Kerry compared the activities of groups like al-Qaida and Hamas to the kind of petty street crime he fought earlier in his career.

''As a former law enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling," he told the Times.

"But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.''

The top Democrat's words are sure to fuel the impression that he's unwilling to wage an all-out war against the terrorist threat but instead take a more European view that a certain amount of terrorism is acceptable.

Bush-Cheney campaign officials were quick to react, with Republican Party Chairman Ed Gillespie telling CBS's "Face the Nation":

"Terrorism is not a law enforcement matter, as John Kerry repeatedly says. Terrorist activities are not like gambling. Terrorist activities are not like prostitution. And this demonstrates a disconcerting pre-September 11 mindset that will not make our country safer. And that is what we see relative to winning the war on terror and relative to Iraq."

Campaign Chairman Marc Racicot echoed Gillespie's comments, telling CNN's "Late Edition": "Quite frankly, I just don't think he has the right view of the world. It's a pre-9/11 view of the world."

Party officials said they would immediate launch a new campaign ad based on Kerry's comments.

Editor's note: