The Note: Polls Versus Guts

— -- WASHINGTON, Nov. 3

Vice President Cheney delivers remarks to troops at Fort Carson Butts Army Airfield in Fort Carson, CO at 3:15 pm ET. ABC News' George Stephanopoulos sits down today for an exclusive interview with Mr. Cheney.

Excerpts of the interview will first air on "World News with Charles Gibson" this evening and you won't want to miss the entire interview on Sunday on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." Also on "This Week," DNC Chairman Howard Dean plans to be live with Stephanopoulos to respond to Mr. Cheney's remarks and make the closing Democratic sales pitch.

President Bush attends Missouri Victory 2006 rallies at the Springfield Exposition Center in Springfield, MO at 10:00 am ET and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO at 12:50 pm ET. Mr. Bush then heads to an Iowa Victory 2006 fund-raising rally at 6:00 pm ET at Le Mars Community High School in Le Mars, Iowa.

"If the White House hasn't already hit your mail box -- either work or personal -- with an email touting the lowest unemployment rate since the spring of 2001, you're probably too hard to get a hold of," writes ABC News' Dan Arnall.

"The unemployment rate dropped to a five-year low of 4.4 percent in October as employers added 92,000 new jobs - flashing a picture of a strong labor market as the midterm elections draw near," reports the Associated Press on what will likely become one of the President's big talking points of the day.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sally Pederson will holds a bracketing conference call with reporters at 10:00 am ET and a press conference in Sioux City at 2:00 pm ET to respond to President Bush's visit.

Anyone else Notice this White House press release last night? Interesting timing to declare federal aid on its way to the Show-Me State just as the President plans a day of campaigning there. Be sure to Note the dates of the storms.

"The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms during the period of July 19-21, 2006."

First Lady Laura Bush begins her public day at 1:00 pm ET at a California Victory Rally in Pleasanton, CA. She then delivers remarks at a New Mexico Victory Rally in Albuquerque, NM at 5:00 pm ET.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) has five events all over New Hampshire today -- in a state in which one and maybe two Republican incumbent House members are facing some trouble -- followed by a rally for Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) in Clifton Park, NY. He campaigns for Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) in Wilkes Barre, PA at 7:00 pm ET.

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman attends a rally for Rep. Geoff Davis in Kentucky and then heads to a Steele for Senate fundraiser and rally in Maryland. This weekend Mehlman plans to be in Minnesota, Nevada, and Montana.

Sen. Hillary Clinton traverses New York to attend several events and campaign with New York Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer, Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), and congressional candidates Eric Massa (D-NY) running in the 29th district and Michael Arcuri (D-NY) who is running in the 24th district.

Former President Bill Clinton attends a get-out-the-vote rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Beebe at Jonesboro Municipal Airport at 11:00 am ET in Jonesboro, AR.

Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) campaigns in Michigan today with gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos (R-MI), just as a new DeVos ad featuring John McCain is hitting the airwaves.

Be sure to check out our look at the weekend in politics below. Also be sure to join in the political debate on ABC News Now. Send in your tough questions and sharp opinions on video to us at Be Seen, Be Heard and we'll address them on ABC News Now during our live coverage Election Day.

Give America and us a piece of your mind! The link for Be Seen Be Heard is: LINK

You'll be able to catch Charlie Gibson's "Countdown to Vote 2006" daily webcast today shortly after 12:30 pm ET where Charlie, Mark Halperin, and others assess the state of play four days before the election.

You can also always check back to the Politics page at abcnews.com later in the day to catch the webcast at anytime. LINK

Bush Administration agenda:

William Broad of the New York Times writes the kind of lede that has already and will likely continue to soak up some unfriendly television time for the Administration four days out from Election Day. LINK

"Last March, the federal government set up a Web site to make public a vast archive of Iraqi documents captured during the war. The Bush administration did so under pressure from Congressional Republicans who had said they hoped to "leverage the Internet" to find new evidence of the prewar dangers posed by Saddam Hussein."

"But in recent weeks, the site has posted some documents that weapons experts say are a danger themselves: detailed accounts of Iraq's secret nuclear research before the 1991 Persian Gulf war. The documents, the experts say, constitute a basic guide to building an atom bomb."

