Making Their Talking Heads Spin

BOSTON —  It was supposed to be a secret bunker, an undisclosed location in an anonymous office building where Republicans could churn out daily spin to counter the Democratic drumbeat.

But by Monday morning, the location, only steps from the FleetCenter, was disclosed.

Just when Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie was preparing to gather his troops for their first “anger management session” -- the phrase GOP officials have adopted for daily presentations designed to paint Democratic nominee-in-waiting John F. Kerry as a bitter pessimist -- the Democrats hit back with a surprise weapon: “Enron Ed,” a volunteer dressed in a red cape and black tights, posing for news cameras on the sidewalk. He is expected to be joined today by “Hal E. Burton,” named for another corporation Democrats love to hate.

Another group, Billionaires for Bush, discovered the bunker as well -- mockingly dressed in suits, top hats and fancy dresses and calling on their fellow people of wealth to “invest in Bush.”

“Although most Americans are tired of the way George Bush’s misleading policies have made America less safe and secure, the ardor that Hal E. Burton and Enron Ed feel for the current occupant of this White House stands out,” read a memo to Gillespie from the Democratic National Committee, which arranged for the unexpected visitors. “And who can blame them?”

Inside, in a cramped room up a spiral staircase from a bustling office on the fifth floor, Gillespie was not deterred as he stood in front of a made-for-TV backdrop emblazoned with the party’s special website, www.demsextrememakeover.com.

“If you’re a hard-core extreme Democrat, this is your dream ticket,” said Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), who joined Gillespie, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey in kicking off the GOP attacks.

Bonilla accused Kerry of backing tax increases while supporting more government regulation and “internationalism” during his 20-year Senate career.

And so went the hand-to-hand combat between the two parties, both simultaneously claiming to be pushing positive messages even as they relentlessly attacked each other.