NORFOLK, July 27: Democrat John Kerry portrayed himself as a viable alternative to George Bush as commander in chief on Tuesday and sought to erode the president's advantage on homeland security by vowing to extend the Sept 11 commission's work for another 18 months.

On the eve of his arrival at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, where he will formally accept his party's nomination as Mr Bush's opponent in the Nov. 2 election, John Kerry said the United States "simply must act, not as partisans, but as patriots."

"We understand the threat," the decorated Navy veteran said as he stood in front of the battleship Wisconsin. "We have a blueprint for action. ... The only thing we don't have is time."

The Massachusetts senator said the panel, which found "deep institutional failings" in government led to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, should stay on the job for at least another 18 months and report on the progress made on its recommendations.

The bipartisan commission issued its final report on Thursday. It is to formally dissolve on Aug. 26. "If I'd been president last week, I would have immediately said to the commission 'yes, we're going to implement those recommendations,'" John Kerry told 1,000 supporters at a waterfront park in Norfolk, home to the world's largest Navy base. -Reuters