• Washington Whispers:Carville, Brock encourage KE04 to clamp down on press. . . Cartoonist on Kerry: "You can't draw his face too long or with too many lines. Kerry's a dream.". . . Democrats prefer Simon Cowell over Nader. . . Gore complained to Fox News for not showing his speech. [USN&WR]

• Heard on the Hill:Franken in altered-state on stage in Boston, assumed to be drunk. He blames Maxalt: "If anyone was drunk it was supposed to be the people in the crowd.". . . Rep. Rothman's (D-N.J.) J-Date profile exposed. . . Eunice Kennedy Shriver pushed around on luggage cart. . . CNN ticker identifies Sen. Collins as Sen. Phil Collins. [Roll Call]

• Lloyd Grove's Lowdown:Edwards to Couric: "Where are your shoes?". . . American Airlines takes P.Diddy's "Vote or Die" personally. [NYDN]

• Rush & Molloy:Vincent Gallo will attend Republican convention. . . Jon Stewart, DiCaprio, Rep. Weiner push limits of Boston. . . Hillary "looking at the frilly things" offered by La Perla lingerie story. . . Tent signed with Washington Speakers Bureau. [NYDN]

• Page Six:Norman Mailer: "John Kerry is not Jesus or Joan of Arc, but Democrats must learn guile. They've always been funnier, but if rage erupts, they lose. They must try moderation. Moderation is what Republicans live for. This country has a terror of excess. There is a profound conservatism in America.". . . Maher wouldn't mind being handcuffed to Hillary. [NYP, NYP]

• Cindy Adams:Turner says he would have fired person responsible for balloon flap. [NYP]

• Liz Smith:Lewinsky to talk to BBC about paying for interviews. [NYP]