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?

"It was a great experience, whether you were a Republican or a Democrat," said Steve Florence, 34, a Lebanon High School social studies teacher.

Florence, a Republican, left school to attend the rally with his wife, Amy, 30, a Democrat, and their two preschool children, Sam, 3, and Anna, 1. They wanted them to see a president's first visit to the fast-growing Butler County township. It was Bush's largest rally of his re-election campaign this year.

Bush, whose speech was frequently interrupted by cheers, said "it lifts my spirits to see so many people." He called the crowd in the GOP stronghold of Butler County "a good sign" that he will carry Ohio and win a second term.

People from the region - and as far away as Florida, Wisconsin and Texas - converged on the former Voice of America broadcast station Monday. Some stood for 41/2 hours in the grass before Bush arrived for his speech.

Loreta Montgomery, 68, from Fort Worth, Texas, arrived about 11:30 a.m., a half-hour before gates were scheduled to open, with her husband, Gary, 69, and two sisters, Edith Williams, 63, of Winter Haven, Fla., and Louise St. John, 66, of Franklin.

Although she hails from Bush's home state, Montgomery had never seen him before.

"We were here visiting my sister, and heard about the rally, and just had to come," Montgomery said. She was pleased at how the sprawling 330-acre park accommodated the crowd.

Dan Losekamp, an independent voter from Anderson Township, said he already had his mind made up for this election because of one issue.

"He supports the military," the 45-year-old father of three said. "My son's in the military, and I'm supporting my son's decision."

His son, Daniel II, took his oath with the Marines Monday morning, just hours before his father heard Bush defend his policies on terrorism.

Butler County GOP leaders, who were determined to set a crowd record for Bush, worked until 1 a.m. Monday distributing tickets and returned after dawn to give away more tickets until 11 a.m.One woman came in her nightgown to pick up tickets Sunday night from U.S. Rep. John Boehner's West Chester campaign headquarters.

---

Contributors: Sheila McLaughlin, Kristen Muthig