06-19-2004 

QUOTABLES:

"I laid out a new doctrine which said if you harbor a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorists," President Bush said to hundreds of enthusiastic soldiers. "When the president of the United States speaks, he must mean what he says."

"I must say I have trouble understanding the flap over this," commission co-chairman Lee Hamilton, a Democrat, said Thursday. "The vice president is saying, I think, that there were connections between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's government. We don't disagree with that."

"John Kerry changes his position more often than a Nevada prostitute," said Republican Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller warming up a Bush crowd before his arrival.

"If I were a wordsmith, I'd say that George Bush has changed his position on dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain more than a Las Vegas prostitute, but that would be an insult to prostitutes," said Kerry spokesman David Wade.

He would have been the deciding vote to allow unemployment benefits to continue for 70,000 unemployed Massachusetts citizens," Romney said. "By him not being there our unemployment insurance fund is going to get charged $75 million ... and that is just unacceptable," said Massachusetts Republican Gov. Mitt Romney calling on John Kerry to resign his Senate seat.

"Should the enemy acquire for their arsenal the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons they seek, this war (on terrorism) will become an even bigger thing: It will become a fight for survival," Sen. John McCain told thousands of GI’s. "That's why your courage is so indispensable to us."

BUSH BEAT

McCain endorses Bush

Sen. John McCain gave President Bush an overwhelming endorsement and the media across the country is having to cover the fact.

"Both candidates in this race are honored to be the friend of John McCain," Bush told an enthusiastic crowd at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. "Only one of us gets his vote. I am proud that it is me."

McCain’s support of Bush was unwavering and the strongest in support of the President’s action against terrorism.

"Most Americans don't have your responsibilities, don't share your sacrifices, don't risk what you risk for the sake of this blessed country," said McCain.

Kerry's campaign manager, Mary Beth Cahill, said McCain's support of the president is "unsurprising."

Bush leveled the biggest implied attack on Kerry at the rally at Ft. Lewis, "I've made a commitment," Bush said. "Senator McCain and [Nevada Republican Senator John] Ensign have made the same commitment to the men and women of our military and their families: You will have all the resources and all the capabilities you need to fight and win the war on terror."

 Just POlitics

Kerry urges minimum wage increase

"If a president can go out and fight for four years to provide over a trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest people in America, we can fight for a few months to raise the minimum wage for the poorest people in America," Sen. John Kerry said.

Kerry called for passage of a Democrat plan to raise the minimum wage $1.85 phased in over several years. Bush supports a minimum wage increase provided states can opt out. Kerry rejected the argument that an increase in minimum wage might hurt small businesses who create most of the new jobs.

"Some people stand up and say, 'Oh gosh, don't raise the minimum wage, that's going to hurt us in this small business.' But you know what? It never has," said Kerry.

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