*EPF515 07/30/2004
Kerry Accepts 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination
(Democrats, Republicans Launch New Campaign Tours) (430)

By Darlisa Crawford
Washington File Staff Writer

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, accepting his party's nomination as the 2004 candidate for the U.S. presidency, saluted the Democratic National Convention July 29 and said, "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty."

The final night of the convention featured the theme, "Stronger at Home, Respected in the World," ideas that Kerry emphasized throughout a 45-minute acceptance speech frequently interrupted by cheers from the delegates. Kerry declared his dedication to "the values of family, faith and country" and made repeated references to his service in the Vietnam War and his national-security experience. "I defended this country as a young man, and I will defend it as president," Kerry stated.

Other speakers on July 29 included former NATO Supreme Commander and presidential candidate Wesley Clark and Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, who both testified to Kerry's strength. In addition, former Georgia Senator Max Cleland, who lost two legs and an arm in the Vietnam War, introduced Kerry as "an authentic American hero."

In his acceptance speech, Kerry outlined a wide-ranging agenda that included incentives to revitalize manufacturing, investments in technology and innovation, termination of "tax loopholes that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas," affordable health care for every American, a strengthened military, and a strategy to rebuild Iraq in cooperation with foreign allies.

On July 30, both the Republicans and the Democrats kicked off new campaign tours to introduce their parties' platforms and their "visions for the next four years." Kerry and Edwards plan to travel to 21 states and 40 cities, beginning with Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. A new series of political advertisements with a "Believe in America" theme are scheduled for broadcast in August.

President Bush's campaign tour -- "Heart and Soul Tour: Moving America Forward" -- also started on July 30. "Strategically, it is an important month for us," said the Bush campaign's communications director, Nicolle Devenish. "We started the campaign by talking about what the country has been through, the war on terror and the economy, and now we'll talk about the vision for the next four years and the difference in visions for the future."

The complete text of Kerry's acceptance speech is available at
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0729.htmlhttp://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0729.html

The complete text of the official Democratic Party Platform is available at
http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v001/www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

(The Washington File will provide similar coverage of the Republican National Convention, New York City, August 30-September 2.)

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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