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President makes surprise visit to Browns' camp

Bush spends time with team while on campaign trip through Ohio

Image: Bush
President Bush throws a football as he stands with Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia during an impromptu stop at the team's training camp in Berea, Ohio, on Saturday.
Charles Dharapak / AP
updated 5:29 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2004

BEREA, Ohio - On a campaign trip through Ohio on Saturday, President Bush made an unscheduled stop for a game of catch — with the Cleveland Browns.

Bush visited the Browns training facility, where he was escorted by coach Butch Davis and the team’s new quarterback, Jeff Garcia.

Speaking about offensive tackle Ryan Tucker, Bush cracked: “He went to the same high school as my wife, but he’s not as good-looking.”

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Laura Bush and Tucker went to Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and Tucker played football at Texas Christian University.

As he prepared to leave, Bush told the squad: “Go get ’em.”

Politically speaking, the Bush campaign probably figured the quick stop might do the president some good in another crucial swing state — Florida.

Television and newspaper coverage will show Bush with Davis, who went 51-20 record in six years as head coach at the University of Miami, including an 11-1 record in 2000 when the Hurricanes finished second in the nation.

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