Print This Page Email This Page See Most Sent

Good Morning America| World News| 20/20| Primetime| Nightline| This Week| ABC News Now| i-Caught Home| World| U.S.| Investigative| Politics| Polls| Money| Health| Entertainment| ESPN Sports| SciTech| Law| Travel| On Campus Please Note: You've requested an ABCNews.com page that does not exist. If you've reached this page by selecting a bookmark that worked previously, it's likely the file moved to a new location because of our recent redesign. Please update your bookmarks. If you still can't find the page your looking for, check out our homepage or use the search form below: Search     Feedback| Wireless| E-mails & News Alerts| Message Boards| RSS Headlines| Podcasts| ABC News Store Contact Us| ABC.com| Site Map| Advertising Info| Terms of Use| Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights External links are provided for reference purposes. ABC News is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. Copyright © 2008 ABCNews Internet Ventures

Note Archives, updated weekly.

E-mail us: Tips, Compliments, Complaints.

General elections always occur right after the World Series and the New York Marathon end, and with pro and college football and basketball, not to mention h-o-c-k-e-y underway.

And now it looks like war, or at least talk of war, is going to dominate Congress and serious political discourse, straight through.

All of which will give the boys (who still dominate politics to a ridiculous extent) plenty of war and sports terms with which to play.

In keeping with our theme of the day, even assuming that the administration is not pursuing a war with Iraq in any way for political purposes, President Bush can freeze the linebackers certainly all the way through his scheduled United Nations address on September 12, and probably beyond that, not only through encouraging intense congressional debate and hearings — which of course is what "seeking congressional approval" translates into — but also, per Roll Call , through a possible televised speech to a joint session of Congress.

Grimace and bear it, partisan Democrats: your herald this morning is the voice of Dick Morris, in his New York Post column, which must be quoted at length. LINK

Dick is having one of his lucid, shameless moments.

His piece is a cold, calculating look at a reality that can't be, and isn't lost on White House political advisers or on the McAuliffe kitchen cabinet.

It's fitting and proper that Mr. Morris has worked both sides of the aisle (Bill Clinton AND Trent Lott have both enjoyed the fruits of his advice over the years), because sometimes, like today, he says stuff that no one else can or will say:

"Bush was smart to announce yesterday that he will seek Congressional authorization to attack Iraq. Pressing a vote will force every incumbent and each candidate to record his or her views on Iraq and will put the issue front and center where the Republican Party needs it to be on Election Day."

"Not since the 1962 Congressional contests, weeks after the Cuban Missile Crisis, have dramatic foreign and military events combined to influence so decisively a mid-term contest and, potentially, to mask the normal slippage in such contests for the incumbent party."

"Polls show that only one issue works in Bush's favor: terrorism. On the environmental, global warming, prescription drug plans for the elderly, the right of HMO patients to sue in court, campaign-finance reform, corporate oversight and every other major public question, Americans back the approaches preferred by the Democrats. Only on education and tax cuts (both already passed) has Bush the makings of a national majority."

"Normally, this matrix of issues would foretell disaster for Bush and his party."

"But the 2002 elections are unlike any in 40 years. They will come right after a national period of mourning and renewed dread grips the nation in the searing emotional aftermath of the first anniversary of its baptism into the brave new world … "

"As evidence mounts of Iraqi development of nuclear weapons, chemical and biological warheads, and missile delivery systems, the logic of attack will become irrefutable and the understanding of the need for invasion will grip the American psyche. Talk of whether Bush will go to war and wag the dog before Election Day misses the point. He doesn't need to wag the dog. He just needs to talk about wagging it to make the impact to keep control of Congress."

"When the nation looks back on 9/11 and ahead to a war in the sands of the Middle East, issues like a patients' bill of rights and prescription-drug benefits will fade to obscurity."

"Even the corporate-responsibility scandals that seemed so dominant in the spring and early summer will not be able to compete with the draconian challenges we have survived and those we yet face. The president always has the power to control the subject of the national debate. As Bush uses this power to focus on the dangers Saddam Hussein poses for the U.S. and for Israel, what other issues will really matter?"

