Washington Wrap
Dotty Lynch, Douglas Kiker, Steve Chaggaris and Clothilde Ewing of The CBS News Political Unit have the latest from the nation's capital.
Changing His Tune: Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean may be getting used to the color of money as he is now considering opting out of the public campaign financing system after pledging to use it.
"Could we change our mind? Sure," Dean said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Because of his success in fund-raising - $7.6 million in the second quarter of 2003 and expectations that he'll exceed that in the current quarter – the Dean camp is thinking of forgoing federal matching funds and the approximately $44 million spending limit during the primaries that comes with it.
The reason he may be backing off a prior pledge to accept the public funds is because President Bush has already said he isn't going to. It's expected that Mr. Bush will raise up to $200 million – almost five times the spending limit - for the 2004 race, doubling what he raised in 2000.
"I think public financing is a good thing. The question is what do you do with an opponent who can murder you from March to December?" said Dean.
Back in March, Dean had said that he has "always been committed" to the public financing system. Rival John Kerry's campaign, who has not made such a pledge, is making an issue of Dean's waffling.
"Gov. Dean has said repeatedly that he supports the system, he's threatened to attack other candidates who don't participate, and he's signed a binding contract with the federal government to participate in the system," said Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan. "It would be shocking if he breaks his word and breaches a binding contract for purely political reasons."
Dean did add that it's too early to make this decision adding that "it's a little optimistic" he could even raise more money than the limit set by the federal system. For instance, if Dean happens to raise the same amount in this quarter as he did last quarter ($7.6 million), he will have collected $18 million by the end of September, which, Dean said, is "a long way between here and $44 million."
Carolina On His Mind: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., began running television ads Monday in South Carolina, a key state in the Democratic presidential nomination race where Edwards - a Palmetto State native expected to be a top contender in the first-in-the-South primary – has not yet moved beyond the single digits in polls.
One of the ads feature Edwards in front of the house in Seneca, S.C., where he lived as a small child. The others ads are the same ones that started airing last week in Iowa.
Edwards, in the midst of an extended swing through Iowa, also said he would make his formal campaign announcement on Sept. 16 in Robbins, N.C., where he spent his boyhood. Edwards will then travel to South Carolina to campaign that day.
The formal announcement – not exactly a surprise since Edwards has been running for president, more or less, for the last two years – could be a sign that the first-term senator won't be running for re-election. Democrats in North Carolina want Edwards to make a final decision on a 2004 Senate race, and he has said he intends to do so "in coming months," the Raleigh News and Observer reports. While Edwards could technically run for both president and the Senate at the same time, the prospect could be politically untenable.
Political Week Ahead:
Monday 8/18:
Howard Dean campaigns in Tucson, Ariz. John Edwards and his family campaign in Wapello and Polk Counties in Iowa, before heading to Virginia. Bob Graham campaigns in Manchester and Salem, N.H. Dennis Kucinich campaigns in Ft. Madison, Bloomfield, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, Indianola, Greenfield and Atlantic, Iowa. Joe Lieberman continues "Joe's Jobs Tour" in Belmont, New Hampshire.
Tuesday 8/19:
Edwards campaigns in Richmond, Va. Graham campaigns in West Lebanon, Lebanon, Claremont and Keene, N.H. Kucinich campaigns in Council Bluffs and Storm Lake, Iowa. Lieberman in New Hampshire.
Wednesday 8/20:
Dean campaigns in Manchester, N.H. Edwards brings his "Real Solutions Express" to Nashua, Concord and Manchester, N.H. Gephardt campaigns in Nevada and New Mexico. Kucinich attends the UAW Presidential Forum in Huron, Ohio. Lieberman in New Hampshire.
Thursday 8/21:
President Bush attends Bush/Cheney dinner in Portland and then travels to Bend, Ore. to give remarks on Healthy Forests Initiative. Dean campaigns in Manchester and Nashua, N.H. Edwards' "Real Solution Express" travels through Somersworth, Rochester, Durham, Hampton and Salem, N.H. Lieberman's "Journey for Joe" goes to Williams, Ashfork, Kingman and Bullhead City, Ariz.
Friday 8/22:
President Bush attends Bush/Cheney lunch in Seattle. Dean campaigns in Merrimack, Concord and Rochester, N.H. Edwards stops in Plymouth, Littleton, Tilton and Laconia, N.H. Kucinich campaigns in Keene, Dublin and Peterborough, N.H. Lieberman visits Lake Havasu and Yuma, Arizona.
Quote of the Day: "I don't think I'll grow one myself. But I certainly urge the mullet-loving people in Kentucky to mullet away." – Kentucky Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Chandler, on a new Web site set-up by his supporters, www.mulletsforchandler.com (Lexington Herald-Leader)