Kerry outlines plan to revive economy
Pledges creation of 3 million jobs in first 500 days
DETROIT -- Ronald Reagan campaigned in 1980 at the height of the Cold War and during the throes of the Iran hostage crisis. Bill Clinton began introducing himself to voters after the Gulf War ended in 1991. Both won the White House by focusing on the economy.
Yesterday, Senator John F. Kerry attempted to do the same, unveiling a manufacturing recovery plan at Detroit Economic Club, a popular speaking stop for politicians in the industrial heartland.
During a 44-minute speech, the Massachusetts senator bundled longstanding Democratic economic positions -- such as making permanent the tax credit for research and development -- with his proposed continuation of tax cuts for the middle class, and declared them part of a new strategy to restore the manufacturing sector.
Kerry's theme was similar to other Democratic candidates, who have castigated Bush as a feckless steward of the economy, stumbling through a recession that has cost the United States 3 million jobs, including 2.5 million in manufacturing. The Democrats' messages have generally been limited to arguing that some or all of Bush's tax cuts be rolled back.
Kerry did take one risk by pledging to create 3 million jobs in his first 500 days in the White House. But for the most part, he criticized Bush and sought to wrap himself in a centrist, probusiness mantle.
"I'm an entrepreneurial Democrat," Kerry said. "I believe in the creation of wealth and of jobs. It's unacceptable for the Democratic Party to run around saying we love jobs and then hate the people and harass the people who create them."
Kerry's economic plan is similar to proposals that Senator John Edwards of North Carolina has made recently under his theme of ending Bush's "war on work." Both men would roll back some of the administration's tax cuts and keep others that benefit the middle class. Both would offer tax incentives, to reward companies that create jobs and to keep businesses from relocating overseas. And both would seek to lower health care costs -- Kerry by having the US government pay three-quarters of the costs for catastrophic illnesses.
Former governor Howard Dean of Vermont, meanwhile, has proposed rolling back the Bush tax cuts to pay for social programs and other priorities. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and Senator Bob Graham have developed campaign themes around jobs, such as Graham's "work days" when he assumes the responsibilities of an average worker. Representative Richard A. Gephardt -- along with Kerry, Dean, and Edwards -- is aggressively courting the labor vote.
Kerry's campaign requested the Economic Club dais back in July, in hopes that his speech would help propel a fall surge that his campaign has been banking on for months. He hopes to turn voter attention to the economy this week with a Democratic debate Thursday and visits to New Hampshire and Iowa, where he will campaign Saturday with Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
Kerry briefly attacked Dean and Gephardt by name, accusing them of protectionist views that would damage America's strengths in the global economy.
"Anyone who tells voters they're going to build a fence high enough to keep out foreign competition is not offering an economic strategy -- they're selling a bill of goods," Kerry said.
Kerry stumbled slightly as he tried to critique Dean on trade. As he did in a recent debate, when he confused some listeners with a wordy explanation of his vote authorizing the Iraq war, Kerry departed from his prepared remarks and charged that Dean does not want to trade with countries that "haven't reached our environment and labor standards.
"I will assure strong economic and environmental standards, ladies and gentlemen, but his approach would mean we couldn't sell a single car anywhere in the world if you don't trade with any country that meets that standard," Kerry said, instead of his prepared comment about "a single car anywhere in the developing world."
Abdul Haidous, the mayor of nearby Wayne, Mich., a working-class suburb of 20,000 that is home to one of Ford Motor Co.'s largest plants, said he is disappointed that neither Kerry nor the other nine Democrats seeking the White House have found a powerful economic message that captures America's attention.
"We all agree on the other priorities -- fighting terrorism and national security," said Haidous. "But the Democrats need a new message on jobs and the economy -- a new attitude that will help them build support and win."
Patrick Healy can be reached at phealy@globe.com.
