Kerry, Edwards to Face Off in California Debate

Reuters ^ | 2-26-04 | John Whitesides

[jwalburg]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Democratic presidential contenders converged on California on Thursday for the first of two debates that give John Edwards his best shot at slowing front-runner John Kerry's momentum before next week's 10-state Super Tuesday showdown.

Kerry, Edwards and the two other remaining candidates, Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton, will participate in the 90-minute debate at the University of Southern California on Thursday night.

Along with a Sunday debate in New York, the two forums offer Edwards his most public platform to try to change the dynamics of the Democratic race and stop Kerry's march to the nomination to face President Bush in November.

Bush, who launched his re-election drive earlier this week with attacks on Kerry, continued the theme during a trip to Kentucky and North Carolina. He derided his political rivals as out of touch with working Americans for refusing to support making his tax cuts permanent.

Kerry, who earned the endorsement of the New York Times, has dominated the Democratic race with 18 victories in the first 20 contests, and another blowout on Tuesday could put the nomination in reach and Edwards' candidacy in doubt.

The 10 states include big prizes like California, New York and Ohio and have 1,151 delegates at stake, more than half of the 2,162 needed to win. Kerry would not have enough delegates to win the nomination with another dominating performance, but Edwards would have little incentive to push on.

Edwards, who used a strong debate performances in Iowa and Wisconsin to mount late charges in those earlier races, began the day by earning the endorsements of the California and New York chapters of the ACORN community group, which represents more than 150,000 low and moderate-income families.

"I want to change this country so never again in America does anyone ever utter the phrase 'working poor,"' he said at a rally in San Francisco.

Kerry arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon and planned to stop at a grocery store to meet striking workers. More than 70,000 California grocery employees have been on strike for the past five months over a plan by three supermarket chains to cut their health benefits.

The Massachusetts senator drew more than 2,500 people at a campaign rally in Macalester College's field house in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday night. Fire marshals said they turned away hundreds more.

During a speech interrupted dozens of times by a mix of union members and college students waving blue-and-white Kerry signs, the senator blamed Bush for sending American jobs abroad, leaving millions without health care, running an inept foreign policy and alienating traditional U.S. allies.

Bush, on a visit to Kentucky, said his challengers were out of touch with working Americans for opposing the extension of his 2001 and 2003 tax cuts at a cost of around $1 trillion over the next decade.

"That's code word for 'I'm going to raise your taxes,"' Bush told workers at a Louisville pipe-making company.

"We don't need to be raising taxes right now as the economy is beginning to recover. We've got plenty of money in Washington D.C.," he said, ignoring this year's projected half-trillion-dollar budget deficit.

Bush also planned a visit to Edwards' home turf of North Carolina on Thursday night for a fund raiser in Charlotte.

"I wish President Bush would spend more time talking to families and listening to their fears, like I do," the North Carolina senator said. "Then he might realize that the people of North Carolina need more from their president than economic photo-ops and $2,000-a-plate fund raisers."

In its editorial endorsing Kerry, The New York Times said he "exudes maturity and depth" and that "what his critics see as an inability to take strong, clear positions seems to us to reflect his appreciation that life is not simple."

But the Times also criticized Kerry for showing little interest in being daring and said: "We wish we could see a little of the political courage of the Vietnam hero who came back to lead the fight against the war."

The Times said Edwards was a strong campaigner but too inexperienced. "When he departs from his stump speech and discusses domestic issues or -- particularly -- foreign affairs, his lack of experience shows," it said. (Additional reporting by Patricia Wilson, Deborah Charles, Adam Entous)

[Spotsy]

Debate Team debating isn't the least bit comparable to POTUS election debating. Kerry is further afflicted with Senate floor-speaking style: long-winded and pointless.

To connect with voters in a POTUS election, one must be able to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely. Hence, President Bush's plain speaking style will probably trump Kerry's sleep-inducing pontification.

And is just me, or are Kerry and Edwards making the most ridiculous and empty promises you have ever heard from a politician? Dennis and Al are there as a backdrop to make Kerry and Edwards appear normal.

[ShandaLear]

Kerry's an ass. All he has going for him are a bunch of vapid platitudes. He hasn't answered a single question. Just stutters and goes to his talking points.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Push Kerry beyond his sound bite and he falls apart.

[jwalsh07]

Kerry says that Bush is a walking contradiction

LOL, the guys 100% grade F shmuck.

[StriperSniper]

Why am I watching this?

;-)

[commish]

Who has the official "I served in Vietnam" Count. Just wondering how many times he has brought up his "Service to this country"

Ya'll did know EFFIN served in vietnam right?

[Mo1]

Now they are talking about the schools and leave no child behind

[Feiny]

Someone better call Kris Kristopherson....Kerry stole his song: He's a walking contradiction, partly truth partly fiction...

[Right_in_Virginia]

Edwards should just be quiet. He voted for "No Child Left Behind"...but can't explain why it's not working.

[jwalsh07]

Now they are talking about the schools and leave no child behind

I'll go listen to this, I'm interested in vouchers. Sarcasm.

[Jhensy]

He'll do just fine. Kerry's no dummy, but he can't answer a question straight. He totally dances around the subject, saying a whole lot of nothing.

When just asked how to handle California's immigration crisis, he somehow launched into a diatribe about Bush having "no health care plan." After being politely interrupted and told to answer the question again, he sensed he better say something that sounds like a plan, so he resorted to the cop-out, "We'll have to work at it, we'll work with President Fox, we'll implement some sort of guest worker program", and (suddenly catching fire) "WE MUST PUNISH THOSE WHO HIRE AND EXPLOIT IMMIGRANTS FOR CHEAP LABOR" What a bunch of bullsh*t.

Blah blah blah. The country will be so jaded with this hack come debate time that no one will tune in anyway.

[Mo1]

Might explain why he changed the subject

[Feiny]

YES...I want to pay for EVERYONES EDUCATION...HURRAY!!!

[Mo1]

Now Rev Al is mentioned how the other Dems are slamming Bush for leave no child behind and how they voted for it

[Right_in_Virginia]

Sharpton's going to make the Dimm convention fun to watch!

[Feiny]

Preach on Al....what the hell did he say?

[Dolphy]

He's found his stride, it's one school system for the affluent and one for everyone else. Here in Michigan the Detroit schools get the most funding and produce the worst results. I wonder if this is what he's talking about:)

[Right_in_Virginia]

LOL!

[Feiny]

We lift people out of poverty by stealing the money from hard working Americans.

[EllaMinnow]

I despise John Effing Kerry with every effing fiber of my entire effing being.