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Cheney says he's 'sensitive' to sugar issues
by Bob Reha, Minnesota Public Radio
October 25, 2004

VP Cheney was asked about the administration's stance on trade agreements, especially how trade agreements affect the sugar industry. Cheney says sugar should be negotiated in the World Trade Organization. (MPR Photo/Bob Reha)

Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned in Moorhead, Monday. The vice president's visit is part of the Bush administration's attempt to win Minnesota in the presidential election. Minnesota is one of several battleground states in the midwest. Republicans believe the Bush-Cheney ticket, could be the first Republican presidential campaign to win Minnesota since the Nixon-Agnew ticket in 1972.

Moorhead, Minn. — Vice President Dick Cheney arrived on the campus of Minnesota State University-Moorhead, to a loud partisan crowd chanting "four more years."

Vice President Cheney focused much of his talk on foreign policy. He hammered away at Democratic opponent Sen. John Kerry's record on foreign affairs.

	"Eight more days..."

Cheney says Kerry's track record should concern voters.

"In 1984, when he ran for the Senate, he (Kerry) had a platform of cutting or eliminating a great many of the weapon systems that Ronald Reagan used to keep the peace and win the Cold War, that are used today to fight the global war on terror," said Cheney. "He was on the wrong side of those issues. In 1991, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and stood poised to dominate the Persian Gulf, John Kerry voted no."

The vice president took six questions from the audience. Cheney was asked about the administration's stance on trade agreements, especially how trade agreements affect the sugar industry. Cheney says sugar should be negotiated in the World Trade Organization.

"Working through the WTO, we got a commitment this past summer, from the Europeans to end their subsidy that they provide to sugar exports from Europe, which we think is a significant step forward and that was done in the context of the WTO round," Cheney said.

The vice president says trade negotiations are crucial for exports from the United States, but added the Bush administration is very sensitive on the sugar issue.

The message was popular with the partisan crowd.

Joe Provost says he didn't hear anything new during the speech. Provost describes himself as independent voter, who's made his decision.

"I actually vote mixed, but for the Presidency, definitely (I vote) for the Bush-Cheney ticket," Provost said. "I like to hear it from the man's mouth instead of hearing it through head pieces or the talking heads in the morning. So that was very reassuring and actually will help me to be able to talk intelligently to people around me, help convince some people who might be undecided."

A consistent message appeals to Julie Erickson. She's firmly in the Bush-Cheney camp.

"I heard a lot of the same of what they've been saying, you know he did a good job, I liked what he had to say," said Erickson. "I've been made up since the first go around four years ago."

Across the street from the auditorium where Vice President Cheney spoke a handful of protestors gathered. They chanted "eight more days," a reference to the number of days until the election.

Police say there were no clashes between protestors and Bush supporters.

Vice President Cheney will visit International Falls on Thursday. It's the first vice presidential stop in that city, since Walter Mondale came in 1979.

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