In campaign news Senator John Kerry met privately with former rival Howard Dean for the first time since the former Vermont governor dropped out of the presidential race. Dean did not officially endorse Kerry but he has vowed to back the Democratic nominee. Today Kerry is expected to meet with Senator John Edwards.

And The AFL-CIO voted yesterday to spend $44 million to mobilize union household voters in November against President Bush.

Meanwhile Republicans accused Kerry of running a mean-spirited campaign after he was caught on video saying “These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I have ever seen. It’s scary.” A Kerry spokesperson said he was not referring directly to President Bush or Vice President Cheney but the “Republican attack machine.”

The Associated Press is reporting that President Bush has hosted many of his top campaign donors to overnight stays at the White House and Camp David. Some of the guests stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom which gained fame during the Clinton years after it was alleged that Clinton was rewarding political donors by treating them to nights in the White House.