Bush asks America to “stand with me.”

Republican George W. Bush asked the American people for a second term Thursday night to build ``a more hopeful'' nation at home and pursue the ``steady, consistent, principled leadership'' required to win the world war on terrorism.

Bush told thousands of chanting, cheering delegates and guests at Madison Square Garden on the final night of the four-day Republican National Convention that he would devote a second term to changing the tax code, expanding health insurance coverage, protecting pension plans and improving worker re-training.

“We are making progress and there is more to do,'' Bush said. ``And tonight, my fellow Americans, I ask you to stand with me.''

Bush came as close as he has ever come to acknowledging ``shortcomings.'' He told his audience that people “may have noticed I have a few flaws,” including a tendency to mangle sentences, ``a certain swagger'' and sometimes coming across ``a little too blunt.''

``You and I have come to know each other,'' Bush said. ``Even when we don't agree, at least you know what I believe and where I stand.''

But Bush made his credentials on national security the cornerstone of his re-election appeal one night after Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia claimed Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry was unfit to serve as commander-in-chief.

The Nov. 2 election is the first presidential contest since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the first election since 1968 to take place with American GIs engaged in combat.

``I am running for president with a clear and positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful America,'' said Bush, 58, a former governor of Texas who has battled a troubled domestic economy and waged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq during 43 months in office.

``I believe this nation wants steady, consistent, principled leadership--and that is why, with your help, we will win this election,'' Bush said.

His parents, former President George Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, looked on.

Bush also threw red meat to the conservative right -- a constituency he hopes to rally on election day. He promised to ``make a place for the unborn child,'' protect the definition of marriage between a man and woman against ``activist judges'' and promised to choose federal judges who ``know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law.''