yorker Festival must-attend political gatherings this weekend in Gotham including a panel on political advertising with one Mr. McKinnon and a Ken Auletta moderated discussion with Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, and Dan Rather!!! Tickets are still available at the door for $20. LINK
TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
—9:00 am: The Washington International Trade Association and the Kenan Institute Washington Center host a discussion on "How would a Kerry presidency differ from the Bush Administration on global trade issues?" at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC
—9:30 am: The Senate convenes to resume consideration of S. 2845, the Intelligence Reform Bill
—10:00 am: First Lady Laura Bush visits the Indian River County Distribution Center, Vero Beach, FL
—10:30 am: Democratic Senators and Representatives hold a news conference to discuss the first presidential debate at the DNC Headquarters, Washington, DC
—11:25 am: President Bush makes remarks at Victory 2004 rally at the Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, PA
—12:00 pm: Benjamin Chavez, president and CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network holds a news conference to launch the Hip-Hop Team GOTV Bus Tour, a national effort to increase youth voter turnout for the presidential election at the National Press Club, Washington, DC
—12:30 pm: Sen. John Kerry attends a rally at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
—1:30 pm: Teresa Heinz Kerry Holds a Conversation with Haitian-Americans at the Jean Jacques Dessalines Community Center, Miami, FL
—1:45 pm: Sen. John Edwards attends a town hall at the Wayne Booster Community Center, Huber Heights, OH
—2:00 pm: Sen. Kerry tapes the DNC radio address
—3:55 pm: President Bush makes remarks at Victory 2004 rally at the McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester, NH
—4:14 pm: The Federal Reserve releases weekly assets and liabilities of commercial banks
—5:40 pm: Sen. Edwards attends a rally at Liberty Park, Erie, PA
—6:15 pm: Sen. Kerry attends a rally at the Kissimmee Civic Center, Kissimmee, FL
Note Archives updated all the time.
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