Election Recycling: They're Like Dogs Edition
• Bush: "We pledged to end a dangerous regime, to free the oppressed and to restore sovereignty. We have kept our word." [WP and USAT ]
• Bush'sapproval rating at 42 percent, a new low, according to NYT/CBS poll. 57 percent say the country is headed in the wrong direction; 60 percent disapprove of Iraq policy, say war was not worth it. Forty percent have no opinion ofKerry,but most of those who do think he panders. [ NYT ]
• Bush'ssupport dependent on success in Iraq;Rumsfeldcompares insurgency to Tet offensive, argues insurgents want to win the media war. What could go wrong after the transfer? "Allawicould get killed. That would be disastrous," says senior offical. [ NYT ]
• Kerrycalls for "real support -- not resolutions, not words" for Iraq, complains ofBush'sstates of repair and disrepair. [ WP and NYT and LAT ]
• Schwarzenegger, McCain, Cheney, Zell Millerto have prime-time slots at GOP convention;Patakito introduceBush; at the DNC, Clinton opens. [ WP and NYT and LAT ]
•Black Democrats warnKerrynot to take them for granted; complain about his pale-faced campaign. [ WP ]
• Kerryseeks support of business executives, touts approval ofIacocca, Buffett, Jobs.[ WSJ ]
• Milbanksays by discrediting its own memos and reports, it's "the administration vs. the administration." [ WP ]
• Romneyfills in forKerryat Boston gathering. [ NYT and WT and BG ]
• Kerrycollects over $1 million at Baltimore fundrasier. [ USAT ]
• Jason Miner,head of DNC oppo-research: "There's an arrogance to [the administration] that suggests they believe they should not be accountable." Shows great respect for employees: "They're like dogs -- they'll bite anyone, you just have to point them in the right direction." [ WP ][ AFP/HO/Eric Draper ]