President Bush has been clocking some serious time on education on the campaign trail recently, suggesting that he believes the issue will help him win votes in the swing states that he and his Democratic opponent have spent so much time visiting.
The president hosted three 鈥淔ocus on Education鈥� events in late September in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin鈥攁ll states whose electoral votes are still considered up for grabs. Not surprisingly, he lauded the No Child Left Behind Act, one of his signature domestic-policy accomplishments. In addition, he鈥檚 been talking up his new education proposals and criticizing his Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, on the issue.
In Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Bush was joined by several Republican lawmakers, including Rep. John A. Boehner, the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
鈥淛ohn and I and some others drafted some legislation called the No Child Left Behind Act,鈥� the president told the crowd gathered at the Midwest Livestock and Expo Center on Sept. 27. 鈥淪omeone said, 鈥榃ell, you know, when you look back, what鈥檚 going to be important?鈥� Well, I鈥檒l tell you, the peace is going to be important 鈥� but also making sure that this education system fulfilled its promise.鈥�
At the same time, while Mr. Bush dedicated ample time to education at the forums, it was striking that he ended up devoting as much as, if not more, time to other issues, including terrorism and jobs.
Meanwhile, on Sept. 26, the White House issued a 16-page policy document titled 鈥淓ducation: The Promise of America,鈥� which details the president鈥檚 accomplishments in that area, as well as new ideas he has pitched during his re-election bid. And on Sept. 29, the president鈥檚 chief domestic-policy adviser, Margaret Spellings, fielded questions from across the country on the 鈥淎sk the White House鈥� online forum.
By contrast, Sen. Kerry hasn鈥檛 focused much attention on education lately. He鈥檚 spent far more time on issues such as the war in Iraq, energy policy, the economy, and health care.
Recent polling data may help explain Mr. Kerry鈥檚 emphasis. When a Washington Post-ABC News poll asked registered voters to name the single most important issue in choosing the next president, education came in dead last. It fell behind the economy/jobs, terrorism, Iraq, health care, and even the nebulous 鈥渙ther鈥� category.
