Weld, Kerry Tangle Over Welfare, Republican Platform

BOSTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 20) -- Welfare, abortion and the Republican party were on the agenda as Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Republican Gov. William Weld squared off Monday night in the fourth of seven debates in their closely watched Massachusetts U.S. Senate race.

Kerry, who has repeatedly tried to link Weld to the unpopular House Speaker Newt Gingrich, wasted no time aligning his opponent with the GOP's newly nominated presidential candidate Bob Dole. "Bill Weld will be part and party to Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole to accomplish their ends," Kerry told reporters after the debate.

Weld defended himself, saying, "I don't think twice about saying 'no' to the party leaders."

"I think I can make a big difference down there with the kind of independent line that I have historically shown," Weld continued. "I don't take orders from anybody."

At last week's Republican National Convention, Weld proved the point by refusing a prime time speaking slot because Dole officials didn't want him to speak about the abortion issue, on which the governor is pro-choice.

Kerry insisted that all Weld accomplished was to generate publicity for himself, not to represent abortion rights supporters. Pointing out that the pro-choice position was only mentioned as an appendix to the GOP platform, Kerry said, "That wasn't a fight in San Diego, that was a rout."

Weld does support his party's line on such issues as crime, taxes and welfare. He criticized Sen. Kerry's vote against the recently passed GOP welfare reform legislation, characterizing him as a big-spending liberal.

Kerry said the welfare legislation and the Republicans went too far. "What we don't do is what the governor did, and what's in the Republican plan, which is kick people out without adequate child care and adequate health care and the tools they need to work," Kerry said.

The candidates have a history of feisty match-ups, and Monday night was no exception. The moderator continually had to quiet the two as they frequently interrupted each other. They are scheduled to debate three more times before the Nov. 5 election. A recent poll by the Boston Herald shows Weld leading Kerry for the first time, 46-38 percent, with a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.8 percent.

The two campaigns each have agreed to spend no more than $6.9 million, including caps of $5 million on media advertising and $500,000 on personal funds.

Weld, Kerry Tangle Over Welfare, Republican Platform

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