NEWS SUMMARY

After weeks of speculation and watching every move made by Sen. John Kerry and the possible VP hopefuls, it's coming down to -- speculation and watching every move made by Sen. Kerry and the possible VP hopefuls.

The Big Three of the Grand Veepstakes Dance -- Edwards, Vilsack, and Gephardt -- all are said to believe that they are still in the running, and their political cronies certainly believe that they are.

All of the other names floating most authoritatively out there are men (yes, men) who come with distinctive national security credentials.

There has been a flurry of activity around Sen. John Edwards in certain Democratic quarters over the last 72 hours -- including some scrambling to cross some t's and dot some i's.

It's been the kind of seat-of-the-pants, all-nighter crashing that you wouldn't expect to see in an operation overseen by Jim Johnson, Mary Beth Cahill, and a certain Chicago-Bulls-loving lawyer. Whether it is half-baked and sloppy or precisely efficient is apparently in the eye of the beholder.

And/but certainly no one wants to put the future of the White House in the hands of an operation overseen by the Two Davids -- except for maybe Attorney General Ashcroft. (That's code for just a few select holiday readers!!)

Gift to our competitors: the key to the whole Veepstakes puzzle might just be found by clicking on this link. LINK

Chatting up Rep. Dick Gephardt during the fireworks last night at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., ABC News' Anne Chiappetta asked Gephardt about the ABC News report that Kerry met with his possible VP pick late Thursday night at the home of Secretary of State Madeline Albright -- and that of the short list as it is known, only Gephardt was manifestly in Washington that night.

Asked specifically when the last time he had been to Albright's home was, Gephardt smirked, paused, and responded, "I have never been to her home in my life. Never." Amidst all the confusion, here's one thing we CAN tell you: the hopefuls are just as confused.

And not all that hopeful. All three of the Big Three (Vilsack, Edwards, and Gephardt) have top advisers who are very downbeat about their guy's chances.

In fact, at least one of the Big Three has told several aides that he strongly believes that another one of the Big Three is going to be picked.

As for timing, be ready at any moment for the news to leak out. Tea leave readers and reckless bettors are more focused on a possible Wednesday announcement -- as opposed to tomorrow -- but misdirection and ambiguity remain the watchwords. CNN is muscularly reporting this morning that Kerry has decided whom he plans to pick.

Sen. Kerry is outside Pittsburgh all day and night today, holding an open-press Independence Day barbeque with his family and 300 of his closest friends at the Heinz Farm. President Bush is down at the White House.

Tomorrow is President Bush's 58th birthday.

Sen. Kerry begins with a morning speech in downtown Pittsburgh, flies to Indianapolis for a speech to the AME, and then finishes the day in Washington, where he speaks to the National Education Association and spends time at his campaign headquarters. His theme tomorrow: "Restoring responsible leadership."

Could the Senator rip up this schedule and do a splashy veep announcement? Sure. We are certain that the good folks at the AME church and/or the NEA would be delighted to be recipients of the first joint speakerphone calls from the new ticket.

President Bush is in Washington, meeting with the Prime Minster of Iceland at the White House. (And don't forget the National Lieutenant Governors Association Annual Meeting in Big Sky and the release of Joe Trippi's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.")

On Wednesday Sen. Kerry tours Midwestern battleground states Ohio and Wisconsin, flying to Cleveland late morning and delivering a speech there in the early afternoon, flying to Dayton for an afternoon speech, and flying to Milwaukee for an evening open fundraiser. That is, unless he announces his running mate that day, in which case the schedule might change.

His theme Wednesday: "Restoring America's values to the White House."

Meanwhile President Bush tours North Carolina and Michigan, meeting with judicial nominees and attending RNC fundraisers in Raleigh, N.C. and Pontiac/Bloomfield Hills, Mich. First Lady Laura Bush is in Iowa and Nebraska.

On Thursday Sen. Kerry speaks in Milwaukee in the morning before flying to New York for a slew of fundraisers with the theme of "corporate responsibility." Oh, and he might have a running mate with him by then for the star-packed Radio City gala.

President Bush is in Washington, meeting with the King of Morocco in the White House and speaking via satellite to the LULAC convention in San Antonio. Treasury Secretary John Snow travels to Manchester, N.H.

And on Friday, President Bush begins a bus tour in Pennsylvania, hitting Kutztown, Lancaster, and York, while Sen. Kerry holds a couple more fundraisers in New York before heading to Boston for the weekend -- where First Lady Laura Bush will be in the morning before heading to Portsmouth, N.H.

Ralph Nader and Howard Dean go head-to-head in an NPR debate on the day Nader needs to file for the Nevada ballot.

