Washington Wrap

Dotty Lynch, Douglas Kiker, Steve Chaggaris, Clothilde Ewing and Smita Kalokhe of The CBS News Political Unit have the latest from the nation's capital.

In an official statement released later Monday, Biden said, "At this late date, everything would have to fall perfectly into place and I would have to put on hold what influence I have in the United States Senate in pursuit of what is now too much of a long shot. ... Therefore, at this time, I am not entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president."

Postcard From New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Sunday papers had Dick Gephardt and John Kerry bringing "friends" into New Hampshire to campaign and the Boston Globe front-paged a profile of John Edwards. But as CBS News Political Editor Dotty Lynch found in her travels around New Hampshire this weekend, another campaign's activities may be the one to watch.

On a hot August Sunday, 426 New Hampshire supporters of Howard Dean gathered at the Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn for a statewide organizational meeting to discuss strategies to get out the Dean vote next January. There were no TV cameras or national political reporters in sight. In fact the candidate himself appeared only on a homemade video. The highly motivated crowd listened to various testimonials by Dean supporters and watched the video, which was punctuated by jabs at various national political reporters who put down Dean's chances, and engaged in numerous rounds of the Dean cheer - thumping hand clapping which starts slow and builds to a frenzied crescendo.

Dean's New Hampshire campaign manger, Karen Hicks, then sent delegates off to breakout sections by region, telling them to come up with inexpensive, creative strategies to get friends and neighbors involved in the campaign. "Direct personal contact" is the Dean way, Hicks said. Robot calls, which Hicks said were used by the Kerry campaign this week, were roundly booed. In the video, Dean characterized the campaign as one of "shoe leather, mouse pads and hope." The campaign plans regional sessions on Oct. 25-26 and the statewide organizational meeting on Jan. 3, 2004.

This is not to say the other campaigns are inactive. On Saturday, the Teamsters brought in over 1,000 members and their families to Manchester to cheer President James Hoffa as he endorsed Dick Gephardt. Also on Saturday, John Kerry campaigned with a number of Vietnam vets, and on Sunday Joe Lieberman crisscrossed the state, stopping in Concord to talk to a group of environmentalists. The Edwards campaign went up with TV ads and was busily engaged in town meetings.

"I've never worked this hard in August," said Bill Shaheen who is running the Kerry campaign in New Hampshire. Shaheen, who ran Al Gore's campaign in New Hampshire in 2000 and has been involved in New Hampshire campaigns for almost 30 years, said the candidates' activities are more intense earlier than he's ever seen it. His wife, Jeanne, the former governor, who has been running presidential campaigns in the state since Jimmy Carter's in 1976, agreed as she waved goodbye to her husband on Saturday evening as he went off to yet another Kerry event.

You Can't Have It Both Ways: In a four-page letter to President Bush, the 11 Texas Senate Democrats who fled to New Mexico to break quorum appealed to President Bush to stop the GOP redistricting plans. Calling the initiative a "blatantly partisan and grossly unfair re-redistricting scheme," the Texas senators reminded (on letterhead reading "The Texas 11") the president of his past support of Hispanics and African Americans.

"Clearly you recognize the increasing significance of the Hispanic and African American vote in national elections because you sought our help in Texas." The Senators said the president's unwillingness to get involved conflicted with his administration's diversity projects such as the Latino outreach programs and said, "With all due respect, Mr. President, you cannot have it both ways."

The Democrats suggested that Karl Rove had orchestrated much of the scheme along with Bush's successor, Gov. Rick Perry, and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. "Unfortunately, Mr. President, the actions of Congressman DeLay, Governor Perry, and Karl Rove reflect directly upon you and cast a shadow over your legacy here in our mutual home."

The letter questioned the Republican Party's motives behind the action and suggested future implications in national votes. The Texas senators insinuated that the redistricting plan could be "the first step in a national Republican plan to weaken or repeal the Voting Rights Act in 2006."

Asking the president to combat the "smacks of blatant racism," the Democrats requested Mr. Bush make a public statement condemning the actions of the Republican Party. "Your continued silence is being interpreted by thoughtful Americans as complicity or as tacit approval."

Asked about the letter on Sunday, a White House spokesman said: "White the president always maintains an interest in Texas, he currently is concentrating on governing all of America," the Washington Post reported.

The Running Man's Money: Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign let the press take a look at his tax returns for 2000 and 2001 and guess what: He's extremely wealthy.

In those two tax years, he pulled in more than $57 million in income though he did have some investment losses, including real estate and stocks, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Of the $31 million he made in 2000, most of it came from the film "The Sixth Day," while most of his $26 million income in 2001 was from "Collateral Damage." His losses include investments in an Ohio shopping mall as well as a Santa Monica building. He also took losses on mutual funds and his sell-off of stocks such as Global Crossing and Blockbuster Video.

He wound up paying over $20 million in taxes over the two years. "Arnold likes paying taxes," said his investment adviser, Paul Wachter. "He always says, 'If I'm paying a lot of taxes, I must be making a lot of money.'"

