USTIN, Texas - George W. Bush warned would-be international adversaries yesterday not to see the election uncertainty as an opportunity to attack US interests abroad.
''I have all the confidence in the world that the Clinton administration and the next administration, which I hope is the Bush administration, would do whatever it takes to send a chilling signal to terrorists that we'll protect our property and our people,'' he said.
Bush issued the warning from the living room of the governor's mansion as he sat alongside his foreign policy adviser and likely national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice of Stanford University.
''The warning ought to be that, as we decide this election, people ought not to take advantage of our nation,'' Bush said.
He commented after receiving his second regular intelligence briefing from the CIA. He did not mention specific threats.
The Texas governor also said that he was about settled on a White House staff and that although he was not ready to make announcements, Rice is ''on my list.''
Later in the day, Rice got a second, more extensive briefing alone from two CIA briefers. She retains her security clearance from a national security job in the administration of Bush's father.
With the incoming Congress to be almost evenly divided among Republicans and Democrats, Bush said it was ''a very unique moment in American history to promote a foreign policy that is bipartisan.''
He said he is optimistic that court battles over the unsettled presidential election may soon be over. ''I hope we can get this over with quickly. There's a lot of work to be done,'' Bush said.
There had been plans to announce White House staff selections this week, before potential Cabinet nominees, but Bush's advisers feared they would have looked overly confident had they done so during continued legal wrangling over the election. Announcements are now expected next week.
Some advisers raised the possibility that Bush might wait and announce multiple Cabinet selections at once, perhaps while on a trip to Washington, if he gets a decisive court verdict or a concession from Al Gore. Such a trip also might include a courtesy call on President Clinton and a visit with congressional leaders of both parties, the advisers said.
An individual involved in Bush's Cabinet deliberations said yesterday that former Missouri Senator John Ashcroft was among the candidates being considered for attorney general; that a former Reagan administration official, Linda Chavez, who ran unsuccessfully for a Maryland Senate seat in 1986, is among the people being considered for labor secretary; and that former Michigan Senator Spence Abraham is being looked at for transportation secretary.
Bush indicated he was further along in picking a White House staff.
''When it comes to a White House staff, I've pretty well made up my mind on who should serve,'' Bush told reporters. ''I've spoken fairly directly to people about possible service in the White House.''
In Washington, Al Gore worked in the West Wing; aides declined to detail what the work involved.
The presidential transition activities the vice president had pushed to the fore in recent days receded, and aides said only that he wanted to proceed only in private.
''With these next 48 to 72 hours being so critical, so definitive, it's best to see what happens there'' in the Florida Supreme Court, said a senior Gore adviser, Carter Eskew.
Outside the vice presidential mansion at the Naval Observatory, a woman in Scandinavian dress put into song the stakes facing Gore at this critical point in his overtime campaign for the presidency.
''Just look how far you've come. Just give up, just give in,'' sang Juanita Dickinson, of Bedford, Mass., who said her cruel serenade had been sponsored by a radio station.
Gore spent nearly three hours at the White House. Before getting into his limousine to go home, he waved off a reporter who had asked about his day.
''Workin','' Gore called out. ''Good to see you.''
The Rev. Jesse Jackson paid an evening call on Gore at his home.
A spokesman, Jim Kennedy, refused to say more than that Gore was working on ''official business'' and declined to give details. ''He was in the office. I don't have anything more for you,'' Kennedy said.
Roy Neel, Gore's transition director, said nothing was on hold.
''I've got my marching orders for a whole lot of activity and my work has continued apace,'' Neel said, adding that he is putting ''finishing touches'' on a list of people to advise Gore on Cabinet selections and other executive branch appointments.
''If at some point this thing breaks open, we're ready to go more public,'' said Neel. ''But for now, we're still doing it as discreetly as possible.''
