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—7:00 am: Gen. Wesley Clark appears on NBC's "Today Show"
—8:30 am: Sen. John Edwards greets supporters at Meadors Sandwich Co., Greenville, S.C.
—9:00 am: Gov. Dean attends speaks to supporters at his campaign headquarters, Manchester, N.H.
—10:15 am: President Bush speaks about job training and the economy at Owens Community College, Toledo, Ohio
—10:45 am: First Lady Laura Bush speaks about education initiatives at Discovery Middle School, Orlando, Fla.
—11:30 am: Rep. Dennis Kucinich kicks off his bus tour, Orono, Maine
—12:00 pm: Sen. John Kerry delivers a major policy speech regarding special interests at Daniel Webster College. Nashua, N.H.
—12:00 pm: Gen. Wesley Clark holds a press conference with veterans at the VFW, Portsmouth, N.H.
—12:00 pm: Sen. John Edwards meets with voters at Roland's restaurant, Nashua, N.H.
—12:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich attends a peace rally at University of Maine, Orono, Maine
—12:30 pm: Sen. Lieberman holds a town hall meeting at Timberland High School, Plaistow, N.H.
— 1:00 pm: Politics Live on abcnews.com and AOL
—1:50 pm: Rep. Kucinich picks up Hancock County volunteers at the Bucksport Town Office, Bucksport, Maine
—2:00 pm: Sen. Lieberman speaks to the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem, N.H.
—2:00 pm: Sen. Edwards talks about job creation at National Aperture, Salem, N.H.
—2:10 pm: Gen. Clark speaks to students about his plans for Iraq at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.
—2:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich speaks at the Unitarian Church, Belfast, Maine
—3:45 pm: Sen. Lieberman greets local residents and unveils the "Integrity One" campaign bus, Manchester, N.H.
—3:45 pm: Rep. Kucinich takes a short walk at Market on Main, Rockland, Maine
—5:15 pm: Sen. Lieberman visits the Raphael Club with Alderman Danny O'Neal, Manchester, N.H.
—5:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich takes part in a peace rally at the United Church of Christ, Bath, Maine
—6:10 pm: President Bush speaks about job training and the economy at Mesa Community College, Phoenix, Ariz.
—6:30 pm: Sen. Kerry attends a town hall meeting at Philips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N.H.
—6:30 pm: Rep. Kucinich speaks at three municipal pre-caucus candidates nights, South Portland, Maine
—7:00 pm: Gen. Clark hosts a "Conversation with Clark" event at an American Legion Post, Manchester, N.H.
—7:00 pm: Sen. Lieberman speaks to the Chamber of Commerce awards dinner, Windham, N.H.
—7:00 pm: Sen. Edwards holds his 100th New Hampshire town hall meeting at the VFW, Portsmoth, N.H.
NEWS SUMMARY
Dynamics to watch today:
1. Which tracking polls can be trusted and which … not so much?
2. Which campaign pollsters have the best models for independent turnout in New Hampshire?
3. What is going on with Gephardt's three big assets: Missouri delegate positioning; Congressman Clyburn; and labor?
4. Which campaign schedulers and campaign managers have realized that tomorrow night's debate actually matters big time, and will get their candidate to focus on serious debate prep (for a change)?
5. Will the Gang of 500 judge the February 3rd results as wins and losses, delegate accumulation, or both? And which wins "matter" most that night?
6. How will Howard Dean do with late deciders in the Granite State and with regaining control of his public image and does Burlington realize how big the connection is between those two?
7. What will go on on New Hampshire radio and in New Hampshire mailboxes in the next six days?
8. Whither cash on hand today, pre-bought 2/3 TV, and Busta Caps?
9. Will President Bush's State of the Union change the focus of the current Democratic campaign rhetoric?
10. What's coming over the media transom today, and from whom?
President Bush speaks about job training and the economy at community colleges in Ohio and Arizona today.
First Lady Laura Bush is in Florida today.
