Watch for more new ad traffic later this week
(Note to the BC04 communications office — we appreciate the "Week in Preview," but do we sound ungrateful if we ask to get it on Sunday night? Trust us. We are up.)
Mike Allen weaves a delightful narrative in today's Washington Post, describing the trip of President Bush 41 and President Bush 43 to church yesterday in Kennebunkport. LINK
Seems that nobody told the Very Rev. Martin Luther Agnew Jr., a priest visiting for the summer from Louisiana, that when the President goes to church, "it is customary for the pastor to pretend he's not there — or to, at most, greet him and maybe remember him in a prayer."
But President Bush not only got a "shout-out," as Allen describes a reference to "those who govern and hold authority" in the prayers for the people, Rev. Agnew also reached out and touched Bush 43 on the shoulder and told a story about the former President Bush's golf game.
In a must-read, the New York Times ' David Kirkpatrick looks at the Bush-Cheney campaign's efforts to rally conservative churches to turn out the vote in November and the role that one church in the St. Louis suburbs will play in that drive. LINK
The West County Assembly of God, an evangelical church in a Republican district, formed a "moral action team" to "promote involvement on social issues" — registering voters and getting them to the polls as it did last week on the vote to add a ban against same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
Kirkpatrick Notes, "Many conservative pastors bristled at the notion that they are being enlisted by a campaign, instead describing their voter registration efforts as fulfilling biblical obligations."
As Kerry K. Messer, a Southern Baptist layperson and founder of the socially conservative Missouri Family Network puts it: "'I see it more as a grass-roots movement. People are starting to say, we have got this figured out. These are the bad guys, we are the good guys, why is it that we can't talk about this at our local church?'"
The New York Times ' Christopher Drew and Richard Oppel Jr. take a long look, must-read look at President Bush's attempt to help the coal industry, taking on environmentalists and organized labor with changes to rules governing emissions and workers — and the delicate balance it forces Senator Kerry to take in Appalachia. LINK
The New York Times ' Elisabeth Bumiller looks at President Bush's campaign swing last week, calling it "a sometimes loopy roadshow, with Mr. Bush as the lead performer." LINK
At an "Ask President Bush" campaign event, Bumiller Notes that President Bush "did not even bother to hide the fact that the event was classic political stagecraft" — leading the questioners to the points he wanted to make and even saying in Ohio, "Go ahead, yell it out … If I don't like the question, I'll reinvent it."
The Boston Globe 's Larese looks at a story that is bubbling at some RNC campaign events, where attendees have to sign a pledge of support for President Bush before getting tickets, something GOP officials say is designed to prevent people from disrupting the events. LINK
Two Notes from US News' Washington Whispers: Karen Hughes' language trumps Karl Rove's and look for President Bush to hit up more Dunkin' Donuts to show he is a man of the people. LINK
Jeff Zeleny of the Chicago Tribune compares the races of 2004 and 1992, and writes that despite the inevitable comparisons, President Bush is faring far better than his father did at this time 12 years ago, and that the failed 1992 campaign serves as a constant cautionary tale. LINK
Classic geographical issue tailoring: Bush will stress his commitment to the troops fighting the war on terrorism when he visits the military burg of Pensacola in Florida tomorrow. LINK
In case you are counting, this'll be campaign visit 15 to Florida for President Bush.
Could it be the Boy Scouts versus Houston-based energy company El Paso Corp.?
The Los Angeles Times' Julie Cart looks at a White House task force getting involved in the energy company's effort "to explore for natural gas in a remote part of a national forest next door to America's largest Boy Scout camp" in Carson National Forest, New Mexico. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Kerry-Edwards '04:
On ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," retired Gen. Tommy Franks said criticism of John Kerry's war record is political hyperbole and that Kerry is "absolutely" qualified to be commander in chief. LINK
"Do you think Senator Kerry is qualified to be commander in chief?" Franks was asked, to which he responded, "Absolutely!"
Franks also remarked, "I think a presidential election year is a marvelous thing. I think Senator Kerry is a patriot. And I think what … what we're doing is, we're seeing an attempt to sort of draw the lines between the two parties in this country. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
The AP also reports that Franks said he has not decided about endorsing Bush and is not sure whether he would want to speak at the RNC.