Veepstakes:

The Los Angeles Times' Matea Gold notices that John Kerry and Gov Tom Vilsack didn't seem to play quite like a team yesterday. LINK

AP's Liz Sidoti -- taking a break from the ad wars to romp on the trail -- wraps Kerry's day in Iowa with Gov. Tom Vilsack, Noting "neither said a word about the prospect" of Kerry picking Vilsack as his running mate -- though asked how he liked campaigning with Vilsack, the Senator responded, "'I love it. It's great.'" LINK

Note to Liz -- how about filing on the BC04 plans to use Sen. McCain in a spot to try to squash the Kerry veep momentum? We would like your take on it.

The Des Moines Register's Tom Beaumont Notes rumors Kerry has dispatched staff to Pittsburgh for a big announcement, and Kerry's praise for Mrs. Vilsack. LINK

Kerry was evasive in Cedar Rapids. LINK

David Broder of the Washington Post gives a nice once-over to Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, getting Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to talk about a 2002 meeting with him, Noting amidst her characterization of Vilsack's "perseverance and chutzpah" that one unnamed adviser said he's not "'the obvious choice, and there are risks.'" LINK

Is this the most favorable piece Dean Broder has EVER written about a governor? Nope -- but it is darn close.

ABC News' Eva Price was with Kerry and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack on Independence Day, and Notes, "On paper, it was in a style similar to that of a man and his running mate, but in person it wasn't quite a Laurel and Hardy routine."

"Sen. Kerry was surrounded by rings of cheerleaders, supporters, and posters chanting 'Win! Win!' Gov. Vilsack approached people, as though introducing himself, and would offer his hand and a fist of sweets. All in all, if you didn't know who was who, you might have thought the state's Governor was the tall, thin man graying on top, and the candidate was the jovial good-spirited guy with the candy. But the good-natured Governor seemed hardly fazed. As a matter of fact, he seemed to relish it."

AP Notes organized labor is pushing to see Rep. Richard Gephardt or Sen. John Edwards in the number two spot. LINK

The New York Times' Shaila Dewan strolled along Wrightsville Beach, N.C., with Sen. John Edwards on Sunday, Noting his cool in the face of questions and speculation over a possible Kerry-Edwards ticket. She also weighed in on the announcement timeline, saying Kerry "is expected to announce his choice of running mate as early as tomorrow." LINK

Readers of the hard copy will not get to enjoy Dewan's JRE work, but instead will just get some art of the Senator conducting what appears to be one of his easiest days on the job.

Edwards dodged questions on his annual July Fourth beach walk in North Carolina. LINK and LINK and LINK

AP Notes that Edwards, on schedule to finish the final months of his first term in the Senate, "hardly looked like a lame duck" on the beach, "surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers, onlookers and journalists." LINK

ABC News' Gloria Riviera Notes that "Edwards has done this beach walk for six years and I am told it is not really any larger than it was last year when he was entering the presidential race. However, spokesman Mike Briggs says it has grown over the years and attempted to spin it as larger due to VP buzz."

"Edwards also gave a short speech boosting Kerry. 'I got to know Senator Kerry during the campaign. I saw him with his back against the wall, he thought he had no chance, I know because I was in the same position.' Edwards cited Kerry's war experience, pointing out that the Senator volunteered three times."

The Chicago Tribune's Jeff Zeleny dusts off an old interview with John Edwards. Remember what it was like to wait for Al Gore's call? LINK

Last night Sen. Bob Graham attended the first annual Miami Lakes July 4th celebration. Graham spoke to residents (taking Notes in one of his signature Notebooks) before watching the fireworks explode over his very own Graham Dairy Lake.

When asked where he was on was on Thursday Graham replied that he was on an "intelligence fact-finding" trip in Europe.

Graham remarked to one group of well-wishers that he believes the Kerry campaign will have its Florida headquarters in Broward County. He listened to their complaints of an unsatisfactory experience with Kerry campaign workers and said he'll convey their concerns to the campaign. With regards to veepstakes, Graham said that if he were the nominee he'd wait until the convention to announce his choice for VP in order to maximize media coverage.

One woman told him, "you get my vote."

The Indianapolis Star Notes that Kerry and Indiana Democrats have a lot riding on tomorrow's Kerry visit. LINK

Note Note: Evan Bayh will be in Washington Tuesday . . . not Indianapolis, he says.

ABC News Vote 2004: Sen. John Kerry:

The Washington Post's Jonathan Finer picks up an interview that Kerry did with the Dubuque Telegraph Herald in which he is quoted as saying "'I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception.'" The Bush campaign, not surprisingly, called it an example of Kerry's tendency to flip-flop. LINK

Will this story take off? Does the Bush campaign want this fight? Preoccupied with veepstakes as we are, the best answer we can give you now is: Only time will tell.

