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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Courts Catholics

Aired March 16, 2002 - 22:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Chicago's certainly well known for its St. Patrick's Day festivities. And President Bush decided to take part in them today, a first as CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush got a hero's welcome, the first sitting president ever to walk in Chicago's St. Patrick's Day parade. The trip was not about politics, but honoring Irish-Americans, his aides said. Though analysts viewed it as another example of how the administration has made courting Catholics a huge priority.

STU ROTHENBERG, THE ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: This is a classic case of ethnic politics. The president telling Irish Catholics that he recognizes them, he appreciates them, he values them. And subtly, he wants their votes.

WALLACE: And here's why. In the presidential election, George Bush narrowly lost the Catholic vote to Al Gore. That was a significant achievement, since Bill Clinton beat former Senator Bob Dole when it came to Catholics by 16 points in 1996. Catholics could be key for the president in 2004, Republicans say, especially since he did win the popular vote.

SEN CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: This president must, obviously, put down a wider, deeper base of support than what he had in 2000 or he may not be re-elected. He certainly understand that.

WALLACE: And his recent travel schedule suggests he has not forgotten the closest election in modern history. This year alone, he's already been to Florida, the state which decided the presidential race three times. His trips have also focused on states he narrowly lost in 2000 and states he won by six points or less.

The president's also going to places to boost Republican chances in the 2002 elections, raising money for Elizabeth Dole, a Senate candidate in North Carolina, and helping governors, including his brother, hold onto their jobs in November.

(on camera): Some Republican strategists have suggested this is the most political Republican White House in recent years, with the president and his team even actively recruiting candidates for the congressional election. That's because Mr. Bush's advisers know if Republicans lose control of the House, and don't regain control of the Senate, the President will have an uphill battle getting his agenda passed and scoring achievements to tout in 2004.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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