Taking high hopes to Iowa

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, June 13, 1999

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Barely five minutes after stepping off a plane dubbed "Great Expectations" and setting foot on Iowa soil, George W. Bush yesterday dropped any pretense that he is only exploring a presidential candidacy and vowed to earn the Republican nomination by appearing on every porch in the state.

Then, as if on cue, an old Stevie Wonder tune blared from the loudspeakers: "Here I am, baby! Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!"

So it was that, in these first instants of Bush's campaign, the dilemma of the Republican front-runner was on vivid display. The son of former President Bush made it clear that he needs to prove he deserves the nomination, but that he has been perceived by many as a shoo-in -- signed, sealed, delivered -- before having uttered a single campaign speech.

"I'm running for president of the United States," Bush said. "There is no turning back, and I intend to be the next president of the United States."

While few have doubted in recent months that Bush was running, this was the first time he uttered his intentions without condition. He outlined a broad agenda, with few specifics, that included his signature theme of "compassionate conservatism."

He vowed to reduce marginal tax rates, but didn't say by how much. He backed the idea of putting Social Security contributions in private accounts, but didn't provide any details.

Laid-back, wearing his usual cowboy boots and oversized belt buckle, Bush seemed alternately bemused and awed by the support for him in the polls. Frequently poking fun at himself, Bush said he was given this advice by his wife, Laura: "Don't try to be charming, witty, or intelligent. Just be yourself."

Still, it was impossible to gauge how his support translated among the public of Cedar Rapids. Bush said, "I'm taking my front-porch campaign to every front porch in this state," but he appeared on no front porches yesterday.

Bush's events were mostly closed to the public, with an airport hanger rally that was equally divided between 200 media and supporters, and a $30-a-plate fund-raiser for Representative Jim Nussle that was attended by 500 contributors.

Many who heard him were enthusiastic. "I like him," said Vern Engeberg, who drove 225 miles from Council Bluffs to hear Bush speak. "He wants control back locally and education for kids."

"I came with an open mind," said Bonnie Fascher of Coggon, who left as a supporter. "He was down to earth and brought back the basic ideas of government and morality and education."

Yet many people have only a vague notion of where Bush stands on an array of issues. Even Texas Monthly magazine, which has covered the governor for years, published a cover story this month titled "Who is George W. Bush?" At one event yesterday, some people held signs filled with question marks. The meaning was explained in minuscule type at the bottom of the posters: "Paid for by the Democratic National Committee."

Bush, speaking at the historic Amana Colonies before a made-for-television stage surrounded by bales of hay and fork-lift trucks, did not propose any government programs to close what he called a "gap of hope." Instead, he proposed to rally the "armies of compassion" at churches, synagogues, mosques, and charities "to encourage an outpouring of giving in America."

Some of Bush's rivals, most notably his father's running mate, former vice president Dan Quayle, have criticized Bush's compassionate conservativism as code for being moderate. But Bush said yesterday, "I'm proud to be a compassionate conservative. I welcome the label."

In a quick stop to visit with a half-dozen people at a downtown church mission, Bush listened to some women explain how they had gotten off welfare with the love and friendship of church members. Bush jumped out of his folding chair with enthusiasm, saying: "You can't pass a law to make a law to make people love one another. I wish you could."

Unlike many candidates, Bush did not devote his talks here yesterday to telling his life story, which during his early years included many years of hard drinking and has led him to say that "When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible."

Instead, Bush said that if he is elected president, he would launch a "responsibility era." He decried the culture that says "When it feels good, do it," and he warned -- without telling of his own successful struggle to quit drinking -- that "alcohol will ruin your life."

Later, at an appearance before campaign volunteers in Des Moines, Bush announced that he would participate in an Aug. 14 straw poll for Iowa Republicans, significantly raising the stakes for that event.

For months, polls have shown Bush is the front-runner, and a Time/CNN poll released yesterday showed him defeating Vice Presdient Al Gore 55 percent to 42 percent. Among Republicans, 54 percent favored him for the nomination, compared with 14 percent for Elizabeth Dole and 8 percent for Quayle.

Bush, who had postponed his trip until the Texas Legislature ended its sesson two weeks ago, began his first campaign foray out of the Lone Star State aboard a TWA charter jet dubbed "Great Expectations," which turned out to be the theme of the trip. The Bush campaign distributed T-shirts that said "I have Great Expectations for Governor Bush," as well as star-shaped toys that said "Squeeze for Lower Expectations," and even a baseball-themed luggage tag that asked reporters to rate Bush's performance from "Grand Slam" to "Back to the Minors."

It was only after the Bush campaign produced all these clever items that someone realized that the theme is borrowed from a Charles Dickens novel that tells how great expectations are not always met. Bush was said to be unfamiliar with the novel and with the conventional wisdom that most campaigns prefer to lower expectations.

Bush boarded the jet in the Austin dawn and promptly assumed the role of flight attendant, picking up the cabin microphone and drolly warned that the campaign might experience turbulence.

"This is your candidate speaking," Bush said gravely. "We know you have a choice of candidates when you fly, and we appreciate you choosing Great Expectations."

In fact, no other Republican candidate from the field of 10 or so has offered anything like the opening day tour provided by Bush. Bush was able to attract more than 100 members of the media for four days of campaigning.