President Says Democrats Are 'Disposed' to Increase Taxes

SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 24 -- President Bush accused Democrats on Tuesday of being "genetically disposed" to raise taxes, as he sharpened his rhetoric on the economy in an effort to rally Republicans to the polls next month.

Appearing here on behalf of GOP congressional hopeful Vern Buchanan, Bush mocked Democrats for what he described as their misplaced pessimism that tax cuts would not stimulate the economy. He said it was only one of many poor predictions by the Democrats and suggested they are making another mistake in their growing confidence that they might take the House next month.

"I think they may be measuring the drapes," Bush said to titters within the crowd of GOP partisans. "If their electoral predictions are as reliable as their economic predictions, November 7th is going to be a good day for the Republicans."

"George Bush sure has a lot to say for a guy who added $3 trillion to the nation's debt," responded Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

While the president was in Florida, Vice President Cheney tried to rally the party faithful Tuesday on Sean Hannity's radio talk show. He warned of "some jeopardy, depending on how the election comes out, as to whether or not we'll be able to continue" the administration's national security policies.

Cheney also offered some political commentary, describing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as a potentially "formidable" candidate in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes. "I think she could win," Cheney said. "I disagree with her on nearly all the issues, but nobody should underestimate her. She's a very serious candidate for president."

And he described Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as an "attractive guy" who will be "a player on the Democratic side" if he decides to run for president. But with only two years as a senator, he said, "I think people might want a little more experience than that, given the nature of the times we live in."