GOP convention adds speakers

President Bush's re-election campaign is assembling a list of speakers for the Republican National Convention that will stress his leadership qualities, express support for the war on terrorism and assure socially conservative voters that he is one of them.

Organizers of the gathering in New York from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 say the assembly will emphasize Bush's strong points and aggressively attack his rival, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as too weak for the job.

Social conservatives were not thrilled with the initial list of speakers released by the Republican National Committee, noting that the likes of Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hailed from the party's moderate wing.

Paul Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, told newsletter subscribers: "If the president is embarrassed to be seen with conservatives at the convention, maybe conservatives will be embarrassed to be seen with the president on Election Day."

But organizers recently added some conservative voices to the lineup, including Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who led the fight for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois.

"These speakers have seen President Bush's strong, steady leadership and each will attest to his character from a unique perspective," said convention chief Bill Harris. "Their vast experience and various points of view are a testament to the depth and breadth of the support for the Republican ticket in 2004."

The three speakers likely to attract the most attention are McCain, Giuliani and Santorum since each can speak to a constituency Bush needs if he hopes to win re-election.

Perhaps most prominent is McCain. As a result of his ultimately unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, he proved an attractive draw among independents, a diminishing voting sector this year that ultimately could decide the outcome.

McCain has been campaigning with Bush this week, apparently burying past differences with the man who defeated him four years ago. He will offer support for Bush administration policies, particularly the war in Iraq. But McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, has indicated he will not attack Kerry, a Vietnam veteran and a man he considers a friend.

Giuliani's appearance is a symbolic reminder of 9/11. Organizers hope the man who became known as "America's mayor" for the manner in which he rallied his battered city will lead voters to recall the leadership displayed by Bush at the time.

Santorum will speak to those considered Bush's base -- evangelical conservatives. Strategists believe that getting these voters to the polls in big numbers on Nov. 2 could make a difference.

Republicans are hopeful that first lady Laura Bush will emerge as one of the most effective convention speakers.

She has been touring on behalf of the re-election campaign, speaking on issues ranging from stem-cell research to the economy.