US President Bush Formally Launches Re-election Bid

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, May 17, 2003

US President Bush Formally Launches Re-election Bid

United States President George W.Bush filed papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Friday, formally launching his re-election bid, the White House confirmed.

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United States President George W.Bush filed papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Friday, formally launching his re-election bid, the White House confirmed.

The papers were filed by a White House clerk on orders issued by President Bush late last week, two senior White House officialswere quoted by local press reports as saying.

Filing with the FEC is a legal step required for a presidential contender, which clears the way for Bush to raise money, hire staff and open a campaign headquarters for his seeking a second term as president.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Bush's campaign headquarters will be set up in northern Virginia, and KenMehlman, White House political director, will be named his campaign manager.

The officials disclosed that Bush has no plans to formally announce his re-election, but he plans to make his first appearance at a fund-raiser in June.

Bush took advantage of his high postwar popularity to launch his re-election bid. Despite a sluggish economy, recent polls show that 65 percent to 70 percent of Americans approve of his job performance.

Political observers here say Bush is apparently trying to avoid the same fate of his father in 1992. Though with a high approval rating after the 1991 Persian Gulf war, the elder Bush was defeated in the 1992 presidential election by then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton because of the weak economy.

Nine Democrats have announced their intention to challenge President Bush in the 2004 election. They are Senators Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Bob Graham of Florida, John Kerry of Massachusetts, John Edwards of North Carolina, Representative Richard Gephardt of Missouri, Representative Dennis J. Jucinich of Ohio, Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, former Senator and former ambassador Carol Moseley Braun and New York activist Al Sharpton.

The Democratic presidential contenders believe that the weak economy, problems in postwar Iraq or even another terrorist strike on US soil could change Bush's political fortunes.

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