Paul Richter and Maria LaGanga of the Los Angeles Times key off the candidate's recent NPR comments and a patchwork of campaign appearances to delve into Kerry's Iraq policy. The scribes report that further internationalizing the effort in Iraq may prove far more difficult for John Kerry than he lets on. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Mark Z. Barabak waxes nostalgic for 1992's Bill and Al's Excellent Adventure. And David Wade apparently doesn't believe swing voters read the New York Times, Washington Post, or Los Angeles Times. LINK
The Washington Post 's ed board thinks "If Mr. Kerry's sometimes fierce rhetoric questioning the value of trade is matched by what his aides say is quiet support for trade, perhaps it is no surprise that his sometimes harsh vocal opposition to accountability standards also appears to be matched by quiet support for them." LINK
This one will be read closely on Wilson Boulevard.
The Wall Street Journal's editorial board argues that with his spending proposals, Sen. Kerry has no business claiming the "fiscal conservative" mantle.
The Washington Post's Jim VandeHei and Mary Fitzgerald wrap Sen. Kerry's stop in Gallup, N.M., where "he campaigned for the Native American vote, promising to fight for sovereignty rights and greater federal assistance to tribes throughout the country." LINK
Another addition to the Arulanandum clip reel: the Washington Post 's Jeffrey Birnbaum Notes the only way Sen. Kerry can match the NRA's "firepower" is to "fight back early and often. LINK
"Democrats agree. 'In certain swing states the NRA is important,' says Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee."
"The last presidential election offers ample proof of the claim. In 2000, the NRA's aggressive electioneering probably cost Gore several rural states, any one of which could have sent him to the White House instead of retirement. At least that's what former president Bill Clinton told PBS's Charlie Rose in June. 'The NRA had enough votes in New Hampshire, in Arkansas, maybe in Tennessee and Missouri to beat us,' Clinton said."
Mary Dalrymple of the AP looks at Sen. Kerry's campaigning in the Southwest battlegrounds of Arizona and New Mexico. LINK
The AP's Steve LeBlanc takes and in-depth look at Sen. Kerry's 1982 run for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts." When he decided in 1982 to return to politics, Kerry aimed low: lieutenant governor, a post with little power, few responsibilities and almost no public profile. But it offered a chance to build a statewide political organization." LINK
Bob Novak looks at the charges by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, concluding that John O'Neill's book, "Unfit for Command," is "neither the political propaganda nor the urban legend that its detractors claim. It is a passionate but meticulously researched account of how Kerry went to war, what he did in the war and how he conducted himself after the war." Novak argues that if Kerry made a specific effort to refute the charges and answer them, the question of whether or not the allegations are credible could be put to rest. LINK
Kerry truth squadders with military creds are headed to the Florida panhandle tomorrow. LINK
The New York Times ' David Halbfinger Notes the prospect of grabbing the (glowing) attention of "local television stations is what motivated the Kerry campaign to arrange this two-week post-convention tour of the swing states by road, rail, water and air." LINK
" … many Cubans are raptly following the U.S. presidential campaign and pinning their hopes on Kerry," writes Carol Williams of the Los Angeles Times. LINK
The New York Times ' Thomas Crampton wraps Sen. Edwards trip to Kansas where "there would be no need for a Republican candidate to visit and no point for a Democratic one to, either." LINK
The Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet offers a brief preview of Sen. Edwards' day in Chicago. LINK
The Orlando Sentinel's Mark Silva says Elizabeth Edwards promises to be a "regular on the Florida circuit for the finale of one old hurricane of a campaign." LINK
The politics of national security:
"The Sept. 11 commission is shaking up the 2004 presidential campaign, helping to make a key political issue of its recommended changes in the nation's intelligence system and reshaping the anti-terrorism platforms of President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry," Notes the Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei. LINK
From Kerry endorsing it all to the commission lobbying for their proposals … but Allan Lichtman makes a reasonable point: at what juncture does the urgency of reforming the nation's intelligence system lead the government to simply do the wrong thing?
The New York Times ' David Sanger wraps National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's appearance on "Meet" yesterday, where she talked about the International Atomic Energy Agency making a "very strong statement" in September regarding Iran and its nuclear efforts, saying that the United States and its allies "cannot allow the Iranians to develop a nuclear weapon." LINK
The New York Times ' David Johnston and Eric Lichtblau report that "Pakistan has given American officials what they regard as credible and specific information indicating that Al Qaeda has considered using tourist helicopters in terror attacks in New York City." LINK
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge writes in a Wall Street Journal op-ed defends the timing of the terror warnings and argues that "There is no place for politics in homeland security. We cannot allow the current political environment to distract government or private-sector leaders from doing what needs to be done to protect public safety."
ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:
Do not believe, for one minute, that Republicans won't have as big an election day SWAT team as Robert Bauer and Marc Elias are setting up. In fact, do not be surprised if the GOP effort exceeds the Democratic effort. And do not be surprised to see both sides sell their efforts to their particular constituencies … and don't be surprised if both parties employ a communications team to deal solely with casting and counting press issues before election day.
Must-read C and C story of the day: a reminder from the St. Petersburg Times that absentee ballots are not automatically accepted by those who count votes — signatures often don't match, addresses are wrong, etc. LINK
If you speak Spanish more easily than English, it will be easier for you to vote in Florida's Orange and Osceola counties this year. LINK
The Tampa Tribune has an excellent overview of the lingering uncertainties surrounding the Florida vote. LINK
An initiative in Minnesota — one of 35 states that restores voting privileges to convicted felons — aims to fix the misconception that a felon's right to vote is never restored. LINK
International monitors will be observing the Nov. 2 election reports the New York Post . LINK
So what happens if they find something wrong?
ABC News Vote 2004: The Big Four: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin:
Just asking … . which formidable, talented political reporter in a big battleground state is headed to the Chicago Tribune to be their White House correspondent?
Veterans are swing voters, too — in Hillsborough County, no less. LINK
The Florida Democratic Party is at a crossroads. LINK
The Columbus Dispatch's Robert Vitale writes about volunteers coming to Ohio to help the Kerry campaign. LINK
Vitale reports, "Although the Kerry campaign has encouraged volunteers from other states to lend a hand in Ohio, state Democratic Party spokesman Dan Trevas said most have called or arrived unsolicited. He said he has put them in touch with campaign offices and county parties across the state."
The Toledo Blade's Karamagi Rujumba writes about the different groups getting people registered to vote in Ohio — including the usual suspects, but leading with a registration — encouraging Toledo barber who "says he doesn't know what he will do if President Bush is elected to another four-year term." LINK
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profiles Bush science adviser John Marburger III. LINK
"The sorts of issues that have gotten scientists riled — embryonic stem cells, global warming, ballistic missile defense — are by their nature hot button issues, where moral, ethical and economic concerns are as much at play as the science, Marburger said."
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes a look at how the make up of the Supreme Court could be affected by the presidential election. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:
"Nearly two-thirds of Iowans want to continue a state ban on gay marriage, but fewer than half favor placing such a ban in the U.S. Constitution, The Des Moines Register's latest poll shows." LINK
At a part registration rally and part mini-convention, the Rev. Jesse Jackson teamed up with Charlotte-area Democrats to urge hundreds "to get their souls to the polls." LINK
"They know it's too late to save textile jobs. Those are already lost, headed to Mexico and China," writes the Raleigh News & Observer. "But a group of grass-roots historians hopes that a new program of collecting mill workers' stories and bringing people to the defunct plants can save the memory of a time when cotton mills wove the social fabric of the rural South." LINK
Jon Sawyer and Mary Delach Leonard of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ask, "What can you say about a state that overwhelmingly rejects gay marriage, dumps an incumbent governor, and sets a modern record for primary-election turnout?" As pundits turn to heartland voters as a guidepost for key issues even their own determine, "Reading Missouri's primary results is like the elephant examined by a group of blind men: It's big, full of disparate parts and hard to sum up." LINK
More post-mortem on Missouri's gay marriage legislation where "The vote, 71 percent to 29 percent statewide, surprised people on both sides of the issue and stunned observers who admit they did not anticipate the unusually high turnout for a primary election." LINK
It may seem anachronistic, but Bangor Daily News columnist Kent Ward says discussions in barbershops are a key component of the political process in the swingy state of Maine. LINK
Columnist Bill Nemitz takes an in-depth look in the Portland Press Herald at some of Maine's soldiers who were injured in Iraq and now must fight "bureaucratic battles with no end in sight" to receive proper treatment for their combat injuries. LINK
With Nevada looking more and more like a critical battleground state, the AP reports the state's Sierra Club is stepping into the fray, going to door-to-door in Reno and Nevada "to highlight the candidates' differences on green issues" . . . like Yucca Mountain. LINK
