Kerry seeks balance, Bush readies barrage [View All]

[UpInArms]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/03/21/kerry_seeks_balance_bush_readies_barrage/

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.

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