NATIONAL
October 14, 2004 | Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer
Sen. John F. Kerry caught President Bush off guard during their final debate Wednesday night, asserting that the president once said he was "not concerned" about hunting down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. In one of the testiest moments of the evening, Bush protested, "I don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. That's kind of one of those exaggerations." But during a news conference at the White House on March 13, 2002, Bush said something close to what Kerry quoted.
NATIONAL
March 18, 2004 | James Gerstenzang and Matea Gold, Times Staff Writers
With bombings in Baghdad and Madrid raising new challenges for the Bush administration, Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John F. Kerry launched a furious debate Wednesday over who was best suited to lead the United States in the war against global terrorism. Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, declared that President Bush had left U.S. troops vulnerable by overextending them and alienating the nation's allies.
NATIONAL
July 14, 2004 | Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer
For four years they have shunned the spotlight. No more. Barbara and Jenna Bush, now 22-year-old college graduates, are the stars of a Vogue magazine spread that hits newsstands today, in which they publicly embrace their status as scions of political royalty. Jenna, draped in a strapless, cranberry-colored Oscar de la Renta gown, poses with a half-grin and shows off a Harry Winston bracelet.
NATIONAL
September 23, 2004 | Nick Anderson, Times Staff Writer
Amid this week's campaign clashes over the U.S. mission in Iraq and reports of beheadings of American civilians, President Bush turned Wednesday to a novel image to attack Sen. John F. Kerry: windsurfing. In a 30-second advertisement to debut today, Bush lampoons one of his Democratic challenger's favorite recreational pastimes while attacking him as indecisive on Iraq and other matters.
ENTERTAINMENT
September 13, 2004 | David Bauder, Associated Press
It certainly can't be a bad thing for a man with a political talk show called "Hardball" to be nearly challenged to a duel by a U.S. senator. MSNBC has quickly moved to take advantage of Sen. Zell Miller's combative GOP convention interview with Chris Matthews, featuring it in advertisements. It was Matthews' second eye-popping exchange with a guest in a month. Matthews is hot right now, and not just under the collar.
NATIONAL
November 7, 2004 | Lisa Getter, Times Staff Writer
From coast to coast, political strategists, media consultants, lawyers and pollsters earned millions of dollars in the nation's most expensive presidential election in history. Olsen & Shuvalov, the direct marketing firm in Austin, Texas, that was founded by Karl Rove, President Bush's political strategist, received $34 million from the Bush campaign. Rove no longer has a financial interest in the firm. Integral Resources Inc., a Boston-area telemarketing firm begun by one of Sen. John F.