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To: LindyBill who wrote (34041)	3/12/2004 11:08:48 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793738

Sept. 11 response will continue to be Bush theme By Richard Benedetto, USA TODAY EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — President Bush broke ground Thursday for construction of a memorial to 281 Nassau County residents who died in the World Trade Center attacks. Bush's foray into such an emotional and high-profile event demonstrated that he has no intention of pulling back in the face of complaints from some firefighters, relatives of victims and Democrats that he is using Sept. 11 for political gain. The critics are especially upset over Bush campaign ads that use images from Ground Zero. Bush campaign strategists say he will continue to make his response to the terrorist attacks a central theme of his re-election bid. Polls show his strongest support comes from leading the war on terror. (Related story: Bush ads say Kerry would hurt war on terror) "The world changed on 9/11, and this campaign is about who is best prepared to provide steady leadership in the face of the new realities created by those attacks," Bush campaign spokesman Terry Holt said. Bush did not speak at the somber memorial ceremony, which also was attended by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York Gov. George Pataki and relatives and friends of victims. The president was seen wiping away a tear amid the strains of Amazing Grace played by the Nassau County Police bagpipe band. Later, he spent more than 40 minutes shaking hands with, hugging and even kissing relatives of victims. Some relatives of victims expressed bitterness about Bush to reporters. "No one's been held accountable for anything about 9/11," said Bill Doyle, who lost his son, Joseph, 25, at the World Trade Center. Doyle criticized the image in Bush's campaign commercial of the flag-draped remains of a victim being carried from the debris. New York Democrats said Bush is playing a shameless game to gain votes. "I suppose we can expect to see images of the groundbreaking in future commercials," said Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell, chairman of the state Democratic committee. Before the groundbreaking, Bush visited USA Industries, a Bay Shore company where auto parts are reconditioned. The president talked up the job-creating potential of his tax cuts and warned against restricting trade, what he called "economic isolationism." He also attended a fundraiser here where $1.6 million was raised for his campaign. New York last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 1984 when it backed Ronald Reagan. Bush lost New York by 1.2 million votes in 2000. Although the state's governor and the mayor of New York City are Republicans, registered Democrats outnumber the GOP by 5-3. Independent analysts say Bush's chance to gain New York's 31 electoral votes, even with the GOP National Convention in New York City in late August, is slim. Quinnipiac University polling director Maurice Carroll, who has polled extensively in New York, said, "New York will go Republican when hell freezes over." Find this article at: usatoday.com