Campaign Day

KWAME HOLMAN:

At his first campaign stop of the day, in Philadelphia, John Kerry continued his week-long attack on the Bush administration's Iraq policy. Senator Kerry told an audience at Temple University that the president neglected the fight against terrorism by going after Saddam Hussein instead.

SEN. JOHN KERRY:

The invasion of Iraq was a profound diversion from the battle against our greatest enemy, al-Qaida, which killed more than 3,000 people on 9/11 and which still plots our destruction today. And there's just no question about it: The president's misjudgment, miscalculation and mismanagement of the war in Iraq all make the war on terror harder to win.

Iraq is now what it was not before the war: A haven for terrorists. George Bush made Saddam Hussein the priority. I would have made Osama bin Laden the priority. (Cheers and applause) Yet in the face of all of these judgments, all of these misjudgments, all the miscalculations and all the mistakes, the president still says he wouldn't do anything different. I would. I will make very different choices in the war on terrorism. (Cheers and applause)

KWAME HOLMAN:

Sen. Kerry went on to describe his plan to fight the war on terror. He said he would destroy terrorist networks using improved military and intelligence capabilities; prevent nuclear terrorism by working to secure weapons of mass destruction; cut off sources of terrorist financing; protect the homeland by securing ports, borders, and airports; support democracies in the Arab and Muslim world; and rebuild alliances with other nations to combat terrorist networks across the globe.

SEN. JOHN KERRY:

We are safer and stronger in our capacity to capture and kill the terrorists when we fight with allies by our side. But the Bush administration would have you believe that when it comes to our allies– this is what they're telling America today– that when it comes to our allies, it won't make any difference who's president. They say the Europeans won't help us no matter what. We're not going to get more cooperation in the war on terror, they say, no matter what. Ordinary people around the world will resent us no matter what. Well, I have news for President Bush. Just because you can't do something doesn't mean it can't be done. It can be done. (Cheers and applause)

KWAME HOLMAN:

A few hours later, Senator Kerry was across town, speaking to students on another college campus, the University of Pennsylvania.

SEN. JOHN KERRY:

You are the smartest generation and you are patriotic and you have this great idealism and sense of the future, and you deserve leadership that understands it and helps you to take it to where America needs to go.

KWAME HOLMAN:

Meanwhile, President Bush began his day in Washington, appearing at a brief swearing-in ceremony for Porter Goss, the new director of Central Intelligence. Then it was back on the campaign trail in Wisconsin, another closely fought state visited frequently by both candidates. Speaking to supporters in Janesville, the president's focus was education. But he also responded to Sen. Kerry's criticism of the visiting Iraqi prime minister for putting the "best face" on the situation in Iraq.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

And my opponent chose to criticize the prime minister of Iraq. This brave man came to our country to talk about how he's risking his life for a free Iraq, which helps America, and Senator Kerry held a press conference and questioned Prime Minister Allawi's credibility. You can't lead this country if your ally in Iraq feels like you question his credibility. The message ought to be to the Iraqi people, "we support you." The message ought to be loud and clear: "We'll stand with you if you do the hard work." (Applause )

Earlier this week… earlier this week, my opponent said he would prefer the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the situation in Iraq today. You know, I just strongly disagree. It's tough work, no question about it. We've done tough work before. But if Saddam Hussein were in power, our security would be threatened. If Saddam Hussein were in power, there'd still be mass graves and torture chambers in Iraq. If Saddam Hussein were in power, the world would be better off… not– the world would be worse off, not better off. And so I strongly disagree with the assessment of my opponent. I believe in liberty and I believe in freedom, and I believe liberty can change lives. (Applause)

Two other points I want to make now that you got me going. (Laughter) We've got great alliances. I talked to Prime Minister Tony Blair this morning. I had a great talk with him. He's a good, strong leader. He sees what's happening around the world. He knows, like I know, that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. We must whip the terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to face them here at home. That's exactly what we're seeing. (Applause ) Prime Minister Allawi says that, Tony Blair says that, I say that because I understand the stakes for America, and Tony understands the stakes for Beat Britain and the free world. We're challenged… being challenged now, and we will rise to the challenge. I will continue to work with allies and friends. You know, I, again, disagree with my opponent, who called our alliance "the alliance of the coerced and the bribed." You can't build alliances if you criticize the efforts of those who are working side by side with you. So we'll build alliances. But I assure you, I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. ( Applause )

KWAME HOLMAN:

President Bush spoke later in Racine, Wisconsin. He returns to Washington tonight and has no campaign appearances scheduled tomorrow. Nor does Senator Kerry, who travels to Boston this evening.