Vice president wraps up campaign with valley rally

Kirsten Searer and Eric Leake

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004 | 11:09 a.m.

Vice President Dick Cheney made Nevada his last campaign stop of the election season Monday before he flew back to Wyoming to host a rally and cast his vote.

The visit was Cheney's seventh stop in Nevada and the last major visit scheduled from the Bush-Cheney team before today's election.

The Secret Service estimated that about 1,300 people attended the rally, though it filled only about half of the gym at Green Valley High School in Henderson.

Cheney and state Republicans who introduced him told the crowd they think Nevada is "Bush-Cheney country," but they warned that every vote will count today.

"If you want to be president of the United States, you have to win Nevada," said Secretary of State Dean Heller, a Republican who helped rally the crowd.

Cheney seemed loose and cracked several jokes at the Democrats' expense.

When he commended Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who helped introduce him, Cheney joked about a Republican phrase, "Flush the Johns," that refers to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and his running mate, John Edwards.

"When people say 'flush the Johns,' they don't mean these two," Cheney said with a grin, pointing to McCain and Ensign. "Sorry, it's the last day of the campaign. What do you expect?"

But Cheney spent much of his time talking about the concerns of terrorism and saying that President Bush would be a stronger, more decisive leader than Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

"This is no ordinary time for America," Cheney said. "We've all seen the tape of Osama bin Laden by now."

The biggest danger to Americans now, Cheney said, is that terrorists could get their hands on nuclear weapons.

In the meantime, the recent election in Afghanistan means that democratic nation will be a safer ally for the United States, Cheney said. The election scheduled for January in Iraq also will make the United States safer, he said.

"President Bush understands the war on terror and has a strategy for winning it," Cheney said. "Senator Kerry does not."

Bush also better suits Nevada in his plans for medical liability reform, curbing frivolous lawsuits, keeping taxes low and creating jobs, Cheney said.

"If you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, and you want to stand up for America's enduring values, send George W. Bush back," Cheney said.

Cheney was briefly interrupted by a protester. As the man was led out of the gym, Cheney joked that Republicans still had 24 hours to "change his mind."

Nevada cast its four electoral votes for Bush in 2000, Heller pointed out, saying he presided over the ceremony of casting the state's electoral votes in his office.

"I guarantee you in my office in December we'll cast our five electoral votes for George W. Bush," he said.

"Take your advice from an opinionated elected official: let's get George W. Bush elected," Heller said.

James Vankevren, a Las Vegas accountant, said he attended the rally because he supports the administration's stance on terrorism. He said he is concerned that insurgents in Iraq and al-Qaida members want Kerry to win.

"It's important for us to show we support our president," he said. "We need to show the people in Iraq we don't think their freedom is a mistake."

Cheney arrived at McCarran International Airport to a very small but enthusiastic crowd that wore clothing adorned with national flags and chanted, "Four more years!"

He shook hands and spoke with each of them before meeting McCain on the way to his limo.

McCain arrived before Cheney and explained his visit. "First of all, I came to get my money back. Second, I came to get our water. And third I came to support the president," he said.

When asked why passions are so high in this election, he cited terrorism as people's central concern and said, "I don't think there's any doubt that Americans are aware that the stakes are very high."

McCain said Nevada deserves the attention it has received in the presidential race. Though some polls show the state favoring Bush, he said, "It's certainly one of those in the category that's very much in contention."

McCain ran against Bush in the 2000 Republican primary. He was at one time thought to be a potential running mate for John Kerry, but has supported Bush.

Like much of the nation looking toward the end of the election and an often divisive political season, McCain spoke of what should follow in the Capitol.

"Starting Wednesday morning we have to start a process of reconciliation, because we have great challenges that we have to address in a bipartisan fashion," McCain said.

"The Democrats are not the enemies. Al-Qaida is the enemy, and we have to understand that."