WP: Fallout From Miller Speech Still Unknown

[kskiska]

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NEW YORK, Sept. 2 -- Sen. Zell Miller, apostate Democrat from Georgia, was the talk of the town here among (mostly) adoring delegates at the Republican National Convention on Thursday.

He was the talk of many other towns, too, as his fulminating keynote address from the night before continued to echo -- with uncertain political consequences -- across television news, talk radio, David Letterman's show and countless "Did you see that guy?" conversations in car pools and on coffee breaks.

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Privately, some senior Republicans agreed that red meat that tasted delicious in the convention hall did not look appetizing to independent voters watching on television. "Everyone read the speech in advance and approved it," said one prominent GOP lobbyist working closely with the Bush-Cheney campaign on the staging and message for the convention. The problem, he added, was that handlers did not account for the shouting voice or glowering stare with which the 72-year-old former Marine delivered his speech, or the short-tempered manner he displayed in interviews once the veracity of his charges began being challenged minutes after he left the podium. The scrutiny continued Thursday.

First lady Laura Bush, in an interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw, responded coolly when asked whether she and the president agreed with what Miller said. "I don't know that we share that point of view," she said, adding that Miller has a "very interesting viewpoint" as a Democrat who disagrees with Kerry.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57566-2004Sep2.html