Republicans look to ‘strong leader’ Bush as party convention starts

THE Republican Party convention opened in New York yesterday with a gloves-off attack on their Democratic rivals and a bid to portray President George Bush as a strong war leader.

"We will leave here with momentum that will carry us to victory in November," Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie said to a roar of approval as the convention got under way in Madison Square Garden.

The party also paid tribute to victims of the September 11 terror attacks in their opening session.