A day after their final debate, President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry began a sprint to the finish in their presidential race with campaign appearances in Las Vegas, where the two candidates focused on health care and other domestic issues.
At a rally attended by Republican governors, Bush denounced the Massachusetts senator's health care plan as a "government program" that would hurt small businesses.
Kerry addressed a convention of the American Association of Retired People in Las Vegas, using the forum to promote his health care proposals and other programs of interest to senior citizens, while attacking Bush's tax cuts and his 2003 Medicare law.
Saying that "we need a fresh start in this great country of ours," Kerry told the convention that he would be a president who fights for the middle class, as opposed to Bush, who he said defends the interests of the wealthy and powerful.
"Over the last four years of George Bush's presidency . . . the share of the tax burden of the middle class has gone up, while the share of the tax burden of the wealthiest people in America has gone down," Kerry said. "That's the great difference between George Bush and me. Both of us are at the top. He believes you ought to fight to protect the people at the top. I believe I didn't need that tax cut but there are a lot of folks in the middle of America who did. And we deserve a president who fights for them."
Speaking to the AARP about an hour after First Lady Laura Bush, Kerry told thousands of seniors at the convention that Bush's new Medicare law is failure and denies them access to the less expensive prescription drugs they need and deserve.
"The truth is, after doing nothing to lower the cost of prescription drugs for you, the president is now telling us that he has solved the problem," Kerry said. "Right -- and those weapons of mass destruction will be found any day."
Bush told supporters today that Kerry had tried to "obscure his approach" to such issues as health care during the debate.
"Once again last night with a straight face, the senator tried to say his health care plan is not a government plan," Bush said. "Yet, 22 million people would be enrolled in a government program under his plan, the largest expansion of government health care ever."
Bush disputed Kerry's claims that his plan would help small businesses, saying, "I want to make health care more available and affordable by helping small businesses, not saddling them with a bunch of government rules."
Kerry insisted last night that that his health care proposal does not represent a government takeover, but offers "broader competition to allow you to buy into the same health care plan that senators and congressmen give themselves."
Bush also attacked Kerry today for his comments clarifying what he meant when he said in last week's debate that preemptive action by the United States against other countries should meet a "global test." Kerry said last night he has "never suggested a test where we turn over our security to any nation." But "it makes sense" to "pass a sort of truth standard," he said. "That's how you gain legitimacy" with Americans and the world. "But I will never fail to protect the United States of America."
Bush told the rally, "The senator now says we have to pass some international truth standard. The truth is we should never turn over America's national security decisions to international bodies" or foreign leaders.
Earlier, Bush told reporters on Air Force One that he "enjoyed" last night's debate. "The debate phase of the campaign is over and now it's a sprint to the finish," he said. "My spirits are high. I'm enthusiastic about my chances."
Get paid for your H I P I M P L A N T troubles.>>