Posted on 10/08/2004 3:18:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WAUSAU - In his eighth trip to the Badger State since spring, President Bush asked thousands of his faithful supporters at Marathon Park on Thursday for Wisconsin's help as Election Day nears.
Bush's Boeing 757 airplane landed around 2:40 p.m. at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee, and with surgical precision, the president greeted local Republicans, including Jim Jacobson of Horizon Development Group and Gerald Whitburn, president and chief executive officer of Church Mutual Insurance Co. in Merrill, before jumping in an armored limousine for the 15-minute drive to Wausau along a deserted Highway 51. Accompanying the president was National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. The frontage roads along Highway 51 were dotted with people hoping for a glimpse of Bush's motorcade, which was about 20 vehicles long. Some held signs and American flags, others waved. At about 3:30 p.m., Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Michels introduced Bush to a roaring crowd of about 10,000 people, almost all of whom chanted "four more years" while holding "W's" adorned in Green Bay Packers green and gold.
Bush stressed his plans for all of the campaign's major issues including education, national security and health care throughout his speech, giving attendees a preview of his message before today's second debate with Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry. Bush spent about half of the speech criticizing Kerry's "flip flops" and voting record, and Bush questioned Kerry's foreign-policy doctrine that would create a global test before the United States entered a war.
"Under this test, America would not be able to act quickly against threats because we'd be sitting around waiting for a grade from other nations," Bush said. "I have a different view. America will always work with our allies for security and peace. But the president's job is not to pass an international test. The president's job is to protect the American people." Bush's record on defense is the main reason Kesh Pillai, 35, of Merrill came out to show support for the president. Pillai, a father of three, said Bush needs to continue leading the country through the war on terrorism to keep America safe.
"He's a strong leader who gets things done," Pillai said.
Terry Schlag drove down from Arbor Vitae with his wife, Joan. The couple, both 54, said they can't imagine the next four years without Bush in the White House.
"He's the one to finish the job," said Terry Schlag, a Vietnam veteran.
Bush's visit to Wausau came on the same day a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll showed his edge over Kerry among likely Wisconsin voters has narrowed to 3 percentage points following their first televised debate.
The Bush campaign has targeted the Badger State as the Democratic state most likely to vote Republican on Nov. 2. Wisconsin has been a presidential battleground since Al Gore took the state in 2000 by one of the county's narrowest margins - fewer than 6,000 votes out of a total of 2.6 million cast. In Marathon County, 58,374 residents voted in 2000, with 28,883 votes going to Bush and 26,546 for Gore.
Voter interest in the presidential election also is increasing. The survey showed that the percentage of registered Wisconsin voters who have paid quite a lot or some attention to the election has risen from 79 percent in late August to 89 percent this month.
The latest poll shows Bush and Kerry tied at 48 percent among likely Wisconsin voters in regard to who would better handle the economy.
But Bush holds a 54 percent to 41 percent edge on how he would handle terrorism and a 53 percent to 44 percent lead on addressing the situation in Iraq.
I couldn't get any details from the Andrews AFB base site (wouldn't download). But I did find reference on the 'Net to "Air Force Two," a Boeing 757. Makes sense for domestic travel. I guess I never really thought about it before - just always had that 747 vision in my head.
I have noticed...sKerry's, breck girls and spouses are all holding rallies in small venues. The camera angles make them look larger. When the camera pans the crowd at a GW rally it's HUGE. So they have to counter with these smaller sKerry ones with tight up close shots. That's one way the crowd size is disguised.
Perhaps the funniest and most accurate description of the "Anybody but Bush" crowd I've heard.
Why forget the polls? The real polls have Bush in the lead. Forget AP.
I didn't know that Boeing had equipped anything but 747s to serve as Command Post aircraft - that is, to serve as mobile White Houses with all of the capabilities and communication equipment. Not only that, but those 747s have defensive capabilities too......
Hopefully some smart people will hop on this thread and educate us both. :-)
*Kerry's supporters can't stand him*......but, they will still vote for him!...it's a vote against Bush, not for Kerry.
As a former Badger, now Hoosier, Wausau is beautiful country with lots and lots and lots of pine trees...
"That little nasty ditty Kerry gave yesterday"
Yes, it was very nasty. It was hard to listen to. I hope that Bush is ready to go after Kerry hammer and tong.
I'm familiar with that (yeah, even before Harrison Ford's movie). We're trying to establish the 747/757 relationship.
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