In front of the guns, Kerry plays military card

[CHIMO]

John Kerry borrowed President George Bush's tactic of using military hardware as a campaign prop yesterday as the Democratic camp sought to promote his credentials as a trustworthy commander-in-chief.
With the latest polls giving Mr Kerry a slender lead with little more than three months to November's elections, the challenger presented his vision of national security with the guns of the USS Wisconsin as a backdrop.

A survey released last night shows that Mr Kerry leads in enough of the key states to snatch the presidency from Mr Bush, setting the scene for a contest that could be every bit as closely fought as the 2000 election, when Mr Bush narrowly defeated Al Gore after the intervention of the US supreme court.

Mr Kerry leads in states that give him a total 276 votes in the vital electoral college which determines the presidency. Mr Bush leads in states worth 220 electoral college votes. Three states, including Florida, on which the 2000 contest hinged, remain too close to call this time. But even if all three fell Mr Bush's way, Mr Kerry would have just enough states to claim the White House, for which 270 electoral college votes are required.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1270693,00.html

[papau]

1. Zogby has Bush leads in PA, FL, and Ohio - and Kerry still wins!

Mr Bush leads by 49%-48% in Florida, with 3% undecided or voting for the third candidate, Ralph Nader. He also leads narrowly in Ohio, by 48%-47%, with undecideds/Nader on 5%. In the third big swing state, Pennsylvania, Mr Kerry leads 52%-45%, Zogby International found.

[virgdem]

2. I was there today as a volunteer for Kerry...

It was an amazing day, an amazing crowd and speech by Kerry. For once, the weather complied and the sun was shining. I was checking tickets at the entrance and the line was so long that it took well over an hour to check people in. This was an important visit - in this area, Kerry is attempting to win over the thousands of military vets in the area. Kerry is really serious about winning Virginia and he is ready to pour large resources into Virginia.