Bush on the attack as campaign begins

President Bush has launched an all-out attack on his Democratic opponents in the first shots of this year's election campaign.

In a major speech last night, Mr Bush warned that a victory for the Democrats in November would leave America "uncertain in the face of danger".

Mr Bush has been forced to hit the campaign trail early after a series of opinion polls showed him trailing to Senator John Kerry, who is now almost certain-to win the Democratic party nomination.

He has faced a series of fierce attacks from leading Democrats over his handling of the US economy and the Iraq war in recent weeks.

Worried advisers at the White House are anxious to show the president on the political offensive to prevent him losing more votes. Hitting back at Mr Kerry and the other leading candidate, Senator John Edwards, President Bush said American voters will have "a very clear choice" at the next election.

Accusing the Democrats of wanting to raise taxes, Mr Bush also invoked the terrorist attacks of September 11 and played the patriotism card for the first time against his opponents.

In what is likely to be a major theme of his re-election campaign, he added: "It's a choice between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence or an America that is uncertain in the face of danger.

"If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world will drift towards tragedy. That will not happen on my watch."

If elected, he promised to "keep our enemies on the run and extend the frontiers of liberty".

Mr Bush defended his policy on Iraq, saying it had been necessary to make a "tough choice" to overthrow Saddam Hussein.