Republican National Convention: Bush, Cheney Rally Arkansas on Road to Philadelphia
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: The invasion of Philadelphia is under way. My partner Natalie Allen is one of the first to arrive. She checks in again now. What's going on, Natalie.</s>NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, CNN has definitely invaded, Lou. We started broadcasting yesterday, so we volunteered to come on down, turn on the lights here in Philadelphia. We'll be broadcasting today, throughout the weekend for the lead-up to Monday. We're even here before the candidates arrive. For George Bush and Dick Cheney, the road to Philadelphia leads through Arkansas. With just three days left until the convention, the presidential candidate and his designated running mate campaigned today in the home state of the current president. And CNN's Jonathan Karl is in Springdale, Arkansas with them -- Jonathan.</s>JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Natalie, here at the Springdale, Arkansas High School, Bush and Cheney just finished the first kick-off rally of their trip to the convention in Philadelphia. This trip designed to build up energy and intensity going into the Philadelphia convention. And, in fact, 2,500 seats here in this auditorium at Springdale High School, every one of them filled at the height of this rally, and also standing room only. They did a confetti drop, borrowing a page out of John McCain's primary playbook, and displayed here a level of intensity that we have not seen since, really, since the primaries. Cheney spoke as well, reiterating some of the themes that George W. Bush has made the centerpiece of his campaign; themes about bringing honor and integrity to Washington; themes of compassionate conservatism. Bush also spoke about his running mate, spoke with great pride about Dick Cheney's record and about his position here on the ticket.</s>GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I had a big decision to make. I had a decision to decide who was going to be my running mate. I told America loud and clear that I wanted somebody by my side who, if need be, could be president of the United States.</s>KARL: And, Natalie, we saw something new here at this rally: the debut of the Cheney of the Bush-Cheney buttons. Here this button has a picture of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney with the phrase, "the winning team." Now, from here they go on to Missouri, another one of those swing states, states that were carried by the Democrats in the last two presidential elections, and states -- a state where George W. Bush is actually leading in the polls. Back to you, Natalie.</s>WATERS: Going to have to be back to me, Jonathan. We're having some problems along the line up in Philadelphia.