ASHINGTON - Senator John F. Kerry yesterday sharply criticized the conservative voting record of GOP vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney, while acknowledging that he remains under consideration to be Al Gore's running mate.
''I'm one of those watching as well as participating'' in Gore's search, Kerry said. He refused to discuss any conversation he may have had with Gore at a $250,000 Democratic fund-raiser the night before at the senator's Georgetown home.
At a Capitol Hill news conference on Internet privacy legislation, Kerry condemned Cheney's congressional votes against Head Start funding, the Clean Water Act, and a resolution calling for the release of Nelson Mandela.
The criticism earned Kerry a rebuke from Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, who had joined Kerry at the press conference.
McCain offered Kerry a tribute as one of ''the best Americans in both parties.'' But after Kerry criticized Cheney, McCain said: ''Any voting record can be selectively described.... That happened to me in the primary campaign.''
There is continued buzz that Gore's short list includes Kerry, Senators Bob Graham of Florida, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, and Tom Harkin of Iowa, as well as former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
Gore is expected to announce his choice on Aug. 8 or 9, less than a week before the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. A Gore spokesman, Mark Fabiani, mocked any handicapping of the decision.
''Anyone in the Gore campaign not named Al Gore or Warren Christopher who tells you they know what's going on, they're basically trying to impress you without knowing what's going on,'' said Fabiani, referring to the former Clinton secretary of state who is heading Gore's search.
Kerry joked about the speculation Tuesday night with about 50 fund-raising donors. They paid $5,000 each to join Gore at a Democratic National Committee event held at the federalist mansion the senator shares with his wife, Teresa Heinz.
''I have to tell you that a number of you have come up to me tonight and asked me if I have any interest at all in serving as vice president with Al Gore. Actually, none of you asked me that, and I'm a bit ticked off,'' he said to laughter.
He then introduced Gore with a sharp attack on Cheney.
''I have two words that I think will brighten your eyes for the next several months: Dick Cheney,'' Kerry said. ''I mean, he really makes the words `compassionate conservative' as difficult to utter as `Red Sox' and `World Series.'''
At yesterday's news conference,
when Kerry was asked about Cheney, he alluded to the ''I knew John Kennedy'' put-down by Democrat Lloyd Bentsen in a 1988 vice presidential debate with Republican Dan Quayle.
''I served with Dick Cheney in Congress,'' Kerry said. ''I knew him as a secretary of defense, obviously, so I know Dick Cheney, and Dick Cheney is a friend of mine, and Dick Cheney is no John McCain.''
Yvonne Abraham of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
