January 8, 1999
Web posted at: 6:05 p.m. EST (2305 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, January 8) -- With the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Friday, former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander moved closer to a bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.

Alexander

Alexander, who made an unsuccessful attempt at the GOP nomination in 1996, filed papers with the Federal Election Commission officially forming his presidential exploratory committee. Though he says he will not announce his intentions until next month, Alexander is already working and talking like a candidate.

Thursday, Alexander attacked another potential Republican White House hopeful, Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Alexander said he had problems with Bush's "compassionate conservatism," calling the phrase "weasel words."

"Compassionate conservative is just like Al Gore talking about 'practical idealism.' They're designed to mean nothing," Alexander said.

"When you say 'compassionate conservative,' it sounds like you're saying, 'I'm not like the rest of those politicians who are not compassionate,'" Alexander said. "I think we need to say in plain words, 'I am a conservative.'"

Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes responded, "When Governor Bush says 'compassionate conservative,' he is saying a conservative philosophy is a compassionate philosophy. Teaching people to read is both compassionate and conservative. Moving people from welfare to work is both compassionate and conservative."

Gore spokesperson Chris Lehane said it was "unfortunate" that Alexander "has joined the Republican attack pack by engaging in this politics of personal destruction," rather than focusing on "the best way to prepare America for the 21st century."

Gov. George W. Bush

Alexander doesn't just sound like a candidate; he raises money like one. He is already raising money across the nation and running advertisements in New Hampshire, Iowa and other key states.

Alexander is backed by former GOP party finance chairman Ted Welch, who raises money in amounts that command respect from political pros.

In 1998 $2 million was spent on ads featuring Alexander urging tax cuts and classroom discipline, in an effort to "stay famous," as one former aide put it.

Alexander's Tennessee-based political action committee, the Campaign for a New American Century, has a staff of 10, including one person in New Hampshire and two in Iowa. The PAC, chaired by former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, has raised more than $5.3 million since Alexander's 1996 campaign.

The 59-year-old Alexander was governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987. He also served as president of the University of Tennessee and Education secretary under President George Bush.

Friday January 8, 1999

• Collectors see little interest in impeachment mementos
• Senate moves forward on impeachment trial
• Poll: Bush, Dole lead Gore in 2000 race
• Alexander explores bid for 2000 GOP nomination
• Tripp seeks donations to legal fund
• New efforts to revive HMO legislation
• A behind-the-scenes look at the senators' meeting
• Andrew Cuomo decides against a N.Y. Senate run
• Democratic senators want all impeachment proceedings to be public
• Text of Senate trial plan resolution
• Clinton touting economic success far from impeachment drama
• Former Lewinsky boyfriend divorcing
• Gore, 48 current senators voted to convict impeached judge over grand jury lies
• Clinton urged to deny spy clemency
• Administration proposes tax relief for steel companies

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