SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, July 30 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Friday dismissed the Democratic convention as "a lot of clever speeches and some big promises," at his first public appearance since his rival's official nomination.
Kicking off a two-day whistestop tour through four states key to victory in the November 2 election, Bush insisted he was better placed than Senator John Kerry to improve national security and combat terrorism.
"His prescription for America is the wrong medicine," Bush said.
"There'll be big differences in this campaign. They're going to raise your taxes, we're not," Bush told the cheering crowd.
"We have a clear vision on how to win the war on terror and bring peace to the world."
Bush dismissed the Democratic convention as "a lot of clever speeches and some big promises," and claimed Kerry had "good intentions" but "very few signature achievements" from his time in the US Senate.
Bush came under blistering criticism at the Democratic convention in Boston.
A Zogby America poll out Friday, which canvassed opinion from the first day of the Democratic convention, showed the Kerry opening a five-point lead over the Republican incumbent.