By David Espo
The Associated Press

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses delegates at Madison Square Garden during the Republican National Convention in New York on Tuesday. (AP photo)

ELECTION 2004

Convention coverage • First lady, Calif. gov home in on leadership • Portman takes advantage of convention speech • Dem Zell Miller enrages his party • Notes from New York • Convention blog watch • Convention photo gallery More election news • Election special section

NEW YORK - Republican National Convention co-stars Laura Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday commended President Bush, praising him for unflinching leadership in a time of national testing.

"You can count on him, especially in a crisis," the first lady said.

Added Schwarzenegger: "He's a man of perseverance. He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, doesn't waver, does not back down."

The Austrian-born California governor, blended praise for the president with assurances to immigrants that the party welcomes them. "We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future," the movie star and politician said.

Schwarzenegger and the first lady had their turns at the Madison Square Garden podium as 2,508 delegates formally bestowed their nomination on the president for a second term of office. "Four more years," they chanted in unison.

Bush, locked in a tight re-election race, campaigned across three battleground states during the day and worked to extinguish a convention-week controversy of his own making. "In this different kind of war, we may never sit down at a peace table. But make no mistake about it, we are winning, and we will win" the war on terror, he told an American Legion convention in Tennessee, one day after saying he didn't think victory would be possible.

"I probably needed to be more articulate" in earlier comments, that it was not in a conventional-war context, he conceded in a radio interview with conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

Bush's Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry, spent the day at home in Nantucket, Mass., as his campaign settled on a plan to place $45 million in TV advertising in 20 battleground states through Election Day.

Bush arrives in New York today, a day ahead of his nomination acceptance speech that is expected to sketch out a second-term agenda. Vice President Dick Cheney will speak tonight.