NRA ad portrays Kerry as poodle

Senator John F. Kerry is portrayed as a sweater-wearing poodle with a pink bow in an upcoming advertising campaign by the National Rifle Association, mocking his attempts to portray himself as friendly to gun sports and saying, ''That dog don't hunt." ''John Kerry says he supports sportsmen's rights. But his record says something else," the ads say. Billboards and newspaper ads will run this week, followed by television commercials, Chris W. Cox, the group's chief lobbyist, said yesterday. The NRA also plans to emblazon the slogan and the poodle on mailings, hats, and T-shirts. The group says the ad campaign will cost several million dollars. (AP)

Kerry camp hires Jackson as adviser

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson joined the campaign of Senator John F. Kerry yesterday as a poll indicated support for the presidential candidate slipping among black Americans, a critical Democratic constituency. The Pew Research Center said Tuesday its latest poll indicated 73 percent of blacks supporting Kerry compared to 12 percent supporting President Bush. In 2000, Al Gore won 90 percent of the black vote. Democratic groups have aired campaign ads criticizing Republican efforts to woo black voters. The Kerry campaign said Jackson, who will serve as a senior adviser, will travel to battleground states to energize Democratic support for Kerry and running mate John Edwards. (AP)

Global group sees election difficulties

International observers predicted problems in the US presidential election with new voting machines and warned the result could again be delayed, four years after a disputed count determined who won the White House. Observers with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe issued a report this week on preparations for the Nov. 2 vote, after a visit earlier this month. The group highlighted concerns over the machines, voter eligibility rules, and allegations of intimidation aimed at lowering the turnout of ethnic minorities. ''In general, the nationwide replacement of voting equipment, inspired by the disputes witnessed during the 2000 elections, primarily in Florida, may potentially become a source of even greater controversy during the forthcoming elections," the group said in the report which was posted to its website (www.osce.org/odihr). (Reuters)

Knowledge deficit found on key issues

More than half of those polled by the National Annenberg Election Survey did not know President Bush favors allowing private investments of some Social Security money. Nearly as many did not know that Democratic candidate John F. Kerry proposes getting rid of tax breaks for the overseas profits of US companies. Importing drugs from Canada? That is a Kerry issue, but nearly half either did not know or thought Bush also supported changing federal law to allow for drug imports from Canada. Making abortions more difficult to obtain? Nearly one-third of those surveyed did not know Bush supports more restrictions on abortion. Eliminating the tax on estates? Two-thirds did not know that is a Bush proposal. The poll of 1,189 adults was taken from Sept. 21-26 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. (AP)