 |
|
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bush courts Hispanic votes in IowaBy Patty Davis/CNN
August 6, 1999 DES MOINES, Iowa (AllPolitics, August 6) -- As the Iowa straw poll approaches, GOP front-runner George W. Bush tries to court the Hispanic vote in Des Moines in a very public way. What was supposed to be a private meeting with Hispanic voters Thursday turned into a photo opportunity for Bush. It also was an attempt on his part to mend fences after declining to speak to the National Council of La Raza, a Latino advocacy group, last week. Yet, Bush stood his ground on the sensitive issue of immigration uttering some strong words in support of restrictions.
"The real question is does there need to be limitations on immigration? I think the answer is yes," Bush said. His staff tried to whip up votes at several Bush appearances in Iowa -- places like Clear Lake, the self-proclaimed Main Street, USA. More than 500 people came to meet Bush as well as hear his personal appeal at Clear Lake. And Bush seemed to be pleased by the turnout: "It's a big deal -- a lot of -- a lot of people watching," he said. "And it's a chance to show how good a grassroots organization we've got in this really incredibly important state," he told the crowd of more than 200 in Des Moines. "And I hope you can come," he added, referring to the GOP straw poll taking place in Ames, Iowa, next week. The straw poll is widely seen as the first test of whether front-runner George W. Bush can deliver votes. "Because he's said he's competing to win, the other candidates see a chance to stop what they see as his big momentum," said Michael Kranish of The Boston Globe. But Bush's Republican opponents are doing just about everything they can to slow him down. Candidates including Steve Forbes and Lamar Alexander have each spent several weeks in Iowa wooing voters, and criticizing Bush for spending only six days in the state so far. In response, Bush gives as an excuse his busy schedule as a governor of Texas. "The reason I haven't been here a lot of time before is I'm the governor of Texas," he said. Nevertheless, his campaign is confident it can deliver 5,000 votes in the straw poll -- double what the winners received last time. To do that, Governor Bush must convince voters that his front-runner status doesn't mean they can sit back. They have to come to the straw poll and vote to keep him there. |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MORE STORIES:Friday, August 6, 1999
• Clinton, Republicans begin recess battle over tax cuts • Who Was Deep Throat? • Bush courts Hispanic votes in Iowa • Pataki endorses Giuliani in Republican U.S. Senate race • Video: FEC proposes new campaign Web site rules • Clinton orders study on policing the Internet • Fewer Americans know Watergate details, but most say Nixon was right to quit • Lott says he wants emergency farm aid cut • Hubbell says Whitewater constituted a probe 'looking for a crime' • Candidates respond to the House tax relief package • Gore and son climbing Rainier • Gingrich outraises his former colleagues • Joint committee opens talks on juvenile violence, gun legislation • Congress begins recess, leaving huge spending task for fall • Feds drop investigation of former congressman, business associate • GOP leaders backing right to sue HMOs • Hillary Clinton has Jewish branch on family tree • Hatch asks Rehnquist to review assignments of Clinton judges • U.S. Senate passes bill to outlaw 'cybersquatting' • Architect chosen for Clinton library in Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Windows Media: