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Monday, Feb. 2, 2004

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Democrat presidential contender John Edwards, in a must-win battle for South Carolina, criticized chief rival John Kerry on Monday for accepting contributions from lobbyists and supporting trade pacts that he contends have cost U.S. jobs.

Edwards, who had gained support in Iowa and New Hampshire for running a positive campaign, claimed in a speech at the College of Charleston, "I don't take contributions from lobbyists, and he obviously does."

In Reality ...

However, Edwards accepted one donation in 2002 directly from a lobbying firm and collected more than $80,000 from people who aren't formally registered as lobbyists but nonetheless work for some of Washington's powerhouse firms. He also has accepted more than $150,000 worth of flights aboard the corporate jets of special interests.

Adding to his criticism of Kerry's ties with lobbyists, Edwards told reporters after the speech that Kerry had voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade pacts that had helped cost Americans their jobs. Edwards was not in the Senate when NAFTA passed, but he has said he would have voted against it.

"Senator Kerry and I have very different positions on the issue of trade," said Edwards, who has been critical of Kerry as a Washington insider and six-term senator. "If we want real change in Washington, we need someone who hasn't been there for 15-20 years."

Edwards and Kerry were in a statistical tie in a poll in South Carolina, which Edwards has said he must win. In the other six states with delegate elections Tuesday, Kerry was leading Edwards and other rival Democrats as they lined up support for the biggest test yet of the 2004 campaign.

Kerry, however, ignored his opponents in a speech Monday at the University of New Mexico in favor of criticizing President Bush and touting his health care proposals.

"I predict today, like father, like son, one term only. Bush is going to be done," Kerry said.

Dean, who was running behind Kerry in polls in each of the seven states, was looking beyond the Tuesday elections for success. A total of 269 pledged delegates were at stake in Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

'Grossly Misrepresented'

On Sunday, Dean continued to criticize Kerry for his financial ties with special interests. He said those links cast doubt on the U.S. senator's claim to be the champion of the battle against those interests.

"He misrepresented himself, grossly misrepresented himself, as a candidate who would take on special interests in Washington," the former governor of Vermont said.

"My record responds to that," Kerry told reporters Sunday during a stop in Fargo, N.D. "I have fought powerful special interests every step of the way."

Another Special Interest: Big Labor

In another major boost to his campaign, Kerry won the backing of two major unions on Monday. National Treasury Employees Union, which represents about 150,000 workers in 29 government agencies, said it was endorsing Kerry because of his steadfast support for federal employees.

Sheet Metal Workers International Association, which represents about 150,000 skilled craftspersons in the unionized sheet metal industry, also formally endorsed the senator. The union's general president, Michael Sullivan, said volunteers from SMWIA planned to work phone banks, distribute literature and canvas door-to-door for Kerry across the country.

Added to his other endorsements from organized labor, Kerry now has the support of unions representing more than 1.3 million workers. On Sunday, he won the backing of United Farm Workers, which could give him crucial support among Hispanics, a key constituency in New Mexico and Arizona.

Washington holds caucuses Saturday, and Kerry planned to head to that state and await returns Tuesday night, shifting his focus to the next test.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark focused on Oklahoma, where polls show he has the best shot at pulling off a badly needed win Tuesday night.

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut touted the endorsements of newspapers in Seattle and South Carolina. "What this says is I have national support," he said.

Kerry spent Sunday in North Dakota, fulfilling his pledge to campaign in all seven states holding tests on Tuesday. Together they represent more than 12 percent of the 2,162 delegates needed to claim the Democrats' nomination.

Dean, the early front-runner, conceded he might not win any of the states Tuesday night, and was focusing on Washington and Michigan, which also holds caucuses Saturday.

© 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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