Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mailCheney: Bush has the only vote in VP pick
TribLIVE.com on Facebook
Become a fan of TribLIVE to get news & sports updates to your wall.
Rumors have persisted among political pundits that the former Wyoming congressman might be replaced by someone from a state with more electoral votes. But neither Bush nor his political advisers advocate such an idea, Cheney said Sunday.
"The only one that counts is the president," Cheney, 63, said. "The president has to decide that. The only reason I'm here is because he asked me." He added that it will be his last campaign.
The vice president said Bush-Cheney '04 is better prepared than it was four years ago to win Pennsylvania, a swing state the Republicans lost in 2000 by about 5 percent to Democrat Al Gore.
The GOP now has a stronger turn-out-the-vote organization, and both Bush and Cheney are spending more time in the state than in 2000, he said. The vice president said he will return to Pittsburgh in about two weeks for another campaign event.
"We ran hard in Pennsylvania in 2000 and we came close to victory. This time we're going to work even harder, and this time, with your help, we're going to carry Pennsylvania," Cheney said in a Fourth of July speech at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland.
In a 25-minute address touching on the war on terrorism, lawsuit abuse and the need for a national energy policy, Cheney branded Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, as "out of touch with the conservative values in the heartland of America."
Cheney said taxpayers got back an average of $1,500 from three tax cuts pushed for by Bush.
"Some critics say that's not much, but it sure feels like a lot when you have to send it to Washington," Cheney said to rousing applause from more than 1,000 flag-waving supporters at the rally.
Kerry campaign spokesman Mark Nevins rejected Cheney's charge that the senator is out of touch with mainstream values.
"People in America's heartland want jobs and middle-class tax relief, affordable health care and affordable college tuition. Those are the things John Kerry is running on," Nevins said.
Cheney was accompanied at the rally by his wife, Lynne, and 10-year-old granddaughter, Kate. It was Cheney's second visit to Pittsburgh since April, when he spoke to the National Rifle Association's annual convention.
More Pittsburgh, Allegheny headlines
- DA: 'We want to do right by police officers'
- Hundreds turn out for officer
- Winds help sink towboat; crew saved
- Council again delays action on tuition tax
- Glitches try patience of transit users
- Wilkinsburg rape suspect remains free on bond
- Prison can proceed with inmate's treatment
- Economist says prevailing wage no deal breaker
