* Touring the must-win state of Florida with his brother, Governor Bush, the president stepped up his offensive, telling supporters that his Democratic challenger could not be trusted to wage the global war on terrorism. In Ohio, Vice President Cheney evoked the possibility of terrorists bombing American cities with nuclear weapons and questioned whether Mr. Kerry could combat such a threat.

* Campaigning in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Senator Kerry criticized President Bush over the nation’s supply of flu vaccine and said the president had presided over a four-year “all-out assault” on Social Security. Mr. Kerry’s running mate, Senator Edwards of North Carolina, was in New Hampshire, where he accused the Republicans of trying to scare voters into re-electing the president.

WHERE THEY ARE TODAY

* Senator Kerry will campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, and Pittsburgh; he will spend the night in Boardman, Ohio.

* President Bush is planning to be in Mason City, Iowa; Rochester, Minn.; and Eau Claire, Wis.; he will overnight in Washington, D.C.

* The Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Edwards, will be in West Burlington, Iowa, and Canton, New Philadelphia, and Steubenville in Ohio.

* Vice President Cheney will campaign in Clio and Traverse City in Michigan