Bush Team Prepares Net Assault

The oresidential debate in Miami might look scripted and cordial. But the real face-off between the opponents will be on the internet. There the Bushies started to take their gloves of, Wired writes:

Earlier this week, it launched a massive rapid-response effort called Debate Facts to rebut challenger John Kerry's assertions during the debates. The campaign will provide a live feed to about 5,000 conservative blogs that subscribe to its news alerts. Debate Facts is similar to the "war room" the Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee set up in Boston during the Democratic convention -- only much larger and more sophisticated.
The new war room is equipped with 15 computers and two TVs, which will be monitored by about 25 policy wonks, communications managers and technology professionals. Using a 150-page book called The John Kerry Attack Matrix, Bush supporters will shape responses to Kerry's statements. The Bush campaign has been compiling the so-called matrix on Kerry's statements and public record since the primaries.
The document is alphabetized by topic. For instance, if Kerry makes a remark about the jobless, the Bush campaign has a ready response. If he makes a statement that he hasn't made in the past, and there isn't a response in the matrix, the policy experts on hand will create one to send out to campaign officials and through the Debate Facts live feed.
The rapid-response effort by the Kerry campaign apparently won't be as comprehensive. When asked about Kerry's response operations early Wednesday afternoon, a representative said the campaign was still working on it. Amanda Michel, a member of Kerry's internet team, e-mailed members of its Media Corps -- supporters who contact newspapers, radio stations and TV shows -- telling them that the campaign would provide a response after the debate.

Update: Oliver Willis' Rapid Reblogger will be using a team of bloggers to live fact-check tonight's debate.