At least Bush knows a leader when he sees one.
It looked like a coincidence when President Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry spoke within three blocks of each other along the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, on the same day last week.
This week, a pattern emerged.
Kerry, over a six-day period that began Sunday, is campaigning in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and California. Bush, over three days beginning today, is campaigning in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and California. In each instance, Bush is scheduled to follow Kerry by less than 72 hours. Both candidates will be in Los Angeles on Thursday, and both are scheduled to be in Portland on Friday.
It’s kind of sad, really. Kerry appears and talks to local voters, some of whom may be undecided about this year’s race. Almost immediately after, there’s Bush in the same place, speaking to hand-picked fans, some of whom had to sign loyalty oaths just to get in the door.
Then again…
“I do find it curious, maybe even suspicious,” said Kerry spokesman Luis Vizcaino, sensing an opportunity to take a jab. “But to think that the Bush campaign was clever enough to strategically plan events in the same states and at the same time as John Kerry would be giving Republicans too much credit.”
Good point.