• Convention will showcase Bush as war leader. McCain, Giuliani to talk of 9/11. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• 200,000 demonstrators hit the streets in celebratory mood; 1,000 flag-draped boxes as coffins. [WP, WP, NYT, NYT, LAT]
•BC04 heavily focused on turnout of Christian base, not swing vote. [WSJ, BG]
•Bush encourages supporters to persuade Dems, independents; convention speech said to be "evolutionary rather than revolutionary." [WP, LAT, WSJ]
•Bush in his own words: goals versus achievements. [USAT]
• Gallup poll shows Kerry slips in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania. [USAT]
•Kerry would offer ultimatum for Iran, says Edwards. [WP, NYT]
• Undecided voters desperate for specifics, according to poll. [LAT]
• Campaigns focus on local issues important to swing states. [WP]
• Perception of Bush's leadership style varies along party lines: impatient, simplistic, arrogant versus decisive, steadfast, determined. [WP]
•McCain turns 68, won't look back in anger; writes "not yet" regarding 2008 run. [WP, LAT]
• Log Cabin Republicans honor Pataki, Specter, Bloomberg, say GOP has been "hijacked by the radical right." [WP, LAT, LAT]
• Gay advocates disappointed by Mary Cheney, her father's closest confidante; groups to run TV spot featuring vice president's comments. [NYT, NYT]
•Clintons on the offensive. Hillary: "Smear" campaign "goes to the heart of their pathetic campaign." [NYT, LAT, WT]
• DNC line: "Mission not accomplished." [USAT]
•Matthew Dowd plays expectations game, predicts win barring economic downturn or "some huge undercutting on strength." [NYT]
• History says a Bush win could do him harm, writes Brownstein. [LAT]
•Bloomberg behaving as "father of the bride." [NYT, LAT]
•Schwarzenegger seeks credibility, inclusion, image as political leader; Shriver will be spectator. [NYT, LAT, LAT]
• Those looking towards 2008 skirt the issue; Cheney's poor health provides a clear shot. [NYT, WSJ]
• GOP in gray area, careful of overstepping on 9/11. [USAT]
• Some African-Americans complain about whiteness of convention speakers list. [NYT]
• Police restraint praised as effective by protest advocates. [NYT]
•Kerry rests in Nantucket. [USAT]
• Financial firms ring in BC04. [WP]
• BackToTheMainstream.org seeks to be moderate conservatives' answer to MoveOn.org. [WSJ]
