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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Democrats band together for Kerry
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Stay with CNN-USA for reports and analysis on the state of the race after John Kerry's four-state sweep and President Bush's new defense of his economic policy. Of special interest Wednesday evening: A "Face Off" on electronic voting on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" at 6 p.m. ET.
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 CNN's Candy Crowley on John Kerry's sweep of four more state primaries
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 CNN's Bill Schneider compares Bush 2004 and Bush 1988
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 CNN's Bruce Morton looks at John Kerry's chances in the South
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
PARALLEL CAMPAIGN: Led by veterans of presidential and congressional campaigns, a coalition of Democratic Party interest groups, armed with millions of dollars in soft money, is rapidly constructing an unprecedented political operation designed to supplement the activities of John Kerry's campaign in the effort to defeat President Bush. The Washington Post: Democrats forming parallel campaign
BUSH MOVES QUICKLY: With a fierce campaign of attacks led by President Bush, an orchestrated barrage of criticism by Republican elected officials and an imminent sweep of hard-hitting television advertisements, the White House is moving with unusual speed and force to try to discredit John Kerry, the president's likely Democratic challenger. The New York Times: Bush team tries to capture critical first judgments
NOMINATION WALTZ: John Kerry continued his waltz to the Democratic nomination yesterday, a dance that became all the easier since his last major competitor dropped out of the race. Yesterday's voting in four southern states -- Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas -- took place in the first primaries since Sen. John Edwards ended his candidacy after his poor Super Tuesday showing a week ago. The Washington Post: Kerry sweeps races in 4 states
ISSUE TALKS: John Kerry yesterday proposed a series of monthly "issues" debates with President Bush during the long run-up to Election Day, while twisting Bush's reelection slogan of "steady leadership" to suggest that the rigid policies of the current White House are harming Americans. The Boston Globe: Kerry offers monthly debates
TURNOUT COUNT: Turnout in the Democratic primaries, heralded by party leaders as a strong showing of unity and outrage against President Bush, was actually in line with past primaries, lower than many recent Republican contests, and included some record lows in later states, according to a full accounting released yesterday. The Boston Globe: Democratic turnout seen so-so, despite party assertions
BUSH UNDER ATTACK: President Bush comes under attack in two television advertising campaigns being launched today, one by a Democratic-leaning group and the other by a gay Republican organization. The Los Angeles Times: Democratic, GOP groups target Bush in new TV ads
ACCOUNTING FOR SHARPTON: Election officials are recommending that Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton receive $100,000 in federal matching funds -- and be the subject of an investigation into whether he deserves the money. The Los Angeles Times: Sharpton may get audit along with cash
DEATH PENALTY: Though he always has opposed the death penalty, John Kerry said Tuesday that the September 11 attacks made him realize that he would want to "blow Osama bin Laden's brains out." The Chicago Tribune: Kerry says terrorists alone merit executionAD BLASTING: President Bush's re-election campaign yesterday asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate a liberal advocacy group for airing anti-Bush TV ads the campaign calls illegal. The ads, which were scheduled to begin airing today in 17 battleground states, are financed in part by Democratic billionaire George Soros, who last year likened the president to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. The Washington Times: Bush backers object to ads
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Former President Bill Clinton is not running for mayor of New York because one Clinton in office is plenty. The New York Post: Bill leaves running to Hill
