Democrats get ninth contender for presidency

The Democratic presidential field acquired its ninth and probably final contender yesterday as Bob Graham, Florida's respected senior senator, formally threw his hat into the ring to challenge George Bush in 2004.

Kicking off his campaign in Miami, Senator Graham, a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Mr Bush of neglecting the war on terrorism in order to recklessly "settle old scores" with Saddam Hussein. He also joined other Democrats in lambasting the White House's economic strategy, which consisted solely of "tax cuts for the very wealthy".

Unofficially, Mr Graham has been in the race for weeks, and took part in the first candidates' debate at the weekend in the important early primary state of South Carolina. But his declaration turns the spotlight firmly back on his home state, on which the result of the controversial 2000 election hinged.

A two-term former governor and third-term senator, Mr Graham has never lost an election. In Florida, whose 27 electoral college votes are the fourth largest prize in the electoral college and which Mr Bush will be desperate to win again next year, he is a proven winner.

He also has other notable attributes, notably gravitas and, at the age of 66, a long Washington experience of international affairs – especially the critical issues of international terrorism and homeland security. And, as his staff are quick to point out, only Democrats from southern states have won the White House since John Kennedy in 1960.

"Proven Leadership Working for America," proclaimed the banner behind a shirt-sleeved Mr Graham as he addressed cheering supporters yesterday.

But he has drawbacks too. Because of his late entry, his fundraising for what will be a short but unprecedentedly intense primary campaign, when the winner will probably be apparent by the start of March, has got off to a slow start. Mr Graham is notably short in the charisma department. After heart surgery earlier this year, there are also doubts about his health.

But the contest to take on Mr Bush is wide open at this early stage. The South Carolina debate between candidates on Saturday resolved nothing, although Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate in 2000, and the former House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt were generally reckoned to have performed well. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, another "top tier" candidate, was seen as putting up a rather lacklustre show.

Polls show Mr Kerry, and another New Englander, the former governor Howard Dean of Vermont, running neck and neck in the bellwether early primary in neighbouring New Hampshire. Mr Gephardt, a midwesterner, leads in Iowa, while in national polls, Mr Lieberman is at the head of the pack, if only because of the name recognition he gained three years ago.

Mr Bush is currently a strong favourite for re-election, with even some 60 per cent of Democratic voters expecting him to win in 2004.