WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (AFP) - Different in age and style, the daughters of US President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry have united in bringing humour and civility to a nasty presidential campaign.
All four young women have jumped into the election race, seeking to bridge the gap between their fathers and younger voters.
Filmmaker Alexandra Kerry, 31, and medical student Vanessa Kerry, 28, are Senator Kerry's daughters from his first marriage, to Julia Thorne, which ended in divorce.
They have stepped up already busy campaign schedules as the race enters the final days, criss-crossing the country on behalf of their father. Vanessa at one point was commuting each week to classes in London.
Barbara and Jenna Bush, 22-year-old fraternal twins, both graduated university in May 2004 and opted to take the year off. They accompany their father on trips to so-called battleground states, where they may read a short introduction.
The presidential election campaign has been a coming out of sorts for the Bush twins who were kept out of the limelight during their four years at school.
Brown-haired Barbara attended her father's alma mater, Yale University in Connecticut, while blonde Jenna attended the University of Texas.
Before entering the White House, their parents said they would jealously guard the right of their daughters to "lead a normal life." "I am going to be angry at people mistreating my girls in the public arena," Bush said.
The girls made headlines at university however after being caught consuming alcohol while still under the legal drinking age of 21. "Jenna and Tonic" blared one unwanted headline.
They have not been alone in receiving unwanted attention.
Brunette Alexandra Kerry also received some unwanted exposure after a photographer's flash revealed just how diaphanous was the dress she had worn to France's Cannes Film Festival in May.
Earlier this year, Jenna and Barbara announced that they would do some campaigning in an interview with Vogue magazine complete with glamorous photo spread.
Aside from a picture of Jenna sticking her tongue out at photographers, their most notable campaign appearance was at the Republican National Convention in New York where their attempt at humor was not to everybody's taste.
A bit more savvy is Vanessa Kerry, who has accompanied her father most of this year, expounding on his virtues. "My father has a plan ... my dad is a thinker, always sort of pondering what the solutions are," she has said.
She humanizes her father, often described as stiff. "My dad is a very funny -- goofy, if you will -- guy, and I think people are starting to see that," she said.
Her sister, Alexandra, attempted to do the same at the Democratic convention with an anecdote about their father had given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to their pet hamster.
Both presidential candidates have been on their best behaviour when referring to the other's children.
"I admire the fact that he is a great dad," Bush said of Kerry during the third presidential debate.
"I appreciate the fact that his daughters have been so kind to my daughters in what has been a pretty hard experience for, I guess, young girls, seeing their dads out there campaigning."
In a reference to the convention appearance of the Bush girls, Kerry said: "I've chuckled a few times at some of their comments."
"I'm trying to put a leash on them," Bush replied.
"Well, I know. I've learned not to do that," Kerry quipped.
10/31/2004 02:53 GMT - AFP