All eyes on Bush

Embracing a wider vision: Bush will stress inclusiveness

The governor of Texas, George W Bush, is making his acceptance speech as the Republican presidential candidate, marking the climax to the party's convention in the US city of Philadelphia.

A BBC correspondent at the convention says Mr Bush is to repeat the major themes of his campaign so far - that America's current economic boom times should be used for great goals, such as reforming the country's pension system for the elderly.

George Snr - seen here with Bo Derek - has been on hand to offer support

Our correspondent says that while he will try to avoid personal attacks on President Bill Clinton and his Democratic rival, the Vice-President, Al Gore, Mr Bush will criticise their years in office, describing them as filled with promise to no great purpose.

Mr Bush is also expected to be seeking to beef up his lightweight political image.

Credentials

Unlike his father, who had run the CIA before running for president, George W Bush has been involved only in state politics, albeit as governor of one of the biggest states, Texas.

His opponents have capitalised on his lack of foreign policy experience to portray him as a man lacking in presidential credentials.

Compassionate conservatism

Small government

Power delegated to charities

Faith-based beliefs

Individual responsibility

Tax cuts for poor

Literacy improvements

Tough on crime

Reaching out to ethnic groups

Mr Bush's choice of Dick Cheney as his running mate has already been seen as an attempt to stop foreign policy being the weak link in the Republican strategy.

The adoption of "compassionate conservatism" has been the other main plank of early campaigning.

New image

The party is trying to shed its image as the exclusive preserve of the white and well-off, and to move towards a more inclusive future.

The philosophy includes shifting some welfare provision into the hands of charity groups, giving them public money to carry out the work.

Acceptance speeches

Bush - 2000 - estimated at 38 mins

Bob Dole - 1996 - 57 mins

Bush Snr - 1992 - 57 mins

Bill Clinton - 1996 - 66 mins

Clinton - 1992 - 52 mins

Mr Bush says similar policies under his Texas governorship have already reduced teenage pregnancy and crime.

If elected, he says he will establish an Office of Faith-Based Action in the White House to press ahead with the ideas.

Critics say compassionate conservatism is a sham - consisting of all conservatism and no compassion.

Mr Bush is comfortably ahead of Mr Gore in the opinion polls.

Polls also show that fewer and fewer voters tune in to coverage of the party conventions, but the candidates' performaces are still seen as vital in shaping general impressions of their potential.

Mr Cheney, 59, has already broken with tradition to deliver a running mate's speech, during which he made strong attacks on the Clinton-Gore administration.

He was wildly cheered by delegates as he told them on Wednesday that the Democrats had turned Washington into a place of bitter partisan strife.

Mr Bush's speech - estimated to run to 38 minutes - will be relatively short by recent standards.

The Democrats hold their convention in Los Angeles in two weeks' time.