Election Recycling: Monotonous Sadism Run Amok Edition

•NewBushad, airing in 18 battleground states, proclaims: "John Kerry-- wrong on taxes, wrong on defense;"Kerry'sresponse ad asks, "Doesn't America deserve more from its president than misleading negative ads?" [ WP and NYT ]

•Some key Republicans worry aboutBushcampaign; "We've seen a lot of mistakes and, frankly, some degree of incompetence out of an operation that, up to now, was closing ranks and executing very well," says GOP strategist. [ LAT ]

• Bushraises $1.6 million, eats filet mignon 400 yards from 9/11 memorial he attended; tells donors: "I'll never forget that day. . . The men and women searching through the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I have a responsibility that goes on." [ WP and NYT ]

• BushmisrepresentsKerry'sposition on intelligence; claimsKerry'sproposal, which would have cut about 1% of the intel budget, would have "gutted" intelligence. [ WP ]

• Kerrywon't apologize for remark on Republicans, says "there is a Republican attack squad that specializes in trying to destroy people." [ WP and NYT ]

• Kerryrefuses to provide supporting information about a statement in Monday: "I've met with foreign leaders who can't go out and say this publicly. But, boy, they look at you and say: 'You've got to win this. You've got to beat this guy. We need a new policy.' Things like that." [ WT ]

•Media, voters, campaigns settle in for eight months of intense bare-knuckle campaigning. [ USAT ]

•Complaints over California's e-voting; "California has a lemon law which protects consumers if they buy an automobile that doesn't work. So far, electronic voting in California is a lemon. It needs to be fixed," saysSen. Ross Johnson, R-Irvine.[ USAT ]

• Sharptonreceives $100,000 in federal funds; FEC begins probe. [ BG ]