Invigorated Democratic Senator John Kerry has stepped up his attacks on President George W. Bush's economic record and raised new questions about whether the White House misled the country into war in Iraq.
Bush administration officials defended the Iraq invasion and disputed a New York Timesreport claiming they ignored doubts about whether high-strength aluminium tubes seized in 2001 were destined to be used for a revived Iraqi nuclear program.
At a campaign stop in Ohio yesterday, Mr Kerry said the Timesreport "raises serious questions about whether or not the administration was open and honest in making the case for the war in Iraq" and said Mr Bush similarly avoided the truth on key economic issues.
"This is a time where I think all too often the administration also chooses to avoid the facts and the truth," he said. "Not just in the issues about how we went to war - the intelligence, what intelligence we had or didn't have - but just look around you in the economy of our country."
The exchanges came at the start of a week featuring two debates where Mr Kerry and running mate Mr John Edwards will try to build on their momentum from Thursday's first face-to-face encounter with Mr Bush, which polls showed was a clear win for Mr Kerry.
A Newsweekpoll showed Kerry climbed to a two-point lead in the White House race after his performance in the debate. A Los Angeles Timespoll on Sunday showed Mr Kerry improved his image among voters but did not dramatically alter the race with Mr Bush.