Meantime, Schwarzenegger filed his financial disclosure forms with the state on Saturday – a requirement for candidates and elected officials – in which he must list all gifts he received last year that are worth more than $50. And apparently, he's received a lot of expensive gifts, reports the Chronicle.

Fashion designer Giorgio Armani gave him the priciest gift, five shirts and sweaters worth $2,500 plus a bathrobe worth $150. Clothing magnate Tommy Hilfiger and Yaounde Moore gave him a pair of $350 boots. Other famous gift-givers include motivational speaker Tony Robbins ($250 box of cigars) and billionaire Warren Buffett ($75 coffee table book).

Interestingly, big-time L.A. Democratic fund-raisers Barbara and Marvin Davis gave him $45 worth of popcorn and an $85 gingerbread carousel.

The strangest gift: a $1,000 "Terminator talking skull" given to him by "Terminator 3" producers Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar.

Week Ahead:

Monday 8/11:
President Bush headlines a Bush/Cheney dinner in Denver, Colo. and then heads to Summerhaven, Ariz. for official event. Howard Dean attends rally with local supporters in Philadelphia before heading to Steel Workers forum. The Graham family vacation continues and Graham attends an economic roundtable with activist in Davenport; then heads to the Downtown Deli for a meet and greet and then finish the day with a Grillin' with the Grahams event near Solon, Iowa. Dennis Kucinich attended the grand opening of his N.H headquarters in Manchester before heading to the Steel Workers forum. Joe Lieberman stopped by a pizza shop with State Senator Lou D'Allesandro, toured the High-Tech Factory Electropac Prototype and then heads to Philadelphia for the presidential forum. Carol Moseley Braun, Dean, Gephardt, Kucinich, Lieberman and John Kerry attend a steelworkers forum for Democratic presidential candidates hosted by Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Other: Hadassah Lieberman tours hospital and discusses health care with patients and doctors at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Tuesday 8/12:
Dean campaigns in California as he attends a rally with supporters before attending the Oklahoma Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Forum at Gallagher-IBA Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma and he finishes off the day at a fundraiser at Eskimo Joe's. Edwards takes part in the Oklahoma forum. Graham family vacation continues as Graham tours the Dairy Center and lunches with Democratic Activists in Calmar, then play in the Graham Family Baseball Game at the Field of Dreams in Dynersville, then head to the Dubuque County Central Democrats Meeting and finish with Grillin' with the Grahams at the Dubuque Yacht Basin & RV Park. Kerry campaigns in Iowa, with stops scheduled in Mason City, Algona and Webster City. Kucinich takes part in the Oklahoma forum. Lieberman takes "Joe's Jobs Tour" to Oklahoma as he discusses unemployment with State Representative Dan Boren and The Workers Cattleman's, moves to a pre-forum barbeque and then to the Oklahoma Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Forum and finishes off the day with a meet and greet with supporters at the campus.

Wednesday 8/13:
President Bush meets with his economic team in Crawford. Braun attends a Governor's Day Democratic Party meet and greet in Springfield, Ill. Dean campaigns in Iowa. Edwards campaigns in Waterloo, Waverly, Charles City as his "main street tour" hits the road with a family bus trip to 21 Iowa counties. Graham speaks at the Iowa Federation of Labor Convention and finishes with Grillin' with the Grahams north of Waterloo, Iowa. Kerry continues his Iowa tour with stops in Johnston, Des Moines (for the state fair, of course), Waterloo, and Independence. Braun, Gephardt, Graham, Kerry, Lieberman and Sharpton attend the Iowa Federation of Labor Convention in Iowa, which is scheduled to run until August 15. Other: Young Democrats of America convention, which runs from 8/13-8/17 begins in Buffalo, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Terry McAuliffe and Jerry Springer are expected to speak among others.

Thursday 8/14:
President Bush headlines a Bush/Cheney dinner in San Diego and then heads to Miramar, Calif. (Yes, where Top Gun took place) to speak with troops. Dean campaigns in Iowa. Edwards campaigns in Mason City, Iowa Falls, Webster City and Des Moines, Iowa. Gephardt visits Fort Dodge, Boone, Des Moines and Indianola, Iowa. Graham meets with Marshall County Activists, tours the Music Man Museum, attends the Vilsack Pederson Health Care Forum in Des Moines and then attends the Iowa Cubs Baseball Game in Des Moines. Braun, Edwards, Gephardt, Graham and Kerry attend a presidential candidate forum on health care issues at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa hosted by Gov. Tom Vilsack, D-Iowa.

Friday 8/15:
President Bush headlines a Bush/Cheney lunch in Thousand Oaks, Calif. and tours Santa Monica recreation area to give remarks on national parks legacy project, then returns to Crawford. Dean campaigns in Iowa. Edwards campaigns Des Moines, Toledo, Vinton, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Gephardt hits Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Washington and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kerry campaigns in Vinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He's in the state Saturday and Sunday as well. Other: Fairs in Cornish and Belknap County, N.H.

Quote of the Day: "I'll take my name back and bring some character and quality to it, instead of weirdness," -California gubernatorial candidate - not the pop singer - Michael Jackson (AP).