GOP plans to answer Bush-bashing

WASHINGTON -- President Bush plans to lie low during next week's Democratic National Convention, but his reelection campaign will send a contingent to react to perceived Bush-bashing, and Vice President Dick Cheney will keep up the attacks on John Kerry during a West Coast swing.

The last two presidents seeking reelection quietly decamped to Jackson, Wyo., during the opposing party's nominating convention, and Bush will likewise keep a low profile when the Democrats gather in Boston.

Bush plans to spend July 23-29 at his Crawford, Texas, ranch catching his breath before the campaign's home stretch, aides say.

He and his wife, Laura, will be out of the limelight during the Democratic National Convention, July 26-29, taking a rare break from their heavy reelection travel in recent weeks.

His campaign, however, will send about a dozen people to Boston to rapidly respond to Democratic critics -- a "thorn-in-their-side" delegation, as one Bush adviser put it.

"We'll have a strong presence in Boston to respond to all of the charges and the negativity and pessimism that comes out of John Kerry's and John Edwards's campaign," a campaign spokesman, Scott Stanzel, said.

Just outside the Democrats' convention, the Republican National Committee will set up shop to do the same, though party and campaign officials were vague yesterday about whether they will combine their efforts.