Polls look mostly encouraging

I saw a decisive Edwards victory in Cleveland, but what was the general reaction from everyone else? At this point, the polls appear mixed. ABC News showed it relatively close: Cheney 43%, Edwards 35%, Tie 19%. But, the sample included more Republicans than Democrats (38%-31%), so that’s to be expected. Perhaps most importantly, before the […]

Edwards picks up where Kerry left off — with a victory

It’d be an exaggeration to say that John Edwards embarrassed Dick Cheney the way John Kerry humbled Bush last week, but I nevertheless believe Edwards won decisively last night. It was a tale of two halves, both of which were bad for Cheney, though one was much worse than the other. In the first half, […]

After conquering the House, the far right starts on the Senate

The Hill had an interesting item today about how conservative activists, now that they’ve completely taken over the House and drive the chamber’s agenda, are laying the groundwork for similar influence in the Senate. This morning, in a nondescript room in the Russell Building, some of Capitol Hill’s top conservative staffers and lobbyists will meet […]

Targeting African-American pastors

The New York Times had a report today noting that the Bush campaign has gone out of its way to reach out to African-American pastors for political support. The Times suggested that it’s had some effect. [The Rev. Walter Humphrey, pastor of two mostly black churches in Akron, Ohio, and Oakland, Calif.,] and about 20 […]

So much for those Saddam-Zarqawi ties

With all of his pre-war claims having been debunked, Bush has relied on emphasizing Saddam Hussein’s alleged ties to other terrorists, other than al Queda. U.S. President George W. Bush [in May] blamed al Qaeda supporter Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for beheading American Nicholas Berg and cited him as an example of Saddam Hussein’s “terrorist ties” […]

Powell is the only one who thinks ‘we’re doing well in Latin America’

Colin Powell did his level best yesterday to insist that the Bush administration is getting along swimmingly with our Latin-American neighbors. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, opening a brief visit to Brazil, said Monday that the Bush administration’s relations with Latin American and Caribbean nations were improving despite recent political turmoil in the region […]

Will a ‘significant speech’ turn the tide?

Kerry has the momentum, the “global test” flap isn’t working, and GOP-driven rumors that Kerry “cheated” during the debate were more ridiculed than believed. What’s the Bush campaign to do? Announce a “significant speech” for tomorrow. President Bush, stung by the erosion of his lead over Sen. John Kerry in post debate polls, has abruptly […]

Bush and Kerry did not look at the same intelligence

On four separate occasions during the Miami debate, Bush said that he and Kerry “looked at the same intelligence” before the war in Iraq began. “The intelligence I looked at was the same intelligence my opponent looked at, the very same intelligence. And when I stood up there and spoke to the Congress, I was […]

When the Bush campaign has to spin against itself

Yesterday, as more polls showed Bush’s September leads evaporating, the Bush campaign acted like these developments weren’t surprising at all. BC04 campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel told ABC News’ Karen Travers that the campaign has always expected a close race. “Since day one, we have indicated it would be a close race,” Stanzel said. That’s the […]

Rumsfeld is still working on his talking points

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in November 2002: “[T]here is no question but that there have been interactions between the Iraqi government, Iraqi officials and al Qaeda operatives, they have occurred over a span of some eight or 10 years to our knowledge, that there are currently al Qaeda in Iraq.” Rumsfeld in September 2002: “Before […]