Kerry Push, Unlike Gore's, Will Attack on Environment
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: April 20, 2004
nytimes.com
WASHINGTON, April 19 — In a departure from the way the 2000 presidential campaign unfolded, aides and advisers to Senator John Kerry say they intend to make the environment a central issue in this year's election.
In the 2000 race, Vice President Al Gore, who had dedicated much of his political career to environmental issues, did not make them a priority.
Democrats say it was hard back then to portray George W. Bush as bad for the environment, because it was not a major issue in Texas, where he was governor. Moreover, they say, Mr. Gore did not want to highlight the issue because Mr. Bush was depicting him as an environmental extremist for his book, "Earth in the Balance," and for saying that he hoped new technologies could replace the internal combustion engine. It was, after all, Mr. Bush's father who referred to Mr. Gore as Ozone Man.
But this year, Kerry advisers say, Mr. Bush's record on the environment will be a powerful motivator in getting voters to the polls.
"The environment is much more likely to be an issue in this election because Bush has a record and you can see how bad it's been," said Carol M. Browner, who was the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Clinton administration and is advising the Kerry campaign.
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