Election Recycling: I'm Not a Puppet Edition
•ForBush,9/11 report is better than expected. Blame is spread; calls war on terrorism ineffective, vague; conclusion similar toBushrhetoric. [ WP , WP , WT ]
• Kerry: "This report carries a very simple message for all of America about the security of all Americans: We can do better. . . If I am elected president and there still has not been sufficient progress rapidly in these next months on these issues, then I will lead."Bush, Kerrypraise report. [ NYT , LAT ]
•More White House aides knew ofBergerincident than originally acknowledged.Lockhart: "Did the political operation know? DidKarl Roveknow? I think it's time for them to come clean." [ WP , WT ]
• Bush, Kerrytied in two polls; dissatisfaction seen withBushand direction. Separately,Kerryleads in Pennsylvania, candidates tied in Florida. [ LAT , LAT , USAT ]
•Race closest since 1980, according to WSJ/NBC poll. Voters seeKerryas intelligent, but find weaknesses;Edwardsseen favorably by 44%, up 12 points. [ WSJ , WSJ ]
• Kerrywants to debateBushat Urban League, says he would combat gang violence with job training, education: "We also need to send young people a strong, clear message that there is another path, and if they are willing to take that path, we will be with them." [ WP , WT , USAT ]
• Kerryto USAT: "It will take a new president, a change of administration in Washington, to restore credibility to America and to open the doors of possibilities for how we get our troops home out of Iraq." [ USAT ]
• Kerryon whether early-term abortions are murder: "No, because it's not the form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past. . . Does life begin? Yes, it begins. Is it at the point where I would say that you apply those [criminal] penalties? The answer is, no, and I believe in choice." [ LAT ]
• KucinichforKE04.[ USAT ]
• Elizabeth Edwardspraised for being "real."Elizabeth: "I'm willing to listen to anybody. It doesn't mean I'm going to do everything. I'm not a puppet. But I've got ears, and I'm going to use them to make certain I'm doing the best possible things I can do." [NYT ]
•Poll finds 92% of "F9/11" viewers plan to vote forKerry.[ LAT ]
•Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, BBC to cover conventions. [ LAT ]
•MSNBC, CNN profileKerrywithout "pictures of him on a date withMorgan Fairchildor wooingTeresa Heinzin fluent French." [ NYT ]