Bush Wraps Up California Swing
Wrapping up a trip to California, George W. Bush on Firday marked a day of remembrance for soldiers in a city rich with military ties.
On POW-MIA Recognition Day, Bush said that if elected he would press other countries to provide information about unaccounted-for U.S. servicemen.
"We must have the fullest possible accounting," Bush said at a rally in front of a Vietnam War memorial. "I will continue to seek relevant information from Vietnam, North Korea, Russia, China, Laos and Cambodia."
He said, "I will place this matter high on America's diplomatic agenda and make it clear to all countries concerned that this is a test of good faith in their dealings with the United States of America."
Bush addressed the rally in a city that's home to a Navy base and many active and retired military personnel. He was wrapping up a trip to California, where he is struggling to capture the state's 54 electoral votes in November.
First, he stopped at Central Elementary School, a predominantly Hispanic school where he urged third-graders in a reading class to pick up a book instead of watching TV.
“I hope you practice,” he told them. “If you're a good reader, you can go to college and be anything you want to be,” he said as he sat in on a class where they were reading “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
Speaking to teachers and administrators, he highlighted his proposals focusing on testing to measure school performance.
“There has to be accountability,” he said.
Bush plans to return to California in two weeks and is sending his vice presidential running mate Dick Cheney to campaign here next week.
The GOP presidential nominee blazed through the state's central region, skirting Los Angeles to visit Orange County, where he burst into a small-town coffee shop to shake hands with startled patrons, fielded questions from Hispanic teen-agers at a public high school and held a rally in an Asian-American neighborhood.
Along the way he's portrayed himself as a Republican who cares about the concerns of minorities, wants to improve schools and will help working families subjects not always associated with the GOP.
Polls show Bush running behind Vice President Al Gore among California voters. At a fund-raiser in San Diego to raise money for the state GOP, Bush brushed off polls and said he's optimistic.
“I've never been one to worry too much about the conventional wisdom of the political process,” Bush said. “I feel great about our chances. We are going to carry the state of California.”
Bush said he “can't wait” to debate Gore at three presidential debates that his campaign finally agreed to. The three prime-time debates are scheduled for Oct. 3, Oct. 11 and Oct. 17.
“I know the man is a great debaer, but what Americans want is a leader,” Bush said.
While in California Bush focused on education reform and military readiness, visiting the elementary school on Friday before heading to San Diego's Balboa Park to recognize POW day.
The Bush campaign said several retired military commanders, including some nominated to top posts by President Clinton, plan to endorse Bush.
They include just-retired Persian Gulf commander Gen. Anthony Zinni; Adm. Jay Johnson, who retired as head of the Navy this summer; Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, who resigned as Air Force Chief in 1997; former Air Force chief Gen. Merrill McPeak; and former Marine Commandant Gen. Carl Mundy, said Mindy Tucker, speaking for Bush.
Bush has accused the Clinton administration of running down the military and says, if elected, he'll increase soldiers' pay and spend more on technology and training to improve U.S. forces.