Washington - President George Bush typically closes his campaign speeches by saying "none us will ever forget" the September 11 terrorist attacks. He is marking the third anniversary of the tragedy on Saturday with events remembering the day that transformed his presidency and undergirds his re-election bid.
The president's September 11 observances - very similar to how he spent the anniversary last year - begin with a service of prayer and remembrance at St John's Episcopal Church near the White House. Then at 8.46am, the exact minute three years ago that terrorists smashed the first jetliner into the World Trade Centre, the president and First Lady Laura Bush preside over a moment of silence on the South Lawn.
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A little over an hour later and surrounded by relatives of victims of the attacks, firefighters and other emergency responders, Bush takes the rare step of delivering his weekly radio address live from the Oval Office. In about five minutes of remarks, he pays tribute to those who died, expresses gratitude to troops fighting the war on terror and reviews some of the steps taken to protect the nation from future attack, said a senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Like last year, Bush signed two proclamations designating September 11 as a national day of prayer and remembrance and the other designating the day as Patriot Day.
| 'It's a day I will never forget' |
Bush's Democratic rival for the White House, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, was attending a memorial in his hometown of Boston.
The formal events to mark a date now regarded as a turning point in American history showcase the advantages of incumbency in a political race. Bush, who has made the war on terror the focus of his re-election effort, is able to evoke that leadership on Saturday without ever having to mention the campaign or his opponent.
He didn't refrain, however, as he campaigned in West Virginia and Ohio on Friday, closing out 16 days straight of travel to closely contested states.
"This election will also determine how America responds to the continuing danger of terrorism," he said in Huntington, West Virginia.
Aiming to demonstrate his commitment to keeping the country safe, Bush told his audience he had talked backstage with a rescuer who was working in the rubble of the twin towers three days after the attacks when he visited Ground Zero.
| 'I will never relent in defending America' |
"It's a day I will never forget," Bush said. "I wake up every morning, every morning, thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes."
Bush's campaign has aimed to paint Kerry as indecisive in order to plant doubts about his ability to protect the nation and to persuade voters they shouldn't change course in dangerous times.
An Associated Press-Ipsos poll released on Friday found that handling terrorism remains Bush's strongest issue, with 55 percent approving of the job he's done in the anti-terror battle and 43 percent disapproving. He also has a double-digit lead over Kerry on who would do a better job of protecting the country.
And with the government focused on worries about a pre-election attack designed to disrupt the November 2 election or affect its outcome, a separate AP poll found almost four in 10 Americans still fear becoming victims of terrorism.
The only other time Bush has delivered a live radio address was on March 9, 2002, when he spoke from the Rose Garden as part of a ceremony signing an economic stimulus package into law.
Following the September 11 events, Bush is spending the rest of the weekend at Camp David, continuing his frequent absences from Washington. With stays at his Texas ranch and his family's home in Maine, he has not spent a full day in the capital since August 2. - Sapa-AP
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