WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (AFP) - Quotes from key players during this year's US presidential election campaign:
AL-QAEDA
"Your security is not in the hands of Kerry, Bush or Al-Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Any state which does not play havoc with our security would automatically ensure its own security."
Osama bin Laden in a video message to Americans broadcast by Al-Jazeera on October 30, four days before the election.
BEING THE WIFE OF THE PRESIDENT, OR CONTENDER
"So I married a younger guy -- they say women should. Cradle snatcher! I've always liked babies."
Teresa Heinz Kerry, 65, on the five year gap with her husband, John. Newsweek, May 3, 2004
"You wouldn't want to have a beer with John, because John is not a beer drinker. He doesn't drink much period. He's boring that way."
Teresa Heinz Kerry on MSNBC, July 25, 2004
"When he was running for Congress the very first time, his mother Barbara Bush said 'never criticize George's speeches'. So I really took her advice to heart and never criticized any of his speeches.
"I knew there were plenty of other critics without me being one of them. Until one night, we were driving into our driveway and he said 'tell me truth, how was my speech'. And I said 'well, it wasn't that good'. And with that he drove into the driveway, drove into the garage wall."
Laura Bush describes life with the president on Jay Leno show, May 19, 2004
THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
"What's wrong with my image? ... Am I the evil genius in the corner that nobody ever sees come out of his hole? It's a nice way to operate, actually,"
Vice President Dick Cheney talking about himself with the USA Today and Los Angeles Times newspapers on January 15.
"I said it...and I felt better after I said it."
Cheney told Fox News Channel on June 25 after admitting that he used the "F word" during an argument with a Democratic senator in Congress.
"Yes, he will be on the ticket. You all amaze me sometimes, playing to this kind of speculation when it was asked and answered long ago."
Bush spokesman Scott McClellan tells reporters in Washington on July 15 when asked about wild rumours that Vice President Dick Cheney may leave the Republican ticket.
"It was the right thing to do to give the president the authority to confront Saddam Hussein. That was the right thing to do. But we didn't authorize this president and vice president to make the mess that they've made."
Democratic vice presidential nomination John Edwards on CBS television. October 10, 2004
DEMOCRATS
"I know about the bad economy. I was the first one laid off. And while it's true that there are new jobs being created, they're just not as good as the jobs people lost..."
Al Gore, the former vice president and Democratic contender in 2000, speaking on July 26
"If this isn't good for my heart, I don't know what is."
Ex-president Bill Clinton making his first public appearance after quadruple heart surgery at a Philadelphia rally in front of 80,000 people on October 25.
REPUBLICANS
"I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that all over again as vice president of the United States?"
Republican Senator John McCain, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC television, May 27, when asked about speculation that he could be a surprise vice presidential running mate for Kerry.
UNDECIDED?
"For more than 20 years, on every one of the great issues of freedom and security, John Kerry has been more wrong, more weak and more wobbly than any other national figure."
Veteran and conservative Democratic senator Zel Miller said to thunderous cheers in the keynote speech to the Republican Party convention that infuriated his own party. September 2, 2004
10/31/2004 02:30 GMT - AFP