Washington: In a first advertisement of its kind, the Republican Party has re-counted the strides made in the India-US relationship urging Indian-Americans to help re-elect President George W Bush.

The advertisement, issued by Marc Raciot, chairman of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, said Bush understands India's potential to become one of the great democratic powers of the 21st century and has worked to transform the US-India relationship.

"Throughout his first term in office, President Bush has honoured the many contributions of Indian-Americans in our country by advancing policies that reflect their priorities.

We are grateful for the support the President's campaign has obtained from Indian-Americans and we look forward to working together to re-elect President Bush," the advertisement read.

It also refers to the January visit of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the United States and the efforts to deepen and accelerate the co-operation between the two countries.

"In January 2004, President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee announced the 'Next Steps in Strategic Partnership' between the United States and India, a new effort to further deepen and accelerate cooperation between the two countries in the areas of high technology, trade, civilian space activities, civilian nuclear activities and missile Defence."