EARBORN, Mich. - When Texas Governor George W. Bush arrives tomorrow in Dover, Del., it will be as a sharper, more aggressive presidential candidate, aides promised.
The next phase will follow a weekend of talks in Austin, Texas, among Bush and his senior campaign advisers. But Ari Fleischer, a Bush spokesman, said yesterday's discussions were not out of the ordinary. There will be no major policy shifts and no change in message, Fleischer said. And despite a low-level buzz about ''heads rolling'' following Bush's dismal showing in New Hampshire, Fleischer said no firings are in the offing.
According to a person close to the campaign, Bush plans to step up his campaign schedule and attack Arizona Senator John McCain, his chief GOP rival.
''They're moving towards making it a real campaign instead of a pillow fight,'' the source said.
Bush began toughening his rhetoric Friday, accusing McCain of ''Washington double-talk'' for attacking special interests while currying support and raising money from lobbyists. The Bush campaign also launched an advertising blitz in South Carolina that accuses McCain of misrepresenting Bush's tax plan.
Sources said yesterday that more attack ads have been filmed or are being filmed.
One Republican strategist who is sympathetic to Bush said he expects to see a more energetic candidate with a more rigorous schedule.
In New Hampshire, Bush frequently found time to work out at health clubs, and his days were marked by long stretches of down time. Just before the primary, Bush skipped a planned trip to Exeter, citing the presence of protesters there. And on election day, he visited four polling places, then cut the campaigning short to watch a movie at his hotel with his wife and daughters.
''He needs to toughen up,'' said the strategist, who has donated to Bush's campaign and plans to vote for him. ''He's a strong candidate. We've got to let Bush be Bush, and let him get out there and mix it up.''
But ahead of Delaware's primary on Tuesday, Bush's schedule tomorrow is not much heavier than it was in New Hampshire. He will attend the Kent County GOP luncheon in Dover; talk to veterans at the American Legion, also in Dover; and travel to Wilmington for a question-and-answer session at an arts center.
Over in the McCain camp, there is nervousness about the coming days and the Bush promise to increase the heat.
''They have millions of dollars, they're desperate and they have the entire Republican Party establishment and all of its allies at their disposal,'' said Bill McInturff, McCain's pollster. ''The Bush people will outspend by two or three or four to one. It's going to get very ugly. It's a testimony to how desperate they are that they feel it will be required to stop the momentum of what's happening in this campaign.''
But Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, said, ''We're not going to be attacking Senator McCain. We're going to be setting the record straight on his attacks on us.''
A new Time/CNN poll of likely Republican voters in South Carolina showed that McCain has rallied from 20 points behind Bush, to a statistical dead heat. McCain had 44 percent of the vote
