Posted on 02/29/2004 12:43:10 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper
DENVER (AP) - Forecasting a tight presidential contest in Colorado, Gov. Bill Owens and other state GOP leaders said Saturday they will focus on promoting their view that President Bush is the country's best leader during difficult times.
Owens will serve as the campaign's Colorado chairman, campaign officials said Saturday. Co-chairs include Sens. Wayne Allard and Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.
Bush defeated Democratic Vice President Al Gore in Colorado in the 2000 presidential election by 51 percent to 42 percent, continuing a GOP tradition. Only twice since 1952 has Colorado supported a Democrat for president, including Bill Clinton in 1992.
"This will be a close election and Colorado is closely divided," Owens told a group of about 20 supporters. "I'm proud to make the case for George Bush in Colorado."
He said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is the likely Democratic nominee, and said Kerry has enjoyed the media limelight in recent months because of his victories in 18 state primaries and caucuses.
"Now's the chance for us to start to come back to represent this great American president," Owens said.
He, Norton and Allard outlined their reasons for supporting Bush. They said Bush was the right man to lead the country after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and during the ensuing military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and praised his work to improve the economy, health care and education.
"In almost three years, President Bush has made historic progress, but more needs to be done," Norton said.
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