Election Recycling: You Say "Brahimi," I Say "Brandini," Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Edition
• Kerrystarts running ads to introduce himself;Bush'sreduced ad buy is all negative. Democrats see vulnerability of BC04: "In this business, when what you're doing is working, you don't take your foot off the gas," saidRep. Rahm Emanuel.[ WP and NYT and LAT ]
• Bushwas "intrigued" by new Israeli policy, struggled over wording. "Eliminating taboos and saying the truth about the situation is, we think, a contribution toward peace. Getting people to face reality in this situation is going to help, not hurt," said a senior official. [ WP ]
• Kerry: "Home base forGeorge Bushin this race, as you saw to the nth degree in his press conference, is terror. Ask him a question and he's going to go to terror. . . even though everybody here knows that it has nothing whatsoever to do with al Qaeda and everything to do with an agenda that they had preset, determined."Racicot: "On a day whenOsama bin Ladenagain threatened the United States and our allies, it is disturbing to realize thatJohn Kerryneither recognizes nor understands the murderous ideology of our enemies and the threat that they pose to our nation."Kerryrefers toBrahimias "Brandini." [ WP ]
• Kerryplans to move to the center to appeal to moderate Republicans. [ NYT ]
•RNC attacksKerry'spositions on social issues.Ralph Reed: "The portrait that emerges is thatKerry,on every issue --economic, national security and values-- is out of the mainstream in the South and, I would argue, nationally."Kerryflak: "George Bushcan't even see the problems they are facing down South
the job losses, the skyrocketing healthcare costs, the rising college tuition costs and the stagnant wages that have put middle-class families in a world of hurt." [ LAT ]
•Analysis: BushandKerryhave similar Iraq positions; "War issueBush'sto lose." [ WP ]
• Bushpromotes tax cuts in Iowa;Kerrycomplains about "truth deficit." [ WP and NYT ]
•NRA to launch campaign forBush."What you see inJohn Kerryis a politician that spent his life voting against the Second Amendment. What I see is the same thing I saw inMichael DukakisandAl Gore.It's an elitist arrogance," said an executive. [ NYT ]
•White House considers National Intelligence Director position. [ NYT ]
• Teresa Heinz Kerryis careful with philanthropic moves; "tries tough love." [ WSJ ]
•Parties financially close in key races. [ NYT ]
•War weighs heavily on voters in Minnesota. [ LAT ]
• Cheneyon Chinese TV: "Economic growth is important in allowing individuals to lead lives of comfort and dignity, but material goods alone cannot satisfy the deepest yearnings of the human heart; that can only come with full freedom of religion, speech, assembly and conscience." [ WP and WT ]
• Kerrymeets with archbishop to discuss politics and the church. [ LAT and WT ]
• Kerryleads among college students; more would wantBushas a roommate. [ LAT ]
• Kerryis against reparations for slavery. [ WT ]
• Venturalooks to '08. [ LAT ]
[Tip-toeing through the tulips. REUTERS/Larry Downing US ELECTION ]