Democrats Differ on Death Penalty in Debate

Thu Feb 26

By NEDRA PICKLER,

LOS ANGELES - Democratic rivals John Kerry  and John Edwards  differed on the use of the death penalty Thursday night, but found common ground in opposing gay marriage in a debate five days before the biggest primary night of the campaign season.

Confronted with a question about a child killer, Kerry said his instinct "is to want to strangle that person with my own hands," but the former prosecutor added that he favors the death penalty only for cases of terrorism.

Edwards, a Southern-bred politician, differed, saying there are other crimes that "deserve the ultimate punishment." He cited as an example the killers of James Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death from a pickup truck in 1998 in Texas.

On the day that celebrity Rosie O'Donnell was married to her longtime girlfriend, both men voiced opposition to gay marriages, but said the issue should be left to the states.

They also criticized President Bush  for requesting a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.

Kerry said Bush was "trying to divide America," and described him as a president who "always tries to create a cultural war and seek the lowest common denominator ..."

"This president is talking ... about amending the Constitution for a problem that does not exist," said Edwards.

The two men also sparred about campaign donations from lobbyists as they debated at close quarters five days before a 10-state slate of contests known as Super Tuesday. Together, the contests offer 1,151 delegates, and Kerry is hoping to dispatch Edwards from the race that night.

The issue of electability also flared.

Asked whether he thought the Massachusetts senator could appeal to voters in Southern and border states, the South Carolina-born Edwards responded, "I think that's his test. ... I know I can."

But Kerry quickly said he, like Edwards, can appeal to independent voters and even Republicans that the party will need to prevail in November. He pointed out that he has won 18 of 20 primaries and caucuses to date, including Tennessee and Virginia.