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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Bush finds his political center
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's Alina Cho on the resignation of James McGreevey.
 CNN's Bill Schneider on how storm response could influence politics.
 CNN's John King on the GOP response to Kerry's 'sensitive' comment.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
BUSH'S POLITICAL CENTER: From education to energy policy, President Bush's foray into Southwestern swing states this week has brought him closer to the political center, despite recent signs that the president's reelection campaign would focus almost exclusively on energizing his conservative base. The Boston Globe: Bush's campaign in Southwest signals a move to middle
GAY AFFAIR: McGreevey, the state's 51st chief executive and the first to quit under the cloud of scandal, said he will step down November 15 to protect the governor's office from "rumors, false allegations and threats of disclosure." The Star-Ledger: McGreevey quits, admits gay affair
GOVERNOR RESIGNS: Gov. James McGreevey resigned Thursday, announcing that he had an affair with a man and that it had left him vulnerable to "false allegations and threats of disclosure." The Washington Post: New Jersey governor resigns over gay affair
SAME SEX MARRIAGES: The California Supreme Court yesterday voided nearly 4,000 marriages granted to same-sex couples in San Francisco this year, ruling that city officials broke a state law and a voter-approved measure defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The Washington Times: California court voids same-sex 'marriages'
HOLLYWOOD AND 527S: Hollywood -- at least the politically active Democratic side of it -- has fallen madly in love with entities known as 527s. The unregulated groups, so-called for their tax code designation, are allowed to raise funds, register voters and get the word out but are prohibited from endorsing a candidate. The Los Angeles Times: And...political action
REPUBLICAN ONSLAUGHT: Kerry is facing an aggressive onslaught from Republicans over his recent comments about the Iraq war, with both Bush and Cheney attacking their Democratic rival's call for a "more sensitive war on terror" and ridiculing his claim earlier this week that he would have voted for the war even in hindsight. The Boston Globe: Kerry war stance spurs GOP offensive
CAMPAIGNING IN L.A.: Bush and Kerry campaigned across Los Angeles on Thursday, the challenger trying to solidify his lead in Democratic-leaning California while the incumbent hoped to close the gap as he basked in the glow of Republican icons -- Nancy Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Los Angeles Times: Bush, Kerry try to stir up support in Los Angeles area
FAVORING THE WEALTHY: Fully one-third of President Bush's tax cuts in the last three years have gone to people with the top 1 percent of income, who have earned an average of $1.2 million annually, according to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to be published Friday. The New York Times: Report finds tax cuts heavily favor the wealthy
STEM CELL RESEARCH: Two Republican senators rose to President Bush's defense yesterday on the emotional issue of stem cell research, although both said they are pushing the White House to embrace an expansion of the policy advocated by Kerry. The Washington Post: Two GOP senators defend Bush on stem cell research
ARAB-AMERICANS' PREFERENCE: Arab-American voters, disenchanted with President Bush's policies on the Middle East and what they consider an assault on their civil liberties around the country, are abandoning the Republican president and throwing their support behind his Democratic opponent, John F. Kerry, according to polls and community leaders. The Boston Globe: Polls suggest Arab-Americans gravitating toward Kerry
KERRY'S LEAD: Kerry has opened narrow leads in Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and a handful of other battleground state polls since accepting the Democratic nomination, increasing pressure on President Bush to regain lost ground at the Republican National Convention. The Las Vegas Sun: Kerry opens leads in several key states
EDWARDS' CHILDREN: Jack and Emma Claire Edwards produce an unscripted sideshow. Every family has been there. Summer is starting to wind down. Camps have run their course. And another school year won't begin for several long, hot weeks. August stretches out forever, unless you are a brother and sister named Jack and Emma Claire.The Los Angeles Times: See dad run
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