The Hindu Business Line : Democrat Kerry raises outsourcing issue again

FACED with a tough election battle for November 2 and with the Republican incumbent pulling up to even or even taking a lead in latest polls, the Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry is stepping up the attacks on a wide range of subjects including the favourite theme of outsourcing, a subject that has not been bandied about in the last few weeks.

In a campaign stop in Ohio which has lost some 2,50,000 jobs since Mr George W Bush came to office in 2001, Mr Kerry responded to the latest job figures for August that showed an addition of 1,44,000 jobs and the unemployment rate coming down to 5.4 per cent from 5.5 per cent.

"This number should not come as any surprise given that this is an administration that says outsourcing is a good thing. If you believe lost jobs mean that America is heading in the right direction, you should support Mr George Bush and his policies of failure. But if you believe America needs to move in a new direction, join with us," Mr Kerry said.

The Democratic Senator has compared the economy under Mr Bush to the Great Depression and has dismissed the vision of the President as laid out on Thursday at the Republican National Convention as "all hat and no cattle". But some analysts are making the point that the strategy of shifting focus to economic issues stems from the necessity of moving away from areas where Mr Bush is seen strong on.

In fact, a latest poll by Newsweek magazine shows Mr Bush opening up an 11-point lead over Mr Kerry retaining strong national support on the issue of terrorism. It is for the first time that either of the candidates has shown this kind of margin of lead for most polls have the two running neck-and-neck.

According to Time, the poll, which was conducted during the Republican convention week, found that 52 per cent supported Mr Bush and 41 per cent backed Mr Kerry with a three per cent support for the independent candidate Mr Ralph Nader. The latest poll shows a 20-point margin in favour of Mr Bush on the subject of terrorism and handling the war; the President 19 points ahead on the question of leadership and even barely coming out on top on the issue of handling the economy.

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