Sens. Kerry and Lieberman and Gen. Clark are all in New Hampshire today.
Senator Edwards campaigns in South Carolina before returning to New Hampshire this afternoon.
Gov. Dean is in New Hampshire this morning before heading to Burlington to attend his son's hockey game tonight.
ABC News Dean campaign reporter Reena Singh reports: Following his 9 am event in New Hampshire this morning, Dean will hold a press availability where he is expected to make an announcement. Dean will then travel to Vermont where he will do local satellite interviews. Dean will drive back to the Granite State tomorrow morning in time for his event in Lebanon, NH.
Rep. Kucinich is in Maine.
Rev. Al Sharpton has no public events.
SOTU
The Wall Street Journal 's Greg Hitt takes President Bush's domestic plans first, focusing on the "litany of small proposals" hamstrung by the deficit and telling Congress that unless they act, there will be a tax increase.
In the Washington Post :
Dana Milbank and Mike Allen write up the speech: LINK
Amy Goldstein and Jonathan Weisman look at the president's modest domestic proposals: LINK
Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright look at the foreign policy: LINK
And David von Drehle calls Bush's tone "reactive" to the upcoming election. LINK
Tom Shales eyeballs the dynamics at the Capitol last night. LINK
Dan Balz and Paul Schwartzman report the Democratic response — from the campaign trail. LINK
The New York Times ' Bumiller and Stevenson write that the president "presented the nation with a choice between his continued leadership and a return to the 'dangerous illusion' that the threat had ended." LINK
The New York Times ' Carl Hulse writes up the Democratic response by Leaders Daschle and Pelosi, but leads first with what some of those guys applying for the position of "Democratic nominee" thought. LINK
The New York Times ' Todd Purdum thought the SOTU was a pretty good stump speech. LINK
The Boston Globe 's Kornblut looks at the president's upcoming travel schedule and writes that White House types "are finally beginning to concede that the president is campaigning for reelection." LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Reynolds on the two biggest threats. LINK
Bob Novak writes that Bush's theme "was still inextricably tied to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and set the terms for his re-election struggle against the Democrats." LINK
In a news analysis, the Los Angeles Times' Gosselin writes: "When all was said and done Tuesday night, President Bush's Big Idea for fixing what ails America came down to one thing: economic recovery. And, he suggested, the hard work toward that goal is largely completed." LINK
The New Republic's Jonathan Cohn looks at Bush's health care proposals and is not impressed: "there was nothing 'new' about the 'plan' President Bush unveiled last night. It was a hodgepodge of ideas he first touted as a presidential candidate in April 2000, and that he has deployed strategically whenever the polls show health insurance affordability is an issue. More important, it's unlikely these ideas will make health insurance 'more affordable'—at least, not for the people who most need the help." LINK
The New Hampshire Primary
Ron Brownstein of the Los Angeles Times reports that Dean needs to retool his image (as Kerry and Edwards did in Iowa) "or accelerate a downward spiral that could unravel his campaign." LINK
The AP's Will Lester reports that "Iowa voters were looking for a Democratic Presidential candidate with experience and a campaign message that would wear well against President Bush, according to an analysis of caucus participants." LINK
Sizing up New Hampshire, the New York Times ' Nagourney and Wyatt write, "If this new landscape brought smiles to Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards, it seemed to pose challenges to Dr. Dean and General Clark." LINK
The Post 's VandeiHei on Dean: "A Dean adviser called Thursday night's debate the biggest of the campaign and one that could allow the former Vermont governor to regain his footing in New Hampshire." LINK
The New York Times ' David Halbfinger writes that Kerry is "sleepless but confident" in New Hampshire. LINK
The New York Times ' Jodi Wilgoren describes Dr. Dean in New Hampshire on Tuesday as compared to Dr. Dean late Monday night in Iowa. LINK
The New York Times ' Randal Archibald Notes that the second-place finisher in Iowa has hit the money trail again — big time — before heading to New Hampshire. LINK
The New York Times ' Glen Justice teaches us how to weave Iowa straw into New Hampshire gold. LINK
The New York Times ' Seelye and Connelly have a Dean campaign post-mortem in Iowa. LINK
And their colleague Steven Greenhouse does the same for labor. LINK
The New York Times ' Rachel Swarns writes up the Gephardt farewell. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Eric Slater and Matea Gold report that the Democratic campaigns recalibrated after the Iowa surprises, "with no one eager for frontrunner status." LINK
Kerry and Edwards hope that their Iowa wins result in more cash for their campaigns, the AP reports. Dean told supporters he needs $1 million by next week's primary. LINK
Tha Nashua Telegraph follows one of our buses to a local restaurant. LINK
Thomas Beaumont of the Des Moines Register reflects on the electability of the Democratic candidates as they advance to the next round. LINK
No offense meant to Jano, Nagourney, or Charlie Rose, but should Senator Lieberman at this point really agree to be part of a reporters roundtable on public television?
