March 4

With the nomination process at an end and the national campaign joined, John Kerry's search for a running-mate and speculation over various ticket-balancing equations should occupy the pundits for a while, with Kerry tapping Washington businessman Jim Johnson to lead his search committee.

Meanwhile, the Bush-Cheney campaign kicked off its media campaign today - four days sooner than incumbent Bill Clinton did against Bob Dole in 1996.

Even though the thrust of the three TV ads (one in Spanish) is positive - stressing the incumbent's firm leadership in troubled times - the campaign found itself on the back foot almost immediately, with criticism over the use of 9/11 images, including what looks like rescue workers removing remains.

Bush adviser Karen Hughes was defensive on the morning talk shows, saying that the ads were just the start of "a conversation" the President would be having with voters.

The main ad also features an image of firefighters - not, by their helmet colour, NYPD. The use of the image angered ther International Association of Fire Fighters..