The Washington Post's Al Kamen contrasts the way Democrats jumped on Sen. Kerry with the support Karen Hughes has given to Alberto Fernandez, head of public diplomacy for the Middle East, who said the Bush Administration "had been arrogant and stupid in its Iraq foray" in Arabic in an Oct. 21 interview with al-Jazeera television. "Then he apologized, saying he somehow misspoke." LINK

President Bush's campaign trail:

The President's "political magic dust" isn't what it used to be, but it is still the biggest drink-stirring straw in American politics. The New York Times' Jim Rutenberg writes pitch perfectly on President Bush's home stretch campaigning and wisely pays attention to that all important local media coverage. LINK

The Washington Post's Peter Baker looks at the President's schedule and writes, "A Republican president normally would not need to come to a conservative bastion such as Montana this close to an election, nor to Nevada's 2nd District, which has never voted for a Democrat since it was created in 1982. But Bush is playing defense in red-state territory and sticking to states that voted for him two years ago." LINK

The Wall Street Journal's John McKinnon reports that President Bush's planned stops in northwestern Iowa and the Florida Panhandle are designed "largely to increase turnout in rural areas, without stirring opposition in urban ones" while helping gubernatorial candidates like Iowa's Jim Nussle and Florida's Charlie Crist.

The Denver Post previews the Rocky Mountain State push by Vice President Cheney in Colorado today shoring up Republican support in two races that emerged late as competitive this cycle in the fourth and fifth congressional districts. LINK

The New York Daily News' Helen Kennedy has the last ditch punches: "Barnstorming in the red states, [President Bush] all but said Democrats love terrorists. Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean called Bush worse than Richard Nixon because at least Nixon was competent. And everybody said John Kerry should just shut up." LINK

The Las Vegas Review Journal writes up President Bush's Elko, NV appearance with Rep. Jim Gibbons, Sen. Ensign, and Dean Heller all representing the Silver State GOP ticket. LINK

The New York Sun's intrepid Josh Gerstein reports Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) called for a deadline for troop withdrawal from Iraq in a television interview yesterday.

The Washington Post's Alan Cooperman and Juliet Eilperin report that Dick Armey and James Dobson are "going after each other tooth and claw." LINK

Rev. Ted Haggard resigns:

The Washington Post's Alan Cooperman calls Haggard a "staunch ally of the Bush administration" and writes that "some political observers said his resignation was more bad news for Republicans trying to rally their conservative Christian base to turn out for the midterm elections." LINK

Democratic agenda:

The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer, following in the Barone/Barnes footsteps to take the sting out of any GOP losses, lays out who he thinks will be defeated on Tuesday while arguing that a Democratic win won't mean much because the party did not lay out a "coherent alternative to the current policy" in Iraq. LINK

The Washington Times' Gregory Lopes looks at the Democrats' push for embryonic stem-cell research and letting Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices. LINK

"Though it is impossible to say what would have happened had the minimum not been raised," the Wall Street Journal's Deborah Solomon report that Oregon's experience with a minimum wage hike "suggests the most strident doomsayers were wrong. Private, nonfarm payrolls are up 8% over the past four years, nearly twice the national increase. Wages are up, too. Job growth is strong in industries employing many minimum-wage workers, such as restaurants and hotels. Oregon's estimated 5.4% unemployment rate for 2006, though higher than the national average, is down from 7.6% in 2002, when the state was emerging from a recession." LINK

Pelosi politics:

Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle acknowledges that "If Nancy Pelosi becomes speaker of the House, it will be on the Republicans' list of top five talking points every week" as her " San Francisco values" will run the House. LINK

The Way to Win:

Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times weighs in this morning with a review of the Mark Halperin/John Harris book The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008, calling it "smart" and "savvy," and saying the book is "revealing, shedding retrospective light on Mr. Bush's victories in 2000 and 2004, and casting new light on the possible outcome of next week's midterm elections." LINK

Sounds like Note readers should spend the weekend curled up with it -- buy your copy here. LINK

2006: landscape:

The Note has (re)learned that the DCCC is spending in some 50 races in 26 states in the closing days.

The Washington Post's Jonathan Weisman and Chris Cillizza report that financial reports filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission showed that, "on Wednesday alone," the DCCC spent "$12.4 million on advertising in 36 districts"; the NRCC spent "$5.9 million on commercials in 17 districts."LINK

According to Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, the final thrust of campaign ads will "boost spending on political and issue advertising past $2 billion in this campaign, or $400 million more than in the 2004 presidential campaign."

