Edwards To Outline Security Plan

Soon after referring to President Bush's war on terror as a "bumper sticker slogan," John Edwards will be coming to New York to outline his own plans to keep America safe.

Mr. Edwards, a former North Carolina senator who consistently polls third among the Democratic presidential contenders, has recently attracted heightened attention for his harsh criticism of his rivals' positions on the war in Iraq and for his attacks of the Bush administration.

Earlier this week, during a nationally televised debate on CNN, he provoked the most heated exchange of the evening, accusing Senators Obama and Clinton of playing a game of chicken by casting late votes on a war-funding bill.

Yesterday, Mr. Edwards's campaign sent out an advisory saying that President Bush's "Global War on Terror" has been use to "justify the worst abuses of this administration and has not made us safer."

The advisory also said Mr. Edwards believes "we need a smart, mission-focused national security policy designed to stamp out terrorism, not a political slogan designed to stamp out disagreement."

That statement seemed designed to recast his "bumper sticker," which had come in response to a question about whether he thought America was safer now. That statement was met with disagreement from Mrs. Clinton, who has tried to position herself as strong on national security.

The details of Mr. Edwards's national policy statement today were not available last night.

His visit to New York comes on the same day that Senator McCain, a leading Republican presidential contender, will be here. Both candidates will be holding private fund-raisers, and Mr. McCain will be delivering the keynote speech at New York Police Department Honor Legion's annual awards dinner in Howard Beach, Queens. According to McCain officials, the Republican candidate has about six private fund-raising and finance meetings scheduled.

Meanwhile, Senator Clinton is scheduled to participate in a forum at Hostos Community College in the Bronx tomorrow, according to the New York Observer's political Web log. Senators Obama and Edwards were also invited.