WASHINGTON – John Kerry yesterday said he’ll back President Bush’s call for $25 billion in extra funds to support U.S. troops in Iraq, after taking lots of heat for voting against $87 billion for the troops last fall.
“The situation in Iraq has deteriorated far beyond what the [Bush] administration anticipated. This money is urgently needed and it is completely focused on the needs of our troops,” Kerry said in a statement.
Kerry took so much flak over the $87 billion that he tried to defend his “no” vote by saying, “I voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” The Bush campaign uses video of that line in a TV attack ad.
A new nationwide Pew Research poll of registered voters yesterday gave Kerry a slim lead of 46 percent to Bush’s 43, with independent Ralph Nader getting 6 percent. It’s the first recent poll to put Kerry ahead.