WASHINGTON, Oct 25: A renegade wing of the extended George Bush clan is lobbying actively for his defeat in the election, and formed a group, "Bush Relatives for Kerry", to ensure that happens.

"As the election approaches, we feel it is our responsibility to speak out about why we are voting for John Kerry, and to do our small part to help America heal from the sickness it has suffered since George Bush was appointed president in 2000," the group says on its website.

The group is founded by sisters Tracy Cannon and Hilary House, cousins of the president.

"The very thing that our president, my cousin, criticizes (Kerry) for is exactly what makes him a natural leader, the ability to see when an error has been made and to be willing to do whatever it takes to fix it, wrote Cannon, one of several members of the family to endorse Kerry on the website.

"The overwhelming arrogance and knee jerk mentality that has consumed our government as of late will lead only to further mayhem and more rash decisions. It must stop."

House added: "George W. Bush is a man of limited vision and seemingly little compassion ... I have always known that John Kerry has the greater good of not only our country, but the world as a whole in mind."

"George W. Bush's grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister," she continued.

"It makes me sad that I cannot with good conscience vote for a member of my family ... however today the lives of so many people hang in the balance, that my role as an American is more important than that of a cousin."-AFP