Bush Hits Campaign Trail With New Slogan

— -- George W. Bush is back on-message and back on the offensive, but why does the Republican have to fight for Florida where his brother is the governor?

By Carter M. YangABCNEWS.comSept. 11

— George W. Bush is hitting the campaign trail with a

retooled strategy and a new slogan in an effort to regain his momentum in the presidential race.

His new catchphrase is “Real Plans for Real People,” and today, the Texas governor was talking up his prescription drug plan.

“When I look you in the eye and say prescription drugs is a priority of mine,” he told a group of seniors at a retirement home in Clearwater, Fla., “I’m a plainspoken enough fella to mean it. Prescription drugs for seniors is going to be a priority.”

Last week, Bush offered a $158 billion proposal to reform Medicare and subsidize drug costs for seniors enrolled in private healthcare plans.

Back to Basics

With the latest polls showing the Republican candidate in a dead heat with Democratic rival Al Gore, aides say Bush is going on the offensive by renewing his focus on traditionally Democratic issues, such as healthcare, conservation and education.

“Governor Bush is again demonstrating that he is a different kind of Republican,” insisted Bush campaign spokesman Ari Fleischer.

But Gore campaign officials deride the approach as political window-dressing, highlighting what they claim are major flaws in his policy proposals and pressing him for more details.

“Bush’s efforts to sell his proposals as real plans for real people fall real flat,” said senior adviser Ron Klain. “Does Governor Bush consider the six million seniors he leaves out under his prescription drug plan ‘real people’ too? What are Bush’s ‘real plans’ for Social Security?”

“These are real questions that deserve real answers,” Klain added.

Bush dismissed the criticism as “the same old scare tactics politics.”