Kerry pushes health plan he says is a cost-saver

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, arguing that voters "are hungry for a real discussion," promoted a health care plan that he said would save consumers $1,000 each as he focused attention Sunday on a pair of important Rust Belt states that have been battered by the steady drain of manufacturing jobs.

The Massachusetts senator said the swing was the opening salvo in his effort to focus the contentious presidential campaign on issues that matter to voters, like health care and jobs.

"Americans struggling to pay health care don't need misleading attacks, they need meaningful answers," Kerry said at a town meeting, where he heard from workers who lost health care coverage along with their jobs. "They didn't just lose their livelihoods, they lost the health care they depend on."

Kerry said the health care crisis has worsened under President Bush, with more than 1 million people a year losing coverage at a time when average health insurance premiums have increased by $793.

"The millions and millions of Americans with and without health insurance who fear opening their medical bills are the unheard majority in this debate," he said. "They're not silent, they've just been ignored."

In response, a spokesman for Bush's re-election campaign charged that Kerry has done little during a long political career in Congress to improve the nation's health care system.

"He never passed a major piece of health care legislation during his 19 years in the U.S. Senate," said Steve Schmidt, the spokesman. "The only thing he has done for seniors is vote for higher taxes on Social Security benefits."

Secretary of State Colin Powell, meanwhile, challenged Kerry on Sunday to name the foreign leaders whom the senator claims want him as the next president.

Kerry said at a fund-raiser last week in Florida that he's heard from some world leaders who quietly back his candidacy and hope he defeats Bush in November.

Powell expressed skepticism on "Fox News Sunday" when asked about Kerry's assertion.

"I don't know what foreign leaders Senator Kerry is talking about. It's an easy charge, an easy assertion to make. But if he feels it is that important an assertion to make, he ought to list some names," Powell said. "If he can't list names, then perhaps he should find something else to talk about."