KENNEBUNKPORT (AP) – President Bush has arrived in Maine for a long weekend after hailing a “degree of durability” in security gains in Iraq that he said should permit him to announce further U.S. troop reductions this year.

Bush arrived aboard Air Force One in Sanford on Thursday afternoon for what could be his last visit to Maine as president. From there, the president traveled to Kennebunkport, where he’ll be spending three days with his parents at Walker’s Point.

Before his arrival, Bush gave a brief and hastily arranged update on the war in Iraq in which he said violence is at its lowest since the spring of 2004.

Later, in West Virginia, he said he’d be using his last six months in office to push new energy plans that include electricity from coal.

AP-ES-07-31-08 1647EDT


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.