Bush backs off in Pa. [View All]

[Renew Deal]

May be conceding state as race tightens in West

BY MAGGIE HABERMAN in Santa Fe, N.M.
and KENNETH R. BAZINET and HELEN KENNEDY in Tempe, Ariz.
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

President Bush appears to be conceding some ground in the hard-fought battleground of Pennsylvania, as the 2004 race, which has been fought in only a small number of states, narrows even further.
Bush has visited the Keystone State 39 times - more than any other state - but a White House source said he does not plan to return soon and Pennsylvania was not on a list of the President's top 10 advertising targets last month.

Campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel called talk of Bush's pulling out of Pennsylvania "a rumor" and stressed that travel planning is day-to-day.

"The President has visited the state of Pennsylvania over 30 times and we have tens of thousands of volunteers," Stanzel said. "Our campaign has a real opportunity to be victorious there on Nov. 2."
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/241604p-207221c.html