Briefly

President defends economic record

President Bush, taking the New Hampshire political stage all for himself after the Democrats decamped, defended his economic record Thursday against his rivals’ charges that he has favored the rich and let 2.3 million jobs slip away.

“You can tell I’m upbeat,” Bush said in Merrimack, N.H., almost drowned out by cheers. “And I got reason to be. Not only do the numbers say things are looking pretty good, the American people are telling me that they feel pretty good.”

Making his fifth visit to New Hampshire as president, Bush said the economy was rebounding under his watch — and that he was determined to see it through to even better days.

From New Hampshire, Bush headed to Connecticut to raise $1.1 million for a re-election campaign well on the way to its fund-raising goal of $170 million. That’s just for efforts between now and the official start of the general election campaign in September.

Clark’s talk shifts to his ‘true values’

Now that the Democratic presidential race has turned south, where voters are more conservative than in New Hampshire, retired Gen. Wesley Clark’s stump speech is changing. He spends less time talking about Iraq or terrorism and more about bread-and-butter issues, such as education, health insurance and tax reform.

Aides are calling this week the “True Values” tour, and Clark is speaking more forcefully than in the past about religion.

“I can quote the Scriptures,” he says. “I know what each book says, and I’ve got my favorites, too.”

Kerry sports ties with primary states

With Missouri being the big prize in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries and caucuses, it’s no wonder Kerry visited St. Louis first after winning New Hampshire.

But not forgetting South Carolina, another Feb. 3 primary state, Kerry wore a blue silk tie dotted with little palm trees. South Carolina, after all, is the Palmetto State. By Thursday morning, he was in the land of palms. With his momentum and high poll numbers, he may have been feeling a little predatory. The tie of the day? Sharks.

President Clinton offers counsel to senators

Bill Clinton couldn’t stay on the sidelines any longer. On Thursday, the former president came to Capitol Hill to counsel Senate Democrats on how to fashion their message this election year.

Clinton reminded senators that the nation enjoyed budget surpluses under a Democratic White House, not in the 12 years prior to his administration or the four years since.

Of budget deficits, Clinton said: “It’s fun in the short run, but it is a recipe for disaster.”

Reporters asked Clinton about the Democratic presidential hopefuls.

He was positive about the “electability” of Kerry but shied away from a full-throated endorsement.

Clyburn endorsement goes to Kerry

After Rep. James Clyburn, one of South Carolina’s leading black politicians, announced his endorsement of Kerry on Thursday in Columbia, S.C., Kerry recalled the fish fries he’s enjoyed in Clyburn’s company.

“I’ve had some good times with him learning how to talk over the loud noise in the garage” at the fish fry, said Kerry, “and dance a bit late at night and have some mighty good fish, too.”