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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Kerry's unveils ads, Bush fights back, Hillary is furious
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- STRONG PITCH: In his strongest pitch yet to a key voting bloc, John Kerry yesterday unveiled a $2 million advertising campaign targeting African-Americans, announced that an up-and-coming black Democrat with a compelling life story will deliver the keynote address at the party's national convention July 27. Kerry also will travel to Philadelphia this morning to address the NAACP's 95th annual convention.
The Boston Globe: Kerry takes steps to attract African American voters
TIRED ADS: Kerry unveiled a $2-million advertising drive Wednesday targeted at African American voters, but several black lawmakers who reviewed the radio and television commercials panned them as uninspired and disappointing.
The Los Angeles Times: Capitol Hill blacks pan Kerry's ads
EDWARDS GOES SOLO: John Edwards on Wednesday launched his first solo tour as the Democratic Party's vice presidential candidate, delivering an upbeat message about America's future and suggesting that President Bush did not have the courage or leadership to accept responsibility for flawed intelligence about Iraq.
The Los Angeles Times: A speech as sunny as the day
CLINTON'S FUROR?: Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Wednesday that she was not upset that Democratic Party leaders had not given her a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention in Boston later this month. At the same time, however, several of her supporters spent the day negotiating with convention organizers for a solution to the situation, party operatives said.
The New York Times: Clinton lets others plead for stage role
POPULAR FIGURE: Top Democratic officials enraged some of their most loyal supporters by keeping Hillary Rodham Clinton -- the party's top fund-raiser and most popular figure -- from any significant role at their convention later this month. Much of that anger is being directed at Kerry of Edwards.
The Washington Times: List of DNC speaker riles Hillary backers
SOLID SUPPORT: Although age-old campaign rules dictate that the general-election candidate must emphasize moderate "swing" voters and political independents, Bush strategists are predicting that this election, more than previous ones, will be determined by the turnout of each side's partisans. Although not discounting swing voters, Bush is placing unusual emphasis so far on rallying the faithful.
The Washington Post: Bush fortifies conservative base
DITKA'S RUN: Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka said Wednesday he would not ask Republican leaders to make him their U.S. Senate nominee, forcing a political organization hobbled by scandal and infighting to search for another candidate to replace primary winner Jack Ryan.
The Chicago Tribune: Ditka punts on possible GOP run for U.S. Senate
ROMNEY'S VISION: Governor Mitt Romney told a gathering of the Capitol press corps yesterday that Kerry is ''too conflicted to be president of the United States" and offered his own broad vision for the nation's future that carried some of the reach of a presidential stump speech.
The Boston Globe: In D.C., Romney on attack vs. Kerry
KERRY'S ADDRESS: Today, Kerry will address the NAACP convention but his appearance is being overshadowed by the candidate who never showed up, President Bush. His decision to skip the gathering for the fourth straight time had members of the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization buzzing with anger.
The Washington Post: NAACP talks of president, present or not
BUSH FIGHT'S BACK: President Bush, who campaigned gently for much of the spring by leaning on the prestige of his office, has dramatically sharpened his rhetoric against John Kerry since he choose his running mate a week ago.
The Washington Times: Bush's gloves are off as campaign heats up
SHOWCASING: The past week has been a showcase for the partner John Kerry has had for the past nine years, the woman who sometimes stole the spotlight as she traveled by his side.
The New York Times: Teresa Heinz Kerry's specialty is straight talk
CHENEY RUMOR: The Washington summer clamor about Vice President Dick Cheney's future on the Republican ticket has greatly intensified. Conspiracy theories fly and Republicans deny.
The New York Times: Capital buzzes, denials aside
STAR POWER: Democrats named a newcomer with star power Wednesday as their keynote convention speaker, Illinois Senate candidate, Barack Obama but confirmed that another luminary, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, will not have a speaking role.
The USA Today: Senate candidate to give keynote address
Compiled by Heather Riley
