President Bush’s acceptance speech evoked either praise, scorn or indecision from supporters, opponents and others in Lawrence who tuned in Thursday to the Republican National Convention.

College Republicans chairman Justin McFarland, who watched with about 15 other College Republicans at a Lawrence apartment, said the speech showcased Bush’s stance on domestic policies.

Members of the Kansas University College Republicans watch President Bush speak at the Republican National Convention. Clockwise, from bottom, are Jack Connor, Overland Park freshman; Justin McFarland, Lenexa senior; Kelli Sparks, Brownstown, Mich., freshman; and Crystal Hainstock, Augusta freshman. Fifteen people attended the watch party Thursday.

“I think everyone knows that the president is strong on the war on terror, and I don’t think anybody can disagree with that,” McFarland said. “But his domestic agenda has been another story. I thought he did an excellent job of explaining to the American people what another four years under George Bush will be like.”

Jim Mullins, a former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party who is seeking office in November on the Reform Party ticket, also praised Bush.

“Great leaders have always been able to impart a vision of what they want to do. I think this was a great speech that did just that. It showed he had a lot of heart,” Mullins said.

Similarly positive reactions came from current representatives of the Douglas County Republicans. Lisa Todd, the group’s vice chairwoman, said Bush delivered a message with broad appeal.

“The president was strong and confident and stood on his record,” Todd said. “He gave a message that was tailored to everyone in the nation.”

But some area Democrats viewed the speech as misleading.

Dan Watkins, an active member of the Douglas County Democrats who has served on the campaigns of U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, said Bush’s speech painted a picture that his record didn’t support.

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“The rhetoric of compassionate conservatism bears little resemblance to the policies and actions of this administration over the last four years,” Watkins said. “If Bush’s actions mirrored his rhetoric, that would be another thing.”

Relatively few Lawrence residents appeared to be as intrigued by Thursday’s political theater as the area’s party faithful.

At bars throughout town, the Chiefs-Cowboys game edged out network coverage of the convention on television screens. The Red Lyon, 944 Mass., was one of the few establishments to devote any of its televisions to the convention — and it did so only because bartender Trina Baker, a Democrat, had brought in copies of an “RNC Drinking Game” for patrons to play.

Though they did not engage in the drinking game, LaRene Cressler watched Bush at the Red Lyon with her son, Dustin Smith, and his girlfriend, Sarah Inghizadeh. Cressler, a lifelong Republican from Kitty Hawk, N.C., in town to visit Smith, is undecided about the upcoming election, and said the speech did little to change her mind.

“I want to see the debates,” Cressler said. “I want to see them have to speak on their feet, not repeat some speech that somebody wrote for them.”