Republicans have begun the process of nominating President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for another four-year term. On the first day of the Republican National Convention in New York, Mr. Bush was praised for his role in the war on terrorism.
Vice President Dick Cheney was on hand in the Madison Square Garden convention hall when a delegate from Ohio, a key swing state in this year's election, called for Mr. Bush's nomination for another term: "It is my great honor and privilege to nominate George W. Bush, a strong and compassionate leader, for the office of president of the United States of America."
Mr. Cheney was offered for the vice presidential nomination, and then the convention began a roll call of states delegations to count the votes in support of the nominations.
Gerald Parksy is chairman of the largest delegation, California: "It is my great honor on behalf of the entire California delegation, to cast all of our 173 votes for the nomination of President George W. Bush."
Parts of the roll call will be held on each of the first three days of the convention and will culminate on Wednesday with the formal nomination of President Bush.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed Republicans to the convention and praised President Bush for helping the city recover from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center: "I want to thank President Bush for supporting New York City in changing the homeland security funding formula and for leading the global war on terrorism."
But the Democratic Party issued a statement criticizing Mr. Bush's homeland security record, saying his administration has not adequately funded firefighters and other so-called "first responders" to terrorist attacks, and for not doing enough to secure the nation's ports and rail systems.
Republicans also approved a conservative party platform that endorses a constitutional ban on gay marriage and abortion and praises Mr. Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq.
But in an effort to demonstrate that the party has broad appeal, two moderate Republicans will address the convention. They are Senator John McCain, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr. Bush for the party's nomination for President four years ago, and former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who guided the city in the aftermath of the attacks.
The convention concludes Thursday when President Bush is to accept the Republican nomination for another four-year term. Last month, the Democratic Party nominated Senator John Kerry to oppose Mr. Bush in the November election.