Kerry seeks Balance, Bush readies Barrage

[papau]

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=1017A00686D741DD&p_docnum=9

KERRY SEEKS BALANCE, BUSH READIES BARRAGE
Author(s): Patrick Healy, Globe Staff Date: March 21, 2004 Page: A1 Section: National/Foreign

KETCHUM, Idaho - When John F. Kerry cursed about a Secret Service agent who had collided with him Thursday on a snowboarding run, Republican strategists rejoiced: The senator might be on vacation, but he was not taking a break from making gaffes they could use to embarrass him.

Only two weeks ago Kerry was basking in mostly favorable press coverage as he coasted along the glide path to the Democratic presidential nomination. President Bush was under fire for using images from Sept. 11, 2001, in new campaign ads. Yet by the time Kerry flew to Idaho Wednesday, he had inflicted more bruises on his own candidacy than his Democratic rivals had during the months-long primary season. Republicans demanded that he back up his statements that overseas government leaders wanted him to beat Bush, and they immediately turned into a TV spot a comment in which Kerry said he supported $87 billion for US troops in Iraq, when he actually voted against that funding. Bush campaign officials expressed confidence in recent days that they are successfully sullying Kerry's image and defining him in voters' minds as a flip-flopper who says whatever he thinks voters want to hear. Republican operatives even circulated to reporters and party members news of Kerry's jab at his Secret Service escort - which Kerry aides say the senator made in jest. "It's perfect material showing that Kerry will say anything, and can't control what he says," one Republican strategist said.

The Bush team is set for a spring barrage of TV ads and speeches - before many people tune out over the summer - featuring the president, Vice President Dick Cheney, and other Republicans, as they aim to drive down Kerry's poll numbers, which have been falling in some recent surveys but have held solid in others. Bush campaign strategist Matthew Dowd, in a memo to Republicans last week, contended that fewer Americans are viewing Kerry favorably, particularly in the wake of incendiary remarks like Kerry's jab March 10 calling his Republican critics a "crooked" and "lying group."<snip>

"All we have to do in this race is tell the truth, while the Republicans have to cover up their falsehoods," said Kerry spokesman David Wade, who is traveling with the senator here. "When we get back out there, the real question will be, what are George Bush and Karl Rove going to do when we hold them accountable for what they've done in the last four years? How are they going to explain 3 million lost jobs?"<snip>

[grannylib]

1. This is the best line:

"All we have to do in this race is tell the truth, while the Republicans have to cover up their falsehoods"
This is exactly right: if we continue to hammer on the facts regarding this administration, its numerous and lethal lies, its 'bait and switch' 180 degree flipflops on every issue...
They got nothin'. All the Repukes have is death, deception and defensiveness...

[papau]

2. Agreed - :-)

:-)

[rasputin1952]

3. The "3-D" administration...

Death

Deception

Defensiveness

I LIKE IT!!!!!:)

:bounce:

[Mr.Green93]

4. some barrage

more like a wet fart