GOP campaigns with an old friend

The GOP Leans on A Proven Strategy
White House Courts Conservative Base

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 25, 2006; Page A01

Beset by discouraging polls and division within ideological ranks, the White House is accelerating efforts to woo back disaffected conservatives and energize the Republican base in a reprise of a strategy that succeeded in the last two campaign cycles.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney have given multiple interviews to conservative journalists, senior adviser Karl Rove has telephoned religious and social activists, and the White House has staged signing ceremonies for legislation cracking down on terrorism and illegal immigration. Two weeks before Election Day, Bush aides invited dozens of radio talk show hosts for a marathon broadcast from the White House yesterday to reach conservative listeners.



The message that Bush and others are sending to alienated supporters is that, no matter how upset they have been about various policies or political missteps over the past couple of years, life would be far worse under the Democrats. They name liberal lawmakers who would take charge of key committees and warn conservatives that taxes would go up and protection against terrorists would go down. And they cite, in particular, the confirmation of two conservative Supreme Court justices who might have been blocked by a Democratic Senate.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102401563.html?referrer=email

The president and his allies campaign with an old friend. Fear. Fear of what they perceive their adversaries would do if elected and never on their record of accomplishments of the last six years. Could it be because they have none to stand on? This is indeed a failed presidency and congress.