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The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Black-tie Wednesday
Bush to headline correspondents' dinner
By John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
 |  President Bush poked fun at his own grammatical gaffes at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner in 2001. |
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| | ON CNN TV | 
Watch Richard Clarke, former national coordinator for counterterrorism, on Larry King Live 9p.m. ET. |
 VIDEO |
 CNN's David Ensor on the first day of 9/11 hearings with top officials.
 CNN's John King on President Bush's denial that he underestimated terrorist threats.
 CNN's Barbara Starr on Secretary of State Colin Powells defense of Bush on 9/11.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- John Kerry ends his weeklong vacation in Idaho, while the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Elk Grove v. Newdow (aka the "under God" case). The AFL-CIO launches an eight-state jobs tour in St. Louis, Missouri, and Richard Clarke testifies before the 9/11 commission on Capitol Hill.
Lots going on today. But really, there's nothing more important happening in American politics than the Radio and Television Correspondents Association's 60th annual dinner, a black-tie gathering of the city's most popular politicians, Donald "You're Fired!" Trump and, well, us.
President Bush, who missed last year's dinner in the middle of the Iraq war, headlines the event at the Washington Hilton. But The Donald will surely make a splash -- snubbing NBC, the host of the network's latest reality-show hit attends tonight's bash as a guest of Fox News Channel. Trump agreed to do so after receiving an invite call from FNC Chariman and CEO Roger Ailes himself.
All eyes (and ears) on Clarke
While he plans to deliver a fun-filled speech at 8:15 p.m. ET, Bush's day is sure to be less than jovial as the White House and Washington monitor the testimony of Clarke, the suddenly famous former counterterrorism chief, whose just-released book condemning Bush's war on terrorism has drawn a stinging rebuke from up and down the administration. (Including the first lady -- more on that below).
Indeed, it's hard to find a Bush aide who'll call Clarke by his full first name of Richard -- are they hoping folks will confuse the intelligence expert with the former host of American Bandstand?
Their latest retaliatory strike came last night when the White House released Clarke's resignation letter. The letter, dated January 20, 2003, praises Bush's "courage, determination, calm and leadership" on September 11. "It has been an enormous privilege to serve you these last 24 months,'' Clarke wrote. "I will always remember the courage, determination, calm and leadership you demonstrated on September 11th.''
Laura's lines
Also today, Laura Bush is scheduled to address a fund-raising luncheon at noon ET for Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons. It's unclear whether she'll say anything newsworthy here, but she had a few good lines during recent California and Nevada swings when John Kerry was hitting her husband something fierce.
And she did lay into Clarke yesterday after an event she attended on heart disease in Chicago.
"When my husband was inaugurated and he swore to protect and defend the Constitution and the people of the United States, he took that very, very seriously,'' she said. "And for someone to imply that he doesn't is just wrong.''
Political footnotes
Senate Democrats host their annual spring fund-raising dinner at the Columbus Club in Union Station, which aides are touting as their biggest and most successful hard-money event ever. Expected haul: $3 million, with tickets ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Some 35 senators are expected to attend. Headliners: Sens. Tom Daschle, Harry Reid, Jon Corzine and Debbie Stabenow.Georgia Sen. Zell Miller holds an 11 a.m. conference call announcing the formation of the "Democrats for Bush" committee. Miller, who's worth far more to Bush as a Democrat than he ever could be as a Republican, will unveil a group of 100 Democratic "leaders" from across the country who are backing Bush.Ad dollars
And finally, we thought we'd close today by providing y'all with the latest ad spending estimates from TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, CNN's consultant on ad spending. TNSMI/CMAG monitors ad spending in the nation's top 100 media markets. The actual spending amount is likely higher.
The estimates were compiled by Robert Yoon, CNN's top-notch political research director. Enjoy.
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| |
John Kerry |
George Bush |
| State |
Spot count |
Estimated spending |
Spot count |
Estimated spending |
| Arkansas |
76 |
$31,682 |
129 |
$77,834 |
| Arizona |
260 |
$185,230 |
356 |
$346,669 |
| Florida |
337 |
$200,309 |
1276 |
$1,102,099 |
| Iowa |
151 |
$51,070 |
368 |
$197,961 |
| Maine |
78 |
$74,306 |
167 |
$142,846 |
| Michigan |
227 |
$146,635 |
496 |
$430,531 |
| Minnesota |
127 |
$115,475 |
152 |
$214,480 |
| Missouri |
210 |
$117,521 |
505 |
$326,558 |
| New Hampshire |
82 |
$47,667 |
313 |
$168,686 |
| New Mexico |
85 |
$67,995 |
147 |
$113,183 |
| Nevada |
141 |
$67,170 |
208 |
$180,944 |
| Ohio |
445 |
$188,724 |
855 |
$513,804 |
| Oregon |
132 |
$47,763 |
211 |
$84,969 |
| Pennsylvania |
349 |
$193,201 |
685 |
$761,654 |
| Washington |
0 |
$0.00 |
399 |
$315,401 |
| Wisconsin |
212 |
$92,776 |
534 |
$288,851 |
| West Virginia |
75 |
$20,654 |
132 |
$40,912 |
| National cable |
Not available |
Not available |
155 |
$363,194 |
| Total |
2987 |
$1,648,178 |
7088 |
$5,670,576 |
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