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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Dueling military records
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Former Sen. Max Cleland, left, lost both legs and his right arm while serving in Vietnam. Democratic front-runner Sen. John Kerry, right, is also a Vietnam veteran.
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VIDEO
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CNN's Judy Woodruff talks to Wesley Clark about his political plans.
CNN's Bill Schneider sniffs out parallels between the Westminster dog show and the presidential race.
CNN's Kelly Wallace follows the campaign trail to Wisconsin.
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SPECIAL REPORT
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
• THE CLELAND TREATMENT: The Democratic front-runner is a decorated war hero who, if he wins the nomination, would run against a commander in chief whose military record has come under question. But Republicans, emboldened by their defeat of another honored Vietnam veteran, former senator Max Cleland, believe they can beat John Kerry the same way they did Cleland in Georgia two years ago -- by attacking the Democrat's record on national security.
The Boston Globe: Kerry faces fight on security
• BUSH'S FILES: President Bush's aides said last night that they have finished reviewing an inch-thick file of his Texas Air National Guard records and do not plan to make any more of them public, but they will consider possible releases from a new set that is to arrive at the White House this week.
The Washington Post: Aides study president's service records
• For at least six years, retired Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett has maintained that Bush's record as a member of the Guard was purged of potentially embarrassing material at the behest of high-ranking Bush aides laying the groundwork for Bush's 2000 run for the presidency. But George O. Conn, a former chief warrant officer with the Guard and a friend of Burkett's, is the person whom Burkett says led him to the room where the Bush records were being vetted. And Conn says he never saw anyone combing through the Bush file or discarding records.
The Boston Globe: Doubts raised on Bush accuser
• BUSH BLASTS KERRY: President Bush's reelection campaign directly engaged Kerry for the first time last night with a harsh video calling him "unprincipled" and "brought to you by the special interests." The Bush-Cheney campaign e-mailed a Web link for the video to 6 million addresses, with an introduction that countered Kerry's claim that he would show special interests the door by saying that "the only door he's shown special interests is the front door of his office."
The Washington Post: Bush campaign releases video attacking Kerry
• LAST STAND? The Wisconsin primary represents one of the last realistic chances for John Edwards or Howard Dean to derail Kerry. The stakes are particularly high for Edwards, who many in the Democratic Party see as having a far better chance than Dean of overtaking Kerry. Edwards is encouraging voters to watch him in a debate Sunday night. His campaign aides believe a strong showing could propel the state's nearly 18 percent of undecided voters to shift support to him.
The Chicago Tribune: For Kerry foes, stakes are high in Wisconsin
• CLARK BACKING KERRY: Kerry will pick up the endorsement of former Democratic rival Wesley Clark, a Democratic source told CNN. Clark was scheduled to appear with Kerry on Friday in Wisconsin, but in a CNN interview Thursday, Clark would not confirm that he would endorse Kerry, saying, "I'm looking forward to seeing John tomorrow." A Democratic source called Clark's expected endorsement a "significant step forward" for the Kerry campaign, predicting it would draw Southern and military votes to Kerry.
CNN: Source: Clark to endorse Kerry
• SUNNY SIDE UP: John Edwards brought his sunny, populist message to Southern California on Thursday to rally voters and replenish his campaign treasury in a lightning detour from his intense appeal for votes in a critical presidential primary next week in Wisconsin.
The Los Angeles Times: Sunny side up for Edwards
• GILLESPIE'S NEVADA PITCH: Promising not to be the last high-ranking Republican to visit Nevada this year, national GOP chairman Ed Gillespie said Thursday the party is focused on making sure President Bush keeps the Silver State's electoral votes. In a speech to the state party's Lincoln Day Dinner, Gillespie criticized Kerry's record on intelligence and defense funding, his campaigning practices, his wife's political contributions and his opposition to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
The Reno Gazette Journal: GOP chairman says Nevada's role 'critically important'
• VEEPSTAKES RUMORS: Virginia is abuzz with rumors that Democratic Governor Mark Warner may be on a short list of potential vice-presidential candidates for the Democratic ticket in November. Warner spokeswoman Ellen Qualls said there is no truth to the rumors. She said the governor is focused on tax reform.
The Washington Times: Rumor mill puts Warner on Kerry short list
• ASIAN INFLUENCE: Contending that the growing influence of Asian-Americans, as well as issues that concern them, are being overlooked in an election year, a coalition of organizations that represent Asian Americans announced on Thursday a unified platform intended to increase politicians' involvement with the ethnic group.
The New York Times: Asian Americans note issues central to them for elections
Compiled by Mark H. Rodeffer
