AKLAND, Calif. - Despite a day of minor bumps, Governor George W. Bush yesterday appeared dramatically more confident about wrapping up the Republican nomination this week, dismissing the importance of the popular vote in California and vowing to defeat John McCain with a massive number of delegates.
The three largest newspapers in New York City endorsed his opponent, Senator John McCain. During a live appearance on CBS's ''Face the Nation,'' Bush could not escape questions about how negative his campaign had grown. Death penalty protestors interrupted an event. Even the California weather was cold and gray.
And Bush fell victim to a familiar foe: public speech. Expressing optimism about his support in California, he told reporters it was similar to Texas in that ''it's rich in its value to the American values.'' He confused the gross national product and the gross domestic product. Asked whether he had been following the controversy over who will head the International Monetary Fund, and if so, what he thought, Bush paused, then said: ''I'm going to reserve judgment on that question.''
But he seemed jovial nonetheless, pleased with rising poll numbers in several key states holding primaries Tuesday.
Saying he was ''enthused'' about his chances in California, Bush said he felt his themes of education reform and economic growth were resonating in the state, which is similar to his home state in its reliance on agriculture and high technology. He also said he was undisturbed by the unusual agreement of New York's three major newspapers - The New York Times, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post - in deciding to support McCain.
''Am I surprised?'' he said. ''No. Have you ever read the editorial pages? John can have the editorial pages in New York. I'll take the vote.''
Later, his communications director, Karen Hughes, pointed out that many newspapers in Texas had endorsed their governor, a sign that he is favored by those who ''know him best.''
Bush is confident enough about the two largest March 7 states, New York and California, that he is planning to return home to Austin tonight. He is not scheduled to spend any more nights away from home this week.
But Bush did campaign hard yesterday, flying from Austin to Oakland to Stockton to Fresno before landing in San Diego. protest as well as support.
Appearing at a rally in Oakland, Bush's state party chairman, Gerry Parsky, issued a strong warning to McCain.
''Senator McCain, please understand that Californians know double talk when we hear it,'' Parsky said. ''Senator McCain, you can't win the nomination by trying to divide us - whether by class or by religion or any other way.
''We in California are going to show the country what a Republican primary is all about,'' he added.
About a dozen Bush protestors, most objecting to his recent anti-McCain breast cancer ad, held signs outside the event. ''Red neck, go back to Texas!'' read one sign. ''Shame on you, Governor,'' read another.
Inside, a group of death penalty opponents interrupted the event, shouting: ''Stop the executions!''
Later, Bush said he was not fazed by the protestors, given his faith in the First Amendment. He appeared relatively carefree about most of the inquiries despite continuing questions about the breast cancer ad, in which Bush attacked McCain for opposing two medical research funding proposals.
Only once did Bush appear at a loss, after a question about a staple sentence in his stump speech. In defending his tax cut proposal, Bush almost always reminds supporters that taxes are the highest they have been since World War II. Asked how he had made that calculation, Bush could not reply, saying simply, ''It's an accurate statement.'' After the news conference, Bush reappeared with a response, saying the figure was based on a percentage of the gross domestic product.
Bush also faced questions about the so-called ''beauty contest'' in California - the popular vote in which members of any party can check off names on a ballot, but which will not carry any delegates. Asked whether a McCain victory in that contest would affect his chances overall, Bush replied, ''No, I don't think so.''
''This is a nominating process,'' he said. Bush has said in recent days that his primary goal is winning enough delegates to become the Republican nominee, not winning symbolic contests such as the one in California.
