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Will You Vote For The Bush/Cheney 2004
Wed Jun 25 03:22:32 2003
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Will You Vote For The Bush/Cheney 2004 Presidential Ticket? ]

Will You Vote For The Bush/Cheney 2004 Presidential Ticket?

18.4%
Definitely (431 responses)

79.5%
Absolutely Not (1863 responses)

2.1%
Undecided (49 responses)

2343 total responses
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-bush0623,0,2759733.story?vote8319069=1

President George W. Bush flew into New York City Monday, took a limousine ride with former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, delivered a 29-minute speech and collected $4 million from Gotham's Republicans.

Bush, wearing a navy suit and red tie, shared the stage with Gov. George Pataki and Giuliani -- and not Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who left early to throw the first pitch at a Brooklyn Cyclones game.

About 1,200 attended the $2,000-a-head fund-raiser at the Sheraton New York Hotel in midtown as several thousand anti-Bush protesters demonstrated on the streets outside.

"It's nice to be back in this great city of New York City," Bush said as some in the crowd yelled, "We love you." Then he added: "I'm going to come back."

Bush then introduced a "who's who" of New York Republicans in the crowd, including former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Giuliani, who drew wild applause.

"Rudy and I and his new bride traveled from the helicopter pad together and it's clear, like me, he married above himself," Bush said.

Judith Nathan, wearing a beige knit dress, said, "It was really fun" riding with the president.

To the protesters, who lined police barricades a block from the hotel, Bush's visit wasn't an occasion for celebration. Some protesters -- demonstrating against Bush's civil rights record, his position on abortion rights and his AIDS policies -- chanted and waved banners and effigies of the president.

Gays and lesbians chanted, "Texas, Texas, anti-gay, Bush and Cheney go away."

At least seven demonstrators were arrested on disorderly conduct charges, police said.

"Bush has gone to war in the name of freedom, liberty and democracy, but he is undermining freedom, liberty and democracy around the world," said demonstrator Carla Goldstein, assistant director of Planned Parenthood of New York.

The Bush cocktail party "met all our expectations," said Bush-Cheney 2004 spokesman Dan Ronayne, "New York really came out for the president."

Bush was received enthusiastically at first but as his speech lingered on, some in the crowd appeared restless. As Bush finished, many crowded the stage for a handshake, a kiss or a snapshot.

Wilma Mooney, 54, a retired Manhattan stockbroker, pinched the president's cheek and he returned the favor by kissing her on the cheek.

"Thank God he's the president. I love him because he has moral clarity plus he's a hottie," she said.

This traditionally Democratic stronghold was not among Bush's favorite money-raising towns when he first ran for president in 2000. Last night's visit came 14 months before Bush's expected renomination at the Republican National Convention in Madison Square Garden.

Staff writers William Murphy and Cynthia Needham contributed to this story.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-bush0623,0,2759733.story