BUSH, KERRY BATTLE OVER 'SUPER BOWL' BRADY AFTER APPEARANCE AT STATE OF UNION

Super Bowl-bound New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady has become one of the most sought after political endorsements this election cycle after he agreed to be a guest of President Bush and Laura Bush in her VIP box during the State of the Union speech!

TV images of 25 year-old Brady giving Bush repeated standing ovations -- and cheering during several of the speech's passages -- thrilled White House operatives.

One Bush staffer emailed the DRUDGE REPORT: "It was a Touchdown from Kerry's own 40-yard-line!"

Not to be outdone, senior Kerry campaign staffers are now attempting to somehow arrange their own photo-op between Kerry and Brady.

Until recently, Kerry had every reason to believe Brady was solidly on his team.

Last Summer Brady even agreed to host a fund-raiser for Kerry in Boston. [He later canceled, claiming a scheduling conflict.]

While an official from the New England Patriot organization claims Brady went to Washington this week to simply represent the NFL, others close to the star athlete now claim he is supporting Bush in the upcoming presidential election.

"He has switched his preference from [Massachusetts Sen. John] Kerry to Bush," a well-placed source close to Brady said Tuesday night from Boston. "He thinks President Bush has demonstrated leadership, he was proud, no, he was thrilled to go to Washington to be the president's guest and to hear his speech. He's been talking about it for weeks."

On the stump, Dem frontrunner Kerry repeatedly makes references to the New England Patriots. He began his Iowa victory speech with praise for his home team.

"Last Sunday the New England Patriots won, and one week from today, American patriots here in New Hampshire have an opportunity to restore fairness to America and to put the American people back in charge," Kerry explained.

----------------------------------------------------------- Filed By Matt Drudge Reports are moved when circumstances warrant http://www.drudgereport.com for updates

I was on Rush Limbaugh in October 2002 discussing Rush's inappropriate placement of Tom Daschle's head on Tom Brady's body in a graphic:

RUSH LIMBAUGH: … It’s just the latest political calculation that Daschle’s making. Thanks Rick, I appreciate that. Here is Adam in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania. Hello, sir, Nice to have you on the program.

“ADAM FROM ROSE VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA”: Nice to be on. Mega- Philadelphia Eagles 20, Tampa Bay Bucs 10 dittos. Now …

Rush: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hold it a second. Hold it. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, what is it with Jon Gruden? They score their first offensive points, a field goal, 42 minutes into the game. You got half your defense out, injured. I’m not taking away from the Eagles here. You’re a great team. You’ve already won the NFC East. The others may as well hang it up.

Adam: I’ve gone to three straight Eagles games, and they have not scored an offensive touchdown yet, Tampa Bay. Now, Rush, I usually agree with everything you say, but I gotta object strongly to something on your website …

Rush: ohhh, no …

Adam: … and I’m not a seminal, seminar caller, but you have up there, regarding “Democrats Praying for a Hail Mary Pass”, a very unfair and unnecessary cheap, cheap shot. You have Tommy Daschle’s face up there on Tom Brady’s body. That is not the least bit fair. I mean, why couldn’t you have used Doug Flutie? Is that a concession to Alex Spanos?

R: No-o-o-o! …

A: … I mean, Flutie’s 5 foot 4. He supports Hillary Clinton. Brady, among all NFL quarterbacks, is one of
us.

R: He is?

A: Well, he lists that he’s a huge fan of the movie “Braveheart.” He didn’t say “American Beauty.” He’s not a Susan Sarandon, Ben Affleck Hollywood type. He lists, as “favorite actor,” Mel Gibson. I mean, he
said he wants to be a U.S. Senator, and he listed Gerald Ford as the most impressive person he’s ever met. I mean, the Patriots have struggled a bit lately. They’re not even one of my favorite teams; I like the Eagles. But, you know, you really should have put him on Flutie’s body.

R: Now, well, it would have worked with Flutie. You’re right. The reason we put him on there is because the whole Patriots’ season last year was a Hail Mary. Umm…

A: He does short passes most of the time, but [Rush laughs] I’m with you.

R: Now, we couldn’t find a South Dakota player in the NFL.

A: Uhh, Adam Vinatieri. South Dakota State.

R: Yeah, but he’s a kicker. That’s right. And he’salso from the Patriots, so that would have made you mad, if we had put him on Vinatieri’s …

A: Well, it would have been random. I don’t even like the Patriots, by the way, but, you know, Tom Brady,
look … he subtly hints that he’s … He’s probably even a listener of yours, to tell the truth.

R: If he is, he’s probably not any more. Or, if he was [laughter] …

A: Why? I’m sticking up for him here.

R: Well, because [Rush laughs], because of the Steelers last year and the Raiders, I mean, I ripped ‘em, I creamed ‘em. I said they’re in there cause of the officiating, not because of their success. I eventually came around of course, but only once. Most of the time, I ripped ‘em. Nah, we put Daschle’s face up there, to tell you the truth, this was, this is, this is just we grabbed, I don’t know why the webmaster did it. I wish I had an answer for you. I’m guessing because there’s some association with the headline “Hail Mary,” and the Patriots’ season was a Hail Mary. I’m not sure Coco knows a New England Patriots’ uniform from a San Diego [Adam laughs] Chargers’ uniform.

A: Well, all I know is …

Rush: … and I’m not passing the buck. I’m not passing the buck. [Likely addressing people in studio:] No I’m not. I am not passing it. You know I never pass the buck. I’m trying to explain this. I’m taking it on myself. I’m the one that took it on my---, I take everything on myself, whenever anybody screws up, nobody knows it. I take it, because I’m the one out there getting the credit for when it all goes right, so I take the heat when I’m wrong. And I did in this case. But I’m su---, I don’t, I don’t know why it’s up there. I’m just guessing because it’s a Hail Mary season, and here’s Daschle, maybe, it’s probably just the first graphic we found where the head matched the… Who knows?

Of all the things to be upset about! I can’t believe
…

[CUT TO COMMERCIAL]

Rush: OK, Coco the webmaster says since I call Daschle the illegitimate majority leader, it only fits since I called the Patriots illegitimate champs way back when, after the officiating call in that Raiders playoff game. So that’s why Daschle is on Tom Brady’s body on the website.

[CUT TO HOURLY BREAK]

[AT END OF BUMPER DURING THIRD HOUR OF THE SHOW, “Hold
On” by Santana is playing.]

Rush: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive unit.

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