Posted on 07/30/2004 2:43:59 AM PDT by Reader of news
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites), criticized by Democrats during their four-day convention, opens a new phase of his re-election campaign Friday by promising better times and fresh ideas for America. "We have turned the corner, and we are not turning back," he says.
Beginning a two-day swing through four presidential battlegrounds, Bush planned to take a subtle slap at Democratic rival John Kerry (news - web sites). "When it comes to choosing a president, results matter," Bush said in excerpts of his new stump speech obtained by The Associated Press.
Bush planned to travel by bus and plane through Missouri, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania as Kerry departs Friday from Boston and his party's convention for a two-week cross-country trip by bus, train and boat and plane.
Two presidential advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bush would offer broad outlines of his re-election agenda on what Republicans are billing as the "Heart and Soul of America" tour. Then, for the next two weeks, he will focus on helping Americans adjust to the changing economy: increasing home ownership, reforming Social Security (news - web sites) and letting workers opt for time off rather than overtime pay — an issue that has riled unions, Democrats and some moderate Republicans.
None of these ideas are new, but the officials said Bush will outline fresh initiatives. Mid-August, the nation's fight against terrorism will become the campaign theme, they said.
The White House hopes to cast Bush as a can-do leader, and convince voters that Kerry has not earned the right to replace the wartime incumbent. In his new stump speech, Bush said results are what counts in education, health care and other policies — but no more so than in filling the highest office in the land, a suggestion that Kerry has produced much in his two decades in the Senate, aides said.
A new Bush ad campaign will stress similar themes, aides said.
Bush was heading to Washington on Thursday after a weeklong vacation at his Texas ranch. He kept a low profile while Democrats rallied behind Kerry, watching some of their Boston convention on television, his spokesman said.
The president spends less than 12 hours in the White House before heading to Missouri at dawn Friday.
Political analysts say the state is leaning toward Bush, and John Kerry's campaign has reduced its advertising campaign there after polls showed him 4 to 6 percentage points behind the president.
With the visit Friday to Springfield, Mo., Bush wants to exploit the fact that the state is trending Republican, said George Connor, associate professor of political science at Southwest Missouri State University. Both houses of the state legislature went Republican in 2002.
But Bush also is trying to reassure voters about his handling of the war in Iraq (news - web sites).
"Every few days in the papers somebody's son from the Ozarks dies in Iraq or Afghanistan (news - web sites), which has led to an undercurrent of concern among the electorate," Connor said.
Bush won Missouri in 2000 with 50 percent of the vote to Al Gore (news - web sites)'s 47 percent. Friday will be the president's 20th trip to the state.
Later in the day, he campaigns in Grand Rapids, Mich. — his third trip to the state in 17 days and his 17th as president. Bush lost the state in the last election, and most polls show the state tied or leaning toward Kerry.
On Saturday, Bush will campaign by bus through eastern Ohio, his second bus tour in the state in three months. He will wrap up two days of campaigning with a rally in Pittsburgh, just hours after Kerry speaks in a nearby suburb.
While Bush followed tradition by lying low during his opponent's convention, Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) campaigned through it, criticizing the Democratic ticket. Cheney planned to campaign Friday in Oregon and Washington while Laura Bush headlines a fund-raiser for Republican Senate candidate Richard Burr in North Carolina.
Bush is a very attractive person when you see him live. I saw him in Orlando, and I was surprised (only having seen him in televised press conferences, etc.) at how witty, spontaneous and - well, real he was. He was also very authoritative and obviously well-informed and on top of things, and inspired confidence.
I think seeing him personally is going to make a big impact on people.
Next month the Republican Operation Shock and Awe will be held - a massive ad campaign and many B/C events around the battleground states.
Precisely. Bush said long ago that it was a long campaign. Timing is critical. Kerry is finished with his attempt at reinventing himself. Now Bush will pour it on.
Shock and Awe?
Please elaborate. Thanks.
I meant it will be as dramatic as the massive bombing of Saddam's palace at the beginning of OP Iraqi Freedom.
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