Associated Press, 12/14/99

COLFAX, Iowa - Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer accused rival George W. Bush yesterday of playing ''inside political games'' to get the Louisiana caucuses canceled, denying Bauer a potential platform. The Jan. 15 caucuses were scrapped Saturday by a party state committee dominated by the forces of Governor Mike Foster, an ally of the front-running Texas governor. Now the nation's first results will come from the caucuses Jan. 24 in Iowa, where polls show Bush holding a wide lead among people expected to attend. Though just three of the six GOP candidates planned to compete in Louisiana, Bauer had hoped a victory would give him a boost heading into Iowa. (AP)