In N.H., Bush goes to bat for economy
MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Two days after Democrats wrapped up their headline-dominating primary, President Bush came to the Granite State yesterday to participate in a discussion on the economy, soak up praise from investment company employees, and remind voters in this swing state that Democrats are not the only game in town.
Like other such roundtable discussions the president has participated in over the past few months, Bush did most of the discussing, prodding Congress to pass proposals -- such as making his tax cuts permanent -- that he argues would strengthen the economy, and cracking jokes at Fidelity Investments here.
"It's great to be back at Fidelity. It's good to see Mr. Johnson, Ned Johnson, who is the founder of this fantastic company," Bush said, then turned to Johnson's daughter Abigail, who is president of Fidelity. "And Abby, the president -- Abby Johnson. There is nothing wrong with a child following in the father's footsteps."
But one of the president's roundtable participants went off-script. "I do have a question for you on behalf of New England," said Amy Meaney, a Fidelity employee from Goffstown who was supposed to talk about how she and her husband benefit from tax reductions Bush pushed through Congress. "We need to know. Are you rooting for the Pats this weekend?"
The audience laughed while Bush quickly offered his response: "Did you notice who was in the box with the first lady at the State of the Union?"
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was one of Laura Bush's guests that night, though the president, mindful of his hopes to impress the fans of the Carolina Panthers this fall, didn't want to dwell on the subject.
"I appreciate you coming," he told Meaney, after she did detail how she and her husband were upgrading their home with the extra money. "Quit putting me on the spot."
New Hampshire has a history of putting Bush on the spot. US Senator John S. McCain of Arizona handily defeated Bush in the New Hampshire primary four years ago, though Bush went on to win the nomination and carry the state over Al Gore by 7,200 votes.
As Bush campaigns for reelection, the state could be fertile ground for the president.
New Hampshire has lost 20 percent of its manufacturing jobs over the last three years, but its unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, well below the national rate of 5.7 percent.
Over the last few weeks, however, Democrats seeking their party's presidential nomination pounded on Bush, blasting him for everything from his policy in Iraq to what they described as economic policies skewed to benefit the wealthy.
Bush jokingly made reference to the primary that had consumed the Granite State and much of the nation.
"I understand there's been some activity in the state of New Hampshire recently," he said.
Most of Bush's comments were on the economy, which he described in unabashedly positive terms.
"It's working," Bush said about the tax cuts. "It's working. The economy is growing; people are finding work. There's an excitement in our economy."
Bush's trip yesterday was his second to Fidelity in four years. He spoke at the company in 2000.
Dale Gilpin, vice president and Merrimack regional general manager at Fidelity, introduced Bush and thanked him for his tax cutting policies, drawing cheers and applause for his successful push to reduce taxes on capital gains and dividends.
"We understand the long-term benefits of your actions," Gilpin said. Later yesterday, Bush paid a visit to Swan Chocolates in Merrimack before flying to Connecticut for a fund-raiser.
