Kerry changes stance, takes on Dean [View All]

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Kerry changes stance, takes on Dean
New campaign tactic highlights differences between candidates
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 9/4/2003


The debate within the campaign of Senator John F. Kerry about how to deal with Howard Dean is over.

As he tries to reinvigorate his Democratic candidacy for the presidency, Kerry has made it clear he is not going to wait and see if Dean's surging campaign will fade. Since Sunday, the Massachusetts senator has criticized the former Vermont governor, who leads in the latest polls in New Hampshire, for his opposition to the Iraq war, lack of government experience in foreign policy, economic plans, and membership in the National Rifle Association.

The Dean campaign says the attacks are being driven by one fact: Kerry's loss of his front-runner status, which some media outlets ascribed to him earlier in the year.

"They ignored us for seven months; now they're attacking us," said Joe Trippi, Dean's campaign manager. "I don't think it's a surprise why. . . . They're doing this because things aren't going so well for their campaign. I'm sorry. That's not my problem."

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http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/09/04/kerry_changes_stance_takes_on_dean/