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By BILL ADAIR, Times Staff WriterThe president praises the service people and promises support for both the military and for veterans.
TAMPA - When President Bush spoke at MacDill Air Force Base on Wednesday, the audience included 8,000 military personnel in a sweltering hangar and thousands more watching on TV from Iraq and Afghanistan. But Bush was also telegraphing a message to two other key groups: veterans around the country and voters in the crucial Interstate 4 corridor.
His message: He will protect veterans' benefits and ensure that soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are well-equipped.
"Our government owes you more than gratitude," Bush told the MacDill personnel, many wearing their camouflage uniforms. "I made a commitment to the men and women of our military, a commitment to their loved ones: You will have the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror."
He also told the crowd, "Some day, you'll be veterans. Our government will honor our commitment to our veterans - past, present and future."
His comments appeared to be a response to criticism from supporters of Sen. John Kerry that Bush has not done enough to equip troops and protect veterans' benefits.
Bush is going to great lengths to reassure veterans he is on their side. The White House invited reporters from veterans' publications to interview him on Air Force One during the flight to Tampa.
Bush still has some convincing to do. Many veterans are unhappy that benefits have not kept pace with rising costs.
Dan Hill, 59, a retired veteran in Tampa who did not attend Wednesday's speech, said Bush has not kept his promises.
"That's all been a crock," said Hill. "I'm certainly not going to believe him now because he has proven himself to be a liar."
Hill said the Bush administration has opposed congressional proposals for modest increases in benefits and wants to close some veterans' hospitals.
Veterans are usually a solid Republican group, but a recent CBS News poll showed Kerry getting 40 percent of their support.
Florida has 1.9-million veterans, with about 320,000 in the Tampa Bay area.
During his visit, the president also got a briefing from military leaders about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and met with families of soldiers killed in combat.
Sheila Cobb, whose 19-year-old son Christopher was killed in Iraq, told the Bradenton Herald the president was very kind.
"I'm glad he's so concerned about us," she said, crying.
Bush's trip to MacDill was considered an official visit, paid for by the taxpayers. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the purpose was "to come here and thank our men and women in the military for all the sacrifices they are making and to update people on the war on terrorism."
Asked if another goal was to boost the president's political standing in a key state, McClellan said, "Everybody recognizes it's an election year. But this is about the war on terrorism."
Leaders of the Bush administration have spent considerable time in the I-4 corridor lately. Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a speech in Orlando on Monday. On Friday, White House political chief Karl Rove will appear at a Republican fundraiser in Tampa.
Wednesday's event had the feel of a pep rally.
The hangar was decorated with camouflage netting and a huge sign for Central Command, which oversees troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. A fighter plane was parked in the corner.
Command Chief Master Sgt. Lew Monroe of the 6th Air Mobility Wing warmed up the crowd with cheers of "Air power! Air power!"
He asked the crowd, "Is there anybody out there that is praying for us and our president?" and the crowd cheered. He reminded them, "In here, it's okay to say, "God bless America.' "
Then came Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella, who drew cheers when he held the Stanley Cup over his head.
Bush arrived on Air Force One at 10:25 a.m. As is his custom, he was on time to the minute.
The speech had no major announcements, but that wasn't his goal. He was there to fire up the troops, shore up support with veterans and tell Florida voters that he was winning the war against terrorism.
Unlike his low key speech three weeks ago in Carlisle, Pa., Bush was more spirited at MacDill. The troops seemed to give him energy.
"Our coalition showed the world, when we see a threat to America and our friends, we will take decisive action. And when we promise to act, we mean exactly what we say," he said, chopping his hand on the podium for emphasis.
Bush's poll numbers have dropped because of the problems in Iraq. His approval rating recently dropped below 50 percent to the lowest level since he took office. In Florida, the campaign has been a dead heat.
Bush warned the crowd - and Florida voters - that there would be more difficulties in Iraq.
"We can expect more attacks in the coming few weeks - more car bombs, more suiciders, more attempts on the lives of Iraqi officials," he said.
But he said the United States and its partner countries were "standing firm" and that the new Iraqi leaders would not be cowed by terrorists.
"The terrorists will fail," he said. "They will fail because the Iraqi people will not accept a return to tyranny. The terrorists will fail because the resolve of America and our allies will not be shaken. And the terrorists will fail because courageous men and women like you are standing in their way."
- Times political editor Adam C. Smith contributed to this report.