Kerry Says Democrats Have Bush 'On the Run'
Mon February 23, 2004 04:37 PM ET
(Page 1 of 2)
By Patricia Wilson
NEW YORK (Reuters) - White House hopeful John Kerry said on Monday Democrats had George W. Bush "on the run" and had forced the Republican president to start his re-election campaign even before he knew who his opponent would be.
The four-term Massachusetts senator and decorated Vietnam war veteran also renewed his criticism of Republicans "who never fought in a war" but think they have "a leg up" over Democrats on defense.
Kerry defended his record, saying he had voted for the biggest Pentagon and intelligence budgets in U.S. history but had also challenged former President Ronald Reagan's "star wars" anti-missile defense as well as some weapons systems like the MX missile.
He said the Republicans' underlying message was that he was weak on defense.
"That's the game they play," he told reporters. "They haven't come to you and said we need this (weapons) system and John Kerry voted against the system. They're saying he voted against defense ... and I'm not going to let them nickel and dime us on one system or another that was an individual vote."
In a pre-emptive strike, the Democratic front-runner criticized in advance a speech Bush plans to give on Monday night to the Republican Governors Association. It will lay out many of the themes to be debated over the next eight months.
Kerry also acknowledged the race for the Democratic presidential nomination was not over despite his 15 victories in 17 primaries and caucuses so far.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who finished second in Wisconsin last week, has mounted an all-out effort to cut into Kerry's lead when 10 states, including New York, California, Ohio and Georgia, hold contests on March 2.
STILL THE FAVORITE
But Kerry remains the favorite with money, momentum and about one quarter of the 2,162 delegates needed to win the nomination and face Bush on Nov. 2. He will start advertising in three "Super Tuesday" states -- Georgia, Ohio and upstate New York -- this week.
"Tonight he (Bush) will begin his campaign drawing two contrasts that are not real and there's no nominee," Kerry said. "That is its own interesting statement." Continued ... 1| 2 Next
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
reuters.com |
