Washington Wrap

Dotty Lynch, Douglas Kiker, Beth Lester, Clothilde Ewing, Dan Furman and Nathaniel Franks of the CBS News Political Unit have the latest from the nation's capital.

Monday's Headlines

* Before Suspending Campaign, Kerry Praises Reagan as a "Modern Giant"

* What's Canceled and What's Not

* Al Gore Weighs in On the Florida Senate Race

* More Actors in Politics... Though From Afar

Kerry, Dems Praise Reagan: Democrats, many of whom fought him tooth-and-nail on the political front, had only good things to says about former President Ronald Reagan this weekend.

Addressing a high school graduation in Toledo, Ohio on Sunday, Sen. John Kerry called Ronald Reagan a "modern giant" who was the "voice of America in good times and in grief."

"Yesterday, we lost one of our greatest optimists. President Reagan's belief in America was infectious," Kerry said.

Speaking to reporters in Boston before traveling to Ohio, Kerry said: "Ronald Reagan and many of us disagreed on one issue or another, but he always disagreed with a smile, without partisanship … I think he had a sense of idealism and a sense of optimism of the possibilities about our country that define leadership."

Kerry's decision to give the speech was not without controversy. In a true logistical sleight of hand, he managed to campaign in two swing states at once: Bedford High School is actually just across the Michigan-Ohio state line, but he used the University of Toledo forum because of space restrictions.

But Kerry's speech was not portrayed as overtly political. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported: "The all-but-certain Democratic presidential nominee did not sound like a candidate during his 15-minute speech, making no mention of President Bush, the upcoming election or partisan politics in Washington. Kerry instead lauded the soldiers who hit the beaches of Normandy 60 years ago Sunday, quoted from Robert Kennedy on standing up for ideals and praised Reagan for his leadership."

Former President Jimmy Carter, who lost by a wide margin to Reagan in 1980, said of his former opponent, "I probably know as well as anybody what a formidable communicator and campaigner that President Reagan was. It was because of him that I was retired from my last job."

Walter Mondale – similarly dismissed by Reagan in 1984, when he won 49 of 50 states – said his campaign against Reagan did not have the kind of bitterness that marks today's campaigns. "In the campaign, there was no meanness. There was no viciousness. There was no kind of personal attacks or that sort of thing," said Mondale.

From Capitol Hill came similar words of praise from Democrats who, truth be told, might not have agreed with Reagan on almost anything political. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said of her fellow Californian: "Ronald Reagan served our country with dignity and he died with dignity. As an American, I appreciate Ronald Reagan's great leadership and service to our country. As a Californian, I admire the special grace and humor that endeared him to millions."

Liberal icon Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., said of the conservative icon: "I'm saddened by President Reagan's death. We often disagreed on issues of the day, but I had immense respect and admiration for his leadership and his extraordinary ability to inspire the nation to live up to its high ideals. The warmth of his personality always shown through, and his infectious optimism gave us all the feeling that it really was "morning in America."

Rep. Elijah Cummings, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said: "While the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus did not always agree with President Reagan on issues of public policy, he was an honorable and decent man." Cummings noted that CBC members "applauded" when Reagan signed into law the Martin Luther King federal holiday.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said, "Reagan represented the best of civility in American politics and the finest traditions of standing up nobly for what you believe in."

Canceling the Week: In deference to the passing of former President Ronald Reagan, both presidential campaigns have announced that they will suspend campaigning for the week. President Bush has declared Friday a national day of mourning and issued a proclamation closing the closed the federal government on Friday. Bush-Cheney events for the week, including a rally in Missouri, are also cancelled.

For his part, Sen. Kerry has canceled his entire week of events. Kerry told the Associated Press, "We're going to suspend any sort of overtly political rallies, events like that." This includes two major fundraisers, one in Los Angeles with Barbra Streisand and one in New York with Jon Bon Jovi. Kerry told reporters outside St. Anthony Shrine in Boston on Sunday morning, "We will miss him, no matter what party, no matter what our beliefs."

Although both sides are tripping over themselves to look respectful, neither campaign has elected to suspend running its television ads. Thus ads from both campaigns, including a Bush-Cheney ad attacking Kerry, will continue to air in the battleground states. The Republican National Committee pulled back a negative e-mail about Kerry, saying it was sent out on Friday for distribution Monday morning and was "obviously a mistake."

