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(COMTEX) A: Bush airs first attack TV ad on Kerry ( United Press International )

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Mar 17, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The Bush administration has launched an attack ad campaign on Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, saying he turned his back on U.S. troops in Iraq.

For now, the ad is only being aired in West Virginia, where Kerry is campaigning.

The ad features pictures of soldiers while a narrator says Kerry voted in October 2002 for military action in Iraq but "later voted against funding for soldiers."

Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman told reporters Kerry's rhetoric on Iraq funding highlights "his tendency to depart from his record."

In response, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kerry cast a "protest vote" against the $87 billion request in October, adding: "If Bush is so concerned about the troops, why did he send them to war without the equipment they needed, why did he mislead the nation about the threat of weapons of mass destruction and why has he opposed supporting increased troop pay?"

The president has moved unusually early to discredit his opponent, during a period when an incumbent generally tries to remain above the campaign fray, the Washington Post said.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International.

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