As they have in the past, President Bushand first lady Laura Bush will be heading to the Crawford, T

Описание: (7 Nov 2006) HEADLINE: President Casts Ballot in High-Stakes Election
---------------------------------------
CAPTION: President Bush casts his ballot in Crawford, Texas, capping-off a week of intense GOP campaigning ahead of today's midterm election. (Nov. 7)
----------------------------------------

[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]

[Notes:Motorcade rolls up to Crawford fire station]

Much is made of the GOP's get-out-the-vote machine. In Crawford, Texas, all it took was a Secret Service motorcade.

Accompanied by the first lady, President Bush did as he always does -- cast his ballot at daybreak at the local fire station in the one-stoplight town near his ranch.

After a chat with a few of his neighbors, he emerged to tell reporters he hopes ALL Americans will do likewise.

BUSH: SOT "We live in a free society, and our government is only as good as the willingness of our people to participate in it. And therefore, no matter what your party affiliation, or if you don't have a party affiliation, do your duty; cast your ballot and let your voice be heard. "

Democrats have sought to make the election a referendum on Bush and Iraq. But as reporters tried to ask about that, he turned for his S-U-V ...

BUSH: SOT "Appreciate it, thank you all..."

... heading back to Washington to await the returns.

[Notes:Dallas rally from last night]

The quiet dawn vote was a sharp contrast to the noise of Bush's final campaign swing -- a five-day blitz to help Republicans hang onto control of Congress. The White House maintain these stops WILL help G-O-P turnout. But it's had to battle the impression in SOME places they did more harm than good.

[Notes:Pensacola Fla. rally yesty, Bush and Jeb Bush together]

In Florida, the Republican vying to succeed Bush's brother Jeb as governor -- pointedly SKIPPED an Election Eve rally.

[Notes:Standup close]

Off-year elections are seldom pretty for the party in the White House -- and they're especially brutal when a president's approval ratings fall below 50 percent. Bush's are well UNDER that. So he knows better than anyone, avoiding a Democratic Congress will requite defying not just polls but history.

MS, the Associated Press, Crawford, TX

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...