Max Cleland

WORCESTER - Former Sen. Max Cleland, a decorated Vietnam Veteran, spoke here Saturday about John Kerry's work on behalf of veterans in the United States Senate, saying Kerry has been a tireless advocate for veterans issues because he is "one of us."

Cleland also discussed underhanded methods Republicans have used to question Democrats' military records and patriotism, as they did in his 2002 re-election campaign against current U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

In his first remarks, Cleland said sending Kerry back to the U.S. Senate was of critical importance because he has seen war up close.

"Fewer and fewer people in the United States Congress and few and fewer decision makers in Washington know what it's like to go to war and be in war," Cleland said. "And for those who do go to war, and who have been in war, thank god they are cautious about it."

Former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland is scheduled to tour Massachusetts with U.S. Sen. John Kerry as part of Kerry's re-election campaign on Saturday, according to the senator's campaign.

Cleland, a Georgia Democrat, is a Vietnam Veteran and will be part of Kerry's five-stop "Vets for Victory Tour" on Saturday. The tour will begin in Charlestown before heading to Marlboro, Worcester, Attleboro and Fall River.

The conservative non-profit advocacy group Freedom's Watch began airing a new television ad in Colorado on Thursday blasting Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Mark Udall's record on national security.

The ad, titled "Security," will be airing statewide as part of a weeklong ad buy in the "high six figures," according to Freedom's Watch spokesperson Tim Pearson.

The ad, which smacks of Saxby Chambliss' well-known attack ad against Max Cleland in the 2002 Georgia U.S. Senate race, shows pictures of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il while highlighting Udall's "no" votes on the Patriot Act, missile defense, "stronger border security," and "terrorist surveillance."

Fifth Congressional District Democratic candidate Hal Bidlack is rolling out some big names for a fundraiser Friday evening in Denver.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), former presidential candidate and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver), former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.), and the entire Colorado Democratic Congressional delegation are on the host committee for the Bidlack fundraiser, scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Patton Boggs Law Firm in Denver.

Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland campaigned for Jeff Merkley today, appearing at a town hall at Portland State University this morning, discussing the Merkley’s views on the war in Iraq and veterans’ affairs.

“Anyone who cares to make veterans an issue in a campaign I’m attracted to,” the former Senator said on a conference call, praising Merkley for “pushing very positive and progressive legislation” in the Oregon Legislature, which waived tuition to college or technical school for the spouses and children of deceased soldiers.

With the primary looming, and voters still attempting to distinguish between House Speaker Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick, the former dusted off a concept he helped pass in the Oregon Legislature, calling for a national plan to provide free tuition to college or technical schools for the families of deceased soldiers.