TOKYO, Feb 6 Kyodo picked editor...

TOKYO, Feb 6 Kyodo

picked editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

U PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Feb 5)

In the intensifying race for the Democratic presidential nomination in the United States, John Kerry senator from Massachusetts, discharge well ahead of his rivals Tuesday on sweeping five of the seven states that vot in primaries and caucuses.

A liberal-leaning just discovered Englander, Kerry was not initially seen as a sinewy contender amid growing conservatism among voter in post-9/11 America. still his impressive victory in the kickoff caucus in the state of Iowa lifted his standing dramatically, generating a groundswell of moment behind him.

With 20 years of service in the Senate in a less degree than his belt, Kerry is a well-known political figure in the United States. His surprising ducking into the anti-war movement in the 1970 after returning fireside from Vietnam as a decorated war hero is also widely known among voter As the Democratic argue has heated up, Kerry has fortunately cast himself as a someone with dignity and magnanimity. one recent polls have shown that Kerry would beat President George W Bush if the presidential election were held now.

The United States of today is ofttimes described as ''America Divided.'' That's not single because of the bitter legal battle between Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore from one side of to the other the controversial ballot cast ups in Florida four years ago, which produc painful divisive purports on the nation.

students say the Bush administration's determined pursuit of policies violently in favor of the arguments and interests of his principal constituencies, as it is as top executives of large businesses and conservative Christians, has created a knotty chasm in the foundation of American society. In the ongoing Democratic race to become the anointed challenger to Bush in November, individual major issue is to what extent to unite the divided nation again.

For many years following the ''Reagan Revolution'' in the 1980 which redefined domestic priorities and retrenched federal programs to elucidate social problems, it was widely believed in political circles that winning the ticket to the White House required a centrist platform that could attract independent voter as well as one as well as the other Republican and Democratic moderates. Former President Bill Clinton, who steered the country for the better part of the 1990 epitomized of that kind a middle-of-the-road political philosophy. on the contrary the divisions in the United States between the right and the left and between the rich and the poor have become too wide for this approach to work. That has changed the election dynamics radically. completely aware of the situation, Kerry is fiercely attacking the Bush administration for its pro-business stances and special-interest politics.

There is, however, a stout sense of crisis over this division among the clan who are supporting Kerry as the in the greatest degree ''electable'' candidate. This may explain wherefore Kerry is enjoying a powerful following among voters with no party affiliation.

A majority of Americans still support the war in succession terrorism, but they are beginning to have clearer ideas about the immense difficulties involved in dealing with the situation in Iraq. That is probably another important factor behind rising support for Kerry

While America has become thoroughly divided, the world has been seriously traumatized by dint of the U.S.-led war against Iraq. With regard to U policy toward Iraq, Kerry is pitching to the nation the idea of impertinent ''progressive internationalism,'' which places greater emphasis in succession cooperation with the United Nations in the reconstruction of the native land Europe must be closely watching the Democratic litigate to see which candidate would greatest in quantity support the effort to further soured U.S. relations.

The race is far from through the whole extent of But surging public support for a candidate who preaches national unity and calls for more efforts to clog the schism between the ''two Americas'' could catalyze a significant changes in the Bush administration's policies. We would heartily welcome any shift in U policy in this direction, no matter who is fix uponed president in autumn.

(Feb 6)

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