BOCA RATON, Florida Oct 26 (AFP) - Wearing a Jewish skullcap and flanked by the US and Israeli flags, former US President Bill Clinton Tuesday hailed John Kerry as a friend of Israel at a rally aimed targeting Jewish voters being wooed by the Republicans.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the security of Israel ... will be safe with John Kerry as president," Clinton told an enthusiastic audience of about 2,000 people at a Jewish temple in Boca Raton, a wealthy seaside city in South Florida.
Clinton, who is recovering from heart surgery, hit the campaign trail on Monday, when he stumped for Kerry in Philadelphia and in Miami.
His Florida appearances aim largely at energizing black and Jewish voters, who traditionally cast their ballots for Democratic candidates.
A large turnout by African-American voters is seen as crucial for Kerry in a state that could be pivotal in determining on November 2 who will be the next president of the United States.
Turnout among the Jewish community is expected to be strong, but Democrats are worried that President George W. Bush's pro-Israel policies could gain him precious ballots in the state he won with a lead of only 537 votes in 2000.
Clinton insisted the ties between the two countries would remain equally strong if Kerry wins the presidency, and pointed out that the Democratic candidate had visited Israel on several occasions and understood the country's security challenges well.
"We can't pretend this is an election between one person who'll stand up for the state of Israel and one who won't," said Clinton.
Flanked by rabbis, Clinton applauded Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to pull out troops and the 8,000 settlers out of the Gaza strip next year. Israel's parliament approved the plan on Tuesday.
Clinton was introduced to the crowd by Cameron Kerry, a brother of the Democratic candidate, who has converted from Catholicism to Judaism.
"President Clinton shares the love of Israel with John," said Cameron Kerry.
He said John Kerry recognized that Israel is "our most steadfast ally. On this he will never waver."
The crowd roared "shalom" as Clinton walked onto the stage wearing a white yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap.
Clinton is a near-hero to many Jews in Florida, and this became obvious when he received his most rapturous applause as he described his eight years in office, widely seen as the Democrats' golden years.
He decried what he said were Bush's tax cuts for millionaires, saying he and many in the well-heeled audience felt ashamed at getting back thousands of dollars in tax money that would be better spent on security.
He addressed key domestic issues, including the deficit and health care.
The former president also ridiculed a pro-Bush television advertisement depicting wolves ready to attack any prey that shows weakness.
"Those wolves were smelling the explosives out of that dump," he said in reference to the hundreds of tonnes of weapons missing from an Iraqi ammunition dump.
At the end of the rally, a thinner but beaming Clinton shook hands with some of his fans who rushed to the stage, one of them waving a banner that read: "How's your ticker?"
Outside the venue, a couple of Bush supporters held up a banner showing Kerry, Clinton and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the one side and Bush, former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani and Sharon on the other.
"I'm standing here because Bush deserves the support of the Jewish community. He is the most pro-Israel president the United States ever had," said Edward Kone, 42-year-old lawyer who spent several hours outside the rally with the sign.
10/26/2004 19:44 GMT - AFP