'Target his record'
2004-09-29 15:03
Washington - President George W Bush has a record in office and the upcoming debates "represent a time to hold him to account", former vice president Al Gore advised Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in Wednesday's edition of the New York Times.
Gore, who lost by the narrowest of margins to Bush in 2000, also warns the Massachusetts senator ahead of the first televised presidential debate on Thursday not to underestimate his rival: "Be prepared for the toughest debates of your career."
"While George Bush's campaign has made "lowering expectations" into a high art form, the record is clear - he's a skilled debater who uses the format to his advantage," said Gore.
Rather than have a debating duel, Gore said Kerry would be better off targeting Bush's record as a president.
"And therein lies the true opportunity for John Kerry - because notwithstanding the president's political skills, his performance in office amounts to a catastrophic failure. And the debates represent a time to hold him to account," Gore said.
"The debates aren't a time for rhetorical tricks," he added. "They're a time for an honest contest of ideas. Mr Bush's unwillingness to admit any mistakes may score him style points. But it makes hiring him for four more years too dangerous a risk.
"Stubbornness is not strength; and Mr Kerry must show voters that there is a distinction between the two," Gore said.
Bush and Kerry are scheduled to meet on Thursday for 90 minutes at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, to square off on foreign policy and homeland security.
They will meet again on October 8 at Washington University in the midwestern city of St. Louis, Missouri, to discuss all topics, and hold a final encounter on domestic and economic issues on October 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.