Cheney gets Leid

[Dooby]

Mainly just wanted the headline; nothing really remarkable in the article itself. [img]i/expressions/anim_laugh.gif[/img]

Cheney Makes a Quick Stop in Hawaii

Cheney Makes a Quick Stop in Hawaii
Four Electoral Votes at Stake
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 1, 2004; 5:59 AM


HONOLULU, Hawaii (Oct. 31) -- Vice President Cheney flew all night to say aloha to Hawaiians and make a last-minute pitch for their four electoral votes, the first time since 1960 that anyone on a presidential ticket spared the time and money to campaign in the distant island state.

"I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd stop by and say aloha," a lei-draped Cheney told thousands gathered in the Honolulu Convention Center on a stage lush with ginger plants and exotic flowers. He was welcomed by drummers and dancers tossing flaming batons.

Cheney, who spent 18 hours aloft aboard Air Force Two on Halloween as he jetted from one battleground state to the next, gave up a night's sleep for his tropical detour. He touched down at Hickham Air Force Base at 10:03 p.m. local time, or just after 3 a.m. in Washington -- too late to see any of the spectacular scenery. And he left after two hours, without so much as a moment to wiggle his toes in the sand or hear Don Ho sing.

But he made the most of his minutes on the ground, revving up local Republicans. Unlike residents of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania and the other battleground states where people have tired of political ads, automated telephone calls and campaign literature stuffed in their mailboxes, many Hawaiians seemed excited that their state was finally a player on the national stage. "Finally, Hawaii counts for something!" said Maryjane Carlos, a 63-year-old retiree waving a Bush-Cheney sign.

The Republicans decided to make the odyssey late last week, after polls showed President Bush could win the traditionally Democratic stronghold. A poll by the state's largest newspaper, the Honolulu Advertiser, found Bush and Kerry tied among likely voters. A second survey by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin showed Bush ahead by one point.

The numbers surprised strategists in both parties because Hawaii has been largely controlled by Democrats since it became a state in 1959 and was never among the tossup states that have been courted throughout the campaign by the candidates. Bush lost Hawaii by 19 percentage points in 2000 and only two Republican presidential candidates have carried it -- Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984.

But Hawaii is home to a significant population of active and retired military -- some of whom turned out to greet Cheney. And in 2002, voters elected their first Republican governor in 40 years, Linda Lingle. One of her top priorities has been to attract Asian Americans and Hawaiians to the state Republican Party.

Lester Abellana, a 49-year-old Filipino American who retired from the Navy, said it felt good to see other Filipino-Americans waiting in line to get inside the rally.

Hawaii is heavily reliant on tourism and has benefited from Japan's improving economy with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. Residents have told pollsters they think the country is headed in the right direction. Polls show Bush pulled even with Kerry about two weeks ago and has been gaining strength.

Cheney chided the Democrats when he said: "Some candidates may take Hawaii for granted -- President Bush and I take it seriously." He made repeated appeals to Democrats and Independents. "It doesn't matter which party you belong to, or who you have voted for in the past. We're asking for your support," he said.

He also geared his remarks to the heavy military presence on the island and in the crowd. "Our success in the war on terror is made possible by the men and women of our military," he said to thunderous applause.

Cheney's speech was interrupted once by a protester who screamed "Dick Cheney. In two days, you'll be retired!" but that person was quickly drowned out by others shouting "Four More Years!" Protesters also lined the motorcade route to the convention center and shouted in the dark at the vice president's passing limousine.

Cheney referred to Pearl Harbor, just a few miles from the convention hall, drawing parallels between 1941 and 2001. "That day our peaceful country found itself in a global struggle that would last nearly four years and would test our resolve as a nation," he said. "Fortunately for us all, a great generation of Americans was more than equal to that challenge. . . . Three years ago, America faced another sudden attack. And like other generations of Americans, we found that history had unexpected duties in store for us. September 11 made clear the great challenge of our time."

The vice president characterized John Kerry as a wavering opportunist whose political views shift with the polls. "On vital matters of national security, Senator Kerry offers a record of weakness and a strategy of retreat," he said. "President Bush offers a record of steady purpose and resolute action and a strategy for victory."

After the rally, the vice president, his wife and his weary entourage got back on the plane for a six-hour ride to Colorado Springs, where they were due at a rally Monday morning. They were scheduled to fly from Colorado to Nevada, where they will stop at events in Reno and Las Vegas before heading to Wyoming. Cheney planned to vote in Jackson, Wyo., on Tuesday morning.

To counter the Cheney visit, the Democrats dispatched Al Gore and Alexandra Kerry to Hawaii on Friday. They attended a high school concert in a working class neighborhood in Honolulu. Both parties, with money to spend up until the end, have been buying advertising on local television.

[chumdawg]

Doobs, why is Bush closing things out in Dallas tonight? You would think he would spent the last night in a battleground state, wouldn't you?

[Dooby]

Originally posted by: chumdawg
Doobs, why is Bush closing things out in Dallas tonight? You would think he would spent the last night in a battleground state, wouldn't you?

Ah, but he has to vote, doesn't he? He has to be in Crawford in the morning for the photo op on Tuesday.

Might as well stop into Dallas where he can gin up the vote in his "hometown" because winning the popular vote is important. Nice pretty pictures of Bush and thousands of the faithful in Moody colliseum for the morning shows.

[u2sarajevo]

Besides.... Wisconsin is a battleground state and Bush has the likes of this smart woman campaigning for him...

[Evilmav2]

Here's a sweating Al Gore after he got Leid...

[chumdawg]

Originally posted by: Dooby

Ah, but he has to vote, doesn't he? He has to be in Crawford in the morning for the photo op on Tuesday.

Might as well stop into Dallas where he can gin up the vote in his "hometown" because winning the popular vote is important. Nice pretty pictures of Bush and thousands of the faithful in Moody colliseum for the morning shows.

Makes sense. I just thought it was odd when I saw last night that Kerry was wrapping things up in Cleveland and Bush was wrapping things up in Texas. I figured Bush could take a late flight back home.

But then I saw his schedule today. Six states in nineteen hours, or something like that. He's certainly getting around.

Should be a nice rally at Moody tonight. I watched Bush last night at the ballpark in Cincy, and he seemed full of energy and enthusiasm. I'm glad to see he is finishing strong.