Kerry still on a roll

Sen. John Kerry is shown moving ahead in Missouri and Arizona in Zogby polls. He is continuing to target veterans, Kerry and Sen. Fritz Hollings, former Sen. Max Cleland, and a former Kerry crew member will join him for a S. Carolina town hall meeting. The campaign calls its veterans outreach the "veterans brigade," and that it's more effective when veterans call other veterans, rather than have civilians call. It is what Kerry first patented in Iowa.

Kerry responded to the Republican National Committee’s attack on him with his characteristic bring it on.

"It's the greatest form of flattery -- bring it on. Let's have this debate. I have voted for the largest defense budgets in the history of this country. I have voted for all the biggest weapons systems. Unfortunately these people haven't met a weapons system they don't like. I have... That's the debate I want to have. That's precisely the strength I bring. I don't think they are doing the best job of making America safe. I want them to know that I'm a fighter -- I'm someone who says what I mean and means what I say. I have a 35-year record of standing up and fighting against special interests in this country...," said Kerry.

The Debate coverage of the debate was almost uniform in expressing that Howard Dean was more subdued than in the past. Most expressed the fact that Dean did not challenge Sen. John Kerry until late into the debate when he challenged him on his 11 bills on health care that never became law.

The person who delivered the most damning attack was Sen. John Edwards against President Bush by questioning if Bush can walk and chew gum at the same time:

I think the problem here is the administration is not doing the things, number one, that need to be done to keep this country safe, both here and abroad.

And number two, the president actually has to be able to do two things at once. This president thinks his presidency is only about the war on terrorism, only about national security. Those things are critical for a commander in chief. The president of the United States has to actually be able to walk and chew chewing gum at the same time, has to be able to do two things at the same time.

[click here for a transcript of last night’s South Carolina debate]

Kerry donations pour in

The Associated Press says John Kerry's lead dog position in the Democratic Presidential Nomination race is giving him big pull with the donors. It seems like only yesterday when we learned of Kerry’s taking out a $6 million mortgage to finance his campaign -- as rival Howard Dean commandeered a monstrous cyber war chest and giddily proclaimed his Declaration of Financial Independence.

– sigh –

Today, “Miracle on 34th Street” Kerry has suddenly found his ‘Santa’; as Howard Dean sits and counts his lumps of coal – his once $41 million  now a mere $5 million. What’s Dean’s new mantra? Leaner and meaner? Perhaps more apt would be, ‘boasted and toasted.’ Even his campaign workers are counting lumps of coal, with a two-week pay loss. And there’s more lumps to come, according the AP story:

When asked whether there would be layoffs as Dean looks to cut costs, a senior official said Dean was serious when he said the campaign would be leaner. The official said that rather than wholesale staff cuts, the campaign would reduce or shift staff as it makes decisions about which primary states to compete in.

Dean is already withholding staff salaries and decided against airing ads in any of the seven states holding delegate contests next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, back at Kerry’s campaign, it’s The Second Coming of Santa. The AP reports he took in more than $500,000 by Internet in 48 hours following his New Hampshire win. That brings his total online dollars to over $1.6 just since the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses.

Newest Kerry endorsements

Prominent South Carolina Official Don Fowler had officially endorsed John Kerry for president. Fowler is the former Democratic National Committee chairman.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) endorsed John Kerry today on a conference call with CWA President Morton Bahr.

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL) endorsed John Kerry via conference call this morning, citing his strong record of leadership and experience as the primary factors leading to his backing of Kerry.