Speaking of Yucca, there are more challenges today for the EPA over the controversial — and politically significant — dump. LINK
Dan Burk, registrar of voters in Washoe County, Nev. — home to Reno — says there has been a 10 percent increase in registered voters in the Republican-leaning county since from the 2002 general election until now. And he's surprised: "We've never seen anything quite like it before," he tells the Reno Gazette-Journal. LINK
The Las Vegas-Review Journal ed board slaps Citizens United for its campaign ad shenanigans, but reserves most of its vitriol for McCain-Feingold, which it calls "an evil, insidious, and unworkable violation of the Bill of Rights." LINK
Erin Neff writes today in the Las Vegas Review-Journal of the financial troubles of the Republican Party in Clark County, home of Las Vegas and many of the voters who will be key on Nov. 2. LINK
News that federal terror officials found videotapes in 2002 that showed al Qaeda operatives "casing Las Vegas casinos" must be unsettling for residents of Nevada — particularly when they learn that local officials were never told of the threat. LINK
"Want tickets to see Vice President Cheney when he comes to Battle Creek on Wednesday?" asks Michigan's Battle Creek Enquirer. The answer: "You need a friend in the Republican Party." LINK
To give readers more perspective on the ongoing presidential race, the Detroit Free Press looks at what makes a good president. LINK
The Detroit News says because of a lack of federal Superfund money, "thousands of toxic dumps and cast-off factories across Michigan" may not receive their needed cleanups, which the paper says will put the "public at risk." LINK
The selection of Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the KE04 debate negotiation team signifies the first-termer is becoming the "go-to governor" for Sen. John Kerry. LINK
Although the UAW has endorsed Kerry, the Detroit News takes a serious look at the continuing battle for the hearts and souls of the union's crucial rank and file voters. LINK
The West Virginia Gazette 's editorial board looks at the involvement of "people not usually involved in party-line politics" during this cycle and Notes, "It has been four decades since an administration stirred such fervent resistance." LINK
President Bush outfundraised Vice President Gore in West Virginia by a five-to-one margin in 2000, but the AP reports the battle for dollars in the key swing state is much closer this year. LINK
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel takes a look at the differing views of the effectiveness of candidate stops in West Virginia. It concludes that organizers believe "frequent visits educate, motivate" voters, while the voters themselves feel "candidate visits have little effect." LINK and LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:
Alan Keyes formally accepted the Senate nomination of the Illinois Republican party Sunday, promising the riled-up party faithful that he has confidence in the race "because the victory is for God," and prompted some colorful attacks from Illinois Democrats — particularly Senator Dick Durbin, report Maureen O'Donnell and Scott Fornek of the Chicago Sun-Times. Barack Obama welcomed Keyes to the race, and set up the obvious pattern for the campaign this fall: Obama stays above the fray while his fellow Dems go on the attack. LINK
The Chicago Tribune 's Liam Ford and John Chase report that Keyes said Obama's voting record in the state Senate, particularly on late-term abortions, was the reason he got into the race. As to the residency requirement, Keyes said he's not sure where he'll live in Illinois, given that a week ago he wasn't even thinking about coming to Illinois. "He acknowledged he had criticized others in the past for 'cherry-picking the states as platforms for their ambitions,' but said the issues at stake in the contest were more important than geography." LINK
On choosing Keyes as the GOP nominee for the Illinois Senate race, the Washington Post 's ed board Notes "Illinois Republican machinations, once amusing, are now absurd." LINK
Florida GOP Senate hopefuls will debate tomorrow night. For Mel Martinez, the stakes could not be higher. LINK
Chris Cillizza of Roll Call reports supporters for former Rep. Bob Schaffer believe he can take down big spender Pete Coors in Tuesday's Colorado Senate Republican primary. LINK
Nader-Camejo '04:
Michael Currie Schaffer of the of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Democrats plan to file a legal challenge in Commonwealth Court today to block independent candidate off the state's general election ballot. They say as many as 90 percent of the petitions circulated by Ralph Nader's presidential campaign in Philadelphia are invalid due to forgeries and other improprieties. Campaign spokesman, Kevin Zeese, say the conducted it's own review finding there were enough valid signatures to pass muster. "They announced they were going to find problems even before they looked at the signatures, so it's not surprising that they found problems."
