Presidential Elections - AP
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040229/ap_on_el_pr/democrats Edwards Blasts Kerry on Trade, Deficits
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - On the brink of a 10-state election that could doom his candidacy, John Edwards (news - web sites) shed his nice-guy approach in a debate Sunday and accused John Kerry (news - web sites) of spouting "the same old Washington talk" on critical issues like trade and deficit spending.
Edwards dismissed suggestions that he is quietly vying to be Kerry's running mate. "Oh, no. Oh, no, no. Far from it," he said. As if to prove his point, Edwards then took on Kerry in tougher-than-ever terms in the last scheduled debate of the primary season.
Polls show Edwards trailing in all 10 states conducting primaries or caucuses Tuesday, giving Kerry hope of driving the freshman North Carolina senator from the race and uniting the party against President Bush (news - web sites)'s $100 million-plus re-election campaign.
Debating Edwards and two other rivals, Kerry questioned how a fellow congressman can call anybody a Washington insider. "Last time I looked, John ran for the United States Senate, and he's been in the Senate for the last five years. That seems to me to be Washington, D.C.," said Kerry, a 19-year Senate veteran.
The candidates debated with two other rivals hours after Haiti's embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigned and flew into exile. As the capital fell into chaos, the United States said international peacekeepers — including Americans — would be deployed soon.