WASHINGTON (AP) – In New Hampshire television ads, Howard Dean says he does what’s right and John Kerry boasts of his experience. John Edwards promises to work for the people, Wesley Clark highlights his leadership and Joe Lieberman talks about his Jewish heritage.

President Bush is the only rival any of the Democratic presidential hopefuls mention in their commercials.

The candidates are keeping their ads positive – discussing their attributes, records and proposals – in the final days of campaigning in New Hampshire following negative commercials in Iowa that seemed to hurt Dean and Dick Gephardt, who placed third and fourth there after leading in polls for weeks.

“There’s no question. The Dean-Gephardt shoving match cost those guys first and second place. They all learned that lesson,” said Donna Brazile, a Democratic consultant who ran Al Gore’s 2000 campaign. “So they’re all playing it safe and running soft-and-fuzzy messages. And, they’re going back to the one thing that unified the Democratic Party – Bush.”

On Thursday, Dean started running a new ad in New Hampshire that mirrors his attempt on the stump in recent days to change his style. Unlike most of his previous ads in which he was alone, Dean is shown being sworn in as Vermont governor, shaking hands with former President Carter, sitting with older Americans, and laughing on the campaign trail.

Kerry’s campaign advisers had debated running ads in New Hampshire comparing Kerry’s record to his rivals.

The Massachusetts senator’s latest New Hampshire ad takes the high road and includes five state residents saying they support him because of his health care plan and experience.

In one of Edwards’ ads, high-tempo music plays in the background as the North Carolina senator is shown running in a sweat suit in a suburban-type neighborhood and shaking hands in a business suit during a town-hall meeting.

“I was born 50 years ago to a family with little material wealth, but a belief that in America anything is possible,” Edwards says. “When they say I can’t change Washington, I say I’m not owned by anybody.”

And, Lieberman, the vice presidential nominee in 2000, is running a biographical ad.

that starts with a black-and-white clip of John F. Kennedy proclaiming, “While this year it may be a Catholic, in other years it may someday be a Jew.” Lieberman explains how his ancestors came to the United States for “the American dream.” He is shown at the 2000 Democratic convention alongside Gore and clasping hands with his wife, Hadassah.

Lieberman also has cut an endorsement ad that features fellow Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, which likely will run soon.

AP-ES-01-22-04 1652EST