Bush pushes for 11th-hour N.H. edge - hoping for win in a key swing state

MANCHESTER, N.H. President George W. Bush made a campaign swing through New Hampshire yesterday and made a last-minute plea for votes, while supporters here held out hope that one of the smallest swing states in the country will help secure his re-election. Joined by first lady Laura Bush and backed by a wall of police officers, firefighters, veterans, and families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Republican president brought a message of economic optimism and resolve in the war on terror to a crowd of several thousand partisan supporters at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

"With your help, we'll carry New Hampshire and win a great victory next Tuesday," Bush told the cheering crowd.

The plea for votes came as polls continue to show Democrat John Kerry with a slight lead in the Granite State, which has four electoral votes. A University of New Hampshire tracking poll released yesterday had Kerry with a 4-point lead over Bush, just outside the margin of error of 3.6 percent. The Bush campaign is hoping the president will make a last-minute surge in the state.

Bush delivered a 40-minute stump speech notable mostly because the president never challenged Kerry or his record directly, not once mentioning the Massachusetts senator by name. Bush has repeatedly questioned Kerry's fitness to be president along the campaign trail, but yesterday he referenced Kerry only indirectly, repeatedly asserting that Americans need a president who is "consistent."

Throughout the campaign the GOP has sought to paint Kerry as wobbly on the issues, including national security.

"The world looks to America for leadership, and it is crucial for the president to be consistent," Bush said. And later, "A president's convictions must be consistent and true." The change appeared to mark a shift into a more positive tone for the final days of the campaign.

The president also presented his defense of the war in Iraq, telling the crowd that removing Saddam Hussein from power fulfilled the nation's duty to protect itself and make the world more secure.

"In any war there are good days and there are bad days, but every day, you need the same resolve," he said.

As they did when Bush spoke at the Republican National Convention in New York last month, several protesters managed to finesse their way into the arena and tried to interrupt the president as he addressed the issue of national security and the war in Iraq.

A half-dozen people stood and held a sign that read "386 Tons," a reference to the investigation into munitions missing from an arms-storage facility south of Baghdad. As they did in New York, Bush supporters drowned out their protests with shouts of "four more years."

Jonathan Eddy, 62, a Republican from Palo Alto, Calif., was removed from the arena when he stood and held a sign that read "Republicans for Kerry" and scuffled with Bush supporters nearby. Outside the arena, Eddy said he has been working for the Kerry campaign in New Hampshire for six weeks.

"I think the Republican party has gotten so lost in this war. I would guess that 99 percent of the people in that room think that Saddam Hussein attacked us," said Eddy, who said he recently lost his job as a teacher. "I think there is some kind of need for an enemy."

Manchester police escorted the protesters from the building, but made no arrests.

Bush, whose campaign has sought to capitalize on the goodwill directed toward the administration in the months after the Sept. 11 attacks, also invited several people who were affected by the attacks to join him at yesterday's rally.

Among several others, Bush recognized Cheryl McGuinness, whose husband Thomas, a Burlington native, was the co-pilot of the first plane that terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center, and Elizabeth Kovalcin of Hudson, N.H., whose husband David was a passenger on the same flight.

After the rally, McGuinness, who lives in Portsmouth, called Bush the "best man for the job."

"When I feel passionate about something and the leadership of our country is something we can't be lukewarm about then it's easy for me to step out and tell people that," she said.

Bush supporters in New Hampshire know their state is a toss-up that could play a crucial role in the outcome of the election. Not surprisingly, most said yesterday they are optimistic the election will go his way.

"I'm confident the president is going to come through," said Evan Haglund of Pelham, the town's police chief, who was invited to join Bush onstage. "He's shown the right path that America is on, and I think the people will follow."

"I think it would be an embarrassment if New Hampshire doesn't go his way. Live free or die," said Kathy Nelson, 56, of Franconia, citing the state's motto. "I hope New Hampshire stands out in New England that way."

Outside the arena, Kerry supporters expressed the same confidence. Their candidate is scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire tomorrow.

After his visit to Manchester, Bush attended a rally in Portsmouth, then flew to Ohio for several campaign stops last night.

"I think it would be an embarrassment if New Hampshire doesn't go his way. Live free or die," said Kathy Nelson, 56, of Franconia...

That's the spirit, Kathy!

A "Republican For Kerry?" The fact that he lives in Palo Alto, CA makes me doubt he was a Republican in the first place.

N.H., Great motto! The America I know! With your 4 EV's should they go to BUSH early you could start the dominos falling and create the BUSH avalanche across this great nation!

He sure has taken a different approach this time. In 2000 he seemed to work shorter days and often skipped the weekends. Of course he has more motivation now with 9-11. He is doing an amazing job in this campaign...You can just feel his energy and sincerity and the people respond to it with enthusiasm.

These following two paragraphs about Jonathan Eddy read like total horse sh*t to me. No way!!! He ain't no Republican. He is a Mobyite.

"Jonathan Eddy, 62, a Republican from Palo Alto, Calif., was removed from the arena when he stood and held a sign that read "Republicans for Kerry" and scuffled with Bush supporters nearby. Outside the arena, Eddy said he has been working for the Kerry campaign in New Hampshire for six weeks.

"I think the Republican party has gotten so lost in this war. I would guess that 99 percent of the people in that room think that Saddam Hussein attacked us," said Eddy, who said he recently lost his job as a teacher. "I think there is some kind of need for an enemy."

George W. Bush promised his wife in 2000 that he would find time to be with her at home during the campaign, so he'd come back weekends because he placed a high value on his marriage.

In 2000 he believed he'd be a better president than Gore, but didn't hunger for the job as much as Gore did. Now he knows it is vital for the country that he remain President.

It's easier on him this time with his daughters with him on the campaign trail and his wife with him more.

Also, he knows that Gore working through the night before the election in Florida made Florida close and made for a terrible time for the country, and he won't let that be his fault this time.

Contributor
Occupation
Date
Amount
Recipient

www.opensecrets.org

EDDY, JONATHAN
PALO ALTO,CA 94301
10/17/2002
$1,000
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

That's why he gave $1000.00 to the Democrats before the war.

http://www.ecomagic.org/PAVision97.html

You also wonder if the John Eddy listed in this "plan" is the same...I bet it is.

How do you lose your job as a teacher at age 62? The problem with our publik skools is that due to the NEA, a tenured teacher can do anything short of being caught having sex with a student and still not get fired. The so-called Republican more likely took early retirement. And if he's lying about that, he's probably lying about being a Republican, too.

A University of New Hampshire tracking poll released yesterday had Kerry with a 4-point lead over Bush, just outside the margin of error of 3.6 percent. The Bush campaign is hoping the president will make a last-minute surge in the state.

The race is still inside the margin of error. A greater-than-7.2% lead would be outside the margin.

he lost his job as a teacher after selling his tear down house, purchased 30 years ago, for 1.9 million dollars - "those evil business people." he said. "I'll leave on a political vacation for a month to make my voice heard - kids are sick of me, maybe old folks will have mushy minds instead." /rant off

What a joke. This guy is a Leftwing hack. Disgruntled Republicans don't travel to NH to give the President grief. That is an exclusively Democrat thing to do.

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