{image1}APPLETON -- The themes of the state Democratic convention this weekend may have been winning Wisconsin for John Kerry and keeping Russ Feingold in the U.S. Senate, but the convention buzz belonged to the 4th Congressional District Dems seeking to replace Milwaukee Congressman Jerry Kleczka.

Democratic Party Chair Linda Honold, who lives in Kleczka's district, summed it up for many Democratic activists when she said: "Those of us in the 4th CD have a tough decision to make this year."

Three of the four candidates for the 4th CD were in Friday night's line-up -- Matt Flynn, Shirley Krug and Gwen Moore, who was the only one to elicit a standing ovation from the crowd. Tim Carpenter, the fourth Democrat in the field, spoke Saturday morning. Krug, Moore and Carpenter are veteran Milwaukee legislators.

Even the usual chatter in the back of the room quieted for Moore, who said: "There is nothing more important to me than winning in November and beating George W. Bush." The only African-American candidate in the September primary, Moore said she always abided by a "principle of fairness" in the Legislature.

And showing her feisty side, Moore said she would not be a deficit hawk. "I'm going to bring home the bacon," she said to cheers. "And let me tell you, I can wear 'em out."

Moore said she wanted to repeal "No Child Left Behind" and said "national health care is an idea whose time has come."

Flynn said "America is off track" and said he was running to "bring good jobs, with good benefits, back to Milwaukee."

A Navy veteran and attorney, Flynn criticized the war in Iraq, saying there is "no clear mission, no clear exit strategy."

Flynn said he wanted to reverse the Bush administration tax cuts and also criticized recent trade policy. "Trade is good; trade has to be fair."

Krug called on President Bush to bring home American troops in Iraq by Christmas. Proclaiming herself a "tell-it-like-it-is Democrat," Krug said she has seen firsthand from her brothers' service in Vietnam.

"The Vietnam War my brothers bravely fought in was a quagmire for America -- just like Iraq has become," Krug said. "I want American troops home by Christmas."

And Carpenter said he was the only congressional candidate who had supported legislation for universal health care.

Honold, the state party chair from Milwaukee, stressed that neither she nor the party will endorse in the primary.

"What's really neat is that we have four really good candidates running to replace my congressman, Jerry Kleczka. This is actually one where I live in the middle of the district, and all of these people are my friends and I'm just pleased -- I would be happy to have any one of them as my representative."

Read the entire pre-convention interview with Honold here.