Kerry responds to Bush attack ad

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Sen. John Kerry moved quickly to respond to a new attack advertisement from President Bush on Friday, immediately producing his own commercial striking back. The move seemed intended as much to push back against Bush as it did to signal to Democrats -- and potential donors -- that Kerry will not hesitate to respond to attacks, as Democratic candidates have done in past presidential campaigns. But it effectively ratcheted up the intensity in a race that is already unusually combative for such an early phase of a general election.

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Stephanie Cutter, a spokeswoman for Kerry, said: "We're not going to stand by and let them distort John Kerry's record. John Kerry is going to continue to talk about his vision to change America. But if we have to continue to correct the record of this administration, we will."

Kerry's commercial caught strategists from both parties off guard because of the relatively large amount of money, $1.8 million, his campaign was spending to show it in 16 states starting Friday night. The amount pales next to the more than $6 million Bush is spending this week to show his ads on stations in far more markets and on several national cable networks. But it was more substantial than many strategists expected from Kerry as he is rebuilding his war chest. Many Democrats had feared that Kerry would not have the resources to respond to Bush's ads at this point.

Combined with ads by outside groups, MoveOn.org and the Media Fund, some areas rich in swing voters, among them St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Pa., will actually have more ads running against Bush than Bush will have running against Kerry, according to Democratic strategists tracking the ad campaigns.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/8177937.htm

[rockymountaindem]

1. Huzzah!

A genuine war waged on the airwaves. It's good to see that we've got a candidate who will fight instead of "staying above the fray".

[Hav]

2. .

I think it might be a possibility that the Bush team wants to use their great financial advantage to make Kerry spend significantly that early. It is of great importance that the Democrats are able to react to attacks and attack themselves so I hope that Dems will continue to give to the Democratic party.
Probably 80+% of those interested outside the US are hoping for a "regime change" so don't let the Dem campaign run out of money like the Repubs want it.