CNN Today

President Bush Speaks at Rally in Atlanta

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: And looking at other news of the day, President Bush is wrapping up his campaign to sell his proposed budget and tax cuts to the American people. Mr. Bush finished his five-state two-day travel with stops in Georgia and in Arkansas as well.

CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett has been covering the president's trip. He joins us not far away from us here at CNN center with more now -- Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Joie. There is only one place in America where President Bush can travel and find a Senate Democrat who believes in and has endorsed his tax cut plan, and that's right here in Georgia.

Zell Miller, the Senate Democrat, endorsed the Bush plan early. The president came here in hopes that at a rally, held just outside of Atlanta, he could entice another Democratic senator, Max Cleland, to do the same as his colleague Zell Miller has done.

In remarks to a very enthusiastic crowd, the president said it was time to cut taxes, in part because the economy needs a helping hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our economy is beginning to sputter. And one of the things we can do to make sure the economy gets a second wind is to let people have money in their pockets so they can spend it.

One way to make sure that people can find work who want to find work is to set priorities, set continuances, pay down debt and give people some of their own money back. Or how about not taking it in the first place?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: President got a good reception here. He also got a good reception earlier on this trip in Omaha, Nebraska and in Little Rock, Arkansas, two other states where the president hopes eventually to pick up some moderate Democratic support in the Senate -- Joie.

CHEN: Major Garrett for us in Atlanta, not far from here at CNN center. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com