BURBANK, Calif. — John Edwards has a theory about what was
hidden under an unusual wrinkle that appeared on the back of
President Bush's suit jacket during his first debate with John
Kerry. "I think it was his battery," a grinning Mr. Edwards told
Jay Leno on The Tonight Show on Tuesday. "I think tomorrow, before
the debate, John Kerry ought to pat him down," he said. The Democratic
vice presidential nominee was in turns silly and serious while chatting
on the show. When Mr. Leno showed a clip of Mr. Kerry windsurfing, Mr.
Edwards said, "If I had to spend 90 minutes on a stage with George Bush,
I'd want to clear my head too."
CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP
President Bush and 25,000 AARP members will be in Las Vegas this week,
but Mr. Bush won't drop in on the group. The campaign said it is
dispatching Laura Bush. Mr. Bush had three previously scheduled rallies,
the campaign said. John Kerry is scheduled to speak to the group
Thursday.
Catholics urged to shun candidates over issues
WASHINGTON — A political guide is urging Catholics to vote against
candidates who support abortion rights, stem-cell research and other
"evil" issues — an appeal that could undercut Democratic Sen.
John Kerry's candidacy. Catholic Answers, an independent group based in El
Cajon, Calif., expects to distribute 3 million copies of its "Voter's
Guide for Serious Catholics." Catholics make up a quarter of the U.S.
electorate. The guide has sparked controversy in several swing states,
where Catholic voters are being courted by President Bush, a
Methodist, and Mr. Kerry, a Roman Catholic. Karl Keating,
president of Catholic Answers, said his nonprofit is not backing any
candidate or party. But the principles are aligned with Mr. Bush's
stands and against most of Mr. Kerry's.
BALLOT BOX
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Pennsylvania officials to give
overseas voters an extra two weeks to cast their votes. The department
said the state had failed to send out the ballots in time for overseas
voters to return them by Nov. 2. The ballots were delayed because of a
dispute over including Ralph Nader's name. State officials said they
would help voters abroad by offering overnight deliveries or allowing
them to fax their ballots.
COUNT, RECOUNT
$15 million
Amount raised by the Vote for Change concert tour for America Coming
Together, a group organizing get-out-the-vote drives for Democrats,
according to organizers.
TRAIL TREATS
The results of the Family Circle cookie bake-off — in the November issue
out this week — show 67 percent of the 16,999 votes were cast for Laura
Bush's chocolate chunk cookie recipe, compared with 33 percent for
Teresa Heinz Kerry's pumpkin spice cookies.
From staff and wire reports and The Hotline, an Internet political
digest
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