Randy Davis
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Sunday July 30 5:54 PM ET
McCain Urges Delegates: Back Bush
By DAVID ESPO, Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - On the eve of the most unified Republican National Convention in years, Sen. John McCain (news - web sites) urged his delegates Sunday to cross over and support George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s nomination for president. ``We're on our way to victory,'' said the Texas governor.
Democrats, concerned about the GOP place in the spotlight and lead in the polls, set a multi-million dollar barrage of television advertisements. Increasingly, they aimed sharp criticism at vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney's conservative voting record while a member of Congress.
Bush described his vice presidential pick as ``a solid man, a man of integrity'' as he continued a pre-convention tour of campaign battleground states. Aides said he also spent part of his day going over the acceptance speech he will deliver Thursday night before 2,066 delegates and a nationwide television audience.
McCain's decision to release his delegates was a political grace note, he had only about 160 delegates as a result of his primary run. Still the gesture underscored unity in a party that has aired internal disagreements prominently in every convention since 1988.
``I need every one of you to give this (Bush) campaign the same amount of enthusiasm and participation you did for our primary campaign,'' he told the men and women who became delegates as a result of his primary votes. There were scattered groans from his audience, and shouts of ``We love you John.''
With Bush campaigning in the heartland, much of the convention-city spotlight fell on Cheney. He arrived in late-afternoon, to a rousing welcome that contrasted sharply with the Democratic attacks.
In a morning round of television interviews, the former Cabinet officer and oil industry chief executive defended his conservative voting record in the House of Representatives.
``There's so much time and energy and effort devoted to this kind of trivia'' said Cheney amid a barrage of questions about his congressional votes in the 1980s. Still, he said he would vote differently now on several issues - Head Start and possibly even some aspects of gun control - than he did while in Congress.
Asked about the environment, he said, ``Our company (Halliburton) has won environmental awards from Al Gore (news - web sites)'s EPA.''
Democrats responded swiftly.
``It's hard to figure out how someone could change his positions on all of those issued without undergoing a partial lobotomy,'' said Ed Rendell, co-chair of the Democratic National Committee.
In a television interview, a top campaign strategist for Gore said Bush's selection of Cheney raised questions about other decisions he would make in the Oval Office. Said Bob Shrum, ``If this is who George Bush picks for vice president, imagine who he's going to pick for the Supreme Court.''
Inside the convention hall, final preparations were under way for Monday's opening session. House Speaker Dennis Hastert visited the custom-made podium and practiced banging the gavel he will use to call the delegates to order.
Bang it harder, an aide suggested. He did, then smiled as the sound reverberated throughout the hall.
The delegates sampled the city's hospitality, largely reduced to bit players in Bush's show.
``The convention will serve as a unifying process for all of the delegations,'' said David Kustoff, a delegate from Gore's home state of Tennessee. ``The delegates and the alternates will come out of the convention with their marching orders. We'll be focused for the next three months.''
``I don't anticipate that there's going to be any excitement,'' said Mary Messinger, a 75-year-old delegate from North Carolina. ``I'd much prefer to go to the old-time conventions. At least you feel as though you've really done something.''
That was the last thing the Bush campaign had in mind. And they were getting their way, in contrast to the last few GOP conventions when the party nominee had to struggle with conservative dissenters.
McCain joined in the general defense of Cheney, with whom he had served in. ``Of the thousands of votes, I'm sure all of us would say, `If I had it to do over again I wouldn't vote that way.'''
In his televised appearances, Cheney offered a loyalty pledge to Bush, saying he would air any differences in private, then ``salute smartly'' once a decision was made.
His comments about some of the votes he cast more than a decade ago meshed nicely with Bush's effort to run as a ``compassionate conservative.''
Cheney said some of the votes cited by his critics were cast under circumstances in which Democrats, then in the majority, refused to permit amendments.
Asked on NBC's ``Meet the Press'' about a vote against creation of the Department of Education, Cheney said, ``I would vote today to leave'' the agency in existence, although he said he favors greater local control of schools. Likewise for Head Start, he said.
Asked about votes against proposals to ban ``cop killer'' bullets and plastic guns, he indicated he would be open to a different decision now. ``Obviously I'd be happy to entertain that notion. I don't want to say I'm absolutely for cop killer bullets because obviously I'm not,'' he said.
Democrats decided not to cede an entire week's TV time to the Republicans.
One commercial, which aides said would run in selected areas of the country beginning Monday, described Cheney as ``one of only eight members of Congress to oppose the Clean Water Act, one of the few to vote against Head Start. He even voted against the school lunch program, against health insurance for people who lost their jobs. ...''
``What are their plans for working families?'' the ad concludes.
That commercial provoked a quick retort from the Bush campaign. ``Al Gore lacks a positive message while Dick Cheney voted with Ronald Reagan to reduce the deficit, cut taxes, and rebuild the military,'' said spokesman Ari Fleischer. ``We don't need any more slaughterhouses,'' he said, a reference to a printed report that Democratic aides are planning a ``slaughteringhouse style of campaigning.''
