Election Recycling: So Did You Miss Me Edition
•Campaigns confront implications of terror warning.Deanhints that terror alerts are Bush's "trump card,"White Houseindignant,KE04says "You have to take them at their word."Schumer: "I think this is one of the sleeper issues of this campaign. It's one whereKerrycan show strength and at the same time show that this administration hasn't really thought through the war on terror." [ NYT ]
• Kerrypromises to reduce U.S. military presence in Iraq during first term, though offers no details or plans: "I know that as president there's huge leverage that will be available to me, enormous cards to play, and I'm not going to play them in public." [ WP , LAT ]
• Bush, Kerrytour battleground states seeking local media and swing voters. Anti-Kerrysigns include "Pro-life for a hamster but not for a baby" and "Ben Affleck'sgreatest hits. Gigli. Daredevil.Kerry-Edwards."[NYT , LAT , USAT , WSJ , BG ]
• Kerry'sspeech showed his confidence on economic issue.Luntz: "I'm shocked that a Democrat would do as well asKerrydid on national security. This is a brand-new campaign. In certain ways,Bushis now the underdog." [ LAT ]
• Bush'stough talk on terrorism well-received. [ USAT ]
•USAT/CNN/Gallup registers no bump forKerry;Newsweek poll showsKerryup, 49-42. [ USAT ]
• KE04release book of plans for their administration. [ BG ]
• Naderto stay in race, claims convention was "repressed conformity in order to create the show."Dean, Roy Neelto targetNadervoters.Moore, Maherplead on-air for him to dropout.Nader: "Who cares about the legacy? Are they going to tear out seat belts from cars? We're looking to the future."Huffington: "My main message is that when your house is on fire, it's not time to talk about remodeling. First you put the fire out." [ NYT ]
• Powelltestifies inValerie Plameinvestigation. [ WP ]
• Kerry'ssister questioned by antiabortion group for denouncingBushpolicies while working for the administration's UN mission. [ WP ]
•Unions united forKerrybut torn internally. [ NYT ]
•Jewish supporters enter swing states to helpKerry.[ BG ]
•Fox News executives see convention schedule as counterprogramming.O'Reilly: "The 'Factor' is not an infomercial. The decision was made to stick with the format, unless it's a dramatic situation."Hume: "I don't know if that was the right call or not." [ WP ]
•"Most important" election phrase overused. "But this year we really mean it," said Sierra flack in 2000. [ LAT] [ AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac ]