Post by Noname on Jul 7, 2004 4:33:21 GMT -5
By SCOTT LINDLAW, AP
WASHINGTON (July 6) - President Bush's political team branded John Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, as "phony" and too liberal Tuesday, painting an unflattering image of the Democrat whom the White House had feared most during this year's primaries.
Bush's re-election strategy to combat the new Kerry-Edwards ticket is to "keep focused on the fundamental weakness of John Kerry's being out of the mainstream of America when it comes to the war on terror, the economy and values," said Karl Rove, Bush's chief political adviser. Edwards, he said, is Kerry's "ideological soul mate."
Within a half hour of Kerry's announcement that Edwards would be his running mate, the Republican National Committee unleashed a 26-page document it called "Edwards In Depth," criticizing him as "phony and disingenous" and "unaccomplished." It listed several pages of quotes in which Kerry criticized Edwards for a lack of experience and said the senator's "rural populist message" was "just another gimmick."
The RNC created a new Web site where it posted the criticism.
Bush sidestepped a reporter's question about whether he agreed with the RNC's charges. But his chief spokesman, Scott McClellan, did not disavow them.
"Is there something in there that you're disputing?" McClellan shot back when a reporter asked him about the accusations. "It's perfectly reasonable to talk about the differences on the issues and to talk about the record."
While the GOP and Bush's re-election machine were hammering Edwards, the president tried to cast himself above the fray, saying he welcomed Edwards to the race. "I look forward to a good, spirited contest," Bush said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Rove rejected the idea that Edwards' presence on the Democratic ticket would cost the Bush the state of North Carolina and its 15 electoral votes. Edwards also won South Carolina in the Democratic primary, and that state offers eight electoral votes. Bush won both in 2000.
"It's hard to sell a liberal in the South," Rove said. Edwards is "more liberal than Ted Kennedy."
Rove argued that it would have been far more daunting if Kerry's running mate were from the industrial Midwest, which encompasses several of the most hard-fought states in the election. Rove questioned whether Edwards, a wealthy former trial lawyer, will have appeal among working-class people in the region.
Both Bush and Cheney are millionaires as well.
Bush travels to Edwards' home state Wednesday to meet with judicial nominees whom he says Senate Democrats have blocked from being confirmed. McClellan said the North Carolina visit was a coincidence.
WASHINGTON (July 6) - President Bush's political team branded John Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, as "phony" and too liberal Tuesday, painting an unflattering image of the Democrat whom the White House had feared most during this year's primaries.
Bush's re-election strategy to combat the new Kerry-Edwards ticket is to "keep focused on the fundamental weakness of John Kerry's being out of the mainstream of America when it comes to the war on terror, the economy and values," said Karl Rove, Bush's chief political adviser. Edwards, he said, is Kerry's "ideological soul mate."
Within a half hour of Kerry's announcement that Edwards would be his running mate, the Republican National Committee unleashed a 26-page document it called "Edwards In Depth," criticizing him as "phony and disingenous" and "unaccomplished." It listed several pages of quotes in which Kerry criticized Edwards for a lack of experience and said the senator's "rural populist message" was "just another gimmick."
The RNC created a new Web site where it posted the criticism.
Bush sidestepped a reporter's question about whether he agreed with the RNC's charges. But his chief spokesman, Scott McClellan, did not disavow them.
"Is there something in there that you're disputing?" McClellan shot back when a reporter asked him about the accusations. "It's perfectly reasonable to talk about the differences on the issues and to talk about the record."
While the GOP and Bush's re-election machine were hammering Edwards, the president tried to cast himself above the fray, saying he welcomed Edwards to the race. "I look forward to a good, spirited contest," Bush said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Rove rejected the idea that Edwards' presence on the Democratic ticket would cost the Bush the state of North Carolina and its 15 electoral votes. Edwards also won South Carolina in the Democratic primary, and that state offers eight electoral votes. Bush won both in 2000.
"It's hard to sell a liberal in the South," Rove said. Edwards is "more liberal than Ted Kennedy."
Rove argued that it would have been far more daunting if Kerry's running mate were from the industrial Midwest, which encompasses several of the most hard-fought states in the election. Rove questioned whether Edwards, a wealthy former trial lawyer, will have appeal among working-class people in the region.
Both Bush and Cheney are millionaires as well.
Bush travels to Edwards' home state Wednesday to meet with judicial nominees whom he says Senate Democrats have blocked from being confirmed. McClellan said the North Carolina visit was a coincidence.