Campaigns wage final ad battle

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry yesterday released dueling campaign ads in the last week before the election focusing on Iraq, with the president vowing to do “whatever it takes” to protect America and the Massachusetts Democrat pledging to “support and honor those who serve.”

Mr. Bush’s ad, his final one of the campaign, draws from a powerful moment of his presidency: His Sept. 14, 2001, visit to ground zero in New York City. As he recounts often on the campaign trail, a firefighter working in the rubble of the World Trade Center yelled out to him, “Whatever it takes.” The words form the title of the ad.

“These four years have brought moments I could not foresee and will not forget,” Mr. Bush says in the 60-second commercial, which is debuting only on cable channels.

“I’ve learned firsthand that ordering Americans into battle is the hardest decision, even when it is right. I have returned the salute of wounded soldiers who say they were just doing their job. I have held the children of the fallen who are told their dad or mom is a hero but would rather just have their mom or dad.”

Among the images in the ad are Mr. Bush delivering his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, a soldier in uniform holding a flag, a woman holding back tears as she listens to the president, a crowd of soldiers in uniform, and a family waiting for the arrival of a military member.

The scene from the RNC is the portion in which Mr. Bush first used the “whatever it takes” catch phrase.

“I’ve met with the parents and wives and husbands who have received a folded flag. And in those military families, I have seen the character of a great nation,” Mr. Bush says. “Because of your service and sacrifice, we are defeating the terrorists where they live and plan, and you’re making America safer. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes.”

The Democratic presidential contender countered with a similarly patriotic ad titled “Obligation,” but targeted Mr. Bush’s record.

“The obligation of a commander in chief is to keep our country safe,” the four-term senator says. “In Iraq, George Bush has overextended our troops and now failed to secure 380 tons of deadly explosives. The kind used for attacks in Iraq, and for terrorist bombings.”

The ad’s images are bare: Mr. Kerry, looking into the camera, is wearing a suit and standing in an office with an American flag behind him. Images of newspaper headlines about the missing explosives in Iraq are shown as he speaks about Mr. Bush.

“His Iraq misjudgments put our soldiers at risk and make our country less secure. And all he offers is more of the same. As president, I’ll bring a fresh start to protect our troops and our nation.”

Although the missing explosives have become an issue in the last week of the campaign, NBC News has reported that the weapons likely were missing when U.S. troops arrived at the storage site.