<p>As John Kerry (search) was snowboarding down Idaho's Bald Mountain, the Bush-Cheney campaign was racing headlong in challenging the Democrat's credentials, a contrast that raised questions about the timing of the presumptive presidential nominee's vacation.</p>
<p>President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney (search) and senior administration officials have been challenging Kerry's claims of support from foreign leaders while the campaign has criticized the four-term Massachusetts senator's votes on defense and foreign policy. The campaign also has unleashed ads casting Kerry as a waffler and weak on military issues.</p>