Health care and economy give Bush a campaign boost

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2003

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Congress gave President George W. Bush a much needed election campaign boost by padding out a thin domestic policy resume with a landmark bill overhauling health care for the elderly.

The announcement that the US economy grew at an explosive annual rate of 8.2 percent added to Bush's reasons to celebrate as he steps up his campaign to be reelected next November.

Senate Republicans salvaged a legislative victory for the president from efforts by Democrats to waylay the Medicare bill just days after the president's other major domestic initiative, a 32 billion dollar energy bill, succumbed to a Democratic-led filibuster.

Denied a double victory at home while he struggles in Iraq, the president made the most of the health triumph.

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