NEW YORK, 4 September 2004 — President George W. Bush has staked his re-election on his ability to protect the United States from terrorism, running the risk of losing votes on key bread-and-butter issues, analysts said.
The need to keep the country secure dominated the start and the end of Bush’s address Thursday to the Republican National Convention accepting the party’s nomination for a second term.
“Most of the last half was all about foreign policy, mostly Iraq, the war on terrorism, issues polls say he’s strongest on,” said Eric Davis, a political science professor at Middlebury University in Vermont.
Bush’s strategy has been to boost his foreign policy while tearing down the fitness of John Kerry, his Democratic rival in the Nov. 2 election, to be commander in chief.
Marty Kaplan, a political analyst with the University of Southern California, said that Bush plows on with no regrets, even about unpopular ventures such as Iraq.
“He makes no apologies for his failure to plan properly for the postwar period, for the failure of intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, for the failure of pre-Sept. 11 intelligence,” said Kaplan.
Analysts said Bush was playing up his record as president and sounding an upbeat note for the future in classic campaign style. He spoke at length Thursday about the daily struggle of ordinary Americans but offered no new solutions.
“It’s all warmed-over stuff from previous State of the Union messages and stump speeches,” Kaplan said.
“He wants people to believe he’s focused on the future and optimistic, but there was little detail to it and he showed little understanding of how fearful some people are about their economic future.”
David Corbin, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, agreed the president’s speech contained little new substance.
“He (Bush) is trying to mention different parts of the domestic platform and sprinkle optimism on education, the economy, taxes, health care. He barely touches the issue and sprinkles optimism on.”
Bush is at his best when discussing foreign policy and terrorism, Corbin said. “When he gets back to that theme, it’s really where his heart is.” Corbin said the strategy could backfire and alienate many swing voters, particularly those who would say it is all well and good to promote freedom abroad, but attention must be paid to suffering at home.
Davis, however, saw little danger for Bush stressing his credentials as a “war president” Thursday. He said the theme was just an extension of the message the campaign has been cultivating for months.
The experts agreed that Kerry should be focusing on the economy and social issues such as jobs, education, health care and Social Security. Bush’s father lost his bid for re-election in 1992 precisely because he ignored the economy. “If Kerry is to make a move, he needs to focus on domestic issues because his strengths are there, and Bush is lacking,” Davis said.
A recent Gallup poll showed Kerry leading Bush 49-43 percent in voter confidence in his ability to manage the economy. The president also did not appear to have scored many points with his tax cut proposals.
After weeks on the defensive over attacks on his Vietnam War record, Kerry seems eager to refocusing on domestic issues.
The Democrat, who has been campaigning on the theme, “Stronger at Home, Respected in the World,” began stumping Thursday with a new slogan: “A Stronger America Begins at Home.”
