Bush planned to announce the decision on Friday.

"I am honored to be able to serve America in this sort of way," said Evans, an oil and gas businessman who led Bush's effort to raise more than $80 million, a record in presidential politics.

"I look forward to all of America learning what I already knew, and that is this is a man you can trust, an extraordinary leader, a man who cares about all Americans. If you love America, you're a friend of George Bush's," Evans said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

He and the rest of Bush's political team are in Washington for a series of political and fund-raising meetings to prepare for the Republican National Convention in August and the fall campaign against Democrat nominee-in-waiting Al Gore.

The announcement formalizes a role Evans has filled for Bush since the first days of the governor's presidential campaign. Though Evans' official job was chief fund-raiser, he has been the de facto chief executive officer of Bush's political operation.

Naming Evans chairman leaves no doubt that Bush has dismissed the grumbling in some GOP circles that he needs to expand his inner circle beyond the close-knit band of aides from Texas. The complaints subsided as Bush solidified his standing in recent polls and formed advisory committees loaded with Washington operatives.

Bush and Evans have known each other for more than 30 years.

The announcement is not a surprise; aides said last week Evans was virtually certain to get the job, and he was introduced in Washington meetings this week as the chairman.

Aides said a general chairman may join the campaign in the fall to serve as an authoritative voice for Bush in media interviews. Evans, however, would have more influence as the campaign's CEO.