Kerry faces call to fire strategist

John F. Kerry came under fire yesterday for the role that his chief media strategist, Robert Shrum, played advising Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger this fall in his successful run for governor of California. Jason Kinney, a former speechwriter for ousted Democratic governor Gray Davis, sent a letter to Kerry urging him to fire Shrum for his "betrayal" of the Democratic Party. A political opponent of Kerry's provided the letter to the Globe. Kerry, asked two weeks ago about Shrum's California role, said Shrum was not expected to clear his clients by the Kerry campaign and declined further comment. Yesterday, Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said he had nothing to add to Kerry's earlier remarks. Shrum, an ally of the Kennedy family, of which Schwarzenegger is a member by marriage, could not be reached for comment. (PATRICK HEALY)

MISSOURI

Clark pledges hike in family income

KANSAS CITY -- Democrat Wesley K. Clark, focusing his presidential campaign on domestic issues, said yesterday he has plans to raise family income by $3,000 a year and provide health coverage to 30 million more people. The retired Army general did not give details about his domestic proposals. (AP)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

White House seeks distance from ad

The White House sought to distance itself from a Republican Party TV ad that portrays President Bush as a fighter of terrorism and says his Democratic opponents "are now attacking the president for attacking the terrorists." "The Republican National Committee is not the president's reelection campaign. It's the Republican National Committee," White House chief of staff Andrew H. Card Jr. said on CNN. Card asserted that new campaign laws have prevented Bush's reelection team from coordinating with the party or the White House. But Card said the content of the ad was appropriate. (AP)