Posted on 09/10/2004 9:27:01 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Bush aims to rally area supporters with another visit
Friday, September 10, 2004
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
President Bush will come into West Michigan enjoying a post-convention bounce.
But the president also is facing new questions surrounding his National Guard service in the early 1970s, which partly explains his visit to Holland on Monday in a bus tour that includes stops in Muskegon and Battle Creek, said Doug Koopman, a Calvin College political scientist.
"It's hard to see how this National Guard stuff changes votes, but it does change the subject, and it takes the campaign down a path that Bush doesn't want to go," Koopman said. "So, what Bush has to do is go to a place like Holland, where he gets treated favorably. You go to a safe venue to get your message back on track."
It will be a message similar to the one he delivered at the GOP's convention in New York a week ago focused on strengthening the economy and keeping America safe, said Merrill Hughes Smith, a spokeswoman for the campaign. And the president won't let Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats' presidential nominee, distract him, she said.
"While our campaign is focused on the future and the President's positive vision for moving the country forward, John Kerry's campaign continues to focus on the past and is trying to divide the country over who served and who didn't," Hughes Smith said.
Rodell Mollineau, a spokesman for the Kerry/Edwards campaign, stayed clear of the National Guard issue, saying "independent journalists have uncovered these records. It's up to Bush if he feels the need to answer questions. We're not asking these questions."
Bush's visit to West Michigan -- his third to the region in little more than a month, and his seventh visit to the state in two months -- is a signal to supporters he needs his base to show up in unprecedented numbers at the polls, said Jack Holmes, the GOP chairman of the 2nd Congressional District.
The 2nd district -- represented by U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland -- stretches from upper Allegan County to Benzie County in northern Michigan.
"A lot of this election will be turnout," Holmes said. "It's 'you get your voters registered and to turn out' particularly when you have such a small number of undecideds."
Several statewide polls taken last month showed Bush trailing Kerry from three to eight percentage points in Michigan. At stake are the state's 17 electoral college votes.
Holmes, a Hope College professor, said he is heartened by the intensity of support he has seeing from Hope College Republicans.
"People are fired up like I've never seen it," he said.
Hoekstra called Muskegon County and Holland two "great opportunity areas" for Bush.
"I consistently do well in Muskegon County, so there's no reason President Bush should concede it," Hoekstra said. "We're not giving a single vote away. Sure, it's volatile out there. We're headed into seven long weeks of campaigning. That's why you see the president aggressively campaigning."
Still, the nasty accusations fired from both sides distress some.
"Unfortunately, when you have races this tight, they always get nasty on both sides," said Paul Leidig, the Ottawa County GOP chairman. "I wish we could ignore all the 527s out there. I'm hoping this campaign doesn't keep stooping to that level, and we begin to hear about what the candidates are going to do for the future."
Leidig was referring to the independent advocacy groups named for the IRS code that allows them to operate under separate Campaign Finance rules from candidates.
Ads produced by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ripped Kerry for his service in Vietnam, and a newly released television ad from the Texans for Truth features a former Air National Guard pilot accusing Bush of not reporting to duty in Alabama.
Leidig said he puts the National Guard charges in the same category as the Swift Boat ads, but he hopes Bush can calm other concerns of voters.
"There are some people who have concerns about the war in Iraq and why we didn't find WMDs," Leidig said. "They also want to hear what he's saying about the economy. And they want to hear him say here's what we've done that's right and what we have to do yet."
West Michigan is going to play a vital role in pulling the state into the win column for Bush, which would break a three-election win streak for Democrats, said Gary Granger, the West Michigan regional director for the Bush/Cheney campaign.
Granger, the president and CEO of Grand Rapids-based Granger Group of Companies, said he doesn't believe the allegations over Vietnam service will register with most voters.
"For the most part, people are divided -- you either believe President Bush is a man of integrity and that his experience of the last four years are more important than 30 years ago, or you don't," he said. "People are more concerned about the war on terror and the economy."
Bush is in good shape in Michigan, thanks to his strong convention performance, said Kim Yob, the Kent County Republican Party chairwoman.
"Americans have confidence in his leadership," she said. "The American people will see through all of the other stuff. They're more concerned about, 'What kind of taxes am I paying? Are my kids getting a proper education?' than who served in the armed forces."
Voters in Republican-rich Ottawa County have to understand they have a big role in this election, Leidig said.
"Some people think, 'He's going to win, so why should I go to the effort?' " Leidig said. "They don't understand that we're voting as Michiganders, not as Ottawa County residents. We've got to get them to realize we're in the middle of a tight race."
Doug, presidential visits are determined well in advance. The Guard stuff has nothing to do with it. The fact is that a vote in Ottawa County(the most GOP county in the state) is the same as a vote in swing areas like Macomb County. The base areas can't stay home. From what I've heard, Bush is doing great up North, probably overperforming in the UP, doing great in Macomb, but losing big in Oakland.
Also, Bush has been going to dem areas too. Muskegon is Democrat. Grand Rapids Swings. Sterling Heights is competitive(very marginal GOP). Saginaw, Taylor, and Marquette are very democrat.
This is a key state. Kerry MUST win here, and Bush needs the state as well, but can win without it.
Ping.
I'm there, tickets in hand buddy.
Got my tickets too! My best friend picked them up this morning. The Ottawa County area is definitely Bush Country. The Holland Sentinel reported 10-15,000 tickets for the event at the fairgrounds. I have no idea where they are going to put everyone!
You coming over to the West Coast?
Can't make it. I'm booked Monday.
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