Washington: US Presidential hopeful John Kerry accepts outsourcing, which has snowballed into a major election issue, as a reality and his Democratic Party will continue its good relations with India initiated by former President Bill Clinton, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said.

"We recognise that outsourcing is a reality, but at the same time, we want to develop our jobs and industries more at home here too." But, Senator Kerry is an internationalist and I think India should welcome him as an American President, Richardson told reporters when asked about his party's strident posture against outsourcing.

"The Democratic Party has had a long tradition of ties with the sub-continent, with South Asia, especially with India. And it was President Clinton who really opened up the American-Indian relationship. We will continue that," Richardson, who is also the permanent chairman of Democratic National Convention said in Washington yesterday (July 13, 2004).

Kerry had earlier termed CEOs who outsource jobs from the United States as "Benedict Arnold CEOs", after a traitor of the revolutionary war, sparking off widespread criticism.

Richardson said Kerry was a globalist and internationalist and his comments were aimed at CEOs like those of Enron and others who misuse stocks and other funds.