Vice President Dick Cheney says President Bush is determined to win New Mexico voters over this election year, referring to the close race in 2000 when he lost the state by only 400 votes.
Cheney visited Albuquerque on Monday to rally Republican supporters for the Bush administration's re-election campaign. He spoke at a $1,000 a plate fund raising lunch at the Marriott Pyramid Hotel that raised more than $200,000 in campaign funds for the president.
"The past four years have been characterized by hard choices for the Bush administration, but we assumed our responsibilities ready to solve the country's problems rather than passing them on the future generations," Cheney said to a crowd of about 160 cheering Republicans, including state dignitaries Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson.
About 100 of those who attended the event also shelled out an additional $1,000 to have their photos taken with Cheney.
His speech delved into issued such as the national economy and President Bush's controversial proposed tax cuts, but was largely dominated by the Iraq war and the nation's ongoing war on terrorism.
"Let us have no illusions that the danger facing our country has passed," Cheney said. "Our enemies are constantly looking for ways to disrupt the American way of life, and our only option is to take the fight to them."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
He addressed the recent controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the intelligence that led to Bush's decision to launch preemptive combat operations against Iraq.
Cheney said the U.S. government knows Saddam Hussein had capacity to manufacture nuclear and biological weapons, and that Iraq had the technology necessary to develop ways to deliver those weapons to the countries America considers its allies.
"There's no question we did the right thing in Iraq," he said. "We are committed to finishing what we started there and winning the war on terror."
Cheney also paid tribute to the nearly 200,000 U.S. military personnel carrying out the wishes of the government overseas, acknowledging that the situation they're in is not an easy one.
He said the government and the military understand that extended deployments and the growing U.S. death toll are having an affect on the service men and women and are working to improve those conditions.
Several people in attendance touted President Bush as one of the greatest leaders in the history of the country and said no one could have handled the tumultuous past four years as well as him.
"Bush is going to go down in the annals of history as one of the most influential presidents ever," said Ken Zangara, a prominent local Republican and owner of Zangara Dodge in Albuquerque. "There's no doubt he is facing a long, hard battle in the upcoming election, but he's the man to lead this country."
In what is expected to be the last visit to Albuquerque by Bush administration officials before the November election, Cheney said Bush's proposed tax-cut system is essential to long-term prosperity for the country.
Many critics have protested the program, saying the tax cuts would benefit only the richest few.
Still, Cheney said Republican lawmakers are pushing Congress to make the proposed cuts permanent.
He said despite the rough past four years the Bush administration has faced, characterized by the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and ongoing military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, they want the chance to lead this country for another term.
"The campaign season is underway and we are going to run hard," Cheney said. "We're not taking anything for granted and appreciate every day we are privileged to run this country."
