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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Bush, Kerry slug it out in TV ads
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Watch Richard Clarke, former national coordinator for counterterrorism, on Larry King Live 9p.m. ET. |
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 CNN's David Ensor on the first day of 9/11 hearings with top officials.
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 CNN's John King on President Bush's denial that he underestimated terrorist threats.
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 CNN's Barbara Starr on Secretary of State Colin Powells defense of Bush on 9/11.
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RELATED |
 Gallery: Key testimony in the 9/11 investigation
 Audio Slide Show: 9/11 commission testimony
 Gallery: 9/11 commission members
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
TEAM SPIRIT: For the past week, television viewers in Lansing, Michigan, have been seeing twice as many ads for President Bush's reelection campaign than for Sen. John F. Kerry. But that does not mean Democrats have been falling behind. While Bush and Kerry slug it out, two liberal organizations, MoveOn.org and the Media Fund, have joined the fray with TV spots of their own, knocking the president's record on jobs and the Iraq war. The Washington Post: Democratic spending is team effort
POLL SPOTS WEAKNESSES: President Bush is vulnerable on job creation and Democratic rival John Kerry must convince voters that he can protect the country, according to an Associated Press poll. The Boston Globe: Poll: Bush weak on jobs, Kerry on security
DREARY STATS: Allies of Democrat John Kerry in this down-on-its-luck industrial state are armed with depressing statistics on unemployment and poverty, hoping to persuade voters to blame President Bush for the hit on their pocketbooks.The Boston Globe: Bush faces dreary statistics in Michigan
CLARKE PRAISE: A former U.S. counterterrorism expert who in his new book accuses the Bush administration of bungling the war on terror had praised the president in his letter of resignation. The White House released the letter yesterday in an attempt to stop any damage that Richard A. Clarke's "Against All Enemies" could inflict on Mr. Bush's record as a wartime leader. The Washington Times: President's critic had hailed him in letter
KERRY KEEPS QUIET: While the political world awaits his reaction, John Kerry has yet to personally respond to the charge that the Bush administration failed to heed warnings of the terrorist threat before Sept. 11, 2001. The reason for Kerry's silence: the new book making the claim has yet to catch up with the presumed Democratic presidential nominee as he enjoys a vacation in Idaho. The Los Angeles Times: Vacationing Kerry reserves his judgment on 9/11 book
BLASTING KERRY BAD FOR BUSH?: For President Bush, resolving doubts about his own leadership may be a more urgent goal than raising doubts about rival John Kerry. Although Bush has opened his 2004 campaign mostly by criticizing Kerry on national security and taxes, reelection bids by presidents have pivoted more on assessments of the incumbent than of his opponent, many political experts agree. The Los Angeles Times: Focus on foe may hurt Bush
ELECTION-YEAR ISSUE: Despite indications that a bid to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriages has little hope of passage, GOP congressional leaders continued to push the amendment yesterday, prompting Democrats to charge that Republicans are orchestrating an emotionally divisive issue for the fall elections. The Washington Post: GOP playing politics on gay marriage, Democrats say
AXIS OF DIESEL: The record-high price of gasoline has suddenly become one of the most contentious issues here, with presidential candidates and members of Congress rushing to assign blame and propose ways to lower voters' costs at the gas pump.The New York Times: As gasoline hits record price, Bush, Kerry and Democrats spar over policy and next move
TRES FRANCAIS: A French-born marketing guru has a pointed warning for Democratic wannabe John Kerry: You come off as way too French, mon ami. The New York Post: French consultant tells Kerry: Be less Gaul-ling
Compiled by Heather Riley
