Swanky Conservative

Convene a summit of the world’s major powers as well as states in the region, and key Arab and Muslim nations, followed by a standing Contact Group to consult on the way forward, and press them to make good on the steps called for in UN Security Council Resolution 1546: providing troops; providing trainers for Iraq’s security forces; providing a special brigade to protect the U.N. mission; and providing more financial assistance and real debt relief.

Mr. Kerry talked at UT about returning to Ohio after the election, if he wins, to host a “jobs summit.” He also said he would do better to see that more Americans have health insurance.

In a spirited rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kerry plugged his plans for health care, education and rural advancement. He said that as president he would hold a summit in Ames, Iowa, to firm up his farm proposals.

North of Sioux City, at the packed gym at North High School, he criticized President Bush for giving tax breaks to large agribusinesses “at the expense of small family farmers.” He promised to hold a rural summit in Ames, Iowa, within 100 days of his election “to focus on the special challenges facing family farmers and small-town Americans,” and in Cedar Rapids discussed the need for better Internet access and schools in rural communities.

Earlier in the day, Kerry held a town meeting in Dover, N.H., where he made his first comments about the Iraqi explosives, and talked with working women. From New Hampshire, he announced in a teleconference call with Midwestern reporters that in the first 100 days of his presidency, he would hold a national summit to address rural and small-town problems that would include farm policy, health care, education, business infrastructure and crime. After the Philadelphia speech, he traveled to Detroit for a late afternoon rally and then on to Green Bay, Wis., for a nighttime event.