WASHINGTON, 26 April 2004 — As Iraq looms larger on the radar screens of US voters, new differences are emerging between President George W. Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry on an exit strategy to end the year-old occupation.

Both men vow to “stay the course” despite renewed fierce fighting in Iraq. Both support the dispatch of additional troops if necessary and are counting on political help from the United Nations. But subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the Republican president and his rival have surfaced in recent days as the United States scrambles to meet a June 30 deadline for restoring Iraqi self-rule.

Whereas Bush insists on a “democratic” Iraq, Kerry would settle for a “stable” Iraq. If Bush has given full rein to a UN envoy to work out transitional arrangements, the Democrat wants to involve European and Arab states as well.

Kerry has also stuck by his criticism of Bush for failing to bring in more foreign troops and make Iraq a NATO operation, even if the alliance and its members have shown little enthusiasm for such a prospect.

Although foreign policy questions rarely have a major impact on US presidential campaigns, Iraq has moved up on the voters’ agenda as the US death toll mounted with more than 100 soldiers killed this month alone. Americans now put Iraq and terrorism up there with the economy as major concerns. A Washington Post-ABC News poll last week showed 23 percent thought Iraq was the single most important issue, up from 10 percent in March.

But if Bush has seen support for his handling of the war plummet in recent months, with most Americans skeptical whether he has a clear plan to get out, he still enjoys a healthy edge over Kerry on the question.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Bush preferred over Kerry 52-41 percent when it comes to tackling Iraq, a sharp reversal from six weeks earlier when the Massachusetts senator was on top by a single point. With the continued occupation of Iraq turning out to be an emotional and volatile issue, the candidates have both been moving to the center.

Kerry, who voted to authorize last year’s invasion before opposing it, now matches criticism of the White House with pledges to support US troops. Bush has embraced a key role for the United Nations, which he previously shunned.

“There’s not a ton of detail at the level of tactics and programmatic differences,” said Michael O’Hanlon, foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution.

Some analysts suggest Kerry might have to take a more dovish line on Iraq if independent Ralph Nader, who fashions himself a “peace” candidate, starts drawing support on the issue. For now Kerry, a Vietnam war hero branded by the White House as waffling and weak on defense, appears to be working to stake out modest new ground on Iraq.