(24 Feb 2004)
1. US President George W. Bush walks onto stage with First Lady Laura Bush and then goes to podium
2. Laura Bush seated near podium
3. Bush at podium
4. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President: (BITE begins as shot 3 pushes in to podium)
"We have a record of historic achievement. And most important, we have a positive vision for the years ahead, for winning the war against terror, for extending peace and freedom, for creating jobs and opportunity here at home. We''''''''ll leave no doubt where we stand, and we will win our second term in November."
5. Pan from audience clapping to wide side angle shot of Bush at podium
6. Bush at podium, low angle shot
7. Bush on stage as others applaud
8. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"Because our coalition acted, Saddam''''''''s torture chambers are closed. Because we acted the Middle East is more peaceful. Because we acted Iraq''''''''s weapons programmes are ended forever. Because we acted nations like Libya have gotten the message and renounced their weapons programmes. Because we acted an example of democracy is rising at the heart of the Middle East. Because we acted the world is more free and America is more secure."
9. Four Republican governors on stage, Bush''''''''s brother Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, at far right
10. Wide cutaway from side of stage
11. Bush and First Lady as they prepare to walk off stage
STORYLINE:
US President George W. Bush took the offensive on his re-election campaign on Monday, casting Democratic front-runner John Kerry as indecisive and warning that the Democrats would raise taxes, expand the government and fail to lead decisively on national security.
Previewing his principal re-election theme, Bush made national security the centerpiece of his re-election speech, explicitly invoking the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks.
He questioned the credentials of the Democrats who want his job. In his 40-minute address, Bush mentioned none of the Democratic presidential candidates by name, but some of his sharpest criticism was unmistakably intended for Kerry.
"The candidates are an interesting group with diverse opinions," Bush said. "They''''''''re for tax cuts and against them. They''''''''re for NAFTA and against NAFTA. They''''''''re for the Patriot Act and against the Patriot Act. They''''''''re in favour of liberating Iraq, and opposed to it. And that''''''''s just one senator from Massachusetts."
His supportive audience erupted in laughter and applause.
"The action we take and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences far into this century," Bush told 1,400 people at the fund-raiser for Republican governors.
Bush made a veiled reference to Kerry''''''''s call, in an interview 34 years ago, for UN control of the US military and said: "America must never out-source America''''''''s national security decisions to the leaders of other governments."
The president has sought to depict himself as above the political fray in recent months, even as Democrats pummelled him during their primary process.
The new address came at a time when he is preparing to launch a multimillion-dollar advertising barrage, with the slogan: "Steady Leadership in Times of Change."
The ads begin airing March 4, just two days after the wave of primary elections that is likely to cement the Democrats'''''''' choice to challenge Bush.
The president sought to end speculation that he will drop Cheney from the re-election ticket.
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