ENGLEWOOD, Colorado, Oct 6 (AFP) - John Kerry's camp accused President George W. Bush of using fear and smear tactics, after he lashed the Democratic candidate's policies, character and leadership credentials in a major speech Wednesday.
Democrats painted Bush's appearance in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, as a "go-over" for a failed performance in last week's first presidential debate.
"He is trying to lay out things he should have done in the debate. Unfortunately, there are no go-overs in politics," said Kerry spokeswoman Allison Dobson.
The Bush campaign, faced with a resurgence by Kerry in opinion polls, was resorting to an "offensive of desperation," she said.
"He is going to fear and to smear," she said.
Bush used his speech, two days before the second presidential debate in St. Louis, Missouri, to paint Kerry as a waverer, unfit to lead the global war on terrorism and committed to a "strategy of retreat" over Iraq.
He said Kerry was stuck in a "September 10 mindset" and was therefore unable to take the pre-emptive action needed in the global anti-terror campaign launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Kerry, preparing for Friday's debate at a hotel in Colorado, a state which Bush won in 2000 but which the Democrats think is still in play for the November 2 election, was not expected to offer a direct response to Bush's speech.
He got his retaliation in first on Tuesday, telling reporters Bush had made "wrong judgment after wrong judgment after wrong judgment" on Iraq and battling terrorism.
Kerry watched the debate showdown between his running mate, Senator John Edwards, and Vice President Dick Cheney on television here Tuesday night, along with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, who was celebrating her 66th birthday.
Democratic strategists believe Edwards did enough in the debate to keep up the momentum from Kerry's debate against Bush last week in Florida.