• Kerry debuts sharp critique, new slogan: W. stands for "wrong. . . wrong choices, wrong priorities, wrong direction for our country." Kerry calls Iraq "catastophic," "a quagmire," and "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time;" sets goal to bring home troops within first term. [WP, NYT, LAT, WSJ, USAT, WT, BG]
• Bush, in Missouri, talks national security on Labor Day; Cheney describes Edwards' "two Americas" as "some sort of class system or class warfare approach." [WP, LAT, USAT]
• USAT/CNN/Gallup measures five point bounce for Bush, within margin of error. Views of leadership qualities up 6 points for Bush, down 14 points for Kerry. [USAT]
• Clinton, Democrats frustrated his recovery curtails his campaigning, fundraising; look forward to attention surrounding first post-surgery Clinton event. [WP, NYT]
• 56 days to go. Gergen: "There'll be a tendency to say, 'Well, let's wait for the debates,' but if Kerry doesn't gain any momentum, the debates will be too late." Lockhart: "I would be very surprised if a week from now, the dynamics don't show us in a very tight race." [NYT]
• Cheney says before 9/11, terrorists had "impunity and got away with it." [NYT]
• KE04 flack: "There is no shake-up. . . we've been lucky enough to add some tested, talented people to the campaign." [WT]
• Bush misspeaks: "Too many OB-GYNS aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." [LAT]
• New KE04 spot hits Bush on Medicare. [WP, BG]
• "Willie Horton" ad compared to SBVFT. [WP]
