In a signal Iowa is up for grabs in the presidential election, both Al Gore and George W. Bush campaigned here Monday. Bush visited a downtown Des Moines school, and heard what 10-year-old Kayla Thornton would do if she got the job Bush wants. She said she would “make sure farmer’s had more rights.” Thornton’s grandfather is a farmer.Bush spoke for about 10 minutes, but didn’t touch on farm policy. He was asked by one child if he supported animal rights, and Bush simply replied, “Sure.” Another student asked Bush what it felt like to run for President. Bush said it takes a lot of work, but he’s excited about it.Bush praised the “Downtown School” which does not use grade levels, but groups children by age. Bush spoke to the 10, 11 and 12 year old group.Bush said the “grade-less” system was an option for fixing broken schools, but Bush said there should not be a federal mandate on the subject. He says there is no single answer. Democrats, like Iowa Party chairman Rob Tully, used the occasion to attack Bush’s education record. Tully says we need to fix schools, and Bush is against having the federal government help fix schools.Gore left Keokuk Monday morning after three days of campaigning in eastern Iowa. Bush spoke Monday evening at a Republican Party fundraiser. In his speech, he briefly touched on farm issues and outlined the same ideas he first proposed a year ago.
