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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Kerry's balancing act
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
BALANCING ACT: Since the days of John F. Kennedy, modern politicians have tried to have it both ways on matters of religion -- espousing personal religious beliefs that at times are at odds with their public policy pronouncements. Democrat John Kerry is the latest candidate to navigate this terrain, offering himself as a practicing and believing Roman Catholic who nonetheless holds positions contrary to the teachings of his church.The Washington Post: Candidates look to balance faith, policy
SAME DIFFERENCE: On Tuesday, John Kerry and President Bush both made important foreign policy statements. It was striking how little the two men differ on the steps they say should be taken to secure the peace in Iraq. The Washington Post: Kerry's Iraq policy makes the war issue Bush's to lose
IMAGE WAR: John Kerry will begin using new images to introduce himself to voters with an intensified ad blitz in the next two weeks just as President Bush scales back his media offensive.The Washington Post: Kerry hopes to cement image with new ads
FARM TEAM: President Bush used Thursday's deadline for filing income tax returns to argue anew for a permanent extension of the $1.7 trillion in tax cuts he pushed through Congress -- and to press the case that his economic policies are helpful to rural America. The Washington Post: President makes tax-cut pitch to a rural audience
MIDDLING MESSAGE: Declaring that he is "not a redistribution Democrat," John Kerry told a group of wealthy and well-connected supporters on Thursday that he would soon start an aggressive campaign to define himself as a centrist, in hopes of peeling moderate Republicans from President Bush. The New York Times: Kerry plans effort to show he is a centrist
NRA FIRES AWAY: Before tens of thousands of gun owners at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, the NRA's leadership plans to label Mr. Bush's likely Democratic opponent, John Kerry of Massachusetts, as a liberal threat to gun ownership. It is a message they will repeat again and again until Election Day, using the Internet, mailings, television advertising and their formidable nationwide network of gun clubs. The New York Times: N.R.A. opens an all-out drive for Bush and its views
MONEY RACE: Democrats appear to be keeping pace financially with their Republican rivals in crucial Senate races, including those in Florida, North Carolina and South Dakota, according to first-quarter campaign reports filed on Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission.The New York Times: Democrats keep pace financially with G.O.P. in key races
GORELICK DEFENSE: Congressional Democrats yesterday defended Jamie S. Gorelick's position on the September 11 commission, one day after a leading House Republican called for her resignation. Several top Democratic leaders cited the continued support of Commission Chairman Thomas H. Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, in stating their support for Ms. Gorelick. The Washington Times: Democrats rally to Gorelick's defense
VALUE VOTING: Republicans opened a potentially significant new front Thursday in their battle with Democrat John F. Kerry, launching their first broad assault against his views on abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the death penalty and other social issues. A study released Thursday by the RNC highlights Kerry's views on issues politically potent in the South, and it surfaced on the eve of a gathering of Southern Republicans that begins today in Miami. The Los Angeles Times: GOP contrasts Kerry votes with South's values
THE 'BODY' POLITIC: Refreshed from a semester as a visiting professor at Harvard University, former pro wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura says he's considering an independent run for the White House in 2008, although he acknowledges that being leader of the free world might be too confining for him. The Los Angeles Times: Ventura pondering 2008 presidential bid
Compiled by Heather Riley
