By Gregory Korte
Enquirer staff writer

CONVENTION COVERAGE

• Bush: 'Pursue your dreams' • Ohio, brace for politicians • Swing voters like speech • Pataki praises 'guts' • Efforts to bring in women • Notes from New York • President Bush's remarks • Video of speech • Convention blog watch • Convention photo gallery • Election special section

George W. Bush's convention speech Thursday night may have won back some Cincinnati-area swing voters who had doubts a month ago.

Seventeen of the 21 swing voters assembled for a focus group in the West End had a favorable impression of Bush's call for a "safer world and a more hopeful America."

A month ago, a similar group found 14 of 20 swing voters impressed with Kerry's speech.

"It demonstrated leadership and standing for what he believes in, even if it's unpopular," said Cynthia Eichner, a 46-year-old communications director from Hyde Park. Fifteen of the 21 found Bush to be more trustworthy.

"I liked a lot of the stuff in the Kerry speech, even though some of it was over the top," said Doug Campbell, a 43-year-old computer network designer from Sycamore Township. "I don't think a lot of the stuff that Bush says is going to happen, but at least the price tag is reasonable."

Patricia Kraps, a 44-year-old human resources supervisor from Anderson Township, said the speech was positive because "It wasn't negative."

Conducting the focus group was pollster Frank I. Luntz, who's been to Cincinnati twice this year to take the pulse of Ohio swing voters for the cable channel MSNBC.

To be sure, the focus group leaned right of center - a reflection of a mostly conservative base in southwestern Ohio. But with very few swing voters in play - pollsters say the number is 4 percent to 8 percent of Ohio voters - Bush can't afford even a few defections from weak Republicans.

Focus groups are not polls, and shouldn't be used to measure the movement of public opinion. But by using hand-held dials to monitor voters' reactions to a speech second-by-second, Luntz's groups can help explain what part of a candidate's message voters are reacting to.

Bush scored on allowing Americans to pay part of their Social Security taxes into private savings accounts and medical liability reform. His call for a bipartisan effort to "reform and simplify the federal tax code" may have hit the highest scores of the night.

But even many who had a positive reaction to Bush's speech complained it was short on details on issues such as the outsourcing of American jobs and immigration. And only 12 of the 21 swing voters thought Bush was stronger than Kerry on the economy.

"I thought he didn't have enough substance. I was looking for more about the economy and jobs. I think (Kerry) is stronger on specifics," said Eric Frayer, a 41-year-old software developer from Madeira who voted for Al Gore.

On Bush, he said, "I think he's stronger on sincerity. You feel like you can follow him in times of crisis."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com