Bush to skip Ground Zero visit

NEW YORK, June 30 (UPI) -- President Bush will not visit New York City's Ground Zero during this summer's Republican National Convention, the Post reported Wednesday.

"Given his schedule, given the movements around the city, given everything involved, we thought, as part of the nominating convention, that he probably wasn't going to go down and isn't going to go down and visit it," spokesman Ken Mehlman said.

Mehlman added that the president's not making the trip does not indicate any lack of respect.

"The president has honored Ground Zero and every day works to honor Ground Zero," Mehlman said.

He said, however, Bush might visit Ground Zero on the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, nine days after the convention ends.