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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Embattled Kerry seeks low profile | Embattled Kerry seeks low profile |
| (1 day later) | |
| Former US presidential candidate John Kerry has cancelled plans to help other Democrats ahead of key polls next week, amid a row over remarks about troops. | Former US presidential candidate John Kerry has cancelled plans to help other Democrats ahead of key polls next week, amid a row over remarks about troops. |
| On Monday he warned a group of students that if they neglected their education they might "get stuck in Iraq". | On Monday he warned a group of students that if they neglected their education they might "get stuck in Iraq". |
| The comment drew criticism from the White House, which demanded an apology. | The comment drew criticism from the White House, which demanded an apology. |
| Mr Kerry said on Wednesday that his remarks were misinterpreted and that he personally apologised to any service member or American who was offended. | Mr Kerry said on Wednesday that his remarks were misinterpreted and that he personally apologised to any service member or American who was offended. |
| 'Spin war' | 'Spin war' |
| The Massachusetts senator's office said he had scrapped two campaign appearances so as not to become a distraction to Democratic candidates. | The Massachusetts senator's office said he had scrapped two campaign appearances so as not to become a distraction to Democratic candidates. |
| The statement added that Mr Kerry did not want to "allow the Republican hate machine to use Democratic candidates as their proxies in their distorted spin war". | The statement added that Mr Kerry did not want to "allow the Republican hate machine to use Democratic candidates as their proxies in their distorted spin war". |
| I personally apologise to any service member, family member or American who was offended John Kerry US mid-terms blog: Kerry row New media, new war | I personally apologise to any service member, family member or American who was offended John Kerry US mid-terms blog: Kerry row New media, new war |
| In a second statement issued after prominent Democrats urged him to cancel public appearances, Mr Kerry said: "I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform and I personally apologise to any service member, family member or American who was offended." | In a second statement issued after prominent Democrats urged him to cancel public appearances, Mr Kerry said: "I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform and I personally apologise to any service member, family member or American who was offended." |
| Mr Kerry had earlier said that he was sorry for a "botched joke" aimed at Mr Bush not US troops, and accused the administration of twisting his words. | Mr Kerry had earlier said that he was sorry for a "botched joke" aimed at Mr Bush not US troops, and accused the administration of twisting his words. |
| 'Study hard' | 'Study hard' |
| The verbal gaffe comes just days ahead of US mid-term elections, which could hinge on the issue of the war in Iraq. | The verbal gaffe comes just days ahead of US mid-term elections, which could hinge on the issue of the war in Iraq. |
| Mr Kerry, speaking to a group of California university students on Monday, said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well." | Mr Kerry, speaking to a group of California university students on Monday, said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well." |
| He added: "If you don't you get stuck in Iraq." | He added: "If you don't you get stuck in Iraq." |
| Mr Kerry's office said he had intended to say: "You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush." | Mr Kerry's office said he had intended to say: "You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush." |
| The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington, says the White House seized on the comments to attack the decorated Vietnam War veteran and by extension his party. | The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington, says the White House seized on the comments to attack the decorated Vietnam War veteran and by extension his party. |
| On the campaign trail in Georgia on Tuesday, President George W Bush described the comments as "insulting and shameful". | On the campaign trail in Georgia on Tuesday, President George W Bush described the comments as "insulting and shameful". |
| "The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology," Mr Bush said. | "The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology," Mr Bush said. |
| A White House spokeswoman said Mr Kerry's apology would probably draw a line under the affair. | A White House spokeswoman said Mr Kerry's apology would probably draw a line under the affair. |
| "Senator Kerry's apology to the troops for his insulting comments came late but it was the right thing to do," Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. | "Senator Kerry's apology to the troops for his insulting comments came late but it was the right thing to do," Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. |