Ad Vietnam

Searcy said Larry Holzman, a Hanoi-based American, arranged for 100 T-shirts to be printed, with the shipment arriving a few days ago. About 25 shirts have been sold, he added. ‘‘The first day they came in, we had a stack at a cafe and were examining them, and four Japanese tourists asked if they could buy them.’’

Kerry — who suffered injuries in the Mekong Delta and received three Purple Hearts, a Bronze and Silver Star — asked the Election Commission to force a group accused of collaborating with the Bush campaign to withdraw ads challenging his service in Vietnam.

Bush’s campaign advisers denied any involvement but have refused to denounce the ads. The White House criticised Kerry for ‘‘losing his cool’’ over the accusations. Kerry’s supporters often contrast his military records with that of Bush, who spent the war serving in the Texas Air National Guard.