Fred Thompson

U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Sunday that Republican presidential nominee John McCain would continue the same policies implemented by Republican President George W. Bush.

Kerry, a frequent surrogate for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, appeared on NBC's Meet the Press in the show's final episode before the election on Tuesday.

"John McCain does not represent a break with George Bush," the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said. "I mean, yesterday he was endorsed by Dick Cheney. He earned that endorsement by supporting this administration 90 percent of the time."

Kerry, a Boston Democrat, also criticized McCain for running a negative campaign. "This has been one of the most divisive campaigns in history," he said. "John McCain [said] he wanted this campaign to be about big ideas and he wanted it to respect the American people's desire not to be negative. It's been the most negative--100 percent of his advertising is negative."

U.S. Sen. John Kerry is slated to appear on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. Kerry, a frequent surrogate for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will appear with former senator and 2008 presidential contender Fred Thompson.

Thompson, it is worth noting, recently recorded a robo-call on behalf of Kerry's Republican challenger, Jeff Beatty.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson has recorded a robo-call on behalf of Republican U.S. Senate challenger Jeff Beatty.

The 30-second call features Thompson, the Tennessee Republican who ran for president this year, touting Beatty's experience and judgment as the reasons why Massachusetts voters should elect him to replace U.S. Sen. John Kerry this year.

"Hello friend, this is Sen. Fred Thompson calling to ask you to please vote for Jeff Beatty for United States senator to replace John Kerry," Thompson says. "Jeff is an American hero who served in the Delta Force and the FBI. He's a former teamster and small businessman with the kind of common sense we need. Jeff won't coddle special interests; he's a leader who will protect your family your jobs and your country. Please vote for Jeff Beatty Nov. 4."        

This isn't the first time this year Republicans have turned to Thompson's baritone. Thompson, who is well-known for his role as New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law and Order, also narrated Republican presidential nominee John McCain's biographical film at the Republican National Convention.

The Beatty campaign said the robo-call will begin running Wednesday. Check it out below.

Yesterday Inside Edge reported former U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate Fred Thompson would be in state on October 22nd to do a fundraiser for Tim Bee.  Inside Edge learned earlier today that Thompson will also be doing an event for David Schweikert before the election.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Republican Gov. Jim Douglas addressed the Massachusetts delegation to the Republican National Convention Thursday, applauding the Wednesday night presentation given by vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and expressing optomism for the GOP's chance in November.

"(Palin) is going to bring a great deal of enthusiasm to the Republican team, and I am very optomistic about what the fall portends," Douglas said.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) had little presence in California during the Democratic presidential primary campaign, suggesting he may need to re-introduce himself to voters as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.

According to a campaign tracker on The Washington Post's website, Biden made his last stop in California in May 2007, for a town hall meeting and a later speech in San Francisco. Biden dropped out of the race in early 2008, after a series of losses in early primaries.

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) and her campaign manager Scott Will have parted ways, according to a report from Polwatchers.

Will leaves Northup's 3rd Congressional District campaign after just over three months on the staff, having joined in mid-April.

He came to the Northup campaign after working for the presidential campaigns of both U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) during the caucuses in his home state of Iowa.

Polwatchers quotes Northup's campaign chair, Ted Jackson, as saying the change was because of "personality and management style."

Currently, no replacement has been named to fill the opening.

HERSHEY -- Former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson tried Friday night to boost John McCain's conservative credentials, saying he embodies GOP principles on the country's most important issues.

"We're not always going to agree with each other on the issues," Thompson said, speaking before the Pennsylvania Republican Party State Committee. "But we have to ask ourselves, among these issues, what are the most vital to the safety and prosperity of our country?" 

Security, taxes and the right to life -- the Arizona senator is on the "right" side of each, Thompson said.

"On all of these issues, John McCain has and will stand strong," he said.

Former Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson and GOPAC chairman Michael Steele will be headlining the state GOP's summer dinner in Hershey next Friday, a party insider told PolitickerPA.

A formal announcement about the June 6 Celebrate Pennsylvania Dinner is expected Monday. Thompson briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination this year, and Steele, a former Lieutentant Governor of Maryland, now runs the powerful Republican political action committee.

The dinner will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

A group of state Republican leaders and activists who supported various presidential candidates early in the primary process have formed a “unity team” as a suggested fusion slate to represent Maryland at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“The idea is to bring everyone on board in support of Sen. (John) McCain,” Corey Stottlemyer, the former political director of the state Republican party and unity team member, said.

Chris Cavey, the first vice chairman of the state party, is leading the effort.

“We have presented the unity team as a suggestion for those who do not necessarily have a ballot,” Cavey said.

The plan is not endorsed by Jim Pelura, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.

“The Maryland Republican Party does not have slate,” Pelura told PolitickerMD.com.