Washington ? Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Wednesday called for deeper tax cuts for the middle class than proposed by President Bush and described his Republican critics as “the most crooked … lying group I’ve ever seen.”

After urging labor leaders to support his campaign to oust the president, Kerry met with one-time rival Howard Dean to discuss an endorsement and what role the former Vermont governor might play in his campaign.

Hoping to win over Dean, the presumptive nominee’s staff greeted the fallen rival with a round of applause as he walked into Kerry headquarters.

After the 45-minute meeting, officials close to the talks said Dean would endorse Kerry, with only the timing in question. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the best time might be March 25 when the presidential candidates join former Presidents Clinton and Carter for a Democratic Party fund-raiser.

“I will work closely with John Kerry to make sure we beat George Bush in November and turn our country around,” Dean said in a statement that did not specifically mention an endorsement. “There is a lot we can do together to rebuild an America that belongs to all of us, and we’ll be saying more about what our amazing grassroots network can do to help with his goal on March 18.” Dean has set that date to announce his grassroots advocacy organization.

Anticipating their meeting, the Bush campaign issued “Howard Dean’s Greatest Hits on John Kerry,” a 10-item recounting of Dean criticism of his rival for the nomination. The quotes from news stories include Dean’s statement in January that “you’re not going to change America by nominating somebody who’s a Washington insider whose biggest long suit is talk.”

Kerry was scheduled to meet with another key rival, John Edwards, today.

Earlier Wednesday in Chicago, Kerry toughened his comments about his GOP critics after a supporter urged him to take on Bush. “Let me tell you, we’ve just begun to fight,” Kerry said. “We’re going to keep pounding. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I’ve ever seen. It’s scary.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean clasp hands while Kerry campaign staffers applaud as they enter the Kerry campaign headquarters in Washington. Dean, the former Democratic presidential front-runner, came to Washington to meet with Kerry and pledge his support.

Kerry spokesman David Wade said the senator was referring to Republican critics in general. “The Republicans have launched the most personal, crooked, deceitful attacks over the last four years,” Wade said. “He’s a Democrat who fights back.”

In a speech to top leaders of the AFL-CIO, Kerry said a “Bush Tax” stemming from the president’s economic policies has driven up costs for working families. He vowed to reverse that trend while asking those making more than $200,000 a year to pay the same taxes they paid under President Clinton, effectively repealing portions of a tax cut Bush pushed through Congress.

Kerry also proposed creating a $50 billion fund to help states provide relief from state and local taxes for working families that he said have been struggling.

“Under George Bush’s policies, middle-class families are paying more,” he said. “America’s middle class can’t afford a tax increase. That’s why we’re going to give the middle class a tax cut.”