And talk about controlling the agenda: Roll Call 's Kane and Bresnahan report, "Several leading Republicans and strategists have also openly discussed the possibility that Bush could deliver a nationally televised pitch on Iraq before a joint session of Congress in the coming weeks, roughly a year after his Sept. 20, 2001, Congressional address kicking off the war on terror." LINK

The gentlemen go on to make these points: "The fast-approaching Iraq debate, … emerging as the Senate is considering the formation of a Department of Homeland Security, overshadowed media coverage of Tuesday's 355-point plunge in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. And the vote on Iraq could have reverberations for years to come, a fact certain to be on the minds of Democrats considering White House bids against Bush in 2004."

"But Senator Bill Frist (Tenn.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said that he wasn't sure if the public issue agenda had yet shifted from three major issues he found in the 15 states he traveled through in August: prescription drugs, corporate responsibility and Social Security. Iraq was talked about, but not as an issue in a single race, Frist said."

The Boston Globe 's Shribman, keeping his eye on 2002, suggests that in agreeing to seek congressional approval, Bush "may even have enhanced Republican prospects in the midterm congressional elections." LINK

"In simple terms, it is far easier for lawmakers to go on television or radio to criticize the president on foreign policy in the weeks before an election than it is to stand on the House or Senate floor and cast a vote against the commander-in-chief as war clouds gather."

"In the small politics in which Washington luxuriates, the president's decision … ..made a virtue out of necessity … And in the large politics that determines the shape of Washington, the president's decision quiets the conservatives who were worried about executive precedent, even as it places the president's Democratic rivals in the very difficult position of opposing him on an issue of war and peace."

There are so many good nuggets of 2004 politics in the Wall Street Journal 's sidebar-ish take under the header "Key Democrats Voice Doubts on Iraq Plan," that mostly what we will tell you here is that it is a must-read.

The Big Six (Daschle, Gephardt, Gore, Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman) all get mentioned in the piece, with good analysis and quotes, but let the record show that Gov. Howard Dean owns the third paragraph (mentioned after only Daschle) all by himself:

"And one 2004 Democratic presidential prospect, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, declared that 'there's substantial doubt that [Saddam Hussein] is as much of a threat as the Bush administration claims.' Though Americans might initially rally to military action, 'that support will be very short-lived once American kids start coming home in boxes,' Mr. Dean warned Wednesday as he campaigned in Iowa."

In a companion must-read on the op-ed page, Al Hunt says Democrats are MIA on the issue, and he makes a bit of fun of Gore, Edwards, and Gephardt, while elevating the man who is still enjoying his CW/pundit moment in the sun, John Kerry, who, Hunt vaguely teases out, is getting ready to "soon" take a "stand" regarding the need for the United States to act against Iraq as part of an international coalition.

Hats off to hard-working, understaffed Deborah Orin for leading the way in surveying her own congressional delegation on war with Iraq. Get to it, y'all from other states. LINK

Bob Novak's column today is not sanguine about the prospects for price stability in the oil markets if war happens. LINK

President Bush today will leave a Washington gnashing its teeth over Iraq and head off to two fundraisers for key GOP House candidates, the first for Rep. Anne Northup in Louisville, KY, and the second for candidate Chris Chocola in South Bend, IN.

Democrats, as usual, won't be sitting still while President Bush is visiting key House districts. The Democratic House campaign committee already happened to be launching a TV ad against businessman Chocola today on corporate responsibility.

Democrats also are reminding reporters of a Northup business/ethical flap with the FCC. And Chocola's Democratic opponent, former Rep. Jill Long Thompson, will hold a town hall meeting with seniors on Social Security in South Bend later this afternoon.

Also today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Bush's nomination of Texas Judge Priscilla Owen to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Washington Times puts it this way: "President Bush's highest-profile female judicial nominee is expected to be defeated in a party-line vote today, following an opposition campaign organized by the Clinton administration's top ranking advocate for working women." LINK

Even with the parallel between Iraq and the approaching September 11 anniversary, campaigns are campaigning and political reporters are reporting, and we're starting to see some big — and some big fun — pieces.

First off, Jonathan Weisman has an important story in the Washington Post on the suddenly shaky future of further Bush tax cuts: "Sharp divisions at the White House have delayed the release of a package of tax cuts aimed at boosting the stock market, and new questions over its political wisdom may scuttle the plan altogether, congressional and White House officials said." LINK

"If Democrats are not willing to sign on, [Senate Finance ranking member Charles] Grassley said, the package should be shelved."

"On top of … philosophical disputes is a simple logistical question: Does Congress have time to act on the package, as well as pass earlier Bush initiatives on energy policy, homeland defense, terrorism insurance and pension protection? The heated debate on Iraq has only further clouded the tax plan's future, an administration official said."

"Supporters of the plan say it could boost the Dow Jones industrial average by 1,000 points. If it dies on Capitol Hill, it could put Democrats on the political defensive."

"But economists of all political stripes have raised sharp questions about the wisdom of government intervening in the stock market, especially as Bush pushes his plan to allow workers to invest some of their Social Security taxes in stocks."

Two other things about this story:
— Dear Claire Buchan: does the president influence the economy, or does he not?
— We find the last paragraph priceless: "A White House official said the arguments over substance are being taken seriously, especially concerns that some of the proposals could actually hurt the markets. And, the aide said, it was never certain there would be a package, even if the president supported one."

After the broccoli comes the pure smack: the New York Times ' Nagourney and the Washington Post 's Balz and Becker have must-reads for junkies — looks at how the two major parties and candidates are shifting some resources and some emphasis to face-to-face, on-the-ground voter contact to raise turnout, as television ads are deemed less efficient and effective.

Here are the best three graphs from Nagourney's story, representative of why this front-pager is the kind of story that the likes of Tom Rath and Margaret Jane Myers will be torn between wanting to speed-read every sentence of (like they were eating a can of Pringles), and wanting to go slow and savor every syllable (like the way the wise used to eat chicken tenders on the Dole '96 plane):

"The trend has been acknowledged, if grudgingly, by campaign media consultants who — not incidentally — are usually paid a percentage of a campaign's television advertising budget." LINK

"'That's like asking Detroit, "How do you feel about public transportation?"' David Axelrod, a media consultant, said when asked about the newfound efficiency of grass roots. 'It might be marginally harder to reach people through television these days. But I still think it's an important tool.'"

"A Republican media consultant dismissed the new interest by the party as little more than a fad. 'It's good, but it's marginal,' the consultant said. 'I don't think McDonald's ever came knocking on your door.'"

What kind of weenie GOP source wouldn't say THAT on the record?

For thorough insiders: you'll enjoy the rare Hazelwood and Wachs quotes.

Meanwhile, Dan Balz, along with Jo Becker, uses his pet topic of the Democratic primary in Maryland's 8th district as the excuse to get at what he really is nuts about: the use of technology to expedite and refine voter contact. LINK

"Bumper stickers, yard signs and teams of foot soldiers are the visible elements of a well-organized campaign, but increasingly sophisticated technology guides a candidate through the maze of a disparate and often disinterested electorate, sometimes with astonishing speed. The technology makes it far easier than ever to identify potential supporters, woo them with exactly the right appeal and then ensure that they show up at the polls."

"[C]ampaigns have moved light-years in their ability to segment and woo the electorate. Political candidates and volunteers now arrive at voters' doors armed with a wealth of information about the occupants — and use their visits to gather even more."

Next Tuesday will bring a dry run for what general election voting in the midst of the war against terrorism, and possibly a war against Iraq, as 11 states and Washington, DC hold the biggest primary day of the midterm election year.

Although there is not likely to be any mega-news that breaks into the wall-to-wall coverage and commemoration of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the day will include:
the determination of the Republican Senate nominee in one of the year's biggest Senate races, in New Hampshire;
the possible end of Janet Reno's (somewhat) quixotic attempt to become governor of Florida;
the likely nominations of known quantities Elizabeth Dole, Erskine Bowles, Katherine Harris, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend;
the beginning of a tragi-comic, days-long hand count of write-in ballots in the mayoral election of our nation's capital; and,
the determination of the party nominees in some important, but not necessarily high-profile, gubernatorial races.

It's also possible that as many as nine women and one African-American will become major-party nominees for either governor or Senate in next Tuesday's voting, including Reno, Jeanne Shaheen, Dole, Townsend, and Carl McCall in New York.

Check out THIS LINK for our assessment of the key September 10 primaries.

