Today's Kerry-Bush Sparring Points: "Leadership" VS. "The Waterfall"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

TWO separate stories, from two separate sources, so I'm following the "four paragraphs of copyrighted material" rule for each:

Story 1 (Bush): http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&e=2&u=/usatoday/20041029/ts_usatoday/leadershipprovenduringtoughtimes

President Bush (news - web sites) said Thursday that the presidential race "boils down to a matter of trust" and he believes he'll win because he has "shown the American people I can do the job in tough times."

Despite the closeness of the race and controversy this week over the disclosure that tons of explosives vanished from Iraq (news - web sites), Bush said he feels "very at peace with this campaign."

"I am incredibly optimistic not only about the campaign, but about the country, and I hope people can see that in me. ... You cannot fake optimism and you can't fake sincerity," he said. "The American people are very wise. They're able to detect whether somebody is trying to fool them or not."

Chatting with Bush in the office of the presidential 747 was Kirbyjon Caldwell, an old friend of the president who is pastor at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston. In Saginaw earlier, Bush talked about the importance of religion. "I have been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that my life is part of a much bigger story," he said.



Story 2 (Kerry): http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-28-kerry-interview_x.htm

Change needed when headed 'over waterfall'

"I think proceeding with four more years of George Bush is very risky for America, and I think Americans will realize that," Kerry said Thursday in an interview with USA TODAY. (Related link: Bush touts leadership)

The Democratic presidential candidate, relaxing in his stocking feet as his plane headed here from Madison, Wis., from one rally with Bruce Springsteen to another, talked about why it has been so difficult for him to move into a lead, given the recent problems the president has faces in Iraq and at home.

He attributed it partly to what he called a "very negative, hot-button" Bush campaign that has polarized voters, and partly to the simple fact of incumbency. "He has an automatic vote," Kerry said. "It's always difficult with an incumbent president. Remember, Bill Clinton won (in 1992) with 43% of the vote. I have to win with more."

Kerry said he has addressed voter concerns about changing leaders at a perilous moment. He noted that 35 newspapers that endorsed Bush in 2000 switched to supporting him this year. If your horse is heading "over the waterfall," he said, it's "time to change horses."