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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Dems eye a new target: Dick Cheney
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The Boston Herald reports that Dems criticize Dick Cheney as a symbol of all that is seen as wrong about the Bush administration.
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Stay with CNN-USA all weekend for live coverage of the presidential caucuses in Maine, and for updates and analysis of the campaign.
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VIDEO
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CNN's Bill Hemmer talks with Roy Neel, Howard Dean's new campaign manager.
CNN's John King talks with first lady Laura Bush.
CNN's Candy Crowley on '04 Dems' hopes of slowing John Kerry.
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| UPCOMING PRIMARIES |
• Saturday, February 7: Michigan and Washington caucuses • Sunday, February 8: Maine caucuses • Tuesday, February 10: Tennessee primary and Virginia primaries When is your primary? For more key dates in the 2004 election season, see our special America Votes 2004 Election Calendar |
SPECIAL REPORT
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
• DEMOCRATS EYEING A NEW TARGET: DICK CHENEY: Democrats running for the presidential nomination have consistently trained their sights on President Bush, but the candidates and party leaders have spotted another target they believe shows that the administration's policies are conceived in secrecy and skewed to the rich: Vice President Dick Cheney. Previous attacks on vice presidents suggested they were unfit to serve as president if something happened to the chief executive, but the criticism of Cheney instead hints that he is the real force behind the administration and a symbol of everything about it that is seen as wrong.
The Boston Herald: Dems eyeing a novel target: VP
• MAKING CALLS IN WASHINGTON: The candidates are gone but Washington state locals continue to work fervently to get their candidate votes in the upcoming caucuses. Engaging in what is the political equivalent of telemarketing, volunteers are making thousands of phone calls to voters trying to garner support. Although sometimes a thankless task, party activists say that these calls can tilt the odds. Take a look into four of the Democratic candidates campaigns.
The Seattle Times: Candidates gone, locals work on
• NO SHOW CANDIDATES DISAPPOINT DETROITERS: Nearly 800 people, mostly black voters, booed in disappointment last night at the sight of three empty chairs bearing the names of no-show Democratic presidential candidates at a Detroit forum. John Kerry, Wesley Clark, and John Edwards were no shows and Dean abruptly canceled to take his struggling campaign to Wisconsin to prepare for a February 17 primary, which he has declared he must win or else quit. The only candidate to show up was Al Sharpton. Dean's departure and the candidate no-shows were the latest rebuffs to Saturday's Democratic caucuses in Michigan, where polls showing Kerry's commanding lead have scared off the field.
The Detroit Free Press: No-show candidates disappoint Detroiters
• JUDY DEAN GROWS MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HER ROLE: Calling from her practice in Vermont, Judy Dean talks about her husbands candidacy and his recent loss in 7 primaries. Although she admits it's been tough watching him endure a string of primary losses, she describes him as a strong guy who's fueled by the passion of his supporters and the need to get his message across. She says she hasn't followed the polls and will probably listen to Saturday night's results on NPR because she doesn't have cable TV.
The Detroit Free Press: Judy Dean comfortable with role
• DEAN TELLS SUPPORTERS WISCONSIN IS A "MUST WIN": Winless in the nation's first nine Democratic primary and caucus contests, embattled one-time front-runner Howard Dean told supporters in an e-mail Thursday that he must win the Wisconsin primary on February 17 or fold his long-shot comeback bid. "This entire race has come down to this: We must win Wisconsin," Dean said, "A win there will carry us to the big states of March 2--and narrow the field to two candidates," Dean wrote. "Anything less will put us out of this race."
The Chicago Tribune: Dean's 'must-win'
• KERRY WINS SUPPORT OF GEPHARDT: John Kerry secured a series of high-profile endorsements yesterday - most significantly that of the former presidential contender Richard Gephardt - as he worked to create an air of inevitability about his nomination and drive his remaining rivals from the Democratic race.
The New York Times: Gephardt throws his support to Kerry
• EDWARDS STRUGGLES TO KEEP OP WITH RIVALS FUNDRAISING: John Edwards, who gets praise from fund-raisers for strong money management, took a detour from the campaign trail this week to attend fund-raisers for his presidential campaign in New York and New Jersey and continues to make solicitation calls. But fund-raisers say that without the broad network that Mr. Kerry has or the strong Internet roots of Dr. Dean, Mr. Edwards must struggle to compete financially. Because Mr. Edwards has raised much of his money from donors who have already given him the maximum contribution - $2,000 - and because the campaign has not focused on Internet fund-raising, he must now reach out to new donors with very little time. Edwards campaign officials say that they are up to the task.
The New York Times: Edwards Struggles to Compete With Rivals in Raising Money
• COMPETITION BECOMES THE DEMOCRATS ELIXIR: In its closing phase, the party finds itself facing prospects for the fall election that are vastly improved from just two months ago while President Bush is weaker than his strategists expected, spreading alarm in the White House and Republican circles. The new balance in the race, even as Democratic front-runner John Kerry still faces spirited challenges, is a striking circumstance in historical terms. Usually, nominating battles weaken candidates, at least temporarily, as a party's ideological rifts and personal resentments take time to heal and sometimes prove fatal in the general election. This year, the Democratic contest is likely to produce a nominee who will be stronger coming out of the process than going in, according to strategists with both parties.
The Washington Post: Competition becomes Democrats' elixir
• JOHN KERRY THE ROCK STAR?: Back in 1961, when he was in prep school, future Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry played electric bass with the Electras. Yesterday, a copy of the band's one-and-only, self-titled album appeared on eBay, with a starting bid of $500. The liner notes describe Kerry as "the producer of a pulsating rhythm that lends tremendous force to all the numbers." Kerry remembers that being an Electra "was a very good time." But ex-band mate Andrew Gagarin told The Washington Post: "The whole idea was to meet more babes."
eBay: Sen. John Kerry and The Electras
Compiled by Julie Hofler