Politics Live
Just because we know you can't get enough, because we know you are sitting at the edge of your comfy desk chair every day at 12:59 p.m. ET in eager anticipation, and because of the squeals of joy heard from the streets of Times Square, another edition of Politics Live is coming to you today.
In honor of the upcoming New Hampshire primary, do we have a show for you!
New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner will be taking time out of his busy schedule to stop by the ABC News Blue Bus in downtown Manchester, as will Jamal Simmons, press secretary for Gen. Wesley Clark. And just because the suspense kills us too, we have another super secret guest coming your way today.
The men and women with fanny packs and maps in Times Square had absolutely no idea what treat would await them, but now the ABC News Jumbotran is giving their visit a whole new experience.
Here's a clip from last week to test out:
http://play.rbn.com/?url=realone/abcnews/open/g2demand/promo_politicslive.rm&proto=rtsp
The program is also available to AOL subscribers.
But you can't tell the players without a program — which means ya gotta sign up to have ABC News Live delivered right to your desk top. http://abcnews.go.com/webcasts/Landing/ROlanding_index.html
Kerry
From ABC News Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:
The campaign has already begun to move pieces on the political organization chess board. In the wake of Monday's win, several Iowa staffers jumped aboard the Des Moines to Manchester charter, some to aid in the Granite State, others to position for possible re-deployment.
Iowa lead advancer Teresa Wells will likely remain in New Hampshire while Hawkeye State spokesperson Laura Capps will trade ear muffs for sun block in Arizona.
And, in what is viewed both long overdue and a strategically brilliant move by at least one Note scribe, Iowa Political Director Mike Malaise will attempt to work his down home charm in North Dakota.
Read more from the trail with Kerry on abcnews.com: LINK
John Harwood recaps Iowa and examines the qualities of John Kerry that are making voters take a second look.
The Los Angeles Times' La Ganga writes up Kerry's day in New Hampshire. "The fabric of the Democratic primaries had changed. Kerry won the all-important Iowa caucuses. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was no longer the presumed frontrunner. And the small, polite group of reporters who traveled with the Massachusetts senator for weeks and months swelled to an unwieldy crush overnight." LINK
The Boston Globe on Kerry's determination to stick with the Iowa playbook, his effort to woo Gephardt backers, and his campaign's concern that he now faces the same kind of scrutiny that ensnared Dean in Iowa. LINK
Gephardt:
From ABC News Gephardt campaign reporter Sally Hawkins:
An hour before the concession was made, Gephardt held an emotional conference call with all of his campaign offices. A senior staffer described the call as "surreal" when people from all over the country logged on and announced their location. "Sioux City here", "Los Angeles is on", "This is St. Louis," "New Hampshire is here." Another staffer described it as upbeat but emotional as Gephardt thanked his staff and told them he loved them.
Instructions were given to close up the shops by Friday. Computers are being sent back to rental companies. Phones are being disconnected. Mailers thrown out. Electricity turned off. And, there's lots of stuff for the dumpster. Staffers will remain on the payroll until the end of the month to give them ample time to find new jobs.
