• Records show Bush sought exit from National Guard, skipped required medical exam. One Colonel complained of effort to "sugar coat" Bush's evaluations. [WP, NYT, LAT, WSJ, WT, BG, USAT]
• Kerry blames cost of Iraq mistakes for problems with education, health care, job creation; plans to recall most troops by 2009. Lockhart: "This allows us to talk about domestic priorities and the mess in Iraq." BC04 strategist: "As long as they're talking about national security, we're winning every single day and he's digging a deeper hole." [WP, NYT, LAT, WT, WT, BG, USAT]
• Bush now supports "full budgetary authority" for new intel director. [WP, NYT, WT, BG]
• Kerry, Edwards jump on Cheney's comment. BC04 flack: "Take away the fascination with the way he said what he said. It's a discussion about pre-emption." [NYT, WP, NYT, BG, USAT]
• Bush tours hurricane damage in Florida. [WP, NYT, LAT]
• Bush leads in Missouri, Ohio, according to Gallup. [USAT]
• KE04 ads to air in 14 states. [LAT]
• Bush's policy agenda would likely impede effort to reduce deficit. [WSJ]
• Trade policies of Bush, Kerry debated. [WP]
• Kerry hasn't had a press avail in a month. [WT]
• Bush meets Baker to discuss debates. [WT]
• Crowd count finds BC04 inflates figures. [WP]
• Mirroring nation, California's coast favors Kerry, inland prefers Bush. [LAT]
• Middle America ground zero for campaigns. [USAT]
• NRA mocks Kerry in new ads. [USAT]
• Sharon Bush denies Kitty Kelley's account of drug use by Bush. [WP, NYT]
• 32 of 35 nations pick Kerry over Bush, according to poll. [BG]