Judge Owens Nomination

Per the AP: "Lawmakers expect a close vote on Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen's promotion to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in the Senate Judiciary Committee … many Democrats have contended that the 47-year-old Owen is an anti-abortion and pro-business judicial activist whose opinions and rulings are overly influenced by her personal beliefs … Republicans accuse her critics of distorting her record." LINK

The Wall Street Journal ed board raises the stakes, in their (oft-used) sophistic partisanship-disguised-as-principle manner.

Legislative Agenda

Boy, if it weren't for this war stuff, we sure bet the "train wreck" of a budget situation on Capitol Hill would be getting a lot more attention.

Couldn't-happen-to-a-nicer-guy Carl Hulse (building himself quite a little Rogersian-Hooksian reputation) has a fine piece about the "fiscal quagmire" that is shaping up, and that we still think could influence the electoral environment: "No one is talking about a reprise of the government shutdown of 1995, but if factions in Congress cannot bridge differences between themselves and the White House over spending priorities, federal agencies are very likely to be held hostage to a series of stop-gap spending bills. Without a budget and the rules that go with it, the door could be opened to a flurry of sticky Senate legislative fights." LINK

And he gets one anonymous Republican to dump all over the White House for their mixed messages on holding the line on spending, illustrating what the now tongue-holding Mitch Daniels gets so annoyed with (The Note writes with purposeful ambiguity): "'They go out and give a speech and slap us around while they are quietly sending up these requests,' said one Republican staff member on the House appropriations panel. 'It is a tad frustrating.'"

In a slightly parallel universe, the REAL Mr. Rogers, in the Wall Street Journal , leads thusly: "After a summer of talking tough on spending, the White House is now asking Congress for money it once lectured lawmakers against adding to President Bush's budget … "

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary

The Charlotte Observer's Hurt has the dirt on one of the Invisible Primary's most pressing questions (apart from the matter of Al Gore, of course): how Senator John Edwards is going to spend ALL THAT soft money taken in by his leadership PAC before the November 6 McCain-Feingold-imposed deadline. Television ads, natch. LINK

"Edwards, a Democrat who makes little secret of his ambitions to replace President Bush in the White House in 2004, filmed a television ad in his hometown of Robbins, N.C., last week. Edwards plans to spend roughly $1 million airing the ad in North Carolina, beginning as early as this month after Tuesday's primary."

"The ad is nonpartisan and patriotic and encourages people to vote, according to his office."

The ad kills several birds with one stone. First, it uses up a big chunk of that soft money. Second, they theoretically boost Edwards' standing among his home state voters, with whom he, like most freshmen Senators who spend much of their time traveling through other states, has a somewhat tenuous relationship, according to public and private polls. And third, they get Edwards tangentially involved in the North Carolina Senate race, from which he has largely steered clear so far.

Here's the thing, though. Hurt suggests that Edwards may use the soft money to fund ad campaigns in other states, too — key presidential states. An Edwards spokesman this morning emphatically denied that. North Carolina only, he said.

The ad has not yet been produced and the time not yet bought. It will be made by Bob Shrum (some of you will consider the placement of that detail here at the end to be "burying the lead;" we consider it "teasing out the good stuff" slowly, the way Mike McCurry famously suggested telling the truth.)

Sens. John F. Kerry and John Edwards will attend the Richland County Democratic Party's DemFest 2002 on September 28 in Columbia, SC.

Look what the Daily News found: "In the first sign of national Democrats rallying around the party's nominee, Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman attended a McCall fund-raiser last night in Manhattan. He drew parallels between his campaign as Al Gore's running mate in 2000 and McCall's gubernatorial bid." LINK

"'I'm also here tonight to support an idea,' said Lieberman, the first Jewish American to run on a national ticket. 'I feel the opportunity I was given in 2000 gives me a responsibility to return that favor.'"

Campaign Finance

The discovery process in the legal wars over McCain-Feingold has pretty much everyone unhappy.

The pro-status quo National Voting Rights Institute wants to search the congressional offices of the six "principal authors" of the law shorthandedly known as McCain-Feingold, Roll Call 's Chappie reports. The six are resisting, and that suit is in limbo. LINK

Meanwhile, five days late, the Washington Post gets to the fact that congressional Republicans are ticked off and charging that "federal officials are unfairly pressing them to hand over documents that would reveal fundraising and campaign strategies. The dispute erupted in recent days when government officials sought a court order forcing two GOP national committees to turn over numerous internal documents." LINK

Of course, at least the Post got to it; other major metropolitan dailies still are lagging on this key story.

