from the associated press:

mr. kerry also announced that he had won the endorsement of the international brotherhood of police officers, an organization that in the last election backed mr. bush. it is the only major national police organization, the kerry campaign said, that has backed the winner of the last three presidential elections.

“”after three and a half years of disappointing leadership under george bush, we need to change course in november and elect a president with a real record of supporting police officers and a lifetime of standing with law enforcement,”” the organization’s president, david holway, said in washington.

the associated press

march 4, 2004, 12:42 pm est

many families of the victims of the sept. 11 terrorist attack expressed anger thursday at president bush’s use of ground zero images in his new campaign ads, accusing him of using the attack for political gain.

until bush cooperates with the federal commission that is investigating the nation’s preparedness before the attacks and its response “”by testifying in public under oath … he should not be using 9-11 as political propaganda,”” said kristen breitweiser, of middletown township, n.j., whose husband, ronald breitweiser, 39, died in the world trade center.

“”three-thousand people were murdered on president bush’s watch,”” breitweiser said. “”he has not cooperated with the investigation to find out why that happened.”” the bipartisan panel reviewing the sept. 11 attacks has requested private meetings with bush and vice president dick cheney about what the administration knew before the attacks, potentially a sensitive subject in an election year.

the first three campaign ads, unveiled at campaign headquarters in suburban washington on wednesday, will run on broadcast channels in about 80 markets in 18 states, most of which are expected to be competitive, and nationwide on select cable networks.

two of the spots show pictures of the destruction at the world trade center and include pictures of an american flag flying amid the debris. they also feature images of firefighters working through the wreckage.

“”i oppose anyone using it to promote their personal agenda,”” said sally regenhard, whose firefighter son, christian regenhard, 28, died on sept. 11, 2001. “”while i certainly oppose the commercialization of ground zero, i have to say he’s not the only one to further his political goals or to make money off it.””

bush’s campaign on thursday defended the commercials as appropriate for an election about public policy and the war on terror, saying they are a tasteful reminder of what the country has been through the last three years. the campaign previously had said it would not use the attacks for political gain.