The politics of fighting terror

Still, analysts say, Kerry faces a challenge in arguing to voters that they should throw out an incumbent president at a time of grave threat, and after nearly three years with no new attacks on American soil, regardless of whether Bush deserves credit for that or not.

"I don't know that there's much Kerry can do," says Stephen Wayne, a political scientist at Georgetown University, noting that Kerry's positions on fighting terrorism are similar to Bush's. "On the other hand, clearly the 9/11 commission report has pushed Bush to make a statement of support in general of the commission's recommendations. So he can't be sitting ... that easy." Kerry embraced the commission's recommendations immediately after they were released on July 22.

Some analysts say that Kerry may be at less of a disadvantage over the terror issue than it may appear. Since Kerry is beating Bush on all other issues in the campaign - including central matters such as the economy and Iraq - Bush can't just rest on his perceived strength on national security.

"Whatever Bush's advantage is on national security, it is not going to be enough to overcome that kind of gap," says Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. "Kerry's doing what he has to do - project an image of strength and come up with an acceptable program. Americans are very undemanding of challengers - they're deciding if they want to get rid of Bush or not."

The president Monday also faced the challenge of trying to insulate his proposal from politics as he recommended that a national director of intelligence (NDI) and counterterrorism center be established. The 9/11 commission proposed that those be based at the White House, but Bush disagreed.

"I don't think that the office should be in the White House, however. I think it should be a stand-alone group to better coordinate," he said. The president said he would be able to hire or fire the director, but "I don't think the person should be a member of my Cabinet."

John Kerry, addressing a crowd Monday in front of a firehouse in Michigan, sought to establish his own form of bully pulpit - "real" America, where presidential decisions are felt by average Americans on the economy, trade, and health insurance, as well as homeland security.

Speaking of the closing of firehouses, the Massachusetts senator said, "We're going to make a better set of budget choices."

The Kerry-Edwards campaign released also its campaign book, called "Our Plan for America: Stronger at home, Respected in the World." The book was to be unveiled Monday at campaign stops in Michigan and Florida.

• Staff writers Liz Marlantes and Amanda Paulson contributed to this report, and material from the Associated Press was used.

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