Kerry says US deserves truthful leader
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-26 11:35

John Kerry said the United States deserves leadership that "tells the truth" as he took over the mantle of the Democratic Party at a unity dinner Thursday with Presidents Clinton and Carter and most of his former foes.

"Never has the Democratic Party been more united than it is today," Kerry said. "Never have we been more poised to win a victory in November."

U.S. Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator John Kerry (L) shakes hands with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as other former President Bill Clinton joins with them at the Democratic National Committee fundraising dinner in Washington, March 25, 2004. [Reuters]

"Our party has a new leader," Clinton said but warned that Republicans would put up a tough fight to keep Kerry from getting to the White House. "They're going to do their darndest to turn a good man into a cartoon."

Democrats who tried to tear down Kerry during the primary praised him as they united in the common cause of beating President Bush.

"This is a night where you all are going to get to eat some great barbecue and the nine of us who ran against John Kerry are going to eat a little crow," said Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman.

There also was much condemnation of Bush.

Florida Sen. Bob Graham labeled him "Houdini" for turning a budget surplus into a deficit. Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt said Bush is the worst of the five presidents he's served under in Congress.

"I'm nostalgic for Ronald Reagan," he said.

Gore recalled the 2000 election, when he lost to Bush after a lengthy recount and intervention by the Supreme Court.

"Do you remember what you felt when the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case called Bush versus Gore? I remember," he said. "... I want you to draw all that energy and I want you to channel it in support of John Kerry to elect him the next president."

Carter said he had advice for independent candidate Ralph Nader, who polls show is pulling votes from Kerry and giving Bush an edge.

"Don't risk costing the Democrats the White House this year as you did four years ago," Carter said. "I hope everyone here tonight will do your best to make sure Ralph Nader gets zero votes this year."

Earlier in the day, Kerry was endorsed by his harshest primary rival, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. He said Kerry's decorated service in Vietnam made him the better man to lead the country's military.

Clinton, whose lively performance somewhat upstaged Kerry's reworked stump speech, also lauded Kerry for fighting in the war.

"In the Vietnam era, which marked us all, most young men, including the president, the vice president and me, most of us could have gone to Vietnam and didn't go," Clinton said. "And John Kerry said, `Send me.'"

Kerry also picked up support from two labor unions — the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the United Auto Workers.

Both Clinton and Carter singled out Dean, thanking him for being the first Democrat to draw sharp distinctions with the Republicans.

"Howard Dean was the first person who legitimized it for all of us to say we don't like what's going on here," Clinton said.

Former rivals Dennis Kucinich and Carol Moseley Braun did not attend the dinner. Kucinich, who hasn't formally ceded to Kerry, says he will support the eventual nominee but wants to continue campaigning for peace, universal health care and fair trade. Braun cited a prior commitment.

Diners paid $1,000 to $25,000 to attend and eat chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and coleslaw on plastic plates.

As polls show Kerry and Bush running about even, Kerry accused the president of misleading Americans in a rush to war with Iraq.

"Above all, this country of ours which we love deserves leadership that faces the truth and tells the truth," Kerry said, "that trusts the American people and knows that when we live up to our values, the United States of America never goes to war because it wants to, we only go to war because we have to."

DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said the party, with $25 million on hand and no debt, was well-prepared to challenge the GOP.

Still, Kerry and his party are at a disadvantage. The Republican National Committee reported $45 million on hand at the beginning of the month. Kerry reported $2.4 million and has raised roughly $20 million over the Internet since then. But Bush dwarfed him with $110 million and took in millions more at fund-raisers recently, including one Thursday in Kerry's hometown of Boston.

Democratic-leaning groups are spending millions in support of Kerry, which could help even the gap. And McAuliffe said the party plans to raise $100 million more.

Earlier, Bush's campaign distributed a list of criticisms Kerry's rivals made against him during the campaign.

"All of the Democratic opponents he faced during the primary said that John Kerry's numbers didn't add up in the primary and they don't add up now," said Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt. "It means a massive tax increase for middle income families."