WITHOUT A PRAYER
According to a John Kerry campaign staffer, the candidate, who made much of his visit to the Reagan Library in Simi, California, on Tuesday afternoon, had to ask aides what behavior they felt would look appropriate. “It was like, ‘Should I kneel? Should I greet people in line? Should I say a prayer? What?'”

Kerry ultimately was given VIP access to the area where the former President lay in repose, going beyond the rope line to stand alone with Reagan’s coffin. Kerry made much of the making the sign of the cross, then visibly moving his lips in prayer.

Prior to visiting the Reagan Library, Kerry told reporters that he had visited and met with Reagan many times during his time in the White House.

Unfortunately, there is little evidence of that at the library, where records show that Kerry never privately met with Reagan, and the only time spent with the Gipper was when Kerry visited the White House as part of a Democratic Senate delegation.

“It’s just fiction that Kerry had any kind of relationship with Reagan,” says a former Reagan staffer. “That he’s attempting to create something that wasn’t there or never happened is embarrassing. Senator Kerry should be ashamed.”

MR. HOLLYWOOD
While out in Los Angeles for his daughter’s graduation from film school, John Kerry is doing what every other Democratic pol does: hang out in swanky hotels and dine the Steven Spielberg. According to a Kerry campaign source, the two had breakfast together at the W Hotel in Westwood, where Kerry was overnighting.

On Tuesday night, Kerry dined with his daughters and his ex-wife, Julia Thorne, as well as actress Dana Delany of “China Beach” fame, giving Kerry yet another Vietnam connection. Kerry’s current wife, Lady Teresa, was not in town for the reunion.

DNC DVD
The DNC has worked out a deal with the distributor of left-wing extremist Michael Moore‘s new anti-Bush film that will ensure more than a half-million DVD copies of the film will be distributed nationwide in October 2004, just a month before the general election.

The unprecedented deal, in which the DNC will pay essentially a wholesale price for the DVD. “This could be a huge boost for our grassroots,” says a DNC furndraiser. “We have such a network now of folks getting together on a local basis that the movie will give them a reason to gather, perhaps fundraise and certainly expand their circle of friends.”