TITLE: "Forward"
LENGTH: 30 seconds.
PRODUCER: Maverick Media.
AIRING: 18 battleground states.
SCRIPT:
Bush: "Over the past three years, Americans have faced many serious challenges. Now we face a choice: We can go forward with confidence, resolve and hope. Or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw regimes are no threat. We can continue to work to create jobs, reform education and lower the cost of health care. Together, we're moving America forward. I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message."
KEY IMAGES: It opens with Bush speaking to the camera, then fades to an American flag flying over the porch of a house. A child is running through a field when he talks about hope. As he speaks of terrorists, shadowy images appear, including one of a damaged building, followed by military scenes. It closes with pictures of school children and a senior citizen amid talk about domestic issues.
ANALYSIS, by Ron Fournier, AP Politics Writer: With no mention of Kerry, it's less negative and, thus, Bush felt comfortable adding his voice to it. Still, a voter doesn't have to reach too far to assume that Bush is calling Kerry a soft-on-terrorism Democrat who lacks confidence and hope.