UNM College Republicans helped launch President Bush's re-election campaign Thursday at the "Party 4 the President."
Vice President Dick Cheney made a conference call to the event and to more than 5,000 simultaneous national events. He urged his supporters to stand behind President Bush and register as many voters as possible by Nov. 2.
"The fact that six months ahead of the campaign we have this many young people ready and eager to stand behind the candidate, in this case President Bush, is a great thing," said New Mexico College Republicans Chairman Scott Darnell.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, chairman of Albuquerque's Bush/Cheney '04 campaign, spoke about the importance of grass-roots organizing to secure Republican victory in New Mexico.
"We talked a lot about the grass-roots effort, about getting people to vote and getting people to register," he said. "It's important that we have people that show up to these events. Believe me, people out there are watching because they want to know who's organized and who's being supported by the people of New Mexico."
White added the Republican Party lost by 366 votes in New Mexico in 2000.
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"That is the smallest margin of victory anywhere in 2000," he said.
Originally, the event was to be held at Tiguex Park, but windy weather and the threat of rain thwarted that option. About 40 supporters showed up when the event was later moved to the Albuquerque Bush/Cheney campaign headquarters on the corner of Osuna Road and Chappell Drive.
White played a short film dramatizing President Bush's achievements since his victory in 2000.
"Thanks a lot for coming out to support me; I wish I could be there in person to thank you," Bush said in a statement at the film's end. "I need you to talk to your friends at the coffee shops and your place of work and your neighbors, and ask them to join our great effort."
Bush's handling of terrorism and national security were primary themes of the evening, and chief among the reasons why organizers said Bush and Cheney should be re-elected.
UNM College Republicans co-woman Phara Forsythe said Bush's war on terrorism is the primary reason she continues to campaign for his re-election - second only to his sense of compassion.
"I'm a strong supporter of the president because of his compassion," she said.
Event organizer Alexis Valdez said she was expecting from 70 to 100 supporters before the weather changed. She has been actively involved in campaigns throughout New Mexico for as long as she can remember.
"The fact that after Sept. 11, I was able to say that I was proud to have a leader who didn't back down, and stood up against terrorism, and made me feel comfortable to be an American - that's a success," she said.
Valdez said she is disturbed by criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Bush's war on terrorism.
"What bothers me is that they (critics) can sit back and let their fellow brothers and sisters fight to keep them safe and free, and yet they criticize their efforts out there," she said. "That really hurts me."
