Kerry Cancels Ads in Arkansas

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has canceled plans to begin broadcasting television commercials in Arkansas. Kerry also canceled ads in Arizona, Louisiana and the perennial battleground of Missouri. The ads were scheduled to begin airing October Fifth as part of a five million dollar investment through election day, but campaign advisers concluded Kerry isn`t doing well enough in the states to justify the cost. The decision to shrink his political playing field reduces Kerry`s strategic options -- at least for now -- in the homestretch of the campaign. George W. Bush won all four states in 2000, and Kerry can`t win the White House without taking one or two of them away from the Republican incumbent. The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Arizona, Arkansas and Louisiana are unlikely to see Kerry ads unless there is a major shift in the campaign`s dynamics. Missouri is still the subject of debate inside the campaign, with some advisers pushing to advertise in the traditional swing state. --- dash --- The campaign, which has reserved commercial time in 20 states through Election Day, notified television stations in the four states that Kerry would not follow through on his plans for the first week of October. Plans are still in place to air ads starting the second week of October, campaign officials said, but those will likely be tabled, too.