Politics

The New York Times looks at how white-collar, corporate crime seems to have more political juice this year than does violent crime. LINK

And yet another long New York Times story (under the intriguing Joyce Purnick byline) takes a look at Rudy Giuliani's professional life now, and his possible political future. LINK

It includes some very nice quotes from Bill Kristol and Rep. Tom Davis, and some eye-opening ones from Paul Weyrich: "'He has greatly helped himself, not only by displaying the leadership he did post-9/11, but also he has been willing to go campaign for a whole host of people whom he doesn't agree with, and that is very unusual on the part of liberal Republicans.'"

"'He had a couple of obstacles — his pro-abortion positions and being for gay rights,' Mr. Weyrich continued. 'Those were two things which the conservative movement really couldn't swallow. Now all of a sudden I'm hearing, "Well, if he'll be fair to us, perhaps we could swallow it." I'm very surprised.'"

We'll believe it when we see it.

Well, the New York Times ' two business Davids, Carr and Kirkpatrick, could have saved themselves and their editors a lot of mishigos (as they say on 43rd Street) if they had simply asked Mr. Margaret Jane Myers (a/k/a Todd Purdum) or one of their other colleagues who covered Bill Clinton as president, why the thang seemed so confusing.

It now seems, from today's one-day-late story about how the FPOTUS seems to, for now, sort of, taken himself out of the running for a TV show, that the paper finally gets why this whole thing has been so crazy and, well, Clintonesque from the get-go: "The mixed messages may be a result of competing advisers in Mr. Clinton's camp. The former president's friends on the West Coast are said to think that he and TV are a match made in heaven, while his advisers in the East are said to be of the view that Mr. Clinton should be preoccupied with securing his political legacy." LINK

How long can the Wall Street Journal ed board's bile for the Clintons stay at this level?

CongressDailyAM notes the whispers that Senator Jon Corzine is well-positioned to become the next chair of the DSCC. (Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, the current vice-chair, is also said to want the top job).

A must-read in Rep. Matsui's office today: National Reviewer Ramesh Ponnuru (R) writes that his fellow Republicans brazenly fib, when they disclaim ever using the word "privatization" to describe what they'd like to do to Social Security. But he also says that the word doesn't accurately describe their proposals. Just because the plan introduces private accounts does not mean it is privatized, per se — it will still be a big government program. Slightly less scary, in Ponnuru's point of view. http://www.nationalreview.com/ponnuru/ponnuru090402.asp )

The GOP members of the US Civil Rights Commission plan to boycott a scheduled session in Wilmington, DE next Friday. LINK

Instead, they'll hold a DC news conference denouncing Democratic commission chair Mary Frances Berry. LINK

New York

It takes a lot to get us to read a Bob Herbert column (life is short, you know), but his take on The End of Andrew Cuomo, after the two of them had a phone chat, is totally worth everyone's time today. LINK

The operative graph: "If Mr. Cuomo does not acknowledge that his arrogant, abrasive, controlling and — in the view of some — even mean-spirited qualities played a big role in his defeat by Mr. McCall, then he will not bother to work on improving those aspects of his personality and character. And that will mean his political career is doomed. A winning politician needs better interpersonal skills than Mr. Cuomo has thus far exhibited."

And we are still waiting to hear from Bill Knapp and Co. (if they can stop making Sanchez spots for long enough) about what they think of their work being made the scapegoat in all of this.

And we are still working through what we think about Pataki versus McCall (versus Golisano?), but today's New York Post Dicker column has a lot of clarifying words, including a charming last graph: "'We're ready to tear his head off on his record if he starts to do any damage to the governor,' was how one of the state's most influential Republicans put it. 'This campaign will start soft, but we're ready to take a hard approach as soon as that becomes necessary.'" LINK

Assuming Dicker didn't make up the quote (sorry, Fred), it ain't hard to imagine who said it, if you are someone who pays attention to syntax.

The Daily's Siegel embarrasses the competition (and his editors: c'mon, Mort, give this stallion more room to run!), with a too-short-but-fab piece on the Clintons and New York politics. LINK

It's a must-read, and not just for this blind quote: "Now the Clintons are preparing to boost the visibility and the campaign bankroll of McCall in his battle against Gov. Pataki."