Ray Plowden, Michigan state political director said, for him, it was a bit like a death in the family. "We went through all the stages of a death — denial, anger, sadness". And today, they came to terms with the loss and began emptying out their closets. "We never got a chance to show what we could do. We felt that in Michigan we could really make something happen for him. We never got a chance to show our stuff". Now, Plowden says, Michigan is "wide open."
Read more from the trail with Gephardt on abcnews.com: LINK
A correction: in yesterday's Note, we in no way meant to imply that Gephardt campaign COS Steve Elmendorf or any of his fellow Gephardt campaign senior staff members are looking to jump ship to a former opponents' campaign. While Iowa campaign manager John Lapp has asked his field staffers to become supporters of Senator Edwards, there has been no campaign-wide directive or suggestion that other staffers do so, and we did not mean to imply, as our words may have, that Elmendorf was encouraging that course of action.
The Washington Post 's Lois Romano looks at Rep. Dick Gephardt's exit from public life, and the new competition for the Missouri primary — and Gephardt's support. LINK
Edwards:
From ABC News Edwards campaign reporter Gloria Riviera:
While Edwards' message on the trail has changed but little (Iowans are "blunt" while New Hampshire residents are "direct" but both have taught him a thing or two … ) staff discussions off the trail have been entirely revised. At one time the campaign was looking to make "the best of bad situations" in the first two battle ground states: a Gephardt loss in Iowa followed by a Dean win in NH would have taken the son of a milkman and Senator Kerry off the playing field, clearing the way for a "Dean Alternative" (remember that phrase?) to emerge down South.
No more. Now begins a bit of wait and see, although time is short and the campaign is itching to see their guy get in the debate ring. Campaign strategy remains based on promoting their "optimistic message of hope" and as always, do not expect to see John Edwards attack his rivals. Respond to attacks, yes, but there will be no first punch from this campaign.
Read more from the trail with Edwards on abcnews.com: LINK
Iowa:
The Los Angeles Times caught the Des Moines Register 's Ken Fuson saying good-bye to the ABC News campaign bus as Des Moines emptied out. LINK
Dean:
The Los Angeles Times' Matea Gold writes up the "different kind of speech" that Dean delivered in New Hampshire on Tuesday and contrasts it with the ridicule-inducing speech Dean gave in Iowa the night before. LINK
Paul Farhi and Tom Edsall size up Dean's financial picture in the Washington Post . Key point: $41 million. LINK
George Will writes that Iowans made the right call on Dean. LINK
E.J. Dionne calls Dean a man out of time in 2004, and says the pressure's on the Governor to perform. LINK
Dean tones it down after Iowa outburst, the Union Leader's DiStaso reports. LINK
Sarah Schweitzer of the Boston Globe points out that there were not many who were fans of the Dean yell Monday night. Even top aides and his bloggers did not know what to do with it. Most importantly, some New Hampshire voters were less than impressed. LINK
Wanna know where Dean's new focus comes from?
From ABC News Dean blog obsessor Marc Ambinder:
The Dean bloggers are not happy. They:
—uniformly seemed to dislike the ads that Dean was running. ("Spend money: hire a professional ad firm")
—hated the speech Monday night
—they want more Judy and more biography
—believe the campaign needs to focus less on the "campaign" and the process and more on health care, education, etc.
—saw too much pessimism coming from the campaign's pronouncements
—Dean people in Iowa report a "bombardment" of contacts from youthful volunteers, which annoyed them. And the big Dean organization turned out to be disorganized — a bunch of signs and stand-outs, and not enough persuasion.
—They do not like the angry Dean. They do not like the tired-looking Dean. "Get him 6-8 hours of sleep!"
—BUT — they believe in Dean, they believe in his message, and they want to move on and win.
Here's a sampling of comments:
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I think your concession speech last night hurt us much more than our loss in Iowa. The message was good but the delivery was awful. The shucking of the coat and rolling up the shirtsleeves, screaming at us and America was dreadful, What you need to shuck is that image we saw last night. Not very Presidential.
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No more crazy jaunts to visit folks like Carter who are no longer active politicians and aren't actually endorsing us.
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The press has harped for months about 'anger' and 'cynicism' surronding this campaign, and the last few weeks did nothing but confirm Iowans views about that. Negative press didn't help, but it's time to start countering that press with the positive parts of Dean's vision that are out there. In particular, I believe Dean's concession speech last night was a colossal failure to try to recover from Iowa's loss.
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Howard Dean's got to stop running like this is a statewide campaign in Vermont! I tried to be as objective as possible watching the speeches at the conclusion of the evening. Kerry, Edwards and Gephardt were most gracious, cool, calm and in control. For Gephardt, with whom I've had a number of disagreements, it was the "last hurrah" and he handled it well.
Dean came over to me as a "whirling dervish". Stop with the taking off the coat and rolling up the sleeves. You looked like a jerk in comparison. The hoarse shouting was too much as well. Sorry to say, what really struck me was how supportive Kerry's, Edwards' and Gephardt's spouses were. This plays well in most of the country. Dean's "list" of states he's going to win sounded shrill. This approach is not only grating on me, but obviously a lot of Iowans are sick of it as well.
————
Lieberman:
The Union Leader reports that Lieberman says he won't drop out of the race, even if he finishes below third in New Hampshire. LINK
From ABC News' Lieberman campaign reporter Talesha Reynolds:
While Senator Lieberman had kind words for Dick Gephardt the day after his disappointing finish in Iowa, he admitted before the Congressman's official withdrawal from the race that he is seeking the backing of former Gephardt supporters like South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. "There's no question I'm reaching out through other members of Congress who are supporting me to the members of Congress who supported Dick Gephardt," he said. "I don't expect them to make quick decisions, but I have a lot of good friends there and I'm hopeful as this goes on that I will enjoy their support."
Lieberman and Clyburn worked together in 2002 to secure federal funding to rehabilitate black colleges and before Clyburn endorsed Gephardt, Lieberman asked Clyburn to make him his "second choice," preparing for the possibility of Gephardt dropping out. Last week Lieberman started running a series of ads in South Carolina last week that include a line about working with Clyburn on education and funding black colleges. LINK
Clark:
From ABC News Clark campaign reporter Deborah Apton:
It's all about New Hampshire for the campaign — surrogates like Jamie Rubin and Wes Clark Jr. will campaign in other primary states, but advance staff and Little Rock "big wigs" remain perched by The General's side. And as new Kerry signs pop up along South Willow Street in Manchester (ones like "Doubting Dean? Vote Kerry."), it is clear that there is no "Dean Alternative" to speak of in New Hampshire. Rather, a group of three candidates hovering around three top spots. Among the other big challenges for the campaign? Not letting Clark lose his voice again as it becomes raspier with each campaign stop.
Read more from the trail with Clark on abcnews.com: LINK
Clark contrasted his military record with Kerry's by saying he "stayed with the US Army" through the Vietnam War, "setting up a contrast with White House foe John Kerry, who left the military and became a war critic," the Union Leader reports. LINK
Clark called President Bush a "polarizing and divisive" figure after watching his SOTU with about 600 people at the Palace Theatre. LINK
From the outside:
The folks at the American Enterprise Institute and the Center for American Progress gather early this morning to look at last night's State of the Union with an all-star cast including Sara Bianchi of the Kerry campaign, Maria Echaveste with Howard Dean, Dan Gerstein with Joe Lieberman's team, Robert Gordon for John Edwards, and Jason Furman with Clark '04.
AND
The Washington glitterati not enjoying the Granite State cold looks ready to gather this evening for a fest hosted by Senator Patrick Leahy and Rep. John Conyers, among others, in honor of Brad Meltzer's "Zero Game," a book about Senate staffers "who are — literally — gambling on Congress." We wager it'll make for some good, wholesome Washington fun.
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