Kerry makes pitch for Hispanic votes in ad

BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry appealed to some of his party's core constituencies in his hometown Monday, chiding President Bush at a breakfast for black and Hispanic voters for skipping a gathering of the NAACP in Philadelphia this week, and telling several hundred women at a fundraising luncheon that he shares the values that are central to their lives.

In Roxbury, a Boston neighborhood with a large minority population, Kerry told about 40 local politicians and activists that he "will be a president who meets . . . with the NAACP."

Bush has said he declined the NAACP's invitation to speak on Friday because of a scheduling conflict and because its leaders have been harshly critical of him since his 2000 run for president.

The Kerry campaign also announced Monday that it would spend $1-million on Spanish-language advertisements in 10 states, including Florida. Bush also began airing radio spots Monday in English and Spanish that targeted the Hispanic community.

In a 30-second Kerry TV ad titled "Honor," a narrator says in Spanish, "We introduce you to a man of faith. A man of family. A man of honor. A man for our community. His name is John Kerry. And for more than 20 years, he has defended working people. And has fought so they can reach their dreams."

As the narrator speaks, the viewer sees images of Kerry playing with his daughters, getting a medal in the Navy and working in the Senate. At the end, Kerry is heard saying "Si se puede!" - yes we can - to a cheering crowd.

Bush's ad is titled "Havoc," and it singles out two votes Kerry has missed - one to cap medical malpractice awards and one to fund the war in Iraq.

The ad points out that Kerry made it back to vote against legislation to expand the legal rights of the unborn by making it a separate crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman.

"If these are John Kerry's priorities, let's hope there is a lot of havoc in his schedule," a narrator says.

The ad includes a clip of Kerry complaining, "This is wreaking havoc with my schedule." However, Kerry was complaining about the length of a an interview, not votes in the Senate, although the ad doesn't explain that.

Kerry said he wants the speeches at Boston's Democratic National Convention to champion an overarching message of military might, fiscal conservatism, and better health care and public schools.

The Kerry campaign plans to release the themes and speakers' list for the July 26-29 convention at a news conference today in Washington, but aides said the details were expected to include a featured speaking slot for a rising African-American star in the party, U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois, as well as a high-profile role for Kerry's former crewmates from his Vietnam War gunboat.

Kerry aides said that President Clinton will deliver the keynote address Monday, the first night of the convention, and mentioned possible speaking roles that night for Jimmy Carter and Al Gore as well. The second night will feature a major speech by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Kerry's running mate, will speak Wednesday night, and Kerry will formally accept the Democratic nomination Thursday.

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