Bush gets warm welcome on cold, wintry day

CHARLESTON, S.C. - It was officially, an official presidential visit. But the enthusiastic crowd that greeted George Bush on a wind-swept pier Thursday cheered him on everything from jobs and the economy to his handling of the war on terrorism.

It all sounded little different from a crowd at a political rally.

There were, of course, no campaign signs, but the crowd was enthusiastic as Bush, accompanied by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. The president talked about port security on a chilly winter day two days after the state's Democratic presidential primary held the national media spotlight.

"This is one of the busiest container ports in our country. It's an important hub of commerce," Bush said. "We will work to make sure that not only is the port strong for economic reasons, we will make sure that ... this port is secure and safe."

The audience of about 2,000 included everyone from Citadel cadets and invited guests to military personnel and those from Department of Homeland Security agencies including the Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol.

Bush spoke at a podium flanked by shipping containers - those large containers transported on ships which can then be lifted by cranes to the back of tractor trailers.

Behind him, in the choppy, gray Cooper River, was a Coast Guard cutter and, beyond that, a vessel loaded with containers.

The ships obscured the USS Yorktown across the river at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum - the place where Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts last year officially began his campaign for president.

Democrats have said the timing of Bush's visit was no coincidence in a state where the Republican ran strongly four years ago.

"Everybody's going to have their different take on timing, that's the nature of the world of politics," said Republican Gov. Mark Sanford. "I think the issue of terrorism is alive and real post- 9-11 and the issue of homeland security is obviously a big part of this next budget round in Washington."

Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings said he's been trying "to get this administration's attention" on the issue of port security for years, and Bush has not helped port's meet security requirements with funding.

"I welcome the president's visit to our state and his current interest in port security," Hollings said. "But a photo op is not a substitute for substantive public policy. This president and this Congress have not taken this issue seriously enough."

Others in the crowd were delighted, waiting several hours for the president to speak.

"It was great. I'm real proud he came to see us," said Merl Hagenberg, who works for the Department of Homeland Security in Charleston. "I think he's rallying the troops and getting the message across that he realizes Charleston is very important."

"I thought it was a wonderful speech," agreed Kerry Missel, who also works at the department. "We're one of the top ports and I think he's taking care of us."

"I was very honored he came to South Carolina. I guess this was a little bit of an environmental cleanup after the Democratic Primary," quipped U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville. "His emphasis on jobs is important to us here because this port is the lifeblood of the Carolina economy."

DeMint and the other members of the state Republican congressional delegation flew in from Washington with the president.

U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., who represents the coastal 1st Congressional District, which includes Charleston, said it was important Bush came and discounted Democratic concern about the timing.

"I don't think there's going to be a timing sequence that's going to fit everybody's imagination," he said. "It was good for me that I could ride down on Air Force One and have some quality time to spend with him. I don't care what the reasons were or what the determination was - it's good for South Carolina and it's good for our port."

Before taking off , Bush greeted a flag-waving crowd of about 200 people including active duty personnel and reservists at the air base.

One of those was Airman 1st Class David Hampton, 21.

"I was just speechless, it was worth the wait, waiting out in the cold," said Hampton, who served in Iraq from July to November. "I'm glad I went (to Iraq) but it was hard. I don't ever want to go back."