As for President Bush's travel schedule, the Washington Post duo Note that "the 10 states the president plans to visit before Tuesday's elections all voted for Bush in 2004; he is staying away from battleground states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia, where many Republican candidates would rather not campaign with him at this late hour."

Democrats have been very competitive this campaign season partly because they've taken financial gambles like when in late October DNC chairman Howard Dean took out a $10 million line of credit reports Mike Dorning of the Chicago Tribune who also Notes that the GOP still holds the lead in campaign cash. LINK

Michael Paulson of the Boston Globe Notes, "Republicans are furiously trying to reenergize the so-called values voters, predominantly evangelical Protestants who helped propel President Bush to victory in 2004 but have since then become disenchanted with the GOP." LINK

Anne Kornblut and Carl Hulse of the New York Times write up the Senate landscape including a tightened race in Montana as well as some new activity in Arizona and Maryland. LINK

The New York Times takes a look at the Democratic side of the "culture of corruption," but Monica Davey reports that scandal doesn't seem to have the same impact with Democrats as it does with Republicans this year, taking specific Note of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) and Gov. Jim Doyle (D-WI). LINK

The Washington Post's Robert Barnes and Matthew Mosk report that the Maryland exurbs of DC will be watched to see if they are becoming more Red and the Virginia exurbs will be watched to see if they are becoming more Blue. LINK

2006: campaign advertising:

Susan Page of USA Today reports on the "toxicity" of politicians on air political ads which are storming the airwaves. LINK

Ralph Blumenthal of the New York Times reports on the lack of creativity, or at least a small pool of writers, when it comes to campaign ads. LINK

2006: House:

Karl Rove and other strategists may have charts that show how everything is going to be fine for the GOP on Tuesday, but one senior GOP strategist concedes that about 7 GOP held seats are lost causes: an open seat in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa and Ohio plus incumbents Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania and Rep. Chris Chocola and John Hostettler of Indiana reports Janet Hook of the Los Angeles Times. LINK

Note the opening Boehner-Rove anecdote. Jonathan Martin and Josh Kraushaar of National Journal take a look at the political landscape for Democrats in the House in 2008. Should they only win a majority by only a narrow margin on Tuesday, their majority party status may be fleeting. LINK

The Washington Post's Al Kamen reports that a D Street SE block on Capitol Hill is an "enclave of several endangered Republicans," including Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL) who lives next door, Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN) who lives two doors down, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) who lives next door, and Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) who lives across the street. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports that House Democrats say "Republican operatives send automated middle-of-the-night phone calls naming Democratic candidates to alienate voters in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and California. House Republican spokesman Carl Forti dismisses the claim as 'totally baseless,' saying the party places no calls after 8 pm."

2006: House: PA-06 & PA-08:

In a column looking at the Democratic "Murphys" running in the sixth and eighth congressional districts of Pennsylvania, the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne reports that Iraq vet Patrick Murphy is "closing with an advertisement saying that when it comes to Iraq, his opponent and President Bush 'have no idea how to fix this mess.' He adds: 'Now you get to decide if they're getting it right in Iraq and here at home.'" LINK

Dionne also Notes that the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday that "Democrats have posted modest but clear registration gains since May in all of the four big nominally Republican counties outside of Philadelphia: Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery."

2006: House: FL-13:

"Republican Vern Buchanan was interrupted by laughter during a debate before a group of veterans Thursday when he insisted that the White House has a strategy for the war in Iraq," Notes the Herald Tribune's Doug Sword. LINK

2006: House: FL-16:

Michael Bender of the Palm Beach Post reports that Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) campaigned for Republican Joe Negron on Thursday saying: "It will help George, no question about, to maintain control of Congress." Democrat Tim Mahoney has received the endorsement of the "Blue Dogs." LINK

2006: House: CA-04:

We wonder what will Charlie Brown have to say about this . . .

Per the Washington Post's James Grimaldi and Susan Schmidt, "Early last year, two little-known nonprofit groups paid for Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and his 12-year-old daughter to travel to South Korea and Malaysia. Their last stop was the Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort on the Malaysian island of Langkawi, where they bunked at an oceanfront chalet staffed with a personal butler, got massages and rode water scooters on Burau Bay." LINK

"The two nonprofits and the lobbying firm behind them have drawn the attention of the FBI. People associated with Alexander Strategy, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said federal investigators have asked them whether the groups were conduits for a foreign government and a foreign corporation to finance congressional junkets."