"'This is what we warned would happen,' bemoaned one state Republican, referring to the danger of Hillary Clinton winning a Senate seat and bringing her husband with her."

Page Six covers Roger Stone's latest Golisano work, and Andrew Cuomo's partying. LINK

New Jersey

A key source says that Republican Doug "I am running against Bob Torricelli!!" Forrester goes on the air today with his first general election spot.

The well-placed source says that the buy is for $1.27 million total (yes, this is one of our most precise sources), and it will run on Philly and New York broadcast TV.

The ad is supposed to run through Monday, September 9, then be pulled as part of the campaign's September 11 ad moratorium (which runs for one week, from September 10-16), and then go back on the air Thursday the 19th and stay up through Monday the 23rd — coincidentally, the same day the president is scheduled to come to Trenton.

Contrary to expectations in some quarters, the campaign is leading off with a 100-percent positive bio spot about the candidate. You'll see him flipping burgers, working as a librarian, even painting house numbers on curbs to work his way through school, all somewhat contradicting the born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth image that some have tried to paint.

At 8 p.m., Torricelli and Forrester meet for their first debate in Trenton. C-SPAN junkies can catch it live.

George Will makes an interesting point: Forrester may have a winning argument if he can convince New Jersey voters that Torricelli has a certain image of the state and that they don't like it. LINK

Roll Call 's Henry reports that "that within a week of U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White announcing that she would not indict" him, the Torch allegedly came thisclose to buying a yacht. LINK

Florida

Both Janet Reno and Bill McBride stumped in South Florida yesterday. Guess who got the better coverage and more flattering pictures? LINK

We know it's old hat, and often inaccurate, to accuse the New York Times of injecting its institutional bias into news stories, but we're also pretty sure that their story today about the repeal of a gay rights ordinance in Miami-Dade County could have at least included a degree of subtlety. LINK

Like, for example, this article from the Christian Science Monitor, which does a better job of recounting the history of such battles: LINK

The Monitor article does not overlook the pressure on Democrats in Miami to fight against the repeal; if the repeal wins, they might well lose their chance of hosting the 2004 Democratic convention (if they haven't already, for other reasons).

California

On talk radio yesterday, GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon denied that he has changed his positions on gay rights issues, saying he never read, approved, or signed the Log Cabin Republicans questionnaire in question. Simon strategist Sal Russo took the fall, saying he never showed the form to Simon. LINK

(Not) to oversimplify: Carla Marinucci's article today on the Davis-Simon race basically says: "Voters think both candidates really, really stink." LINK

Iowa

The Des Moines Register looks at how both candidates running for Iowa's 4th district, Rep. Tom Latham (R) and challenger John Norris (D), are relative newcomers to the newly remapped district. LINK

Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) and challenger Doug Gross (R) have the distinction of being locked in one of the more substantive, least fluffy gubernatorial races this year. They're continuing to clash over competing Medicaid plans. LINK

New Hampshire

For a state with such a rich political culture — or arguably precisely because of this rich culture — New Hampshire has yet to find a pollster who can really nail it every time.

We're not quite sure what to make of the newest independent poll in the Republican Senate primary showing Rep. John Sununu with a huge, 22-point lead over Senator Bob Smith, coming as it does on the heels of a slew of public and private polling showing the primary contest to be within single digits.

Everyone who knows the state keeps telling us that there's just no way to determine what voter turnout will be like — not just how high or low it will be, but who will turn out to vote. And taking an accurate survey, of course, is predicated on a turnout model which correctly presumes who will turn out.

The Boston Globe does the Republican Senate and gubernatorial primaries. LINK

The GOP gubernatorial candidates debate tonight.

Massachusetts

The Democratic candidates for governor will debate tonight. "The 7 p.m. debate will air in Boston on channels 2, 4, 5, 7, and New England Cable News." LINK

Maybe Mitt Romney should've asked the state police chiefs to also endorse his running mate, since she is, after all, "a respected criminologist." LINK

Romney running mate Kerry Murphy Healey's primary battle against Jim Rappaport, and how the Romney campaign is handling (and not handling) it, has been the great sidebar to this gubernatorial race. "Romney said the campaign asked for an endorsement for Healey but did it too late, which could intensify criticism that the Romney campaign often treats Healey as an afterthought. Romney, who has been campaigning with Healey, has only recently let her take the lead in policy presentations and campaign events, although she is the one who faces an opponent in the primary."

