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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bush condemns gay rights ruling | Bush condemns gay rights ruling |
| (6 days later) | |
| President George W Bush has used a rare campaign appearance to condemn a New Jersey verdict giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. | President George W Bush has used a rare campaign appearance to condemn a New Jersey verdict giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. |
| The president accused the "activist court" of raising doubts about the "sacred institution of marriage". | The president accused the "activist court" of raising doubts about the "sacred institution of marriage". |
| Mr Bush was speaking in Iowa, where he was backing a congressional candidate. | Mr Bush was speaking in Iowa, where he was backing a congressional candidate. |
| With polls suggesting the Democrats may win in Congress, observers say there is a debate over the role Mr Bush should play in the 7 November mid-term ballot. | With polls suggesting the Democrats may win in Congress, observers say there is a debate over the role Mr Bush should play in the 7 November mid-term ballot. |
| The White House desperately wants the Republicans to win, to keep control of Congress - but many Republican candidates have made it plain that they do not see the president as a vote-winner in their districts, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says. | The White House desperately wants the Republicans to win, to keep control of Congress - but many Republican candidates have made it plain that they do not see the president as a vote-winner in their districts, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says. |
| Conservative appeal | Conservative appeal |
| On Thursday, after signing into a law an immigration bill authorising the construction of a fence along parts of the Mexican border, Mr Bush headed to Iowa to raise money for Republican Jeff Lamberti. | On Thursday, after signing into a law an immigration bill authorising the construction of a fence along parts of the Mexican border, Mr Bush headed to Iowa to raise money for Republican Jeff Lamberti. |
| Key races: Iowa Key issues Mr Lamberti - whom the president mistakenly referred to as "Dave", according to the Associated Press news agency - is trailing his Democratic opponent Leonard Boswell by more than 10 percentage points, polls suggests. | Key races: Iowa Key issues Mr Lamberti - whom the president mistakenly referred to as "Dave", according to the Associated Press news agency - is trailing his Democratic opponent Leonard Boswell by more than 10 percentage points, polls suggests. |
| Mr Bush used the opportunity to appeal to conservative voters who oppose gay marriage - an issue which is said to have won the Republicans many votes in the 2004 elections. | Mr Bush used the opportunity to appeal to conservative voters who oppose gay marriage - an issue which is said to have won the Republicans many votes in the 2004 elections. |
| "Yesterday [Wednesday] in New Jersey we had another activist court that issued a ruling that raises doubts about the institution of marriage," the president said. | "Yesterday [Wednesday] in New Jersey we had another activist court that issued a ruling that raises doubts about the institution of marriage," the president said. |
| "I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman. And I believe it's a sacred institution that is critical to the health of our society and the wellbeing of families, and it must be defended." | "I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman. And I believe it's a sacred institution that is critical to the health of our society and the wellbeing of families, and it must be defended." |
| The Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate in the state, Jim Nussle, did not appear with the president, saying he had a scheduling conflict. | The Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate in the state, Jim Nussle, did not appear with the president, saying he had a scheduling conflict. |
| But his opponent, Democrat Chet Culver, accused him of "running and hiding" from Mr Bush because of the president's low popularity ratings. | But his opponent, Democrat Chet Culver, accused him of "running and hiding" from Mr Bush because of the president's low popularity ratings. |
| After Iowa, the president attended a fundraising event for senatorial candidate Mike Bouchard who is trailing incumbent Debbie Stabenow in the polls. | After Iowa, the president attended a fundraising event for senatorial candidate Mike Bouchard who is trailing incumbent Debbie Stabenow in the polls. |
| A third of the Senate, the whole House of Representatives and 36 governorships are up for election on 7 November. | A third of the Senate, the whole House of Representatives and 36 governorships are up for election on 7 November. |
| The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 House seats to have a majority there. | The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 House seats to have a majority there. |