"Doolittle spokeswoman Laura Blackann said last week that the congressman believed that his trip to Asia, in February 2005, was proper and that it had nothing to do with the earmarks. He said he paid out of his own pocket for some of the activities on Langkawi, such as the massages and watercraft rentals."

Republicans will helplessly Note the Joel Johnson (D-$) cameo.

2006: House: NM-01:

"We're not for cut-and-run, but there is something to be said for stop and think," Bill Clinton said while campaigning for Democratic House candidate Patricia Madrid and the rest of the New Mexico Democratic ticket. The Albuquerque Journal has the story. LINK

The Albuquerque Journal reports that First Lady Laura Bush will be in town today to give Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) a boost. LINK

2006: House: Indiana:

The Washington Times' Ralph Z. Hallow has Paul Weyrich blaming Republican ills on the Iraq war, saying that even Rep. Hostettler (who voted against the Iraq war) is going to go down to defeat "in blazes" along with fellow Hoosier Republicans Rep. Chris Chocola and Rep. Mike Sodrel. LINK

2006: House: NY-26:

Ben Smith of the New York Daily News writes up Foley damage control conference calls including aides to Rep. Tom Reynolds before the story broke on ABC News. LINK

2006: House: NY-20:

Brendan Lyons and Kenneth Crowe of the Albany Times Union report that Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) continued to refuse to answer any questions Thursday about a domestic incident at his home last December and, by evening, failed to follow through on a promise to authorize the release of police records. LINK

Both Rep. Sweeney and Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand met with the Albany Times Union editorial board yesterday and the paper's Tim O'Brien writes that the 20th District opponents have many strong differences, especially on Iraq. LINK

2006: House: NH-01 & NH-02:

The Union Leader's indefatigable John DiStaso writes that a new WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll shows Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in a statistical dead heat with Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-NH) in the 1st district and Paul Hodes with an eight point advantage over Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH) in the 2nd district, but Notes the poll's significant five-point margin of error. LINK

Albert McKeon of the Nashua Telegraph Notes that Bradley fared better in the poll, as he had a significantly larger lead among swing voters over his opponent than Bass did over his. LINK

New Hampshire a swing state? According to James Pindell of the Boston Globe that could very well be. LINK

In a sly move, Hodes made a surprise pit stop in the hometown of Rep. Bass yesterday, asking voters to "bring Charlie home again" on Tuesday. The Union Leader's Nancy Foster has more. LINK

Tom Fahey of the Union Leader reports that Granite State Secretary of State William Gardner is predicting close to a 48% voter turnout, the second highest on record for a non-presidential year. LINK

Kevin Landrigan of the Nashua Telegraph Notes that the highest turnout was in 2002. LINK

2006: House: KY-03:

Kay Stewart of the Louisville Courier reports that Kentucky's district 3 House race between Rep. Anne Northup (R-KY) and John Yarmuth (D-KY) is now "a toss-up" and therefore getting "an infusion of cash" from the national parties. There are conflicting polls about who is ahead, but one thing that is certain is that the DCCC is outspending the NRCC in the district. LINK

2006: House: IA-01:

O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa reports that First Lady Laura Bush urged people to get the vote out and talked about national security while she was campaigning for congressional candidate Mike Whalen (R-IA) and gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle (R-IA) in Waterloo, IA . She will meet her husband today in Le Mars, IA. LINK

The Des Moines Register's Tom Witosky reports that First Lady Laura Bush, while campaigning for Whalen, urged voters to the polls, "America faces challenges too important to be reduced to just politics." LINK

Pat Kinney of the Quad City Times also adds that while not mentioning Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) by name, Mrs. Bush still weighed in by saying, "responsible candidates understand that the men and women of our military are risking their lives for us overseas, and that we must conduct the debate here at home in a way that does not jeopardize our troops in harm's way." LINK

2006: House: WY-01:

The AP gives a close analysis today of Wyoming politics and the race of Democrat Gary Trauner to unseat GOP Rep. Barbara Cubin, a six-term incumbent who has won by at least 13 percentage points since she first took the seat in 1994. LINK

2006: House: AZ-01:

Arizona Republic columnist Richard Ruelas writes that Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is providing more than enough publicity this election cycle to NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Love Association, with his "non-stop barrage of campaign commercials" that links Renzi's Democratic opponent, Ellen Simon, to NAMBLA. LINK

The commercial says Simon was once a leader in the American Civil Liberties Union, "a radical group that defends hardcore criminals and the Man/Boy Love Association, a group that preys on our children."