That said, the Romney campaign has launched new ads trying to shore up Healey. LINK

Meanwhile, millionaires Romney and Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Chris Gabrieli "duked it out yesterday for the title of poorest corporate titan on the block." LINK

Cantabrigians Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have recorded a campaign phone call and lent their names to literature on behalf of their old friend, Marjorie Decker, a city council member running for state representative.

The three go way back — Affleck used to play sandlot baseball with Decker, and most recently, they united to bring publicity to last year's drive to give Harvard workers a "living wage."

In the phone call, Damon says that "anyone who knows Marjorie knows that when she rolls up her sleeves, she gets things done. And from what I hear, it sounds like the Legislature needs someone like Marjorie who will challenge the go-along to get-along culture."

North Carolina

Erskine Bowles doesn't seem to need his former boss' help winning the Democratic Senate primary, Roll Call 's Cillizza reports. This works out nicely for both men, since Bill Clinton won't have to risk alienating some African-Americans by coming out against Bowles opponent Dan Blue, and Bowles won't have to risk alienating moderate white voters who don't like Bill Clinton. LINK

Joe Lockhart was rocked WAY back on his heels on IP yesterday when Charlie Black offered to fly Clinton down to the Tar Heel State to campaign for Bowles.

Lockhart's response was basically, "Hummminah … hummminah … hummminah … "

Republican Senate candidate Jim Snyder, who is selling himself as the true heir to the Helms conservative legacy and is (the Helms-endorsed) Elizabeth Dole's most credible primary opponent, will appear on Fox News with Brit Hume tonight. LINK

(Snyder appeared on FoxWire with Rita Cosby this weekend). Helms, meanwhile, is back at work for the final months of his Senate career. LINK

Michigan

Debatewatch: gubernatorial nominees Jennifer Granholm (D) and Dick Posthumus (R) will tangle on October 7 on WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and on October 15 at an Economic Club of Detroit luncheon. A possible third clash is TBD. LINK

South Carolina

Republican Senate nominee Lindsey Graham is up with a new TV ad touting his role in bolstering the US economy. "The ad says Graham … has supported President Bush's efforts toward economic recovery, specifically on cutting taxes, controlling spending and reforming corporate law. The ad shows pictures of Bush walking with Graham, and speaking on his behalf at a fund-raiser last spring." LINK

Illinois

Several news organizations cover the Democratic gubernatorial nominee's double-digit lead now that voters are confusing the GOP nominee, a guy named Ryan, with the outgoing, scandal-plagued governor, also a guy named Ryan. The governorship of this rather key state could hang in the balance.

Here's our question for nominee Jim Ryan's admakers and mail guys: what kind of cute spots and mailers can you come up with to help solve the problem?

Wouldn't you like to be Rod Blagojevich at breakfast this morning?

"Open hostilities broke out between the state's top two Republicans Wednesday as Gov. George Ryan blasted the man trying to succeed him, Jim Ryan, as a 'lousy candidate' with an undistinguished record as attorney general," the Chicago Tribune reports. LINK

"Jim Ryan shot back by calling George Ryan 'a bitter man' who 'ran the worst administration in the history of Illinois.'"

"The two Ryans aren't related, a point Jim Ryan has been repeating like a mantra for months, but their exchange highlights a dysfunction in the Republican political family that threatens the GOP ticket with less than 9 weeks to the November election."

Maryland

The Washington Post endorses state Senator Chris Van Hollen over state Del. Mark Shriver in the key 8th district Democratic primary. LINK

This is one of the few places in America where such a thing might actually matter.

Bush Administration Strategy/Personality

Small potential problem with Attorney General Ashcroft's appointees to the administration's domestic abuse advisery council: two of them are "representatives of a group vigorously opposed to the law the committee oversees," the Washington Post 's Milbank notes. LINK

If you have taken to the Politics of Steel as much as we have, you will want to read the A2 The Wall Street Journal story about the latest machinations.

Media

Sumner's gain is our loss. Good-bye, and see you soon, sweet, shiny Penny. LINK