Bush campaign shows first attack ad against Kerry

WASHINGTON - President George W Bush's re-election team unveiled its first attack ads against Democratic challenger John Kerry on Thursday and said it will continue running commercials using images from the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The new ad, which will begin airing on Friday in 18 battleground states, alleges that Kerry would "raise taxes by at least $900 billion" in his first 100 days in office to pay for his health care plan.

The ad flashes from a classroom to more ominous images, including a person in a gas mask and someone running in the dark. In addition to raising taxes, the narrator warns that Kerry would weaken the Patriot Act and would "delay defending America until the United Nations approved."

"John Kerry, wrong on taxes, wrong on defence," the ad concludes.

A radio version of the ad will also run in select markets, the campaign said.

A second ad unveiled on Thursday focuses on Bush's agenda.

"Now we face a choice. We go forward with confidence, resolve and hope. Or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that terrorists are not plotting, and outlaw regimes are no threat," the ad says.

Kerry shot back at what he called Bush's first negative advertising campaign.

"What's most interesting about this new ad is what's not in it. This president can't talk about his positive vision for America, because at each turn he has put this nation on the wrong track," Kerry said in a statement.

"It's time he pays attention to that old saying, when you've dug yourself into a ditch, stop digging," he added.

Bush campaign aides defended the ads, saying Kerry has been running negative spots about the president for months.

"These ads demonstrate the clear choice the American people face in November," said Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman.

Some families of the September 11 victims and a firefighters' association had urged Bush to pull ads containing images from the World Trade Center. The Kerry campaign accused Bush of exploiting the tragedy for political gain.

But Bush and his campaign stood their ground.

"We've had tremendous positive feedback," Bush campaign pollster Matthew Dowd said. "We're happy with the debate and we want to continue that."

The campaign would not say how much it was spending on running the new ads.

The first wave of ads cost about $4.5 million ($7.03 million). The Bush campaign has already raised more than $150 million.

- REUTERS