Slate's Jacob Weisberg also gives his take on Renzi's NAMBLA commercial. LINK

2006: House: PA-10:

The Washington Post's Al Kamen reports that a D Street SE block on Capitol Hill is an "enclave of several endangered Republicans," including Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL) who lives next door, Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN) who lives two doors down, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) who lives next door, and Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) who lives across the street. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports that House Democrats say "Republican operatives send automated middle-of-the-night phone calls naming Democratic candidates to alienate voters in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and California. House Republican spokesman Carl Forti dismisses the claim as 'totally baseless,' saying the party places no calls after 8 pm."

2006: House: PA-06 & PA-08:

In a column looking at the Democratic "Murphys" running in the sixth and eighth congressional districts of Pennsylvania, the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne reports that Iraq vet Patrick Murphy is "closing with an advertisement saying that when it comes to Iraq, his opponent and President Bush 'have no idea how to fix this mess.' He adds: 'Now you get to decide if they're getting it right in Iraq and here at home.'" LINK

Dionne also Notes that the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday that "Democrats have posted modest but clear registration gains since May in all of the four big nominally Republican counties outside of Philadelphia: Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery."

2006: House: FL-13:

"Republican Vern Buchanan was interrupted by laughter during a debate before a group of veterans Thursday when he insisted that the White House has a strategy for the war in Iraq," Notes the Herald Tribune's Doug Sword. LINK

2006: House: FL-16:

Michael Bender of the Palm Beach Post reports that Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) campaigned for Republican Joe Negron on Thursday saying: "It will help George, no question about, to maintain control of Congress." Democrat Tim Mahoney has received the endorsement of the "Blue Dogs." LINK

2006: House: CA-04:

We wonder what will Charlie Brown have to say about this . . .

Per the Washington Post's James Grimaldi and Susan Schmidt, "Early last year, two little-known nonprofit groups paid for Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and his 12-year-old daughter to travel to South Korea and Malaysia. Their last stop was the Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort on the Malaysian island of Langkawi, where they bunked at an oceanfront chalet staffed with a personal butler, got massages and rode water scooters on Burau Bay." LINK

"The two nonprofits and the lobbying firm behind them have drawn the attention of the FBI. People associated with Alexander Strategy, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said federal investigators have asked them whether the groups were conduits for a foreign government and a foreign corporation to finance congressional junkets."

"Doolittle spokeswoman Laura Blackann said last week that the congressman believed that his trip to Asia, in February 2005, was proper and that it had nothing to do with the earmarks. He said he paid out of his own pocket for some of the activities on Langkawi, such as the massages and watercraft rentals."

Republicans will helplessly Note the Joel Johnson (D-$) cameo.

2006: House: NM-01:

"We're not for cut-and-run, but there is something to be said for stop and think," Bill Clinton said while campaigning for Democratic House candidate Patricia Madrid and the rest of the New Mexico Democratic ticket. The Albuquerque Journal has the story. LINK

The Albuquerque Journal reports that First Lady Laura Bush will be in town today to give Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) a boost. LINK

2006: House: Indiana:

The Washington Times' Ralph Z. Hallow has Paul Weyrich blaming Republican ills on the Iraq war, saying that even Rep. Hostettler (who voted against the Iraq war) is going to go down to defeat "in blazes" along with fellow Hoosier Republicans Rep. Chris Chocola and Rep. Mike Sodrel. LINK

2006: House: NY-26:

Ben Smith of the New York Daily News writes up Foley damage control conference calls including aides to Rep. Tom Reynolds before the story broke on ABC News. LINK

2006: House: NY-20:

Brendan Lyons and Kenneth Crowe of the Albany Times Union report that Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) continued to refuse to answer any questions Thursday about a domestic incident at his home last December and, by evening, failed to follow through on a promise to authorize the release of police records. LINK

Both Rep. Sweeney and Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand met with the Albany Times Union editorial board yesterday and the paper's Tim O'Brien writes that the 20th District opponents have many strong differences, especially on Iraq. LINK

2006: House: NH-01 & NH-02:

The Union Leader's indefatigable John DiStaso writes that a new WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll shows Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in a statistical dead heat with Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-NH) in the 1st district and Paul Hodes with an eight point advantage over Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH) in the 2nd district, but Notes the poll's significant five-point margin of error. LINK

