Kerry, Edwards hit the road

BOSTON -- Presidential candidate John Kerry and vice presidential candidate John Edwards left Boston Friday to hit the road campaigning after the conclusion of the four-day Democratic National Convention, where Kerry told an overflowing crowd that "there is nothing more pessimistic than saying America can't do better."\nThe Democratic duo left for Scranton, Pa., Friday and was scheduled to end in Flint, Mich., Sunday in a three-day tour through four Rust Belt swing states.\nThe Bush campaign began a similar tour Friday, starting in Springfield, Mo., Friday and was scheduled to conclude in Ohio and Pennsylvania Saturday.\nPolls released immediately following the convention showed mixed results whether Kerry got the "bounce" most candidates get after their national conventions. A CNN-USA Today Gallup poll showed the Democratic ticket trailing the Republicans' among likely voters, but a Newsweek poll had Kerry gaining a four-point boost in the polls from the convention.\nPolling across the board still shows the race has hotly contested and within the margin of error.\nSen. Kerry accepted his party's presidential nomination Thursday night with much fanfare. Kerry's acceptance speech officially brought an end to the convention. The Republican National Convention is scheduled to be held Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in New York City.\n"We have it in our power to change the world again. But only if we're true to our ideals -- and that starts by telling the truth to the American people," Kerry said. "That is my first pledge to you tonight. As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House."\nKerry also invoked his military service during the Vietnam War and vowed to command what he called a "nation at war" as he promised to reverse Bush administration policies he claimed were dangerous to the Constitution, the economy and America's perception in the world.\n"As president, I will ask hard questions and demand hard evidence," he said. "I will immediately reform the intelligence system -- so policy is guided by facts, and facts are never distorted by politics. And as president, I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition -- the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to."\nKerry came into the convention hall through the audience down a roped-off pathway while Bruce Springsteen's song "No Surrender" played in the background. After bouncing around on the stage, waving and thanking the crowd, Kerry gave the cheering delegates and cameras a firm, military salute and exclaimed, "I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for duty."\nThe FleetCenter convention hall was packed almost two and-a-half hours before Kerry reached the podium. The overcrowding was so prevalent, the first floor of the FleetCenter had to be evacuated and the Boston police department prevented anyone else from entering the building.\nThe bulk of Kerry's speech was weighed heavily toward foreign policy and national security, two topics many contend were necessary to reassure moderate and fence-sitting voters. \n"As president, I will wage this war with the lessons I learned in war. Before you go into battle, you have to be able to look a parent in the eye and truthfully say, 'I tried everything possible to avoid sending your son or daughter into harm's way,'" Kerry said. \n"And on my first day in office, I will send a message to every man and woman in our armed forces: You will never be asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace," the senator said.\nHe also used the speech as a platform to put forward domestic issues his administration would focus on. He laid out a five-point economic plan, which includes investments in technology, closing tax loopholes and balancing the budget. He proposed an education plan with accountability and investments in school programs and pushed for "affordable and accessible" health care for all Americans.\nKerry focused on energy independence as well, citing the importance of waning the United States off of Middle Eastern oil and pushing for new technologies and alternative fuels for the future.\n"I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation -- not the Saudi royal family," Kerry said.\nKerry extended a few words in his speech toward personal issues. He addressed suggestions that he is indecisive and drew a comparison against what he believes is his own, analytical approach and brash decision-making.\n"I know there are those who criticize me for seeing complexities -- and I do -- because some issues just aren't all that simple," Kerry said. "Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn't make it so. And proclaiming 'mission accomplished' certainly doesn't make it so."\nHe also implored his opponent for a positive campaign over the next few months. Saying "the high road may be harder but it leads to a better place," Kerry asked that the election be a place for "a contest of big ideas, not small-minded attacks."\nKerry reportedly wrote nearly all of the 5,287-word speech himself, turning down speechwriters, and instead, used input and suggestions from close advisers at his beach house in Nantucket, Mass., and for at least 30 minutes a day while he was on the road campaigning.\n-- Contact Opinion Editor Tony Sams at ajsams@indiana.edu.