With the presidential election in the United
States now less than two months away, the campaign is focusing on two
issues: Iraq and the economy. The two became intertwined Tuesday as
President Bush and Democratic Party nominee John Kerry sought votes in key
states.
Polls indicate Iraq and the war on terrorism are the president's strong
suit. They also show that he may be vulnerable on the economy, especially
in industrial states where there has been considerable job loss in recent
years.
And so it comes as no surprise, that when Mr. Bush goes on the campaign
trail, he draws his biggest applause with remarks like these.
"Since that terrible morning of September 11, 2001, we have fought the
terrorists across the earth-- not for pride, not for power, but because
the lives of our citizens are at stake."
During a series of campaign stops Tuesday in the state of Missouri, the
president again called into question Senator Kerry's stand on Iraq. He
said John Kerry has changed his position time and time again.
"No matter how many times Senator Kerry flip-flops, we were right to make
America safer by removing Saddam Hussein from power," said Mr. Bush.
Mr. Bush narrowly won Missouri in 2000, and while recent polls show him
ahead in the state it remains very much in play. That is largely because
the economic recovery in Missouri has been slower than in many other parts
of the country. Here, as elsewhere, the president's message was one of
hope, urging voters to stay the course and promising things will get
better.
"You know, I like to say this economy is strong and getting
stronger. I say so because I know where we have come from. We have endured
a recession, corporate scandals, and a terrorist attack. And yet this
economy is growing. It is growing because the workers are great."
But John Kerry is hitting voters with a different message: that the
president is pursuing policies that are wrong for America at home and
abroad.
"So this race for the presidency comes down to one simple
decision. Do you want four more years of moving in the wrong direction,
wrong choices, or do we want to move America in a new direction and make
things right with Edwards and Kerry? That is what this is about!"
At a campaign event Tuesday in North Carolina, the Massachusetts
senator renewed his attacks on the president's decision to take military
action to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"And I will tell you that of all the wrong choices, of all the wrong
choices President Bush has made, the most catastrophic choice is the mess
he has made in Iraq," said Mr. Kerry.
But as he has increasingly in recent days, Mr. Kerry tied the war to
domestic needs, saying the cost of fighting in Iraq has drained funds that
could have been used to pay for education, health care and other
government services. |