NEW YORK, Aug 30 (AFP) - US Democrats plan to take a swing at every Republican attack on their presidential nominee John Kerry this week, as the Republican National Convention meets to formally nominate President George W. Bush for a second term in office.
Parties have traditionally kept a low profile during a rival's nominating convention, but this year's election is expected to be so tight that this courtesy has only partially been observed.
Kerry will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday -- on the eve of Bush's acceptance speech -- to address military veterans during the 86th national convention of the American Legion, the largest veterans group in the United States.
And, just as Republicans did last month at the Democratic convention in Boston, Democrats have set up a "war room" in New York where they stand ready to put their spin on the Republican fest.
Democratic heavyweights will be mobilized to speak, including New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who as the former first lady has national appeal, and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who will speak for the US heartland.
A brigade of some 60 Democrats occupy the 15th-floor office with a view to Madison Square Garden, the arena where Republicans will nominate Bush as their candidate for president.
The 140-square-meter (1,507-square-foot) office has its own radio and television studios, which were set up so Democratic Party chieftain Terry McAuliffe or any other party stalwart can quickly strike back at Republican political grenades.
Cables snake across the carpeted office as some 15 researchers surf the Internet to find ammunition for press officers who will fire back at Republican statements.
"Every time the other side comes out with something new on television, we check facts and prepare our response," said Jay Carson, a war room spokesman.
Sunday, the day before the convention, the war room had already fired off five news releases by midday.
The in-house radio and television studios will make it easy for party representatives to give interviews to media in so-called battleground states where votes are still up for grabs.
Some press officials work exclusively with local media reporters in town for the convention, said one spokeswoman, Clare Gannon, 24.
On the freshly painted office walls, notes remind staffers of the key messages that need to be driven home to voters this week.
"Family incomes down by 1,400" dollars, reads one note. "Lost 1.8 million private sector jobs," reads another. "Fewer jobs, smaller paychecks." The convention's program and speakers list hang on another wall.
Another one reads "Mission not accomplished," a reference to the huge "Mission Accomplished" banner hanging from an aircraft carrier while Bush announced that major combat had ended in Iraq on May 1, 2003.
Polls show that the November 2 election will be a tight vote. The latest surveys give Bush a slight edge, but the results were so close they were all within the margin of error.
With the election so close Bush chose to remain on the campaign trail during the national convention's first three days. He will visit three states that are considered still up for grabs: Michigan, Ohio and New Hampshire.
Sunday, he unveiled a message sure to set the Democrat's teeth on edge, telling supporters at a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia to court opposition Democrats on his behalf.
The president was introduced at a rally in the steel-industry town by a union shop steward who identified himself as a Democrat, then went on to praise Bush's controversial tariffs on steel.
Republicans have also chosen conservative Democratic Senator Zell Miller to give their convention's keynote speech Wednesday, a day before the gala culminates with Bush accepting the nomination.