But all they lifted was kids on their shoulders, tiny flags like red-white-and-blue confetti and shouts of "Four more years."

"Luv Ya W," the posters yelled. "Bush Rocks." "W is for Women." "We (heart) the Texas Hunk."

But the one that said it all was "Bush Country."

ELECTION 2004

• WCPO video of Bush visit • Photos from Monday's rally • Bush derides Kerry, and crowd loves it • Transcript of President Bush's remarks • Bronson: 50,000 Elvis (Bush) fans can't be wrong • Spectators pleased with Bush appearance • By the way, elect my friend, Deters • All except traffic smooth for rally • Poll workers in short supply • Ballot access goes to court • Byrd urges vote for Kerry • Kerry taunts opponent in Wisconsin • Election 2004 page Got a debate question for either of the candidates? We'd like to hear it. • What would you ask?

If Southwest Ohio is the deepest scarlet in the red Bush nation, West Chester is the new capital of Bush Country. In just seven days - less notice than a dinner party for eight - West Chester threw the biggest political party in America and more than 50,000 people came.

"We went to a soccer game with 1,000 tickets and we didn't even have to walk around," said West Chester Township Trustee George Lang. "When the word got out, they came to us."

Butler County Republican Party Director Scott Owens said his crew put in 16-hour days and worked until 1:30 a.m.

Joe Statzer, who was part of that team, said it was all worth it when the helicopters circled in.

He has a point there. Watching the big Chinooks and Blackhawks skid to a stop at car-top level, then pirouette and parallel park was double dramatic.

So was watching the president's campaign bus four-wheeling off the road to pull up drive-through close to the fenced-in crowd, while cymbals crashed and trumpets blared.

The background music from country star Darryl Worley was right on key, too. He sang, "Some things are worth fightin' for," and asked, "Have you forgotten how it felt that day when those towers fell, we had neighbors still inside going through a living hell?"

Medicare, energy plans, tax reform and trial lawyers are hardly country music staples like pickups, drinkin' and divorce, but the best lines of Bush's speech could have been lyrics to a Worley song.

"I believe the most solemn duty of a president is to protect the American people," Bush twanged. "If America fails to show resolve, we will drift toward tragedy. This is not gonna happen on my watch."

The crowd went wild.

He had a good line whacking John Kerry, offering a preview of their debate on Thursday: "It's been a little tough preparing for the debate," he said, "because he keeps changing his positions, especially on the war. I think he can spend 90 minutes debating himself.

"You cannot lead if you don't know where you stand."

But the crowd was the big story. They came in wheelchairs, with canes and walkers, pushing strollers, tugging toddlers by the hand, wearing flag shirts and T-shirts that branded them for the man from Texas.

When Bush shook hands on his way out, the faces of women almost glowed as he approached, looking beatific and swoony like Joan of Arc winning the grand prize on The Price is Right.

"We were standing for five hours and I would stand for five more," said Robert Welch of Scottsdale, Ariz., who stayed over for Bush after his 50th Hamilton High School reunion.

"Kerry is just trying to tear things down," said Margie Murray of Mason.

From West Chester, I could see from here to Election Day - and it looks like Bush Country is a lot bigger than the experts thought.

---

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.