Even before John Kerry learned that two more states, Michigan and Washington, had fallen comfortably his way Saturday, he opened a confident new front in his presidential campaign.
The targets were not Democratic rivals John Edwards and Wesley Clark, whom he hopes to finish off this week. Instead, Kerry slowly revealed a working campaign theme against President Bush, should Kerry become the party’s nominee.
“They’re extreme, we’re mainstream, and we’re going to stand up and fight back,” Kerry told hundreds of Virginia Democrats at the state party’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. “This administration has outlived its present existence, and we need to change it.”
The Massachusetts senator, after claiming victory in nine states, began delivering a message to the Bush administration that he intends to be a serious force.
“This is one Democrat who’s going to fight back, and I’ve only just begun to fight,” he said. “George Bush, who speaks of strength, has made America weaker–weaker economically, weaker in health care and education.”
Kerry’s criticism comes as recent polls have shown Bush’s approval ratings have declined and as Republicans concede the president’s re-election prospects have grown more uncertain.
The Republican National Committee and the White House have zeroed in on Kerry as the likely challenger to Bush.
Edwards and Clark are trying to slow Kerry’s momentum in Tuesday’s Virginia and Tennessee primaries. As they sought to distinguish themselves to 1,700 Democratic activists in the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Kerry looked ahead.
In fact, hours before the results were known, Kerry aides distributed a copy of his evening speech that boldly predicted his wins in Michigan and Washington state. Kerry gently scolded his aides for appearing too sure of themselves.
“Whoever released that is jumping the gun,” Kerry said. “I’m going to be campaigning as hard as I can.”
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio did not attend the candidate forum. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton, slowed by a flat tire, arrived after the Bush-bashing event had started.
