Bush, McCain move on to new battlegrounds

McCain wins Arizona, Michigan with non-GOP support; Bush insists he's still Republican favorite

February 23, 2000
Web posted at: 10:39 a.m. EST (1539 GMT)

(CNN) -- The day after Sen. John McCain's bounce-back double victory in the Michigan and Arizona primaries, he and his Republican presidential rival, Gov. George W. Bush, moved Wednesday to new battlegrounds -- McCain to Washington state; Bush to California.

View results from Michigan and Arizona.

Reinvigorated by his two victories on Tuesday, McCain claimed "a new majority" for his presidential cause. He urged Republican regulars to join him and not fear his reach for Democratic and independent voters.

John McCain and his wife Cindy wave toy light sabers like those in the movie "Star Wars," during victory celebration

'Al Gore's worst nightmare'

"We are Al Gore's worst nightmare," McCain said, shortly before giving a thumbs-up amid a burst of red confetti as he stood with his wife, Cindy, in a raucous rally at a Phoenix hotel.

McCain campaign officials and political analysts say the Arizona senator is getting a substantial boost from a growing sense -- reflected in polls -- that in November he could beat Gore, the Democratic front-runner.

"We are assembling a winning coalition of Republicans, conservatives, independents and Reagan Democrats," a McCain campaign official told CNN.

To repair damage among Republicans after weeks of pounding from Bush, McCain's camp says its candidate will tout his conservatism, his work to reduce spending, his pro-life position and his desire to be seen as a reformer.

Bush told supporters he was proud of his campaign and congratulated McCain on his win

Bush still ahead in delegates

Bush tried to ease the blow of his Michigan defeat by saying he "won overwhelmingly" among Republican voters narrowly outnumbered in their own primary, which McCain captured with votes from independents and Democrats.

McCain also won at home in Arizona by a landslide.

McCain's twin victories earned him 82 delegates -- bringing his total to 95. Bush gained at least six delegates Tuesday, raising his total to 105.

Republicans next square off February 29 in Virginia, North Dakota and Washington state.

New York and California will be among 13 Republican presidential tests a week later on March 7.

After campaigning in Washington state, McCain planned to spend seven of the next 12 days in California.

"California Republicans are going to decide the party's nomination for president," McCain spokesman Dan Schnur told CNN. "After (Tuesday) night's results, I think that's even more clear."

During a rally in Burbank, California, a man wears stickers on his head in support of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush

Bush believes he's the choice of GOP faithful

Bush arrived in Burbank, California, late Tuesday night after a flight from Michigan that included a stop in Kansas City, Missouri, for a rally.

At an airport rally in Burbank, Bush said that while he didn't win, the good news was that he dominated the Republican vote in Michigan. He said his popularity among GOP faithful would spell trouble for McCain in the contests still to come.

"I want to congratulate my opponent for a race well run, but he's going to learn in the long run that it's Republicans and like-minded independents who are going to make the decision in the Republican primaries," Bush said.

Celebrating his victories, McCain set about rebutting Bush's argument that McCain is building his victories outside the GOP, among voters who likely will abandon the Arizona senator in November.

"I am a proud Reagan conservative,'' McCain said. "I love the Republican Party. It is my home ... We are creating a new majority, my friends. A McCain majority.

"As I look more electable, we'll start drawing more Republicans," McCain said.

Why McCain won Michigan

Bush had expected momentum going into Michigan after his 11-point beating of McCain in South Carolina, but it wasn't enough. Nor was the aggressive backing of Michigan Gov. John Engler, who may have stirred a damaging backlash against his candidate.

CNN's polling data indicated that a stunning number of Democrats and independents turned out to vote in Michigan -- their combined numbers representing 52 percent of the state's electorate.

About 35 percent of the people who cast votes in Michigan described themselves as independent, while 17 percent said they were Democrats. That left a Republican turnout -- for the state's Republican primary -- of only 48 percent.

CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said the data painted a dim picture for the state's GOP establishment. "This is the lowest percentage of Republicans ever seen in a Republican primary," Schneider said.

Winner blasted for 'rented' Democrats

Bush chief campaign strategist Karl Rove told CNN Tuesday night that the Michigan numbers belied the reality of the GOP faithful, who he said voted 4-to-1 for Bush over McCain.

"While we are improving among independents, (McCain) is dropping among Republicans," adding up to "bad news" for the McCain campaign, Rove said.

To which McCain chief strategist Mike Murphy, speaking a few minutes later on CNN, replied: "The Bush excuse machine is working hard tonight."

Engler conceded he might have blundered by deciding against head-on campaign ads warning Republicans that Democrats were being asked to invade the primary for McCain.

"We've never seen a candidate like John McCain who went out to rent Democrats for a day and get himself a nomination," Engler told CNN.

Virginia's Jim Gilmore, another Republican governor who has put his Bush-backing on the line, told CNN he wasn't concerned that the situation in Michigan would be repeated in his state.

"It's not about me," Gilmore said. "I want (the people of Virginia) to vote for the candidate who has demonstrated real leadership as the head of a state government."

Washington Bureau Chief Frank Sesno, Correspondents John King, Patty Davis and Bill Delaney, The Associated Press and Reuterscontributed to this report.