As the New York Times reports, "Aides to Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry said they did not want to do anything that would make it appear that they were exploiting the news of Mr. Reagan's death. But in one sign of what may lie ahead, Republicans circulated old quotes from Mr. Kerry in which he criticized Mr. Reagan. Democrats promptly dug up instances of the first president Bush speaking unkindly about Mr. Reagan in 1980, as the two men competed for the Republican nomination."

The Bush-Cheney Web site, www.georgewbush.com, has changed from a presidential campaign to an "In Memoriam" site, featuring a beauty shot of the 40th president and the text of many of Mr. Reagan's most famous speeches. The Kerry Web site has not changed so dramatically but has an "In Memoriam" banner linking to Kerry's statement.

"Whatever its long-term political effect, Mr. Reagan's death froze in place what had seemed to be an unabating campaign for president," the Times explains. Given the political activities so far, no telling how long the truce will hold.

A Cheney rally scheduled in Missouri on Friday has also been cancelled.

Florida Senate Race Starting to Get Interesting: Al Gore and George Allen have chosen sides in the Florida Senate race to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Graham.

First, the Democrats.

The Miami Herald reports that "Supporters of Miami-Dade Mayor and Senate hopeful Alex Penelas (D) roared to his defense Sunday after former Vice President Al Gore called him 'the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with' during the contested 2000 presidential campaign."

Graham himself leapt to Penelas' defense. "People in Florida who know Alex Penelas know he is a quality person and has been a Democrat under difficult circumstances,'' Graham said in a telephone interview with The Herald that was facilitated by the Penelas campaign. ''It is not easy in Miami-Dade County to be a vocal Democrat as a Cuban American.'"

The Herald reports: "Graham did not directly address the substance of Gore's remarks, which were e-mailed by a spokesman Saturday in response to a Herald inquiry about Penelas' role in the 2000 campaign. Gore supporters say Penelas broke a promise to rally the Hispanic community in the crucial homestretch. National fundraisers solicited money for Penelas, who faced his own reelection in September 2000, so he could avoid a runoff and help the national ticket."

Penelas himself said of Gore's comments: "I can't help but think of Joe Lieberman and how he must have felt when he found out through the press that Al Gore was endorsing Howard Dean instead of him."

Penelas is running against U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, and former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.

Second, the Republicans.

The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reports: "In a surprise move bound to tick off other Sunshine State candidates, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman George Allen (Va.) is expected to announce Monday that he is putting his weight behind former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez (R) in the crowded Florida Senate race. The NRSC will remain neutral."

Martinez faces former Rep. Bill McCollum in the Aug. 31 primary. While McCollum, a conservative who made his name as one of the House managers during the Clinton impeachment, has held a lead in most polls, analysts have said the party has concerns about his strength general election

"The NRSC chairman's public endorsement in the race, while not unprecedented, is considered rare and sure to stir controversy."

Thus far, President Bush and his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, have remained neutral in the race.

Thus far.

More Actors Involved in Politics – Though from a Distance: Nick Clooney, George Clooney's father and Rosemary Clooney's brother, is running for Congress in Kentucky's Fourth District. The seat, traditionally held by Republicans until Democrat Ken Lucas won the '98 election, has been vacated by Lucas's retirement. The Democratic nominee, Clooney ran unopposed through the primary season. He now faces Republican Geoff Davis, who narrowly lost to Lucas in '02. Davis won 58 percent of the vote in a three-way Republican primary in May.

Monday's Washington Post reports that George Clooney has helped raise substantial amounts of money for his father's campaign. According to the Post, the top zip codes by contribution are 41017 (Fort Mitchell, Ky.), 90212 (Beverly Hills, Calif.) and 90064 and 90049 (both Los Angeles). Actors Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, Kevin Costner, Adrien Brody; director Steven Soderbergh; and producers Harvey Weinstein and Jerry Weintraub have all kicked in. "64 percent of Clooney's campaign war chest has come from out of state," the Post reports.

The Clooney campaign while grateful for the cash has tried to downplay the role Clooney's liberal son and his pals. The Davis campaign has raised the issue, however. "There's a vast difference in what his Hollywood supporters expect a congressman to be and what the people of the 4th District of Kentucky want in their congressman," Justin Brasell, Davis' spokesman, said.

Quote of the Day: "I hope you are all Republicans" --former President Ronald Reagan to the surgeons who were about to operate to remove a bullet lodged an inch from his heart following his shooting in 1981. (Various sources)