Kerry Pledges Aggressiveness -- Again

Sept. 20, 2004 -- Today at New York University, Sen. Kerry went on the offensive.

Watch Jake Tapper's report on Nightline tonight.

"Let me put it plainly: The president's policy in Iraq has not strengthened our national security," Kerry said. "It has weakened it."

It was all part of a new aggressive strategy he explained to radio host Don Imus on Friday. "I am absolutely taking the gloves off," Kerry said.

But "taking the gloves off" implies Kerry has been holding back and is only now coming out of his corner. To those following his campaign for the past year, it may have come as some surprise to hear Kerry has been holding his tongue. While Kerry may have generally presided over a positive Democratic Convention, he continually attacked President Bush during the primaries. In fact, his perceived ability to withstand Bush attacks and retaliate in kind was one of his key selling points to Democratic voters.

In early March — just a few days after Bush attacked Kerry by name for the first time — Kerry was caught on tape on the subject. "We're going to keep pounding, let me tell you," he said after speaking by teleconference to the AFL-CIO from Ohio, apparently forgetting he was wearing a microphone. "We're just beginning to fight here. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group of people I've ever seen."

A week after that, on March 17, Kerry delivered another strong speech at George Washington University. "We are still bogged down in Iraq, and the administration stubbornly holds to failed policies that drive potential allies away, with a steady loss of lives and mounting cost in dollars," Kerry said.

Pairing Kerry's speech with a tough attack by Vice President Dick Cheney, The Sacramento Bee declared: "Gloves off for Kerry, Cheney; In separate speeches, they go on the attack over Iraq policies."

Some Early Hits

But critics suggest Kerry does not stay on message long enough for any attack to break through.