Kerry and Edwards show some teeth

More of this:

...the Massachusetts senator also delivered his most pointed rebuttal to date against Republican accusations that he is a "flip-flopper" or "waffler." The poll put Bush at 49 percent and Kerry at 46 percent, within the sample's margin of error, but a shift from 48 percent to 46 percent in favor of Kerry during a similar survey last month.

When a man in the audience asked him about the labels, Kerry said: "It's the same thing they said about Bill Clinton; it's standard Republican playbook. It's the same thing they said about Al Gore. It's the same thing they said about John McCain down in South Carolina. They just say it, and if you spend enough money and say it, people like you are going to ask the question."

He then added: "Let me ask you something: Is opposing the Homeland Security Department and then suddenly embracing it when the newspapers write something, is that 'flip-flopping' or doing something? Is opposing [the] 9/11 [Commission] and then suddenly turning around and supporting it? Is telling us [national security adviser] Condoleezza Rice is not going to testify, then she does testify, is that a 'flip-flop?' Is telling you you're going to fund No Child Left Behind and then stripping it of $27 billion, is that a 'flip-flop?' I mean, you tell me, ladies and gentlemen. Let's get real here."

and this:

Edwards said that earlier Thursday, he and Bush came within miles of each other in New Mexico on the same day new Census numbers were released that showed the number of Americans living in poverty increased by 1.3 million last year, while the ranks of the uninsured swelled by 1.4 million.

"It'd be interesting to hear what he had to say about these important issues," Edwards said. Pausing as the crowd roared, he added: "You just heard it. He remained completely silent."

"Sometimes I guess silence is golden. This is not one of those times," Edwards said.

And, Edwards said, Bush told New Mexico residents that "he wanted to be given four more years of George Bush (news - web sites) and Dick Cheney so they could continue the good they're doing for America."

"I just don't know if Americans can take that kind of good anymore," Edwards quipped.