Albert McKeon of the Nashua Telegraph Notes that Bradley fared better in the poll, as he had a significantly larger lead among swing voters over his opponent than Bass did over his. LINK

New Hampshire a swing state? According to James Pindell of the Boston Globe that could very well be. LINK

In a sly move, Hodes made a surprise pit stop in the hometown of Rep. Bass yesterday, asking voters to "bring Charlie home again" on Tuesday. The Union Leader's Nancy Foster has more. LINK

Tom Fahey of the Union Leader reports that Granite State Secretary of State William Gardner is predicting close to a 48% voter turnout, the second highest on record for a non-presidential year. LINK

Kevin Landrigan of the Nashua Telegraph Notes that the highest turnout was in 2002. LINK

2006: House: KY-03:

Kay Stewart of the Louisville Courier reports that Kentucky's district 3 House race between Rep. Anne Northup (R-KY) and John Yarmuth (D-KY) is now "a toss-up" and therefore getting "an infusion of cash" from the national parties. There are conflicting polls about who is ahead, but one thing that is certain is that the DCCC is outspending the NRCC in the district. LINK

2006: House: IA-01:

O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa reports that First Lady Laura Bush urged people to get the vote out and talked about national security while she was campaigning for congressional candidate Mike Whalen (R-IA) and gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle (R-IA) in Waterloo, IA . She will meet her husband today in Le Mars, IA. LINK

The Des Moines Register's Tom Witosky reports that First Lady Laura Bush, while campaigning for Whalen, urged voters to the polls, "America faces challenges too important to be reduced to just politics." LINK

Pat Kinney of the Quad City Times also adds that while not mentioning Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) by name, Mrs. Bush still weighed in by saying, "responsible candidates understand that the men and women of our military are risking their lives for us overseas, and that we must conduct the debate here at home in a way that does not jeopardize our troops in harm's way." LINK

2006: House: WY-01:

The AP gives a close analysis today of Wyoming politics and the race of Democrat Gary Trauner to unseat GOP Rep. Barbara Cubin, a six-term incumbent who has won by at least 13 percentage points since she first took the seat in 1994. LINK

2006: House: AZ-01:

Arizona Republic columnist Richard Ruelas writes that Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is providing more than enough publicity this election cycle to NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Love Association, with his "non-stop barrage of campaign commercials" that links Renzi's Democratic opponent, Ellen Simon, to NAMBLA. LINK

The commercial says Simon was once a leader in the American Civil Liberties Union, "a radical group that defends hardcore criminals and the Man/Boy Love Association, a group that preys on our children."

Slate's Jacob Weisberg also gives his take on Renzi's NAMBLA commercial. LINK

2006: House: PA-10:

2006: House: IA-01:

O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa reports that First Lady Laura Bush urged people to get the vote out and talked about national security while she was campaigning for congressional candidate Mike Whalen (R-IA) and gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle (R-IA) in Waterloo, IA . She will meet her husband today in Le Mars, IA. LINK

The Des Moines Register's Tom Witosky reports that First Lady Laura Bush, while campaigning for Whalen, urged voters to the polls, "America faces challenges too important to be reduced to just politics." LINK

Pat Kinney of the Quad City Times also adds that while not mentioning Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) by name, Mrs. Bush still weighed in by saying, "responsible candidates understand that the men and women of our military are risking their lives for us overseas, and that we must conduct the debate here at home in a way that does not jeopardize our troops in harm's way." LINK

2006: House: WY-01:

The AP gives a close analysis today of Wyoming politics and the race of Democrat Gary Trauner to unseat GOP Rep. Barbara Cubin, a six-term incumbent who has won by at least 13 percentage points since she first took the seat in 1994. LINK

2006: House: AZ-01:

Arizona Republic columnist Richard Ruelas writes that Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is providing more than enough publicity this election cycle to NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Love Association, with his "non-stop barrage of campaign commercials" that links Renzi's Democratic opponent, Ellen Simon, to NAMBLA. LINK

The commercial says Simon was once a leader in the American Civil Liberties Union, "a radical group that defends hardcore criminals and the Man/Boy Love Association, a group that preys on our children."

Slate's Jacob Weisberg also gives his take on Renzi's NAMBLA commercial. LINK

2006: House: PA-10:

2006: Governor: Nevada:

A Republican gubernatorial candidate may be breathing a bit of a sigh of relief heading into the final campaign weekend. The Associated Press' "partial review of the [parking garage] tapes did not reveal the presence of either Gibbons, 61, or Mazzeo, 32, during the time frame in which she says he pushed her against a wall inside the garage and threatened her," writes Molly Ball of the Las Vegas Review Journal. LINK

Bill Clinton hit the stump for Nevada Democrats yesterday. The Las Vegas Review Journal's Harasim writes, "According to Clinton, there are many Nevadans who want to vote for Titus but are having a difficult time mustering the courage to make the leap from Republican to Democrat. He likened their fear to that of an individual who has just learned to swim but still finds it difficult to dive off a diving board." LINK

2006: Governor: Iowa:

Thomas Beaumont of the Des Moines Register reports on gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle's hopes that an upcoming visit from President Bush will energize his GOP base, since "he's a proven vote-getter throughout Iowa and certainly particularly in northwest Iowa." Gov. Vilsack (D-IA) appears not to be worried about the two recent Bush visits to his state. LINK

Reid Forgrave of the Des Moines Register profiles the school years of gubernatorial candidates Chet Culver and Jim Nussle. LINK

2008: Republicans:

"John McCain appears to be as serious as ever about making nice with the conservative base. He's now starring in not one, but two ads backing Proposition 107, which would not only amend the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage of all kinds permanently, but also prohibiting cities, towns, and universities from providing benefits to unmarried domestic partners," reports Matt Corley at TPM Café. LINK

2008: Democrats:

The New York Times' Patrick Healy writes of Sen. Clinton's campaigning "dress rehearsal." Healy Notes that the Senator has been "wearing her personality on her sleeve more than she has in the past." LINK

Sen. Clinton tells Glenn Thrush of Newsday that she is a "Junk Food Jane." LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports: "One Hillary Clinton adviser says Obama's 2008 interest won't affect her possible candidacy, which remains likely."

The Washington Wire also reports that "fully 60% of voters have now heard of Illinois Sen. Obama, the Democrats' hot 2008 prospect. That's twice the proportion who knew of Bill Clinton a year before his 1992 candidacy. Among Democrats, Obama is rated favorably by 47% and unfavorably by just 5%."

The Chicago Tribune ed board says that potential future presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) "would be wise to explain fully and quickly" a real estate deal between the junior Senator from Illinois and Antoin Rezko, who pleaded not guilty to federal charges of corruption surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration. LINK

"Bayh rocks the house at Local 292," reads the Kokomo Tribune headline. LINK

The Clintons of Chappaqua:

Lately, the Clintons have been in sync when it comes to stumping, and the New York Daily News' Michael McAulif is looking for a celebrity nickname for the power pair, "Billary? Hilliam?" LINK

Marriage expert Howard Wolfson weighs in here.

Casting and counting:

The Wall Street Journal's ed board writes that "allegations of fraud have tainted Acorn voter drives across the country" with four workers from Acorn indicted by a federal grand jury for "submitting false voter registration forms to the Kansas City, Missouri, election board."

Barb Icks of the Quad City Times asks why the turnout of early voting in Iowa is lower than expected. As a result of negative campaigning, "people say, I'll give up my right to vote if they'll just leave me alone." LINK

The Washington Post's Amy Goldstein reports that Indiana's 2005 picture ID law "puts it among a dozen states that have tightened requirements lately that voters display some form of identification at the polls. The laws have spawned partisan warring, lawsuits and confusion that election experts predict could influence the outcome of some close elections." LINK

Piggy-backing on his coverage of electronic voting machines, Jake Tapper writes in his blog about an HBO documentary "Hacking Democracy." Tapper writes: "The largest manufacturer of these machines, Diebold, has even written to HBO, asking the premium cable channel to pull the film." He Notes that ABC has been "hip to one of the heroes of the HBO film, Bev Harris, [who was] profiled for Good Morning America." LINK

Tapper teams up with ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman to explain the weaknesses of the electronic voting machines, which were also featured on last night's World News broadcast: LINK

Richard Wolf of USA Today reports on the looming hypothetical of provisional voters in tights races. LINK

Robert Vitale of the Columbus Dispatch assumes that "things don't change again" after election officials re-educated poll workers yesterday about new voter ID laws. LINK

The Columbus Dispatch breaks down "what could happen Tuesday" for voters: LINK

Jon Craig of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that an unprecedented 4.2 million Ohio voters are expected to turnout on Tuesday. LINK

