Home > OSAMA’S ’GIFT’ FOR BUSH BACKFIRES IN POLLS
Elections-Elected Attack-Terrorism USA
by Anthony Harwood In Boston
GEORGE Bush and John Kerry were tied in polls last night, suggesting Osama bin Laden’s terror tape had not swung voters.
One Republican strategist labelled the tape "a little gift" for Mr Bush for focussing voters’ minds on terrorism - the party’s strongest issue.
"Anything that makes people nervous about their personal safety helps Bush," he said. But polls yesterday put support for the rivals at 46 per cent each - the same as last Sunday.
In the tape, al-Qaeda mastermind Bin Laden threatened another 9/11. He said: "The factors necessitating the repeat of what happened are still standing." He also mocked the president’s for staying on a trip to a school as the horror unfolded.
Mr Bush did not mention the tape during weekend campaigning, but its influence was clear.
He told one rally: "The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous and they are determined.
"Americans go to the polls at a time of war and ongoing threats unlike any we have faced before."
But his vice-presidential candidate, Dick Cheney, did try to capitalise, calling the tape "a reminder we are engaged in a global war on terror".
The Bush camp has been warning of a new terrorist outrage in the US since June, but no credible intelligence has emerged.
Officials said the tape might be a signal for an attack, although security chiefs have not raised the terror alert level.
Democrat Mr Kerry used the tape to remind voters the Bush administration had not caught bin Laden.
He added: "It was wrong to divert our forces from Afghan- istan so that we could rush to war in Iraq without a plan to win the peace." He also talked tough, vowing to "destroy, capture, kill Osama bin Laden and all of the terrorists".
Some Democrats still fear the tape could sway undecided voters into supporting Mr Bush.
Meanwhile, the student newspaper at Yale - both rivals went to the university - has tipped Mr Kerry for president.
The Yale Daily News gave President Bush - class of 1968 - credit for his handling of 9/11, but criticised him on Iraq and domestic issues.
It said Mr Kerry - class of 1966 - had weaknesses but added, "we need a president with the ability to be both strong and open-minded - a president like John Kerry".