Kerry Targets Bush At Dem Debate

John Kerry accused President Bush of repeating Vietnam-era mistakes in Iraq and pledged on Sunday to combat Republican attacks while rivals Howard Dean and John Edwards faced pressure to cede the nomination to the Democratic frontrunner.

Looking ahead to a matchup with President Bush, Kerry said, "I'm prepared to stand up to any attack they come at me with. I'm ready for what they throw at me."

Edwards resisted Kerry's suggestion that the nomination was wrapped up.

"Not so fast, John Kerry," he said. "We're going to have an election here in Wisconsin this Tuesday and we got a whole group of primaries coming up, and I, for one, intend to fight with everything I've got for every one of those votes."

More polite than pugilistic during a debate at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Dean called Kerry "a fine person. And if he wins the nomination, I'm going to support him. But I intend to win the nomination."

Kerry leads Dean, Edwards and two other Democrats in Wisconsin, where Democrats hold a critical primary Tuesday. The Massachusetts senator, victor in 14 of 16 contests, hopes to force his major foes from the race with another overwhelming victory.

Dean's own advisers are urging him to abandon the fight if he loses Tuesday and predicted that he soon would.

"We are not bowing out," Dean told The Associated Press before the debate. But campaign chairman Steve Grossman told the AP that with a loss Tuesday, Dean would seek to convert his grass-roots network into a movement that helps expand the party and elect Kerry.

"When Howard Dean says he's not going to quit, what he means is the battle to restore democracy and citizen participation is long-term and he's not going to quit on that battle," Grossman said.

The 90-minute debate may be the last of the primary season, perhaps the final chance for Edwards and Dean.

Uncharacteristically, Dean pulled his punches in the debate — passing up an opportunity to repeat his criticism of Kerry for accepting special interest money. Instead, the fallen frontrunner seemed to defend Kerry against criticism from the White House.

"I think George Bush has some nerve attacking anybody on special interests," Dean said, though he added that both parties kowtow to special interests.

Even on the war in Iraq, the issue that divides Dean most deeply from Kerry, the former Vermont governor held his fire. "Any of us who support sending troops, have a responsibility for what happens to those troops," he said, noting that Edwards and Kerry backed Bush's war resolution.

"My regret is not the vote. It was appropriate to stand up to Saddam Hussein," Kerry said. "My regret is this president choosing the wrong way, rushing to war."

A week after raising questions about Bush's Vietnam-era service in the National Guard, the four-term senator and decorated Vietnam veteran refused to comment on the controversy. "I would say that this president, regrettably, has perhaps not learned some of the lessons of that period of time, when we had a very difficult war."

On Iraq, he said, "I think this president rushed to war."

Edwards made light of Kerry's long-winded style. "That's the longest answer I've ever heard to a yes-or-no question," he said with a smile. The North Carolina senator defended his Iraq vote, too, saying it was the right thing to do.

From the first moments of the debate, Edwards mostly focused on Bush, not Kerry. "Certainly, the integrity and character of the president of the United States is at issue," he said. "No question."

Edwards, a freshman senator from North Carolina, is in a slightly better position than Dean to survive a defeat Tuesday. While Dean is winless and running out of credibility, Edwards won his native South Carolina and has impressed Democrats with his polished, upbeat style.

After Wisconsin and its 72 delegates, the remaining candidates will focus on March 2 elections in California, New York, Ohio and seven other states. Edwards hopes Wisconsin voters will bounce Dean from the race, leaving him standing alone against Kerry.

The scenario presumes that Edwards would do well enough Tuesday to keep money flowing into his campaign, even as party donors and leaders rally behind Kerry. He is relying on Kerry to stumble — with a major misstep, a scandal or a poor showing during a head-to-head race.

Indeed, not all voters are ready for the race to end.

Tom Nehrbass of Milwaukee told Kerry at a Milwaukee diner that he would vote for Dean or Edwards because he believes the Democratic leadership is trying to wrap up the nomination too quickly.

"So long as it's not ugly, you can stretch this out," the voter said. Kerry didn't try to change his mind, but shrugged and quickly moved to the next table.

Kerry's backers say they wouldn't mind the race dragging into March, as long as Americans woke up every Wednesday to headlines of another Kerry victory.

Republicans kept working on the assumption that Kerry would face Bush. GOP chairman Ed Gillespie accused Kerry of hypocrisy for voting in favor of Bush's education and Iraq policies then railing against them as a candidate.

Kerry fired back, saying Bush's economic program has not lived up to its promises. Kerry also backed Bush's anti-terrorism package but now criticizes Attorney General John Ashcroft of using it to infringe on civil liberties. "I will change the Patriot Act," he said.

Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton, neither with a hope of winning the nomination, also participated in the debate.

The debate was held at Marquette University in Milwaukee. It was sponsored by Journal Communications, WTMJ-TV and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.