Post by Emerald City on Nov 1, 2004 14:39:30 GMT -5
By CALVIN WOODWARD and DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writers
MILWAUKEE - President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry raced through a frenzied last day of campaigning Monday, pressing hard for support in Ohio, Wisconsin and other narrowly divided states in a presidential election still too close to call.
Squeezing every dwindling hour for campaigning, Bush laid on a six-state, seven-stop tour stretching from early morning into late night, mostly in the Midwest. Kerry was working the heartland for a final time, too, after a morning stop in Florida, scene of the disputed 2000 vote that gave Bush the presidency.
At an airport rally in Ohio, where more than 200,000 jobs have been lost in the past four years, Bush said, "I know the economy of this state has been through a lot, but we are moving in the right direction."
"We have to keep your taxes low and I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that my opponent will raise the taxes on Ohio's families and Ohio's small businesses," Bush asserted.
Seemingly upbeat, Bush greeted supporters in Milwaukee a few hours later: "I want to thank all the cheeseheads who are here."
Kerry, saying he felt "fabulous," headed for Milwaukee, too, a state Al Gore won in 2000 and the Democrats cannot afford to lose this year.
Earlier, in Orlando, Kerry told supporters, "This is the moment of accountability for America. It's the moment where the world is watching what you're going to do."
He started the day by attending All Saints Day mass. Schoolgirls at St. John Vianney Catholic School squealed when he shook their hands through schoolroom windows.
Both sides had get-out-the-vote armies primed for action, plus lawyers deployed across the country ready to throw any photo finish into court at the first sign of polling-place irregularities.
"I expect this election is going to be decided Tuesday night," Kerry told The Associated Press on Sunday, "but, given experience, I would be irresponsible if I wasn't prepared to be able to protect every person's right to vote."
MILWAUKEE - President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry raced through a frenzied last day of campaigning Monday, pressing hard for support in Ohio, Wisconsin and other narrowly divided states in a presidential election still too close to call.
Squeezing every dwindling hour for campaigning, Bush laid on a six-state, seven-stop tour stretching from early morning into late night, mostly in the Midwest. Kerry was working the heartland for a final time, too, after a morning stop in Florida, scene of the disputed 2000 vote that gave Bush the presidency.
At an airport rally in Ohio, where more than 200,000 jobs have been lost in the past four years, Bush said, "I know the economy of this state has been through a lot, but we are moving in the right direction."
"We have to keep your taxes low and I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that my opponent will raise the taxes on Ohio's families and Ohio's small businesses," Bush asserted.
Seemingly upbeat, Bush greeted supporters in Milwaukee a few hours later: "I want to thank all the cheeseheads who are here."
Kerry, saying he felt "fabulous," headed for Milwaukee, too, a state Al Gore won in 2000 and the Democrats cannot afford to lose this year.
Earlier, in Orlando, Kerry told supporters, "This is the moment of accountability for America. It's the moment where the world is watching what you're going to do."
He started the day by attending All Saints Day mass. Schoolgirls at St. John Vianney Catholic School squealed when he shook their hands through schoolroom windows.
Both sides had get-out-the-vote armies primed for action, plus lawyers deployed across the country ready to throw any photo finish into court at the first sign of polling-place irregularities.
"I expect this election is going to be decided Tuesday night," Kerry told The Associated Press on Sunday, "but, given experience, I would be irresponsible if I wasn't prepared to be able to protect every person's right to vote."