Election Recycling: Rural Makeover Edition
• Bushcampaign to paintEdwardsas second choice toMcCainand as poll-driven maneuvering; plans to roll out ad featuringMcCain. Pollsters predict 15-pointKerrybounce. [ NYT ]
•New Democratic platform centers on security. [ USAT ]
•U.S. Chamber of Commerce would be againstKerry-Edwards.[ WSJ ]
• Cheney'sfavorability rating at 22 percent.Kerryteam calls the veep "a ball and chain thatBushis carrying around."Cheneyhimself an unenthusiastic campaigner: "You guys want to hear this speech or not?" [ WP , NYT ]
•NEA endorsesKerry.[ USAT ]
• Kerryprofile, part II: College and war. [ NYT ]
•For convention access, donations go to private groups and host committees rather than national parties. [ LAT ]
•Kerry has "rural makeover": "Look at the power of that land. You can just feel it. You see it." [ Independent ]
•Parties push to increase voter registration. [ BG ]
•Third parties challengeBush, Kerryfrom the far ends of the political spectrum. [ WT ]
• Bushteam masters stagecraft.Lockhart: "I use the word 'producing' deliberately, because that's what they are: TV productions, designed to both articulate the president's agenda and, probably more importantly for theBushteam, show the president in a position of strength and authority." [ LAT ]
•Welfare reform low priority during election year. [ NYT ]
•The world is watching this race. [ BG ]
•Head of ACT,Steve Rosenthal,focuses $100 million on Democratic voters. Donna Brazile:
"He is as mean and tough and vicious as they come and that makes him more attractive." [ WP ]
•Parties welcome bloggers to convention;Trippigushes. [ WP ]
• Sean Combscelebrates politics with get-out-the-vote organization.Phylicia Rashad: "This is like being with the president." [NYT ]