The Boston Globe's Glen Johnson leads with Kerry's comments about how he believes life begins at conception but continues to favor abortion rights, and comments on the buzz about a meeting apparently reported by some online publication. LINK

The New York Times' Robin Toner leads into Kerry's comments on abortion by framing them as part of his critique of the Bush Administration. LINK

George Archibald of the Washington Times reports that the head of the National Education Association opened the union's conference by encouraging public school teachers and employees to mobilize and defeat President Bush. Tomorrow, the convention will vote on the union's endorsement of John Kerry, who is scheduled to address the group. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Stephen Braun breaks off from veepstakes mania to write his in-depth look at John Kerry's time in Vietnam. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:

South Florida is crucial to Bush, Kerry. LINK

The New York Times' Sanger Notes that "while the White House categorized it as an official visit," the President's ninth trip to West Virginia "had the trappings of a campaign stop. The crowd waved American flags and yelled, 'Four more years.'"LINK

The Washington Post's Vanessa Williams was with President Bush on Independence Day when he told a West Virginia crowd that the efforts of American troops abroad make America more secure. LINK

Ed Chen and Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times Note the "small-town backdrops in conservative areas" of President Bush's and Vice President Cheney's 4th of July campaign stops. LINK

The Washington Post's Mike Allen was on the Cheney bus tour and observes on the front page the mixed blessing that is Dick Cheney: "Cheney's relish for the attack makes him an effective tool for the campaign . . . . But Cheney is a blunt instrument in an age when politics is delicately choreographed. His willingness to speak his mind has continued to provoke controversies, strategists on both sides said." LINK

Mr. Allen gets more than his share of Republicans-bash-Cheney-behind-a-cloak-of-anonymity quotes.

The New York Times' Kate Zernike describes the Vice President's reluctant campaign style. LINK

The Boston Globe covers the "Cheney Optimism Tour." LINK

President Bush is expected to raise more than $1 million this week, when he makes his first visit to Raleigh since taking office. LINK

The Bush-Cheney '04 campaign may have more problems because of its outreach efforts to mobilize churchgoers -- a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention said he was "appalled the Bush-Cheney campaign would intrude on a local congregation in this way," the Associated Press reports. LINK

President Bush uses foul language himself and steered Vice President Cheney away from apologizing for dropping the f-bomb on the Senate Floor, US News & World Report's Washington Whispers Notes. LINK

Vice President Cheney's personal doctor has been dropped from the Vice President's medical team due to an addiction to prescription drugs." LINK and LINK

ABC News' Karen Travers Cheney campaign report:

ALTOONA, PA., July 4, 2004 -- With Secret Service agents stationed outside and advance staff gathered on the steps of the church, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Lynne Cheney and granddaughter Kate Perry attended Sunday services at the Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church in Pittsburgh and heard the pastor deliver a sermon titled, "Special Ops Report."

The advance staff was quick to steer reporters away from any significant hidden meaning there, Noting that the sermon was actually about Jesus sending his disciples out to cities to preach his message - much like a biblical era bus tour.

Cheney was sent out to preach the Bush-Cheney message this weekend on a nine-city bus tour, but he did it in an 18-vehicle motorcade and on a bus featuring the slogan "Yes America Can," on its exterior and satellite television and leather couches and chairs in the interior.

It took Cheney some time over the weekend to get warmed up and settle into this quasi-new role of campaigner.

In a 25-minute stump speech at his first rally in Parma, Ohio, Cheney ran through the list of the Bush Administration's accomplishment with the same tone that he uses in speeches at AEI and the Heritage Foundation, not pausing to allow the enthusiastic, sign-waving crowd to cheer, "Four More Years."

But when he launched into the meat of the speech, criticizing Sen. Kerry's record, the crowd interrupted with cheering and the Vice President laughed and said, "This is the good part of the speech."

In an uncharacteristic move for a Vice President who has made his disdain for the media clear at times, Cheney even boarded the press bus for a few minutes after a stop in Pennsylvania.

Cheney, in his business casual outfit of a blue shirt, red tie and khaki dress pants, came up the stairs and looked at the swarm of cameras gathered in the front of the bus and remarked, "This is not what I expected."

Cheney told the press corps that he was lobbied to come back and visit but he was "delighted to be here." Cheney made it clear that he was not there to talk policy or politics. "I'm not going to say anything significant at all so quit taking Notes. It's good to have you on board, it's been a good trip."

The conventions:

The New York Times' David Johnston reports on fears of terrorist attacks at the national conventions -- and the preparations to try to detect trouble spots -- including "interviews in communities where potential terrorists might seek to blend in with local populations" in the "more likely target" of New York. LINK

The BPPA -- losing clout? LINK

TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
—2:00 pm: Sen. John Kerry and his family hold a barbeque at the Heinz Farm, Fox Chapel, Pa.