"AP Poll: Kerry Gains Ground on Defense"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrat John Kerry is putting the pressure on President Bush on his strongest issue, national defense, but the incumbent retains an advantage there, an Associated Press poll found.

The Democratic National Convention in late July focused heavily on Kerry's war service and on national security, a strategy that appears to be paying dividends for the White House challenger.

Flanked by his Vietnam crewmates, Kerry delivered an acceptance speech last week laden with references to patriotism, his decorated military record and his qualifications for commander in chief - a theme underscored by speaker after speaker over the four-day gathering.

In the AP survey conducted Tuesday through Thursday, 43 percent said Kerry would do a better job of protecting the country - a gain of 8 percentage points from a similar survey in March.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040807/D84ACMKO0.html