Bush's father confident in son's reelection
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-27 10:24

US President George W. Bush's father expressed confidence that his son would win this year's presidential election, even with a weak economy.

US President George W. Bush (L) and his father Former President George Bush Sr in Kennebunkport, Maine, August 2002. [AP Photo]

"American elections are decided on the economy," the one-term former president told NBC television, adding that he believes the economy is strong this year and will be stronger by the November 2 election.

"But even without that, I think the country is looking for a strong leader, and it's got one, and they're going to want (him) to serve more," said Bush, who went to war with Iraq in 1991 to oust Saddam Hussein's regime from neighboring Kuwait.

George Bush, a former vice president under Ronald Reagan and CIA director, lost to Democratic candidate Bill Clinton in 1992 amid a lackluster economy.

But, Bush said, "my problem was the economy was good, but I couldn't get people to understand that."

Bush's son, also a Republican, will face Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

George Bush, who plans to celebrate his 80th birthday June 12 with a parachute jump in Houston, Texas, complained about recent books critical of his son and his family.

"It's pretty hurtful. I mean, when you see all of these books. It's all anti-Bush. It's all anti-my family. It just burns you up," he said.

He also denounced accounts that his son was obsessed with invading Iraq since taking office in January 2001.

"That's a bunch of bull," the elder Bush said.