Cheney tells Bangor: It’s no time to change VP’s stop comes at tough time for Bush

BANGOR – Vice President Dick Cheney landed in the heart of politically independent northern Maine Monday, asking voters to stand behind the president’s economic and anti-terrorism policies.

“These are not times for leaders to shift with the political winds … to say one thing and do another,” Cheney told about 400 cheering supporters who gathered inside a maintenance building at Bangor International Airport. “We need clear vision and steady determination.”

Much of Cheney’s 15-minute speech was devoted to the Bush administration’s efforts to “turn back the forces of terror,” – an effort that until recently afforded the president his highest polling numbers.

But Cheney’s visit to Bangor comes amid slumping public support for the Iraq conflict coinciding with damaging allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq. An Associated Press poll released Friday found more than half of Americans now disapprove of Bush’s handling of Iraq.

Outside the Bangor rally, about 50 opponents to the continued presence of American troops in Iraq raised their signs and voices, also trying to get their message out. Dan Lourie came from Bar Harbor to protest, holding a sign that read: “Cheney = War Criminal.”

While Lourie said he was grateful for the ouster of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, he said he believes the war has had the opposite effect on terrorism.

“In fact, we are in a more perilous situation now because of the war,” Lourie said, noting that recruitment efforts by terrorists have increased greatly.

Across the driveway from Lourie, but a great divide away politically, were about an equal number of Bush administration supporters. Among them was Chaz Cirame, 25, who came from Portland.

“It’s exciting to see so many young people coming out to support the president and Vice President Cheney,” he said. Cirame said Bush has been a strong leader in a difficult situation and he said that some great things have come about in Iraq as the United States helps to make the region safer and more democratic.

Beyond the administration’s anti-terror efforts, Cheney, in Bangor as part of an afternoon campaign swing through northern New England, also used the speech to predict an end to the economic downturn that has hit much of the country – particularly northern Maine.

“America’s economy is moving in the right direction,” said Cheney, referencing the addition of 288,000 jobs in April and a drop in unemployment. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

But those numbers don’t tell the whole story, said Kathy Roeder, spokeswoman for presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

“The legacy of the administration unfortunately has been lower-paying jobs and more expensive health care,” she said, seemingly echoing the sentiments of voters, only 43 percent of whom supported Bush’s handling of the economy – the lowest since the start of 2002, according to the AP poll.

The Bush campaign hopes to fare better in northern Maine than it did in 2000, when it lost the region by about 5,600 votes.

But despite a banner proclaiming Bangor as “Bush-Cheney Country,” redistricting since 2000 could complicate the task, with the northern district adding the Democratic stronghold of Waterville, where Bush lost 2-to-1.

Cheney’s visit is part of a focus on Maine, considered one of 17 swing states because of its independent voting history and the narrow margin by which Bush lost in 2000.

The vice president’s appearance attracted a spate of local media crews and hundreds of supporters – one of whom was mistaken for a protester.

Joyce Goodwin, 70, of Orono said she is “definitely for Bush and Cheney” and has even offered to work in the local Republican re-election offices. But Monday she and her granddaughter initially were refused entrance, after Goodwin stood in front of a protester’s sign, attempting to block it from view.

Goodwin, a troop greeter at Bangor International Airport, eventually was recognized by another organizer who let them in, with his apology for the confusion.

Bush supporter Susan Harmon of Orneville Township made it inside the rally with no problems. She said the personal campaign stop reinforced her support for the GOP ticket.

“They’re more like real people that we can relate to,” said the 36-year-old mother of two.