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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Bush targets 'Exurbia'
 |  Bush's campaign is targeting exurbanites, voters living in developments beyond the suburbs. |
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's Suzanne Malveaux on President Bush and the NATO summit.
 CNN's Bill Schneider on world affairs and the coming election.
 Late-night laughs and the political season.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
NEXT FRONTIER: GOP strategists believe they can win many new voters in outlying towns rich with conservatives. Fleeing built-out areas near cities for the newest ring of developments beyond the suburbs, exurbanites are searching for more house for less money, better schools, less traffic and all-around easier living. Exurban areas are booming and, according to demographers and GOP strategists, rapidly drawing a concentration of culturally conservative but unregistered, unaffiliated voters.
The Los Angeles Times: Bush sees fertile soil in 'Exurbia'
GREEN'S CHOICE: The Green Party chose a little-known California lawyer as its presidential nominee Saturday -- a serious blow to Ralph Nader and a potential boon to John Kerry. Nader, the Green candidate in the last two presidential elections, sought the party's endorsement this year for his independent candidacy, a move that could have gained him ballot access in at least 22 states and the District of Columbia. Instead, after days of feverish debate, the Greens opted for David Cobb, 41, by a narrow margin.
The Los Angeles Times: Green Party's choice could be Kerry boost
HUNTERS WANTED: In the next few weeks, the Bush and Kerry camps will be rolling out their campaigns to win over what is often called the "hook and bullet" crowd. Numbering about 50 million strong and living in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Arkansas, the men and women who hunt and fish in this country have become significant players in the presidential campaign.
The Washington Post: Candidates take aim at sportsmen's vote
NEEDS FOCUS: John Kerry is having problems crafting a message that connects with the swing voters and parts of his Democratic base that his presidential campaign needs to win in the battleground states, several analysts say. The momentum that the Massachusetts senator had heading into June appears to have slowed, or has stopped altogether, while polls showed that President Bush has improved his standing with the voters, especially on the economy.
The Washington Times: Kerry lacking coherent message
COOL NADER: A day after not getting the Green Party's endorsement for president, Ralph Nader brushed off the rejection as an inconvenience, described the party as "strange," called the party's national nominating convention "a cabal" and predicted who the big loser in its decision not to endorse him would be. "The benefit was really for the Green Party," Nader said yesterday of what an endorsement of him would have meant. "I don't want to exaggerate it, so I'll just say massively more."
The Washington Post: Nader plays down Green Party rebuff
HISPANIC ISSUES: A majority of U.S. Hispanics believe that political candidates are not talking about issues important to the Latino community, according to a poll released Sunday. The survey was conducted for the National Council of La Raza, a civil rights group dedicated to promoting Hispanic issues that is holding its annual convention this weekend in Phoenix. According to the poll, 58% of Hispanics feel candidates are not addressing their concerns. A third disagreed, while 8% were undecided.
The Associated Press: Hispanics feel candidates aren't talking about their issues
WANTS THE JOB: The guessing game over Kerry's choice has torqued up to high gear as the convention in Boston grows closer and prominent Democrats offer their unsolicited, and public, advice. Edwards' ability to invigorate crowds at Democratic events in recent weeks helps accelerate the buzz that he's the preferred candidate of the rank and file. Kerry's only real deadline for making a choice, though, is the July 26 start of the convention, and it's to his advantage to drag out the decision. The No. 2 slot is the only big unknown in the campaign right now and will continue to draw media coverage.
The Charlotte Observer: Edwards keeps rank and file on their feet
CAMPAIGN PRIDE: This year, even as their hips shook to salsa music and Abba, the marchers and spectators at New York City's annual gay pride march were thinking politics.
The New York Times: Hoisting rainbow flags, wearing campaign buttons
GOODBYE ILLINOIS?: Illinois Republicans say they can still win the U.S. Senate race in four months even though their candidate resigned amid lurid sex allegations. Political analysts say that would take a miracle. Republicans began searching for possible replacements soon after Jack Ryan stepped down Friday. He is accused of trying to pressure his former wife, television actress Jeri Lynn Ryan, to have sex in public at clubs.
The Associated Press: Analysts: GOP unlikely to win Illinois race
DRAWING THE LINE: John Kerry last night canceled a planned speech today to the US Conference of Mayors in Boston, saying that he would not cross picket lines erected by workers engaged in a contract dispute with the city. The announcement came as picketing firefighters and police officers dogged Mayor Thomas M. Menino at conference events for the third straight day yesterday. They had planned to picket the speech this morning at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.
The Boston Globe: Kerry cancels his speech to mayors
FIGHTING FOR FLORIDA: In this year's fiercely fought presidential campaign, Republicans and Democrats are wooing Florida's growing ranks of non-Cuban Latinos as voters who could decide the election in this crucial swing state.
The Los Angeles Times: New Latino voters put more swing into state
LEFT HITTERS: President Bush's re-election campaign is ridiculing what it calls "John Kerry's coalition of the wild-eyed," which includes filmmaker Michael Moore and former Vice President Al Gore. The campaign has compiled a collection of video clips featuring angry Democrats and over-the-top ads by MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group, to showcase what it calls the "rage" of the left.
The Washington Times: Bush camp hits back at Kerry with a quip
