PHOENIX -- Gov. Janet Napolitano is distancing herself from what Sen. John Kerry has called a "botched" joke about President Bush's Iraq policies.

Kerry's remarks were slammed by Republicans as a slap on U.S. troops, and he apologized today.

The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee had said in California on Monday that people who don't study hard and do their homework would likely "get stuck in Iraq." He later said he mangled his attempt at a joke and left out words making it clear he was talking about Bush and his policies.

Napolitano said "it's just wrong" to imply that young men and women fighting in the American military are are not intelligent. She says has she welcomed home Arizona troops returning from the war, pinned Purple Heart medals on some of them and met their families.

She said, "The men and women we have fighting over there are first class."

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)