 |
|
The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Bush strikes back
 |
President Bush characterized his potential opponents as negative, inconsistent and "uncertain in the face of danger" when it comes to world affairs.
Story Tools
| ON CNN TV | 
Watch for live coverage of the results of Tuesday's caucuses in Hawaii and Idaho and the primary in Utah -- and reactions to President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage -- throughout the evening on CNN-USA.
|
VIDEO
|
CNN's John King on President Bush's new campaign offensive.
CNN's Kelly Wallace on John Kerry's reaction to the Bush address.
CNN's Kitty Pilgrim on John Edwards' emphasis on jobs and trade.
|
| PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES |
• Today: Hawaii, Idaho Democratic caucuses; Utah primary • Sunday, February 29: Puerto Rico Republican primary • "Super Tuesday," March 2: Primaries in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia; caucuses in Minnesota When is your primary? For more key dates in the 2004 election season, see our special America Votes 2004 Election Calendar |
SPECIAL REPORT
|
|
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
• OPENING ATTACK: President Bush launched his opening attack on John Kerry last night, asserting that his likely opponent would raise taxes, stifle business and expand government while weakening America's defenses.
The Washington Post: President weighs in on Kerry
• IN OLD NEW YORK: John Kerry tangled bitterly with President Bush's re-election campaign yesterday over defense, patriotism and political tactics, as he rolled through New York picking up endorsements, raising money and bracing for an advertising onslaught from the president.
The New York Times: Kerry speaks to New York, talks back to Washington
• WOOING DEAN: The North Carolina senator is desperate to gain traction in his uphill electoral battle against John Kerry and has made an intense behind-the-scenes effort to woo the former Vermont governor and his mighty political machine featuring tens of thousands of activists seeking a new standard-bearer.
The Boston Globe: Edwards seeks Dean's support
• KUCINICH IN PARADISE: No other Democratic presidential candidate bothered to campaign in Hawaii, but Dennis Kucinich went to the state for the second time Sunday, confident that Tuesday night's caucuses will be his strongest showing so far.
The Washington Post: Kucinich focuses on oft-ignored Hawaii
• CHENEY TARGETED: Thousands of gay rights supporters are posting open letters on the Internet urging Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter, to speak out against amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The campaign targets Cheney because she is openly gay and is running her father's part of the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign but has not taken a public position on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.
The Washington Post: Mary Cheney urged to fight a ban on same-sex marriage
• 'LIBERAL' TAG: As Kerry closes in on the Democratic nomination for president, the Bush campaign has begun to try to portray him as a Massachusetts liberal, a hypocrite who switches positions for political expedience and a disloyal war protester from the hippie era. It is an approach that worked famously before in the 1988 campaign of Bush's father against former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Kerry has vowed that the strategy will not work again.
The Chicago Tribune: 'Liberal' tag resurrected to pin on John Kerry
• NADER HITS BACK: Ralph Nader yesterday sought to tamp down bubbling criticism of his newly announced Independent presidential bid, which some Democrats have characterized as an ego-quest that will harm their chances of winning back the White House. "Do not deny millions of voters the opportunity to vote for this candidacy. Everyone should have a chance, everyone should argue on the merits, not on the money," Nader said.
The Boston Globe: Assailed by Democrats, Nader hits trail, fights back
• KERRY LEADS IN CALIFORNIA: A week before California's Democratic presidential primary, John Kerry leads John Edwards by a lopsided 56% to 24% among the state's likely voters in the race, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll.
The Los Angeles Times: Kerry leads Edwards handily in California
• STYLE CRAMP: Thirteen months after launching his presidential campaign, John Edwards has Secret Service protection. Edwards, a candidate who thrives on human contact, was whisked along a barricade as he left an event, shaking only a small fraction of the hands he usually does at such events. Agents flanked him. The senator also will lose the solitude of his daily jogs -- until now some of the scant time Edwards has to himself.
The News and Observer: Secret Service might cramp Edwards' style
• MAKE-OR-BREAK: With New York's primary shaping up as a make-or-break contest for John Edwards and a potential nomination clincher for John Kerry the candidates are both working the state aggressively, if from very different ends. Mr. Kerry has courted, and won, the endorsements of many elected officials. Mr. Edwards looked to win over grass-roots support, out of either conviction or practicality, as elected official after elected official jumped on the front-runner bandwagon.
The New York Times: Kerry and Edwards scrambling for support in New York vote
Compiled by Heather Riley
