Bush, Kerry step up attack on each other

Bush, shrugging off recent criticism for using images from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in his campaign ads, traveled to New York to appear at a groundbreaking ceremony for a 9/11 memorial, bowing his head in prayer and calling it "a devastating blow."

Bush launched his campaign's first attack ads, accusing the Massachusetts senator of planning to raise taxes by $900 billion, weaken the Patriot Act that expanded law enforcement powers and seek UN approval for defending the United States.

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Kerry, facing criticism for calling his Republican critics on Wedn-esday a "crooked, lying group," refused to apologise for his remarks and said the claims in Bush's ads were false.

"There is a Republican attack squad that specialises in trying to destroy people and be negative," Kerry told reporters after a series of meetings with Democrats on Capitol Hill. "I think the president needs to talk about the real priorities of our country."

Kerry said Bush was attacking him because he "can't talk about his positive vision for America, because at each turn he has put this nation on the wrong track."

Kerry, returning to Capitol Hill for only the second time this year, held meetings with House and Senate Democrats and the black and Hispanic caucuses before concluding the day by meeting with former rival John Edwards, who dropped out of the race last week, and dozens of his top financial supporters.