Bush campaign invokes Reagan (despite saying it would not do so)

[UpInArms]

http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24410~2201883,00.html

WASHINGTON - After three days of suspended political activity, the Bush campaign began openly incorporating Ronald Reagan's death into its reelection message yesterday, revamping its Web site to give Reagan a dominant role and distributing official campaign letters that invoke the former president.

Since Reagan's death on Saturday, Bush has repeatedly offered glowing praise of the 40th president in ways that echo his own reelection efforts, but were not overtly political.

Yesterday, his campaign took the refrain into the political realm. Bush officials sent an e- mail inviting supporters to add to a "living memorial" on the campaign Web site - one click away from the page that solicits campaign donations and recruits volunteers. Visitors to the official campaign site were automatically redirected to the Reagan tribute, paid for by the Bush/Cheney committee. It replaced the spot usually occupied by the campaign home page.

Meanwhile, lawmakers prepared to honor Reagan with the first state funeral in decades, an event that is almost certain to require both sides to abandon their partisan animosity and overt campaigning. But after a 72-hour stretch of glowing remembrances of Reagan, Republicans and Democrats began crafting statements that suited their political goals. Republicans continued to underscore similarities between the popular 40th president and Bush. Democrats noted differences, such as increasing partisan bitterness and an alienation of America's allies.

Bush has long sought to portray himself as Reagan's ideological heir, and with Reagan's death, he has augmented those efforts.

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Reminds me of Ashcroft after Mel Carnahan died - he said he would hold off campaign advertisements and after 2 days started right up again. It was disgusting.