Bush touts experience, decisiveness in his campaign kickoff
Ron Hutcheson / Knight Ridder
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WASHINGTON - President Bush kicked off his re-election
campaign Monday by characterizing the November election as a
high-stakes choice between steadfast leadership and
uncertainty in the face of danger.
Dropping any pretense that he's focused exclusively on
his job, not his re-election, as he has maintained for months
when speaking at GOP fund-raisers, Bush spelled out his
campaign themes in a speech to Republican governors. Aides
said the remarks signaled the start of a much more aggressive
effort by Bush to win a second White House term.
"Our opponents have not offered much in the way of
strategies to win the war or policies to expand our economy.
So far, all we hear is a lot of old bitterness and partisan
anger," Bush said, according to a partial text released
in advance. "We are taking on the big issues with
strength and resolve and determination - and we stand ready
to lead this nation another four years."
Bush, who had planned to stay above the fray until Democrats
selected their presidential nominee, accelerated his campaign
timetable after being forced on the defensive by criticism
over his handling of the economy and the war in Iraq, as well
as questions about his military service during the Vietnam
War. Bush served in the Air National Guard and didn't
serve in Vietnam.
"The other party has still not finished selecting its
nominee. Yet this much is certain already: Come November, the
voters are going to have a very clear choice," Bush
said.
On the economy, Bush said voters would decide between
"tax relief that is moving this economy forward" or
"putting the burden of higher taxes back on the American
people." Both of the two leading Democratic candidates,
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. John Edwards of
North Carolina, have called for rolling back Bush tax cuts
for people earning $200,000 and over.
Bush also cast the election as a referendum on his
performance as commander in chief, asserting that Democrats
can't be trusted to protect the country from terrorism.
"It's a choice between an America that leads the
world with strength and confidence, or an America that is
uncertain in the face of danger," he said. "In the
next four years, we will keep our enemies on the run and
extend the frontiers of liberty."
Anticipating Bush's remarks, Kerry told supporters in
New York that Bush is running scared.
"He's going to lay out what he calls his
vision," Kerry said of Bush's speech. "I think
it is extraordinary that four years into this administration
we're finally going to get what this president calls his
vision for the nation."
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© 2004, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
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