------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Hardball airs on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp MSNBC also is on your XM satellite radio on channel 130 Tonight Hardball focuses in on a key political demographic: Catholics...According to the experts their vote has determined every presidential winner since 1972...Whether you're one of those "cafeteria" Catholics like me or not a Catholic at all, you'll still enjoy and benefit from watching tonight's show...Many of the issues you'll be down with I'm sure...Bill Donahue, of The Catholic League joins us as will Monsignor Thomas McSweeney from the diocese of Erie, PA.. We'll also throw down some serious politics with Dee Dee and Dreier...Yesterday we showed you the 5 red state tracking polls showing Bush up (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6289208/). Tonight we bring you the 5 blue states...They're embargoed until 6:30 pm ET (which is a fancy way of saying that in our infinite wisdom we've decided you're not allowed to see them until 6:30) but I've gotten an advance peek at them and you'll not want to miss their contents...It's gonna be a long election night for sure...Also, our sister network, Telemundo, scored an exclusive interview today with President Bush. We'll roll a clip or two...Plus, what impact will the celebrity star power of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Clinton have on this election cycle? And now, a little aperitif from Shuster's Corner... "Tonight we take another look at the money being spent in this campaign. The Bush and Kerry camps each have about 20 million dollars left to spend on advertising and campaign rallies. But, separate "get out the vote" organizations are in the midst of spending about $350 million dollars on everything from door to door drives, e-mails, phone banks, and even food for canvassers. This is the most expensive and hard fought voter drive "ground war" in political history. The most powerful group on the left is America Coming Together. The U-S Chamber of Commerce seems to be ACT's counterpart on the right. A look at the numbers and the strategies tonight on hardball...Also, special thanks to the more than 6, 700 people who have written me e-mails over the last six weeks via "hardblogger." (http://hardblogger.msnbc.com) I read and respond to as many as I can... and I've been intrigued by your feedback, comments, ideas, story suggestions, and even news tips." We round out the show with noted writer Fran Lebowitz on the state of religion, politics and the Bush administration... Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited the Briefing from inside the Beltway... GO CARDS!!! President Bush opened a slight one-point lead on Democratic rival John Kerry in a tight race for the White House, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Thursday. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/10/21/reuters_poll_bush_grabs_one_point_lead_on_kerry_1098358924/ Kerry hunts for Ohio votes, Bush revisits Pennsylvania...Democrat eyes 'guy' factor, president eyes his most visited state (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6296699/ President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are locked in a tie for the popular vote, according to an Associated Press poll. Voters seem open to change in the White House - most disapprove of the president's performance at home and in Iraq - but still harbor doubts about making the switch. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041021/D85RUBJ80.html President Bush has opened a lead over Democratic challenger John Kerry in battleground Nevada, according to a statewide poll released Thursday (AP) http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/10/21/politics1044EDT0030.DTL [President Bush], who has dubbed his Crawford, Texas, ranch the "Western White House," makes his 40th and 41st trips to Pennsylvania when he visits Downingtown and Hershey on Thursday and Wilkes-Barre on Friday http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/32-10212004-386629.html(AP) President Bush and John Kerry began October neck and neck in campaign cash, each with just under half of the $75 million in government money they received to cover campaign costs. (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6289409/ Fun Clinton News... Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has set his sights on becoming U.N. secretary-general. A Clinton insider and a senior U.N. source have told United Press International the 56-year-old former president would like to be named leader of the world body when Kofi Annan's term ends early in 2006. (UPI) http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/10210010aaa038a4.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=LATEBRKN&Type=News&Filter=Late%20Breaking Laura Bush said Thursday that Teresa Heinz Kerry didn't need to apologize for saying she couldn't remember whether the first lady had ever had "a real job." (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041021/D85RTQ3O0.html Political discourse in America has become so divisive and nasty that it has "stalemated" the country and precluded important policy discussions, former President Gerald Ford told The Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~29805~2481770,00.html Iraq war plays out in Conn. House race...In Connecticut, where the Iraq war is everywhere now, in homes and in bars, in parades and in cemeteries, it has seeped into politics as well - not only in the presidential race but also in a local House race. (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6293821/ The Illinois Republican Party left U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes off a campaign mailer that touted "Your 2004 Republican Team," but both sides insist the omission was not a snub. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041021/D85RRRD02.html Despite campaign tactics, female vote remains elusive...Most of the undecided voters across the nation - 62 percent - are women, and they are aggressively being courted by both presidential candidates, who have tailored campaign messages to increase their take of the crucial voting bloc. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041021-120937-4652r.htm Kerry Pulls Out the Clinton Card (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49628-2004Oct20?language=printer Jeannette Walls: Dixie Chicks ruffle some feathers...The singing trio was boycotted by some conservative fans and by the radio chain Clear Channel after they criticized George W. Bush - but now they're taking on Sinclair Broadcasting. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6291410/ Opinion/Editorial Katrina: You Have the Power...Howard Dean's message is coming through loud and clear. http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7 Terry: Kerry Was for Global Court (Before He Was Against It) http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5416 Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received The Hardball Briefing Newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. 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