Separately, a Philadelphia lawyer plans to file a lawsuit against Nader this morning "on behalf of dozens of petition circulators, many of them homeless, who he said had not been paid for their work." LINK
Daniel Barrick of the Concord Monitor reports Ralph Nader supporters have just three days to get their candidate's name on the New Hampshire presidential ballot. Of a campaign that lacks the usual trappings of a state headquarters, brochures, rallies and signs, Nader's New Hampshire spokesman and full-time volunteer Aaron Rizzio explains "We don't really have the luxury of doing anything more than gathering signatures right now … It's a lot harder than it might sound." LINK
"My intention is to observe the convention as well as to report on the convention," wrote Ralph Nader of his plan for participation in the Republican National Convention. Nader made a formal request to Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie last week citing his media credentials. LINK
The AP Notes Ralph Nader will not be on the ballot California where his campaign fell short of the 153,035 signatures he needed by Friday's deadline. LINK
The Republican National Convention:
The New York Times ' Michael Brick writes that protesters are unhappy with the city's decision not to grant permits to demonstrate in Central Park during the Republican convention, and many are expected to congregate there anyway. LINK
The San Francisco Chronicle 's Joe Garofoli looks at the Bay Area activists and artists — more than 1,000 of them — heading to New York to protest during the Republican convention, and provides this bit of color: "On the night before the convention, some activists will don Mickey Mouse ears and confront Republican delegates as they head into the 'Disneyfied' theater district." LINK
The New York Times ' Colin Moynihan thumbs through "The People's Guide to the Republican National Convention." LINK
Calling the Democratic National Convention in Boston a "lovefest" Roll Call 's Stuart Rothenberg wonders if Republicans can match the "one big happy family" thing. LINK
Politics:
"In a last-minute reversal, Rep. Rodney Alexander of Louisiana, elected in 2002 as a Democrat, filed to run for re-election as a Republican late Friday," reports Lauren W. Whittington of Roll Call . LINK
California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley has called for an investigation into $100,000 in questionable contributions to his 2002 campaign, Vanessa Hua and Christian Berthelsen of the San Francisco Chronicle report. The Chronicle reported Sunday that a nonprofit based in San Francisco reimbursed to people and two companies that had given to Shelley's campaign with state grant money. Shelley has promised to put the money into an escrow account. LINK
The Sunday story: LINK
The New York Times ' Rachel Swarns highlights a bill that would allow thousands of immigrants to vote in local Washington, D.C. elections. LINK
Weekend must-reads:
On Saturday, Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe reported on the latest in the back-and-forth comments made by one of the swift boat veterans opposing Sen. Kerry (for now at least). The Globe is standing by its reporter Michael Kranish's report that George Elliott said he made a "terrible mistake" signing an affidavit saying Kerry didn't deserve the Silver Star. LINK
On Sunday, Scott Gold of the Los Angeles Times profiled Robert J. Perry, the prolific Texas Republican donor whose latest effort involves bankrolling Swift Boat Veterans for Truth with a $100,000 donation. Perry, Gold Notes, has "longstanding ties to many close associates of President Bush and has contributed to Bush's last four campaigns," but the Bush campaign says it has no ties to the anti-Kerry group. LINK
As best we can tell, no one has done reporting yet on how the group came together, which is in some ways more important than the funding question.
