From NewsMax:
Kerry Trying to Turn Tide of Campaign
NewsMax Wires
Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004
WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, trying to recover from a brass-knuckles campaign against his character, is attempting to steer the election to a referendum on President Bush's leadership.
Kerry has less than seven weeks to take over the lead in the presidential race. Democrats hope a major shift will come from the debates, but his strategy in the meantime is based less on building himself up than on tearing down the president.
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Bush has enjoyed a lead of about 5 or 6 percentage points in national polls since the Republican National Convention, which portrayed Kerry as a vacillating opportunist. Democrats remained largely positive during their convention five weeks earlier, but now are trying to make the case that Bush has not been honest in his life and his leadership.
``It's time we had a president who tells the American people the truth,'' Kerry said in Ohio. ``It's that simple.''
The strategy comes late in the campaign. Democrats acknowledge Kerry has had difficulty pinning down the message he wants voters to take to the ballot box on Nov. 2, while the Bush campaign has been more disciplined and consistent.
Now Kerry is trying to turn Bush's policy choices into character flaws.
He told the Detroit Economic Club that Bush has not taken responsibility for the economic downturn and is running an ``excuse presidency.'' He told voters in Milwaukee that Bush's failure to push for a renewal of the assault weapons ban that expired Monday ``goes to the character of the president and the leadership we ought to have in this country.''
He won't get NRA backing at all and there's 4 million NRA members and over 8 million gun owners. If they ALL get out and vote John Kerry goes down in flames!