Election Recycling: Dry and Dispirited Edition
• Bushoutlines five-point plan for Iraq, offers to destroy Abu Ghraib: "I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American."Kerry: "That's going to require the president to genuinely reach out to our allies so that the United States doesn't have to continue to go it alone." Many questions still unanswered;Bush'sapproval rating down to 41 percent, according to CBS. [ WP and WP and and NYT and LAT and WSJ ]
•WP-ABC Poll: Bush'sapproval down to 47 percent, attributed to softening Republican support;Kerry, Bushtied at 46 percent; approval of war on terrorism handling at new low; 65 percent say U.S. is bogged down in Iraq; 58 percent sayBushlacks clear plan for Iraq. 57 percent disapprove of prisoner-abuse scandal handling;Kerryleads on economic issues,Bushleads on national security issues. [ WP ]
•Pressure onKerryto outline alternative Iraq plan; CBS finds nearly two-thirds say country is on the wrong track. [ LAT ]
• Shales: "Bushdidn't look terribly convinced by his own argument. . . nor did he appear all that thrilled by his five-point plan. . . Last night's speech was clear enough but also dry and dispirited. Not even the military audience gave the impression of being enraptured." [ WP ]
• Bush's"Maverick" program attracts illusive under-40 demographic; 74 supporters raise nearly $7 million. [ WSJ ]
• Kerry: "Let's ensure that no young American soldier has to fight and die because of our dependence on foreign oil." [WT and USAT ]
•Conservatives complain aboutBush'sdeal for judicial nominees. [ WT ]
•GOP launches 527s. [ WP ]
• Kerry'sbio ads appear to have worked in his favor. [ USAT ]
•Michigan and New Jersey, blue states, may swing; swing states experience "voter fatigue." [ WT and USAT and USAT ]
• Nadercalls for impeachment: "The founding fathers did not want the declaration of war put in the hands of one man." [ NYT ]
•Profile ofKerry's"body man."David Wade: "When all hell is breaking loose, it's still important toMarvinto beMarvin."[LAT ]
• Hillarywarns of limited freedoms and state based on fear underBush.[ USAT ]
•Boston reacts to possibility of a nomination-less convention. [ NYT ]
•Campaign ads found to be frequently misleading and inaccurate. [ NYT ]