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The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Swinging surrogates
From John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
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Stay with CNN for updates and analysis on the controversy over Condoleezza Rice's position on 9/11 testimony, and for news from the Bush-Cheney and John Kerry forces on the campaign trail.
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's Adaora Udoji on liberal vs. conservative talk radio.
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 CNN's Dana Bash on Condoleezza Rice and 9/11 victims' families.
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 CNN's Bill Schneider on Boston as a site for the Democratic convention.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush and John Kerry keep relatively light public schedules today, leaving the heavy lifting to key surrogates.
That's a good idea.
More than likely, everyone will get drowned out by the shouting match over Condi Rice, whose refusal to testify publicly before the 9/11 commission is, according to one GOP panelist, a "political blunder of the first order." (Rice: 'Nothing to hide')
Among those stumping for Bush while he returns to Washington from Crawford: One of the president's most politically charged Cabinet chiefs, Treasury Secretary John Snow, who embarks today on a four-day swing through three swing states to trumpet the president's economic record. Today, Snow hits Ohio. Later this week, Snow heads to Arizona and New Mexico.
Perhaps more crucial to the tone of the Bush campaign this week, however, is Barbara Walters' interview tonight on ABC's "20/20" with Karen Hughes, who embarks today on a six-week tour to hawk her new book, "Ten Minutes From Normal." For once, it seems, the Bush White House begins the week with a book they can look forward to reading. (Bush campaign circle)
Kerry, who's raising money and holding town-hall meetings across California today, has a couple of surrogates working on his behalf.
Most notably, look for Senate Democrats to hit back at Majority Leader Bill Frist for his Friday floor speech demanding that the White House declassify Richard Clarke's 2002 testimony before the joint congressional committee on intelligence (GOP: Declassify Clarke's 2002 testimony).
We expect to hear Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Whip Harry Reid, who were caught flat-footed by Frist's outburst Friday, to directly link Frist's demands with a request that Rice testify under oath, in public, before the commission.
Senate Democrats today are also urging former national security advisers, both Democrat and Republican, to come forward and refute Bush administration claims that Rice is forbidden to testify by a "long-standing principle" that national security advisers shouldn't testify before Congress.
Air wars
Also today, the Media Fund, the Democrats' favorite 527, will start airing its new 30-second ad, which says, among other things, that Bush's priorities "won't strengthen America." The spot can be viewed at www.MakeAmericaWorkForUs.org
"The issue: Tax cuts for the middle class," an announcer says in the new spot, which was scheduled to run in the 17 battleground states.
"John Kerry voted to eliminate the marriage penalty, and for an increased child tax credit. The Kerry economic plan: Roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent; helping pay for a middle class tax cut; don't reward corporations that export jobs overseas."
"George Bush? He raided Social Security to pay for a tax cut for millionaires. And he supported tax breaks for companies that export jobs."
For his part, Snow travels to Cincinnati today to meet local business leaders and discuss "the state of the economy and Administration policies on growth," according to a release from the Treasury Department.
Snow plans to meet with employees from Kroger and will discuss economic issues with members of the Cincinnati Business Committee. He'll address the "importance" of tax cut permanency and free trade policies and how "both are critical elements for economic and jobs growth." He'll also discuss the "impact" of Bush's tax relief plan on Ohio taxpayers, emphasizing that the tax cuts were "vital to creating an environment of growth and innovation" and that they must be made permanent.
On Wednesday, Snow is scheduled to travel to two other battleground states, New Mexico and Arizona, to talk about administration policies on -- you guessed it! -- economic growth and job creation.
On Thursday, the secretary will visit Cemco Manufacturing Company in Albuquerque, and then travel to GateWay Community College in Phoenix, where he'll participate in a roundtable discussion with college administrators and community business leaders.
