Is Bush Beatable?

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Byline: The Register-Guard

President Bush formally launched the 2004 presidential campaign last Friday by filing re-election papers with the Federal Elections Commission. That, plus the active campaigning already under way by a bevy of Democratic White House hopefuls, means the campaign is in full swing.

The most obvious question is: Can Bush be beaten?

For a variety of reasons, the answer could be "no." Sky-high poll ratings are one - voters value strong leadership, and Bush currently rates high with the public on that all-important score. The lightning fast victory in Iraq is another. The likelihood of Bush's supporters raising a record $150 million or …