Mon Aug 12 2002 10:57:47 ET
Althought remarks by DNC Chairman Terence R. McAuliffe this weekend were made with an eye to helping Democratic candidates in the Congressional elections this fall, they also were an aggressive effort to lay out a potential plan of attack for the Democratic presidential candidates who are already preparing for 2004.
NYT reports: McAuliffe's aides "said he viewed this, after a long period in which attacks on Mr. Bush were largely muted, as an effort to usher in a new political season. He spoke as Democratic leaders closed a meeting in which they seemed increasingly confident that Mr. Bush can be defeated in 2004 because of problems in the economy and on Wall Street. They also expressed confidence that they would maintain or increase their numbers in the Senate this fall, and might win control of the House." McAuliffe "said he reviewed the speech with former President Bill Clinton; the House minority leader, Richard A. Gephardt; and Tom Daschle, the Senate majority leader."
