Boston.com /Effect of controversial Moore film on election is debatable

By Anne E. Kornblut
Globe Staff

Boston.com / A&E / Movies / Effect of controversial Moore film on election is debatable:

"But whether the movie, which opens nationally next week, will cause a real stir among voters is debatable, given that the pre-release publicity has given away most of its secrets -- and that it is likely to draw partisans, rather than undecided voters in the handful of swing states, to the theaters. At the same time, some of the most provocative parts, about Bush's relationship with Saudi Arabia and abuse of Iraqi prisoners, are either thinly supported or have already been made public. Even Moore conceded having doubts about his powers of persuasion, saying, ''It's just a movie.'

In particular, the film dwells on the departure of a planeload of Saudi relatives of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden on Sept. 13, 2001, implying that Bush improperly allowed them to flee in the aftermath of the attacks, and suggests an ominously close relationship between the Bush family and Saudi royals.

It also shows a series of photos with President George H.W. Bush and Saudi diplomats, but does not say when or where the photos were taken, or if they came from routine White House meetings.

Bush campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish said ''I'd be interested to see what lengths John Kerry goes to to keep his distance from the movie."

Devenish said that no one at the Bush campaign had seen the movie, and Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the same of the Kerry campaign. Cutter declined to comment further on the film.

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