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The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Kerry-Durbin '04?
The political underworld soldiers on
By John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's John King on Bush, Saddam and Cheney's talk in New Orleans.
 CNN's Judy Woodruff on campaigning for VP without seeming to.
 CNN's Bill Schneider on economic politics in an election year.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Durbin? Read on.
While America pauses to celebrate its 228th birthday on Sunday, the political underworld soldiers on, marching through the final days of a veep-watch that's starting to feel just as old. (Borrowing a phrase that President Bush coined one year ago today and John Kerry later co-opted, "Bring them on!")
The economy will dominate today's public dialogue as new job numbers are released. Labor says the unemployment rate held at 5.6 percent in June; payrolls grew by 112,000, about half of what analysts expected. (CNN/Money: Jobs growth disappoints)
President Bush talks about the economy at 10:55 a.m. ET at the White House.
Kerry leaves for Minnesota at 9 a.m. to begin an "Independence" bus tour across the Midwest that focuses in part on jobs and economy.
But, of course, there's only one job we're focused on today. (Kerry veep choice may come next week)
Here's what we know this morning about Kerry's would-be running mate:
Informed Democratic sources tell the Grind that the previously unmentioned VP candidate Kerry is seriously considering -- as recently as Tuesday -- is Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois. During a lengthy conversation that his boss had with Kerry this week, one source said, "Wesley Clark's name never came up once, but [Kerry] mentioned his interest in Dick Durbin several times. He made it clear that Durbin is very much on his list."Durbin said in May that he wasn't on any list, and he has spoken highly of John Edwards and Clark as good veep material. The senator recently told a local newspaper that he'd have some reservations about the new life the job would force upon him. "I really value getting in a cab at the airport or taking the [Chicago subway]. And that would change. So I'd have to think about that," he told the Chicago Daily Herald.The sources also confirm the talk that Sen. Joe Biden is on Kerry's short list. Biden, who speaks regularly with Kerry and is a close confidant, has previously said he has not been formally vetted by the campaign.Sources say Edwards' advance aides were headed to Pittsburgh this weekend to work with Camp Kerry on a Monday barbecue. There was talk last night of an unscheduled rally Tuesday morning in Pittsburgh, but Kerry aides caution not to read too much into this. "There will be rallies throughout July building up excitement for Boston," one aide told the Grind.Speaking of advance, Sam Meyers, who ran Edwards' advance team in the '04 primaries, is moving over to Camp Kerry to run advance for the VP. (Is it just us, or are a lot of Edwards' folks headed to work on Kerry's VP staff?)The Kerry campaign has also hired Peter Scher to manage the VP campaign. Scher's not an Edwards guy, he's a Mickey Cantor guy, having worked for Cantor at the Commerce Department. Ann Castagnetti, also a former Cantor aide and sister of Mary Beth Cahill, has been heading the VP staff for Camp Kerry, it's unclear whether she'll play a leading role once a running mate is announced.We're hearing about all sorts of other VP-related staff building up at Kerry HQ. Some of these folks could be considered household names, depending on the house. But alas, Cahill appears to favor staffers who don't like to see their names in print. We'll respect their wishes. For now.Rumors swirled last night of a "final" face-to-face meeting between Kerry and John Edwards, but travel schedules apparently make this impossible. Kerry leaves Washington for Minnesota this morning; Edwards doesn't return to Washington from his family trip to Disney World until the afternoon. Could Edwards be meeting instead with Cahill/Johnson/Shrum?And of course, we won't have Bill Richardson to kick around anymore. Richardson, who met with Kerry on Tuesday in Phoenix to discuss his VP prospects, told Kerry by phone and by letter yesterday that he wants off the list. Richardson and Kerry were supposed to meet last month during Kerry's trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, but Kerry canceled that trip at the last minute to return to the Senate for a vote that, of course, never took place. (Kerry frustrated by GOP-postponed vote)The Interview
Richardson aides worked the phones last night to emphasize that he was bowing out in order to fulfill his pledge to serve out his full four-year term as governor.
"Out of respect for Senator Kerry, the governor felt he had to make a final declarative statement that he would fulfill his promise to the people of New Mexico to serve out his term as governor," David Contarino, Richardson's chief of staff, told the Grind.
But Democrats close to both Kerry and Richardson told the Grind that the governor, the only Latino on the VP short list, also had become skeptical about his veep prospects and discouraged that his name was being mentioned to give the appearance that Kerry was considering a Hispanic.
Appearing on CNN two days ago, Richardson kept up a pretty good poker face under aggressive questioning from Wolf Blitzer, who sounded like he knew more than he was letting on. ( "Wolf Blitzer Reports" )
Blitzer: Have you been interviewed?
Richardson: Well, I don't want to talk about that. I don't ...
Blitzer: You can either say yes or no. You don't have to give us the details.
Richardson: No, I ...
Blitzer: Have Jim Johnson or John Kerry had a conversation with you just asking you what you think about the possibility?
Richardson: Well, I can't comment on it. I will say my position -- which I outlined on your show several months ago -- (is) that I'm staying as governor of New Mexico. That is still the facts with me.
Blitzer: So did you tell him you don't want to be vice president? "Just don't consider me anymore?"
Richardson: You know, I think what has been very good about this vice presidential search is that everybody's kept their mouth shut. And this is a private process, and we should respect the candidate and his team. And that's all there is to it, Wolf.
