WASHINGTON - Sen. John F. Kerry cemented his grip on the Democratic nomination with rousing double-digit caucus wins in Michigan and Washington state last night - far outpacing his party rivals as he targeted President Bush with stinging attacks.

"This week, George Bush and the Republican smear machine have trotted out the same old tired lines of attack that they've used before to divide this nation and to evade the real issues before us," Kerry told a party dinner in Richmond, Va.