Round 2: deep divisions on just about everything

By Jeff Zeleny and Jill Zuckman
Chicago Tribune

CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP President Bush and Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry shake hands at the end of the presidential debate last night at Washington University in St. Louis.

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In their second debate, Bush again suggested that his rival lacked the spine to lead the fight against terrorism. But as the president struggled to articulate mistakes he had made in office, Kerry stepped in and branded Bush as dangerously headstrong, saying: "I believe the president made catastrophic mistakes."

The candidates argued intensely over the invasion of Iraq, health care and the environment as they took questions from an audience of 140 Missouri voters who were leaning toward — but not sold on — a candidate. The forum, which slightly exceeded its allotted time of 90 minutes, highlighted stark differences between two men who agreed on virtually nothing.

The Massachusetts senator, emboldened by his performance in the first debate last week, accused Bush of turning a healthy budget surplus into a substantial deficit by catering to the rich through his signature tax-cut plan. But the president, more forceful this time, insisted Kerry would have to raise taxes to pay for compaign-trail promises, declaring: "That's just reality."

Asked by a voter if he would solemnly vow not to raise taxes on those with incomes of $200,000 or less, Kerry replied: "Absolutely yes, right into the camera. Yes — I am not going to raise taxes." Not satisfied, Bush snapped: "Of course he's going to raise your taxes."

The war in Iraq and its deadly aftermath provoked a fresh round of bitter disputes, with the president accusing Kerry of failing to stand on principle. Bush noted yet again that Kerry supported the congressional authority to invade Iraq but voted against funding for troops.

	RICK WILKING / AP Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, left, and President Bush listen to a question from the audience during the town-hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis last night.

"He was a strong supporter of getting rid of Saddam Hussein. He saw the wisdom — until the Democrat primary came along and Howard Dean, the anti-war candidate, began to gain on him, and he changed positions," Bush said. "I don't see how you can lead this country in a time of war, in a time of uncertainty, if you change your mind because of politics."

"Let me tell you straight up," Kerry replied. "I've never changed my mind about Iraq.

"This president rushed to war, pushed our allies aside. And Iran now is more dangerous, and so is North Korea, with nuclear weapons," Kerry continued, his voice swelling with intensity. "He took his eye off the ball, off of Osama bin Laden."

Bush then snapped: "Of course we're going to find Osama bin Laden."

Throughout the evening, the men walked across the stage, gesturing toward one another. As Kerry spoke, he often looked directly at Bush, inching closer as he made his point.

For his part, the president took great care not to show anger or irritation, as was the case during the first presidential debate. At one point, when the camera closed in tight, Bush winked and flashed a grin as Kerry launched into a sharp critique of the administration's Iraq policy.

When it was his turn to speak, Bush quipped: "That answer almost made me want to scowl."

Final debate Wednesday Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz. Theme: domestic and economic policy. Moderator: Bob Schieffer.

The debate, held in a gymnasium on the campus of Washington University, came eight days after their first face-to-face encounter injected new momentum into Kerry's candidacy. Most polls now show Kerry and Bush are locked in a near-even contest with 24 days to go. The final debate is scheduled Wednesday night in Tempe, Ariz.

While the president appeared to be in stronger command than in the first debate, he did come across as flustered at a couple of points, referring to his opponent as "Sen. Kennedy." Asked about the draft, Bush declared: "I hear there is a rumor on the Internets."

On that topic, though, the president insisted that there would be no reinstatement of the military draft. "Forget all this talk about the draft," he said. "We're not going to have a draft while I'm the president."

Despite the heavy concentration on Iraq, Bush and Kerry sparred over domestic matters, from the economy to health care and from the deficit to embryonic stem-cell research.

Bush was quickly challenged by one voter, who asked why he had blocked the re-importation "of safer and inexpensive drugs from Canada."

"I haven't yet," Bush replied. "Just want to make sure they're safe. When a drug comes in from Canada, I want to make sure it cures you and doesn't kill you."

But Kerry reminded that four years ago Bush said bringing drugs in from Canada made sense and was a good idea.

"Now, the president said, 'I'm not blocking that.' Ladies and gentlemen, the president just didn't level with you right now again," Kerry said, accusing Bush of, in fact, blocking re-importation.

On health care, Kerry defended his plan to provide coverage against Bush's accusations that it is a government program that would lead to rationing and poorer quality of medical care. And he accused Bush of ignoring the plight of the uninsured.

"Five million people have lost their health insurance under this president," Kerry said. "He's done nothing about it."

Calling Kerry a liberal, Bush said: "That's what liberals do. They create government-sponsored health care. ... It would ruin the quality of health care in America."

Continuing their pattern of testy exchanges, Kerry fired back, saying his health plan is not a government takeover, and asking what Bush's "compassionate conservative" label really means. "Cutting 500,000 kids from after-school programs, cutting 365,000 kids from health care, running up the biggest deficits in American history?" Kerry said.

In addition to refusing to concede making mistakes, Bush wouldn't name his likely nominee if a Supreme Court vacancy emerged. "I'm not telling you," he said. "I really haven't picked anybody yet." He added lightheartedly, "Plus I want them all voting for me."

If he had to pick a justice, Kerry said, "I want to make sure we have judges who interpret the Constitution of the United States according to the law."

Bush also refused to acknowledge a voter's assertion that the Patriot Act was weakening citizens' rights and freedoms.

But Kerry, who voted for the Patriot Act, quickly cited Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot as someone who thought the law needed to be changed. And he noted that Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, "said over his dead body before it gets renewed without being thoroughly rechecked."

Whether significant votes were swayed can't be known for days, but one focus group of 12 swing voters in Cleveland organized by pollster John Zogby may offer clues. Of the 12 voters, seven leaned toward Kerry as the debate began and stayed with him. Only one favored Bush before the debate, but four backed him afterward. One remained undecided.

Details on the Supreme Court were provided by The Associated Press; the Zogby focus group was reported by Knight Ridder Newspapers.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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