Table of Contents: Oct. 18, 2004

10 QUESTIONS: Radio’s Don Imus on Bush, bigotry and Howard Stern 8

LETTERS 10

NOTEBOOK

With dozens dead in hotel bombings in Sinai, experts ask if al-Qaeda has found a new battleground 17

IN THE ARENA: Joe Klein on how Bush and Kerry promise the voters everything and demand nothing of them 25

COVER STORY

Crunch Time Jostling for every last vote, Bush and Kerry are stumping, spinning and trying to fire up their bases in a final blitz before Election Day 26

THE GROUND WAR: In the trenches with the campaign foot soldiers 30

TAKING THE HILL: TIME’s guide to the hottest congressional races 41

ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIE: Will Colorado be the Florida of 2004? 49

WORLD

Saddam A new report shows how the Iraqi dictator kept bluffing about WMDs when the truth might have saved his regime 50

MILITARY: The U.S. intelligence on Iraq’s biological, chemical and nuclear holdings was just wrong 52

POLITICS OF THE DRAFT: Bush says he won’t reinstate it; 42% of those polled by TIME don’t believe him 54

BUSINESS

FLAT SCREENS A 50-in. slab of television is the next big thing, but not yet easily affordable. When should you get yours? 64

SCIENCE

MOUNT ST. HELENS The hyperactive volcano is threatening to blow its top again. Here’s how scientists monitor the fireworks 70

TOO SOON Premature births in the U.S. are up a troubling 27% since 1980. Doctors struggle to find the causes and to extend time in the womb 73

ARTS

FLYING FOXX Jamie Foxx thinks he’s great. After his turn as Ray Charles, it’s hard to disagree 76

STAR QUALITY IN PARIS In fashion, it’s all about who’s wearing you 83

YOUR TIME

HEALTH: One of the two companies making flu vaccines for the U.S. was shut down. How you can cope 91

TECHNOLOGY: Bye-bye, iPod? Buy a flash player for as little as $35 92

MONEY: Women purchase 62% of new cars. Now they have to learn how to drive a smart bargain 94

PEOPLE: Elton raps Madonna; Tiger Woods weds; blogs of the stars; Duran Duran is back 97

ESSAY: Charles Krauthammer in defense of fear-peddling 98

COVER: Illustration for TIME by Daniel Adel