The latest Time magazine poll shows the horse race breaking down thusly: Kerry with 48 percent, Bush with 43 percent, and Nader with 4 percent — a slight rise for Kerry from his poll numbers immediately after his convention. "Most voters this year appear to have chosen early, and are unmoved by events — at least for now. Only 3% of likely voters currently report being undecided, but there's still some wiggle room — a further 17% of 'decideds' say that they could change their mind before election day. But the absence of significant shifts thus far could mean that the 2004 race will be a fierce, hand-to-hand battle for every voter." LINK
Newsweek 's Richard Wolffe and Susannah Meadows write that John Kerry has his work cut out for him in convincing voters he'd perform better than President Bush in the war on terror. LINK
The New York Times ' David Rosenbaum wrote Sunday that the contest for New Hampshire's four electoral votes could turn out to be as fierce as the race for its voters' support in the primary. LINK
David Halbfinger of the New York Times wrote on Sunday that Sen. Kerry is edging his stump speech toward the center. "In his choice of themes and in his tone, Mr. Kerry is running straight up the middle, as polls show he has solidified his backing among Democrats, with more of his supporters now saying they are voting for him as opposed to voting against Mr. Bush." LINK
Time magazine's Joe Klein argues that the cultural chasm between the red and blue Americas, between Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh, is a media creation. LINK
On Sunday, The Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei and Mary Fitzgerald wrote that Senator Kerry has begun talking about his position on Iraq and his opposition to same-sex marriage during his westward campaign swing. LINK
On Saturday, the New York Times ' Kit Seelye examined how the economy is playing both within the campaigns and to voters. LINK
Peter Wallsten and Warren Vieth of the Los Angeles Times also looked at the economy and the campaign, Noting that the tepid jobs numbers make President Bush's case that the economy is turning the corner just a little bit more difficult. LINK
As the third anniversary of President Bush's decision on stem cell research approaches, Ceci Connolly looked on Sunday at the series of events planned for this week by the Kerry campaign to draw attention to the difference between Senator Kerry's position on the issue and that of President Bush — and to question the Bush Administration's commitment to science and research. LINK
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times ' Matea Gold looked at how Kerry is reaching out to churchgoing voters. LINK
Eyes are on Reps. Ed Markey, Martin Meehan and Barney Frank as possible successors to Kerry's Senate seat, the Boston Globe 's Susan Milligan reported Sunday. LINK
On Sunday, the New York Times ' Josh Benson took a lengthy look at the "Democratic candy store" of heavy-duty fundraising this summer in the Hamptons. LINK
Glen Justice wrote Sunday that top GOP donors will have to pay a "convention fee" of as much as $4,500 each to attend some of the convention related fund-raisers as a result of the McCain-Feingold ban on soft money contributions. The Republican Party "chose to pass the costs on to those attending the convention rather than spend cash that could be used to support President Bush in the election." LINK
The Washington Post 's Chuck Babington and Helen Dewar on Sunday turned in a lengthy must-read on the trajectory of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and how his once fast-rising star "has slowed dramatically in recent months to an often bumpy, bruising slog. As he absorbs more setbacks than victories this summer, Capitol insiders and analysts suggest Frist's relatively thin legislative experience leaves him poorly equipped to handle one of Washington's toughest jobs." LINK
The Washington Post 's Helen Dewar and Walter Pincus wrote Sunday about the split in Congress over how to handle the reforms suggested by the 9/11 commission. LINK
On Sunday, David Broder detailed the "proceed with caution" approach to the changes. LINK
TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
— 9:40 am: Off-camera gaggle by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
— 10:00 am: President Bush participates in an "Ask President Bush" event at the Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA
— 11:00 am: Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka meets with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon
— 11:00 am: Sen. John Edwards attends an AFL-CIO Executive Meeting at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL
— 11:00 am: Ralph Nader holds a press conference on paperless voting and the impact of lobbyists at the Maryland Inn, Annapolis, MD
— 11:15 am: Mrs. Bush speaks about health care at the Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, Langhorne, PA
— 12:00 pm: The Federal Reserve Board of Governors holds a closed meeting to discuss personnel actions, Washington, DC
— 12:00 pm: The Institute for International Economics hosts a luncheon discussion with former Commerce Secretary Peter Peterson and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin to mark the publication of Peterson's new book, "Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It," Washington, DC
— 12:20 pm: Sen. Edwards makes a local stop at Manny's, Chicago, IL
— 12:30 pm: On-camera briefing by Secretary McClellan
— 12:30 pm: Gen. Tommy Franks discusses his new book, "American Soldier" at a National Press Club author luncheon, Washington, DC
— 1:15 pm: President Bush meets with the Prime Minister of Poland at the White House
— 1:15 pm: Secretary Rumsfeld hosts an honor cordon to welcome Demark's Minister of Defense Soren Gade to the Pentagon
— 2:00 pm: Sen. John Kerry tours the Grand Canyon
— 2:40 pm: Mrs. Bush speaks about the economy at the Radisson Hotel, Toledo, OH
— 5:20 pm: Mrs. Bush speaks at a Victory '04 Rally at the Boys and Girls Club, Royal Oak, MI
— 10:30 pm: Sen. Kerry stops in Kingman, AZ
