Bush launches re-election campaign

George Bush today effectively launched his bid for re-election, as the Democrats hoping to challenge him pressed on with their own campaigns.

Hours after his State of the Union address Mr Bush began a two-day tour through Ohio, Arizona and New Mexico to highlight his agenda.

Recent polls have suggested that Mr Bush’s chances of re-election in November are far from certain.

And a shock result at the Iowa Caucuses on Monday has left the leading Democratic hopefuls with everything to play for.

The Democrats were on the campaign trail in New Hampshire today, ahead of the Primaries there on Tuesday.

The New Hampshire Primaries follow the Iowa Caucuses, which saw former Vermont Governor Howard Dean slip from front runner to third place.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry topped the caucuses while North Carolina Senator John Edwards came in second.

Mr Kerry’s success in Iowa gave his campaign a boost, with aides revealing that donations have soared 40% in the last week.

The senator, a decorated Vietnam veteran, dubbed himself the “comeback Kerry” after his recent success.

Just a few weeks ago he was lagging well behind former family doctor Howard Dean in the polls.

On the campaign trail today he said he favoured allowing cheaper prescription drugs into the country from Canada, a controversial domestic issue on the United States.

Dr Dean, meanwhile, was coming under growing pressure after taking such a heavy blow in Iowa.

Some commentators have said he needs to win in New Hampshire, or his campaign is doomed.

He came under growing criticism for his speech after the result in Iowa.

In a bid to rally his disappointed followers he yelled out a list of the states where he vowed to win, ending the tirade with what has been called a “primeval” scream.

ABC News described the moment as “Dean’s freak out”.

“You get that sort of thing from primates and other animals when they’re under superstress,” said anthropologist David Givens.

The “freak out” incident was seized upon by Dr Dean’s critics who have already succeeded in portraying him as an “angry man”, unable to control his temper.

Dr Dean toned down the rhetoric, making calm and measures comments in New Hampshire today.

He said he wanted further limits on campaign contributions and to increase taxpayers’ share of paying for presidential campaigns.

He said big business had “bought” the political parties in the US, and politicians focused on the needs of donors, rather than ordinary people.

Elsewhere, Mr Edwards made a quick visit to South Carolina where more than 100 people crammed into a downtown sandwich shop to catch a glimpse of him.

The top three Iowa candidates are also up against retired Gen Wesley Clark in New Hampshire.

Gen. Clark, Supreme Allied Commander of Nato during the Kosovo War, decided not to contest Iowa, focusing instead on New Hampshire.

Earlier today, President Bush made his State of the Union address, in which he defended the so-called war on terror and the invasion of Iraq.

He insisted during the speech, before a joint session of Congress, that America was safer under his leadership.

But he warned that the threat of another September 11 attack had not gone away.

He also addressed a wide-range of domestic issues, pledging to make health care more affordable and to improve education with a “no child left behind” policy.