In a final attempt to sway voters before Election Day, President Bush visited Milwaukee Monday and promised to deliver a stronger and more hopeful America, if re-elected in today's general election.
With yellow and green 'W's waving in the air and shouts of "four more years" resounding throughout the 11,000-member audience in the U.S. Cellular Arena, Bush said the election comes down to five clear choices for families just an hour before his rival, Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), spoke to a crowd of supporters behind City Hall.
Country-western duo Brooks & Dunn sang before Bush took the stage.
"The people of Wisconsin, of America, have the chance to vote for strong, confident and personal leadership," Bush said.
Bush said the first clear choice is a family's budget.
"When I ran for president four years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families," he said. "I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the tax code ought to encourage, not penalize, marriage. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. And the result of our good policies is clear to all."
He said the economy is growing at the fastest rate as any in 20 years and 1.9 million jobs have been added in the past 13 months.
Rep. Mark Green (R) echoed Bush and said, "America is on the march."
Bush's second clear choice is the quality of life for American families.
"We will continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available," Bush said. "We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will help our families who need help. But we will also do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of your health care and running good doctors out of practice."
Bush cited retirement as the third clear choice.
"Our nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare," he said. "When I ran for president four years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage."
By 2006, Bush promised all seniors would be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
Bush's fourth clear choice is "on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong.
"I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society," he said.
Bush cited his signing of a ban on partial birth abortion as an example of his support "for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts."
The final choice in today's election is security, Bush said.
"Our strategy to protect America is clear," he said. "We strengthened protections for the homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the all-volunteer army. There will be no draft. We are relentless, we are determined. We are staying on the offensive. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home."
Bush promised the country will not show uncertainty or weakness on his watch.
According to Jamie Ronge, a senior in the College of Communication and a member of Marquette's College Republicans and Students for Bush, there were about 75 Marquette students at the Victory Rally representing both groups.
She said the few days before the election have been less about recruiting new voters and more about firing up the established base of supporters and getting them to the polls.