By Cliff Edwards, Associated Press, June 12, 1999
CHICAGO -- Texas Governor George W. Bush launched his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination with two Midwest fund-raisers yesterday and an eye toward the presidential proving grounds of Iowa and New Hampshire.
"See you in Iowa," he told reporters, in his only comment to the media as he jumped into a sedan after a private $1,000-a-plate luncheon at a downtown Chicago hotel.
After months of sequestering himself in Texas during the state's legislative session, Bush is making his first presidential campaign swing, leading in the polls, fund-raising, and expectations. Today he visits Iowa, site of the nation's first caucuses, and Monday he hits New Hampshire, site of the first primary.
"He was more of a down-home kind of person, funny and with a much better personality than his father," said Tina Escamilla of Chicago after the fund-raiser there. "His talk was a general conservative message. The only criticism we had was he said he could bring better times ahead, a theme that I think is going to be a hard sell with the economy the way it is now."
Speaking to an audience of more than 500 people, Bush sounded themes of a "new" Republican Party -- one ruled by "compassionate conservatism." But he steered clear of offering specifics on what are expected to be key campaign issues, including education and gun control.
Bush has been accused by his presidential rivals of ducking difficult issues. The governor says he will begin spelling out his positions as he hits the campaign trail.
"I like the idea of compassionate conservatism, and I think he'll be both," said former Illinois governor Jim Edgar. "He has the chance of bringing the party closer to the center, which is something we need to win this thing. Right now, it's definitely his to lose."
Bush has a wide lead in the polls and the endorsement of scores of GOP leaders, and has raised $7.6 million in the first three months of 1999, more than 11 times that of Elizabeth Dole, his closest potential rival for the nomination.
"I wouldn't say that he was anointed; I would say that he's proven himself so far to be the candidate of choice," said Illinois Governor George Ryan, who helped head up the event and, along with Bush, shook the hand of each attendee.
During the fund-raiser, Bush did not mention his stance on gun control, an issue likely to dog his campaign in coming months in the wake of recent school shootings.
Bush has said he favors background checks at gun shows but did not support the measure that passed the Senate with Vice President Al Gore's tie-breaking vote. His office said the governor thought an NRA-backed version of the measure was a better alternative.
Bush dodged about 50 anti-gun protesters -- who stood outside in the heat carrying signs reading, "Go home, gunslinging George" -- by entering and leaving the hotel through the basement.
Bush has opened "a Pandora's box he will never be able to close," said protester Mike Robbins, a former Chicago police officer who had been shot 12 times with an assault weapon by an alleged gang member.
"Guns are, and have been for too long, too easy to get a hold of in America, and it's politicians like Texas Governor George W. Bush that make it possible for these conditions to exist," Robbins said to cheers. "This is not the wild, wild West, and this is not Texas. This is Illinois, the land of Lincoln, not Jesse James."
[an error occurred while processing this directive]