Bush campaign names black steering comm.

WASHINGTON, July 19 (UPI) -- The Bush-Cheney '04 campaign announced the leadership of its African-Americans for Bush coalition effort in Detroit Monday.

A group of more than 60 prominent black Americans, including former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla., U.S. Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Pro-Football Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann, the committee is charged with leading the the campaign's outreach to the national black community.

"A record number of Americans -- nearly 69 percent of us -- are homeowners," Jackson said at a news conference in Detroit. "For the first time ever, more than half of all minority households own homes in their communities," Jackson said, touting the president's goal of 5.5 million new minority homeowners by 2010.

Watts praised Bush's economic plan, saying "One hundred eleven million people now have lower tax bills. Small businesses and community entrepreneurs got a tax cut. Almost 15 percent of small businesses are owned by minorities."

"Now they are keeping more of their money. They're hiring more workers. The economy is growing faster than it has in nearly 20 years and we've added 1.5 million new jobs since last August," Watts continued.

Other members of the steering committee include Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, actor Joseph Phillips, National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford and Nevada GOP state Sen. Maurice Washington.