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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Crossing party lines
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 VIDEO |
CNN's Brian Todd previews the state funeral.
 Mikhail Gorbachev pays tribute to Ronald Reagan.
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| REAGAN CEREMONIES | 
Funeral services
The body is moved to Washington National Cathedral for a state funeral service at 11:30 a.m. ET.
It then is flown back to California for a 6:15 p.m. PT (9:15 p.m. ET) private funeral, followed by burial at the Reagan Library
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
REPUBLICANS FOR KERRY?: When John Kerry speaks to a town hall of invited guests or a hotel ballroom of $2,000-a-head donors, the Democratic standard-bearer usually has a good idea of how many Republicans are in the room. Kerry aides keep a head count of these new faces in the crowd, and try to enlist them afterward in hopes of launching a Republicans-for-Kerry movement by this fall. The Boston Globe: Kerry looking to dissatisfied Republicans for an edge
THE PAPER TRAIL: Electronic voting is at the center of an internal battle in the League of Women Voters, whose national leadership is refusing to endorse demands by hundreds of members for a paper trail to guard against fraud, hackers and malfunctions. Some local chapters are so angry that they are flouting regulations and planning to speak against the group's national position on Friday and Saturday at the league's convention in Washington.The New York Times: League of Women Voters is split on paperless computer voting systems
LONG GOODBYE: President Bush silently paid his respects to Ronald Reagan yesterday by visiting the former president's casket in the Capitol Rotunda as scores of ordinary Americans looked on in wonder. Joined by first lady Laura Bush, the president was ushered into the hushed chamber, which was not cleared of citizens who had waited hours to visit the flag-draped casket, for about one minute. The Washington Times: A 'solemn night' for farewells
REAGAN AND BUSH: The parallels are obvious for all to see: two conservative presidents who made tax cuts at home and muscular confrontation abroad the centerpieces of their administrations, westerners who sought to restrain the federal government but who had trouble taming the beast, men of faith who courted Christian conservatives, politicians who were often controversial and divisive in office. But as President Bush prepares to eulogize former president Ronald Reagan at Washington National Cathedral today, the contrasts between the two men, their presidencies and the eras in which they governed are as telling as the parallels. The Washington Post: Reagan, Bush contrasts are as telling as parallels
UNDECIDED VOTERS: They are more likely to be white than black, female than male, married than single, and live in the suburbs rather than in large cities. They are not frequent churchgoers nor gun enthusiasts. They are clustered in swing states like Ohio, Michigan and here in Pennsylvania. And while they follow the news closely, they are largely indifferent to the back and forth of this year's race for president. These are what pollsters describe as the rarest of Americans in this election year: the undecided voters. The New York Times: Undecided voter is becoming the focus of both political parties
FILM AND POLITICS: Its release later this month appears to mark the first time that a film slamming a major presidential candidate has opened on screens across the nation in the final months of a campaign. At the same time, the movie is producing a global publicity extravaganza for Moore and Miramax Film founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who bought the film after Walt Disney Co. refused to let Miramax release it. The Los Angeles Times: Film and election politics cross in 'Fahrenheit 9/11'
CONVENTION CLASH: A federal judge ordered union pickets at the FleetCenter to clear the way yesterday for construction workers and supply trucks attempting to enter the arena and dispatched US marshals to the scene, warning that those who violate his order could face criminal charges.The Boston Globe: Judge orders picket lines to clear way at FleetCenter
THE NADER TICKET: Ralph Nader's campaign said it has collected more than enough signatures to have his name placed on the presidential ballot in Arizona. If the state validates the signatures that were filed Wednesday, it would be Nader's first spot on a ballot in the 2004 election. The Associated Press: Nader files signatures for spot on Arizona ballot
NAME-CALLING: Each election year, pollsters, political scientists and media pundits come up with catch-phrases to coin a demographic group they think might influence the outcome -- voting blocs also known as "swing voters." This year, political observers are talking about the "exurbs," areas well outside of city centers and populated by white, highly educated, well-paid families who abandoned the suburbs for better schools and more land. Exurban voters, concerned with taxes and the economy, have been critical to GOP victories in recent elections. The Associated Press: Campaigns drawn to political labels
Compiled by Heather Riley
