Former U.S. Olympic gold medal gymnasts Kerri Strug (news - web sites) (L) and Mary Lou Retton (news - web sites) say the Pledge of Allegiance to start the final night of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, September 2, 2004. U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) will later take the stage to formally accept the party's nomination, present his domestic agenda, and detail his plans for the ongoing war against terror. REUTERS/Jason Reed US ELECTION REUTERS