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The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Avocados for Nader?
John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's Suzanne Malveaux on Bush's denial of torture tactics
 CNN's Jonathan Freed on allegations about Senate candidate Jack Ryan.
 CNN's J.J. Ramberg on the Clinton book.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's compassion tour takes him to a Baptist church in Philly today, where he talks about (quoting here) "Compassion and HIV/AIDS." Bush's 10:25 a.m. ET speech at the Greater Baptist Exodus Church, a largely black congregation, comes as he simultaneously tends to his must-win conservative base this week with a stepped-up call to ban same-sex marriage.
John Kerry travels to the Bay Area to raise money (twice) and talk to the Service Employees International Union about health care. But while Kerry talks policy, SEIU board members want to talk politics -- specifically their "overwhelming" hope that he'll choose Edwards as his running mate. (More on this below).
The third big gathering we're watching today is the Green Party's nominating convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which took on added significance Monday when Ralph Nader announced he'd chosen self-described avocado Peter Camejo (Green on the outside, Green on the inside) as his running mate. If Greens back the Nader/Camejo ticket (their decision is expected Friday or Saturday), Nader gains ballot access in 22 states and Washington, adding to the seven states where he's already on the ballot (Dems are challenging his signature petitions in Arizona).
As Greens traveled to Milwaukee yesterday, several non-avocados were announcing the formation of "Greens for Kerry." The group includes Abe Gutmann, a founding member of the New Mexico Greens who nonetheless backed Democratic Rep. Tom Udall in a tough '98 race; Sam Wade Sears of Florida, whose letters run frequently on the "Perspectives" page of the Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune; and Randy Poplock, a Seattle-based environmentalist.
Nader emerged rattled but undaunted from a "robust exchange" of ideas (translation: shouting match) last night with the Congressional Black Caucus, which made no bones about their intention to urge him to quit the race. "It became abundantly clear to us that this is about Ralph Nader, and we were sorely disappointed," CBC Chairman Elijah Cummings said afterward.
Kerrys on marriage and health care
Meanwhile, Teresa Heinz Kerry continues her campaign swing through the South today, meeting with women's groups in Orlando and New Orleans. One notable Teresa quote from yesterday: While the senator's wife campaigned in Miami, former Rep. Carrie Meek told her she had "married well." To which Teresa responded, "both times ... both times."
During his 2:15 p.m. ET speech to the SEIU, Kerry will discuss his plan to pass a "real, enforceable" patient's bill of rights. Kerry's plan would grant patients the right to see the specialists they need, emergency protections, an external appeals process that allows patients to appeal a HMO decision, a process that holds health plans accountable and whistleblower protections, according to a Camp Kerry memo.
Kerry's plan would save workers up to $1,000 in health care costs with premium relief, let folks buy into the same health plan available to members of Congress, and expand state-based programs to insure all children and millions of adults, according to the memo.
Also today, we have a real, live Senate race in South Carolina, where Rep. Jim DeMint whupped former Gov. David Beasley in a runoff last night. DeMint, a darling of neo-cons in Washington and South Carolina, was so excited about his 18-point win last night that his wife had to remind him to brag about the phone call he'd just received from the president. DeMint faces Democrat Inez Tenenbaum this fall in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Fritz Hollings.
Speaking of Senate races, Democrat Barack Obama -- who, considering the week Republican Jack Ryan's having, is the almost-certain next senator from Illinois -- travels to Capitol Hill today. Obama has a 12:30 p.m. meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus in the Capitol. Divorce documents that allege Ryan tried to drag his then-wife Jeri into sex clubs virtually doom the Republican's candidacy, but Obama was already leading the race by 20 points. (You think Carol Moseley Braun is regretting that she didn't run for her old Senate seat?)
Heads-up for tomorrow: Al Gore will growl at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Georgetown University Law Center, accusing the Bush administration of intentionally misleading the nation by continuing to falsely claim a connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Gore will charge -- angrily, we're sure -- that Bush and Cheney have "institutionalized dishonesty as an essential element of their policy process." (More on this tomorrow).
V.P. tea leaves
EDWARDS: The executive board of the SEIU "overwhelmingly" picked John Edwards as its choice for Kerry's running mate, a union official tells CNN. The board's 63 members were questioned in a straw poll. Union President Andy Stern, who almost certainly plans to run for AFL-CIO chief in '05, told the Associated Press that 90 percent chose Edwards. The union, which is holding its convention in San Francisco, backed Howard Dean in the Democratic primary.
WARNER: Asked if he has had a VP talk with Kerry, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner said he had campaigned with him on Memorial Day, "but I've had no conversation with him." The AP says Warner later in the day noted that Camp Kerry has not reviewed his business holdings.