--------------------------------------------Copyright © 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
McCain Urges Delegates: Back Bush
By DAVID ESPO, Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - On the eve of the most unified Republican National Convention in years, Sen. John McCain (news - web sites) urged his delegates Sunday to cross over and support George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s nomination for president. ``We're on our way to victory,'' said the Texas governor.
Democrats, concerned about the GOP place in the spotlight and lead in the polls, set a multi-million dollar barrage of television advertisements. Increasingly, they aimed sharp criticism at vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney's conservative voting record while a member of Congress.
Bush described his vice presidential pick as ``a solid man, a man of integrity'' as he continued a pre-convention tour of campaign battleground states. Aides said he also spent part of his day going over the acceptance speech he will deliver Thursday night before 2,066 delegates and a nationwide television audience.
McCain's decision to release his delegates was a political grace note, he had only about 160 delegates as a result of his primary run. Still the gesture underscored unity in a party that has aired internal disagreements prominently in every convention since 1988.
``I need every one of you to give this (Bush) campaign the same amount of enthusiasm and participation you did for our primary campaign,'' he told the men and women who became delegates as a result of his primary votes. There were scattered groans from his audience, and shouts of ``We love you John.''
With Bush campaigning in the heartland, much of the convention-city spotlight fell on Cheney. He arrived in late-afternoon, to a rousing welcome that contrasted sharply with the Democratic attacks.
In a morning round of television interviews, the former Cabinet officer and oil industry chief executive defended his conservative voting record in the House of Representatives.
``There's so much time and energy and effort devoted to this kind of trivia'' said Cheney amid a barrage of questions about his congressional votes in the 1980s. Still, he said he would vote differently now on several issues - Head Start and possibly even some aspects of gun control - than he did while in Congress.
Asked about the environment, he said, ``Our company (Halliburton) has won environmental awards from Al Gore (news - web sites)'s EPA.''
Democrats responded swiftly.
``It's hard to figure out how someone could change his positions on all of those issued without undergoing a partial lobotomy,'' said Ed Rendell, co-chair of the Democratic National Committee.
In a television interview, a top campaign strategist for Gore said Bush's selection of Cheney raised questions about other decisions he would make in the Oval Office. Said Bob Shrum, ``If this is who George Bush picks for vice president, imagine who he's going to pick for the Supreme Court.''
Inside the convention hall, final preparations were under way for Monday's opening session. House Speaker Dennis Hastert visited the custom-made podium and practiced banging the gavel he will use to call the delegates to order.
Bang it harder, an aide suggested. He did, then smiled as the sound reverberated throughout the hall.
The delegates sampled the city's hospitality, largely reduced to bit players in Bush's show.
``The convention will serve as a unifying process for all of the delegations,'' said David Kustoff, a delegate from Gore's home state of Tennessee. ``The delegates and the alternates will come out of the convention with their marching orders. We'll be focused for the next three months.''
``I don't anticipate that there's going to be any excitement,'' said Mary Messinger, a 75-year-old delegate from North Carolina. ``I'd much prefer to go to the old-time conventions. At least you feel as though you've really done something.''
That was the last thing the Bush campaign had in mind. And they were getting their way, in contrast to the last few GOP conventions when the party nominee had to struggle with conservative dissenters.
McCain joined in the general defense of Cheney, with whom he had served in. ``Of the thousands of votes, I'm sure all of us would say, `If I had it to do over again I wouldn't vote that way.'''
In his televised appearances, Cheney offered a loyalty pledge to Bush, saying he would air any differences in private, then ``salute smartly'' once a decision was made.
His comments about some of the votes he cast more than a decade ago meshed nicely with Bush's effort to run as a ``compassionate conservative.''
Cheney said some of the votes cited by his critics were cast under circumstances in which Democrats, then in the majority, refused to permit amendments.
Asked on NBC's ``Meet the Press'' about a vote against creation of the Department of Education, Cheney said, ``I would vote today to leave'' the agency in existence, although he said he favors greater local control of schools. Likewise for Head Start, he said.
Asked about votes against proposals to ban ``cop killer'' bullets and plastic guns, he indicated he would be open to a different decision now. ``Obviously I'd be happy to entertain that notion. I don't want to say I'm absolutely for cop killer bullets because obviously I'm not,'' he said.
Democrats decided not to cede an entire week's TV time to the Republicans.
One commercial, which aides said would run in selected areas of the country beginning Monday, described Cheney as ``one of only eight members of Congress to oppose the Clean Water Act, one of the few to vote against Head Start. He even voted against the school lunch program, against health insurance for people who lost their jobs. ...''
``What are their plans for working families?'' the ad concludes.
That commercial provoked a quick retort from the Bush campaign. ``Al Gore lacks a positive message while Dick Cheney voted with Ronald Reagan to reduce the deficit, cut taxes, and rebuild the military,'' said spokesman Ari Fleischer. ``We don't need any more slaughterhouses,'' he said, a reference to a printed report that Democratic aides are planning a ``slaughteringhouse style of campaigning.''
--------------------------------------------Copyright © 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
