By ,
Published January 14, 2015
The election is 48 days away. Are you ready? Are the candidates?
To help you navigate the race for the White House, FOXNews.com presents tastes, tidbits and tales from the campaign trail.
Kerry on Imus
Sen. John Kerry (search), the Democratic presidential nominee, phoned in to the "Imus in the Morning" radio show Wednesday morning to talk about the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Abu Ghraib prison scandal, domestic issues and the presidential race, saying, in general, that President Bush (search) has "misled America."
Kerry's phoner to Imus is his latest attempt to reach out to individual journalists — he granted a sit-down interview with Time magazine for this week's issue and he called The New York Times over the weekend to discuss North Korea. But Kerry has not had a full-blown press conference for 44 days and he last took questions from the press pool 37 days ago.
On Iraq and evidence leading the United States to war, Kerry told Imus: "I think we deserve a president that tells the American people the truth and has the ability to bring our allies into this effort."
Kerry said the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal investigation isn't holding enough people accountable and responsibility should go all the way up the chain of command. He did not, however, give a straight answer when asked by Imus about his plan to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq within the first six months of his term, if elected, saying the situation on the ground is changing every day.
Kerry also dropped names such as former NATO Supreme Commander Wesley Clark, Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., as possible names to put in his Cabinet or place in other positions if the Massachusetts senator is elected to the White House.
Kerry was not, however, asked about the current controversy over his Vietnam service. Groups like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have challenged Kerry's heroism claims and have said he does not deserve his war medals. They also take issue with Kerry's claims to Congress after returning from Vietnam that U.S. servicemen took part in a myriad of atrocities while overseas.
Swing-State Shuffle
In Wisconsin, which went Democratic in 2000, Kerry now trails President Bush in the polls by 8 points.
Kerry’s support has dropped from 47 percent in August to 44 percent this month, while Bush’s backing rose from 50 percent to 52 percent. Factor independent Ralph Nader (search) into the mix, and Bush and Kerry keep the same amount of support – 52 percent to 44 percent – but Nader has seen his backing drop from 4 percent to 1 percent. The poll was conducted by Gallup and has a 5-point margin of error.
Ad Watch
The Media Fund, which bills itself as the "largest media buying organization supporting a progressive message and defending Democrats from attack ads funded by the deep pockets of the Right Wing," is out with several new independent ads.
At the end of last week, the group released three ads hitting Bush on unemployment and poverty figures. This week, it again takes aim at unemployment and blasts Bush's education and health care policies, as well as the administration's ties to big business.
Ad: "No Child Behind"
On screen: Bush cut back $33 billion for schools
Bush said he would leave no child behind.
On screen: Bush cut $400 million from after-school programs, but he wasn't talking about your child
Don't keep getting played.
The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
On screen: Paid for by The Media Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.BreakBushOff.com. The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Ad: "Lesser of Two Evils"
On screen: Under Bush, Prescription drug costs are up 44%
This is not about deciding between the lesser of two evils.
On screen: Family health care premiums have increased 43% under Bush
African-American seniors are more than twice as likely not to be able to afford prescription drugs.
On screen: Now that's evil.
Don't keep getting played.
The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
On screen: Paid for by The Media Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.BreakBushOff.com. The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Ad: "Gets Paid"
On screen: Halliburton got over $18 billion in government contracts
Bush his father and his boys can use the government to get paid.
On screen: Drug companies got $139 billion from Bush's policies
But he doesn't want you to be able to use it.
What are you going to do about it?
The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
On screen: Paid for by The Media Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.BreakBushOff.com. The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Ad: "Not Done His Job"
On screen: African-American unemployment has increased 33% since 2001
Bush has not done his job and since taking office he has taken 472,000 of yours.
What are you going to do about it?
The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
On screen: Paid for by The Media Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.BreakBushOff.com. The Media Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Funny Files
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
"President Bush spoke to members of the National Guard at a convention in Las Vegas. A lot of those guys were really excited to see him. A lot of them have been waiting since the early 70's to see him, for him to show up."
"Actually new documents surfaced today proving that President Bush did not fulfill his National Guard service. CBS said they know they're new because they were just printed over the weekend."
"Boy, there is nothing but disasters on the news: Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan, the Kerry campaign."
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
"Despite a decade of plummeting crime rates, Congress allowed the 1994 ban on such assault weapons as Uzis and AK-47s to expire last night. Cause of death: multiple bullet wounds."
"A poll shows over two-thirds of Americans favored continuing the ban, which was also supported by such weak-kneed liberal groups as the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police."
https://www.foxnews.com/story/trail-tales-48-days-to-go