"But a number of analysts thought the vice president made some headway criticizing Bush's record in Texas, arguing that the governor blocked hate crimes legislation and presides over a state that ranks last in health insurance for families and next to last for raising children.
"I assume those numbers are correct, because the governor was asked twice tonight to respond to those statistics and refused to challenge them. That is a record on health care that the American people should know about," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut.
Dodd's fellow senator from Connecticut, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, will travel to Texas on Thursday in a bid to draw attention to the state of health care, education and the environment in the Lone Star State.
His rival, GOP vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney, disputed assertions that the Bush had neglected those issues during his six years in office.
"Texas is a large industrial state with a rapidly growing population. We have not solved all the problems in Texas, but we've certainly made major progress and the record is a good one," Cheney told CNN.
"The ultimate judgment on his performance as governor of Texas are the the people of Texas. In the last election, after four years in office, they gave him an overwhelming election mandate," he continued. |
