Chambliss Blasts Kerry's Defense Voting Record
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A leading Georgia Republican, speaking for President Bush's re-election campaign, predicted trouble for John Kerry (search) in the state's primary next month.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (search) said Saturday that the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination has a "32-year history of voting to cut defense programs and cut defense systems."
Kerry said he stood by his record.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I don't know what it is that all these Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam are fighting a war against those of us who did," the Massachusetts senator said during an interview taped Saturday for broadcast Sunday morning on ABC's "This Week."
"I look forward to having a great debate with them about how you make America secure," Kerry said.
Kerry was traveling to Atlanta Saturday to seek support for the March 2 primary. Georgia is one of 10 states choosing electoral delegates that day.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kerry has campaigned on his Vietnam combat record, which includes three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.
Chambliss won his Senate seat in 2002 from incumbent Max Cleland (search), a triple-amputee Vietnam veteran, after painting Cleland as too soft on homeland security.
Chambliss said in a conference call arranged by the Bush campaign that Georgia voters would be looking at Kerry's voting record, and "beyond what he says."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cleland, a Democrat, criticized Chambliss for the attack on Kerry.
"For Saxby Chambliss, who got out of going to Vietnam because of a trick knee, to attack John Kerry as weak on the defense of our nation is like a mackerel in the moonlight that both shines and stinks," he said.