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Thomas Fitzgerald and Nancy Petersen report that although electronic voting machines were used in the primary elections in Pennsylvania, many people fear they will not be able to handle the large amounts of voters this election day so, "in about 20 precincts in the Philadelphia suburbs, teams from a group called Election Integrity are preparing to conduct exit polls in precincts with the machines. If there is a significant variance between the official results and the polls, they'll demand investigations." LINK

Weekend politics:

Saturday:

President Bush conducts his weekly Radio Address from Colorado at 10:06 am ET, location TBA. He then breakfasts with small business owners at 10:15 am ET, exact location TBA, in Colorado. Lastly, the President attends a Colorado Victory Rally at the Island Grove Regional Park Events Center in Greeley, CO at 11:50 am ET. The President overnights at his ranch in Crawford, TX.

Bill Clinton plans to campaign in Florida on behalf of Democratic congressional candidate Ron Klein tomorrow.

On Saturday, DNC Chair Howard Dean heads to Michigan State University for a 9 am ET GOTV rally in Lansing.

Senate candidate Jim Webb (D-VA) is campaigning with Former Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA), Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) all day on Saturday, for a total of six events. First they attend a rally in Roanoke, VA at 9:30 am ET. At 11:00 am ET they move to another rally at the Masonic Lodge in Pulaski, VA. They then head to Max Meadows for a 1:00 pm ET Wythe County Democratic BBQ and rally. Directly following, at 3 pm ET is the Smyth County Democratic rally in Marion, VA. Their next stop is Abingdon, VA where they attend a 5:00 pm ET rally and supper at Abingdon High School. And finally, the group finishes the day at a rally at the Honaker Elementary School in Honaker, VA at 7:00 pm ET.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) participates in three rallies with gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos (R-MI Michigan. He flies to Florida to end the day in Sarasota, FL with House candidate Vern Buchanan (R-FL) who is running against Christine Jennings (D-FL) in the 13th congressional district.

Sunday:

President Bush campaigns with Nebraska Republicans today at 4:10 pm ET, including House candidate Adrian Smith -- who is running in district 3 against Scott Kleeb (D-NE) -- and Gov. Dave Heineman in Grand Island, NE. The President then campaigns at 7:20 pm ET in Topeka, KS at the Kansas Victory Rally at the Kansas Expo Center. He overnights again in Crawford.

Senate candidate Jim Webb (D-VA) campaigns with Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) all day, beginning at Grundy High School at 1:00 pm ET in Honaker, VA. Richlands High School will then host a rally at 3:00 pm ET in Richlands, VA. At 5:00 pm ET the delegation goes to Mountain Empire Community College for a Wise County Democratic Rally, followed by a 7:00 pm ET Dickenson County Democratic Rally and Supper in Clintwood, VA.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) campaigns in Florida with gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (R-FL) then heads to Virginia to appear with Sen. George Allen in Fairfax County at 3:30 pm ET. He ends his tour in Glenn Dale, MD campaigning with Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-MD) at 6:30 pm ET.

President Bush attends Missouri Victory 2006 fund-raising rallies at the Springfield Exposition Center in Springfield, MO at 10:00 am ET and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO at 12:50 pm ET. Mr. Bush then heads to an Iowa Victory 2006 fund-raising rally at 6 pm ET at Le Mars Community High School in Le Mars, Iowa at 6 pm ET. All of the Presidents events are open to the press.

Senate candidate Jim Webb (D-VA) campaigns with Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) all day, beginning at Grundy High School at 1:00 pm ET in Honaker, VA. Richlands High School will then host a rally at 3:00 pm ET in Richlands, VA. At 5:00 pm ET the delegation goes to Mountain Empire Community College for a Wise County Democratic Rally, followed by a 7:00 pm ET Dickenson County Democratic Rally and Supper in Clintwood, VA.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) campaigns in Florida with gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (R-FL) then heads to Virginia to appear with Sen. George Allen in Fairfax County at 3:30 pm ET. He ends his tour in Glenn Dale, MD campaigning with Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-MD) at 6:30 pm ET.

President Bush attends Missouri Victory 2006 fund-raising rallies at the Springfield Exposition Center in Springfield, MO at 10:00 am ET and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO at 12:50 pm ET. Mr. Bush then heads to an Iowa Victory 2006 fund-raising rally at 6 pm ET at Le Mars Community High School in Le Mars, Iowa at 6 pm ET. All of the Presidents events are open to the press.