GOP Portrays (President) Bush As Strong Wartime Leader

NEW YORK - Republicans at their national convention portrayed President Bush (news - web sites) as a strong wartime leader, adopting a platform endorsing his agenda and putting his and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites)'s names in nomination for a second term.

"We will leave here with momentum that will carry us to victory in November," Republican National Committee (news - web sites) Chairman Ed Gillespie said to a roar of approval as the convention got under way in Madison Square Garden. Gillespie promised a positive agenda that he said would expand Republican control of Congress and state governorships.

Republicans mixed praise of Bush with efforts to discredit Democratic rival John Kerry (news - web sites) and his vice presidential candidate, John Edwards (news - web sites).

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., called the Democratic ticket "weak on war and wrong on taxes. Folks, it's an easy choice."

But Democrats were quick to challenge the GOP theme that Bush was a strong leader, pointing to his comments in a television interview suggesting that the war on terror could not be won.

"This is no time to declare defeat," Edwards said. And Democratic Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack told reporters in New York, "This is a president who doesn't believe we can win the war on terror."

Republicans were paying tribute to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in their opening convention session. "We've shown the world New York can never be defeated," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in welcoming delegates.

Thousands of police kept the city under tight security as the convention opened. Normally bustling Penn Station was all but empty of travelers, with police officers posted every few feet.

Protesters, who numbered at least 120,000 during loud but peaceful demonstrations on Sunday, generally gave back the streets of Manhattan to commuters. One group of protesters in oversize Bush masks and wild costumes heckled convention-goers as they left their hotels Monday morning.

Republicans roared voice-vote approval of a party platform that rallies behind Bush's agenda while endorsing positions dear to conservatives, including backing constitutional bans on gay marriage and abortion.

"Our platform highlights the principles that unite our party," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the platform chairman, told delegates.

Earlier, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., said it was fair game to criticize Democrat John Kerry's anti-war protests of three decades ago.

McCain told CBS's "The Early Show" that television ads accusing Kerry of lying about his military service in Vietnam were "dishonest and dishonorable." But, he added, "what John Kerry did after the war is very legitimate political discussion." Kerry was a leader of Vietnam veterans who opposed the war.

In an interview on NBC's "Today" show, Bush promised no retreat from the war on terror. But when asked "Can we win?" Bush said: "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the — those who use terror as a tool — are less acceptable in parts of the world."

That brought a storm of Democratic criticism just as the convention was getting under way.

"I decided a year ago that he cannot win the war on terror," said retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, former Air Force chief of staff, at a news conference organized by Democrats.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan sought to clarify the president's remarks, telling reporters aboard Air Force one, "He was talking about winning it in the conventional sense ... about how this is a different kind of war and we face an unconventional enemy."

While seeking to energize the party's conservative base with anti-Kerry rhetoric, Republicans also were reaching out to moderates who remain undecided. Most of the prominent convention speakers — McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) — are popular among moderates and independent-minded voters.

Democratic Sen. Zell Miller (news, bio, voting record) of Georgia gives the keynote address on Wednesday.

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, also a Democrat, delighted delegates by telling the opening session, "This year, I'm voting for the re-election of President George W. Bush (news - web sites)." Koch was mayor from 1978-89.

"We have seen what this administration's approach does to our standing in the world. It isolates us. It costs us respect from our allies. It means we must face these new challenges alone," Edwards said.

The convention begins with polls showing Bush and Kerry in a virtual tie. The first day was intended to focus on Bush's leadership in the war on terrorism, with a tribute to families of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"In choosing a president, we really don't choose a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or liberal," Giuliani said in prepared remarks that compared Bush with Ronald Reagan (news - web sites) and Winston Churchill. "We choose a leader. And in times of danger, as we are now in, Americans should put leadership at the core of their decision."

Republicans convened about four miles north of Ground Zero, where two hijacked planes destroyed both towers of the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people died there, at the Pentagon (news - web sites) and at a crash site in Pennsylvania.

Bush arrives Wednesday after a tour of eight battleground states. He'll spend one night in New York before returning to the campaign trail.

Lying low while Republicans command the spotlight, Kerry spent Sunday at his home in Nantucket, Mass., and was remaining there until he addresses the American Legion in Nashville on Wednesday. Bush talks to the veterans' convention on Tuesday.

The names of Bush and Cheney were placed in nomination for second terms on Monday and an alphabetical state-by-state roll call was begun that will be spread out over several nights. Cheney was cheered as he walked into the hall.

There are 2,508 voting delegates and a candidate needs a simple majority to be nominated. GOP officials say Bush and Cheney will probably clinch the nomination on Tuesday night.

A Texas delegate Wayne Turner dances on the floor of the hall during the opening session of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 30, 2004. Republicans start the convention in an upbeat mood as new polls show U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) gaining ground and slightly leading his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts. REUTERS/Mike Segar US ELECTION

Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) peers over a banner during the first day of the Republican National Convention Monday, Aug. 30, 2004, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Lynne Cheney, center, shows her granddaughter how to signify 'four more years,' as Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites), right, watches the Republican National Convention in New York, Monday, Aug. 30, 2004. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Wade Webster of Houston, Texas, dressed as Uncle Sam, attends the opening ceremony at the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 30, 2004. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Lucy J. Orlando, of Weston, Fla., chairwoman of the Haitian-American Republican Diversity Caucus, sings during the Republican National Convention in New York, Monday, Aug. 30, 2004. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

South Dakota delegate Gordon Pederson shows off his campaign button collection on the floor of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, August 30, 2004. Republicans start the convention in an upbeat mood as new polls show U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) gaining ground and slightly leading his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites), with wife Lynne (C), and daughter Mary (L), greets the crowd at the opening session of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 30, 2004. Republicans start the convention in an upbeat mood after a flurry of new polls showed President George W. Bush (news - web sites) gaining ground and slightly leading his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION

A delegate wears a pro-George W. Bush button at the beginning of the 2004 Republican National Convention. Republicans vowed that the Florida voting chaos that marred the 2000 presidential election will not happen again and claimed the party would win the state outright in November's polls.(AFP/Justin Sullivan)

Sara Gear Boyd, secretary of the 2004 Republican National Convention, right, and assistant secretary Jane Norton conduct the roll call of votes to nominate George W. Bush as the party's presidential candidate at the convention on Monday, Aug.30, 2004, in New York. The roll call is to take place over three days. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

U.S President George W. Bush (news - web sites) supporter Omer Beaudoin of Manchester, N.H., listens as Bush speaks at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire, August 30, 2004. Bush will travel to key electoral states early this week in the run-up to his appearance Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in New York City. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque US ELECTION

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