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John Daley ReportingNext week is shaping up as a big one. Add the controversial Secretary of Defense's name to the roster of prominent figures expected to be here next week. It's the latest headline regarding a presidential visit that's likely to attract national attention.
The president and top members of his team, as well as prominent critics, are expected to be here. We can expect a vigorous debate over his policies played out before national audience.
President Bush will be here, so will Secretary of State Condelezza Rice, and today comes word from the American Legion that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld will be here too.
Mid-term elections are just 12 weeks away and Utah's top political pollster sees the fingerprints of the president's top political advisor all over the planning.
Dan Jones, Pollster: "This has got Karl Rove written all over it. And what it is is that it's to deter the public disaffection with what's going on in Iraq."
Iraq will be at the heart of things with both pro and anti-Bush events planned, and America's best known anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan expected too. With the national media sure to be here, those organizing a rally opposing administration policies say they'll offer a broad-based critique.
Crystal Young-Otterstrom, Rally Organizer: "We're not trying to bash Bush, we're not being negative. We really want this to be a positive, constructive rally where we're saying these are issues we think are being ignored and we'd like them to be covered, we'd like them to be paid attention to."
The head of the American Legion says he welcomes the debate.
Tom Bock, National Commander, American Legion: "We fought and served to protect our United States constitution and all of our freedoms. So we relish every American's right to free speech. We would never trample on that. We ask, however, that they use responsibility when they express their opinions."
Next week the spotlight will be on and the stakes are high.
Dan Jones, Pollster: "It really sets the tone for the elections that are coming up in 12 weeks and even toward 2008."
Rice and Rumsfeld are expected to address the American Legion convention a week from today, August 29th. The President will arrive the next day and we'll see a major anti-administration rally planned for, followed by one later that day supporting the President.
