February 23, 1999
Web posted at: 3:26 p.m. EST (2026 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 23, 1999) -- At the annual National Governors Association winter meeting, backers of Gov. George W. Bush canvased support for the Texan's expected bid for the president. While Bush has a steady stream of fund-raisers and consultants in Austin, he's playing it cool in the nation's capital.

"So this warm day in February, has it warmed you up to presidential ambitions?" one reporter asked Monday.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush is expected to run for president

"It's been really warm in Austin," Bush said carefully. "It's warm here, too," he added before laughing.

Despite the best efforts of the Washington press corps, Bush wouldn't announce his candidacy.

"I'm listening to a lot of friends and folks and will let people know at the appropriate time. Right now I'm focused on the Texas legislature," said the son of another George Bush from Texas who occupied the White House.

But his words mattered less than the picture: the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, at the White House, where he and the rest of the nation's governors met with President Bill Clinton.

Playing his hand close to his vest, Bush is talking only to the homestate press. "I'm more interested in fulfilling my obligation to the people of Texas." He has dodged interviews with other media. "Avoiding isn't the right word, I just didn't accept their invitations," he said.

Bush with Michigan Gov. John Engler

Yet Bush's undeclared presidential campaign picked up momentum. Michigan Republican Governor John Engler spent the weekend drumming up support for a Bush bid. Bush supporters say at least two-thirds of the 30 other GOP governors would support him.

"He's been extremely effective building coalitions and minority coalitions. He's also been extremely effective at improving education," said Gov. Frank Keating, (R-Oklahoma).

Not all GOP governors are in the Bush camp. Among those still biding their time before throwing their weight, Wisconsin's Tommy Thompson and New Jersey's Christine Todd Whitman.

But there's one key endorsement Bush can count on: Jeb Bush, GOP governor of Florida, and his younger brother.

Tuesday, February 23, 1999

• Clinton and congressional leaders sit down for 'positive' meeting
• Congress ponders independent counsel demise
• Governors want control of federal education money
• Dole does Iowa swing in 'non-campaign'
• Governors drum up support for another Bush presidency
• Republicans waffling on 10 percent tax cut
• Moderate GOP veteran to replace Gingrich
• Chicago's Daley beats Rush for third term as mayor
• Starr, Reno have 15 days to comment on possible independent counsel probe
• White House shifts Y2K focus to states
• Fed chief's talk about economy and overvalued stocks rattles markets
• Legislation aims to keep Y2K bug out of the courtroom
• U.S. Census OKs Web filing test
• Buchanan takes leave from `Crossfire' to explore presidential candidacy
• New Census statistics on blacks posted
• Watergate Hotel to hold GOP fund-raising event
• How to pass legislation: Give it a catchy name
• Clintons returning to Park City for family time on the slopes
• Administration, in policy reversal, rejects Hughes satellite export
• ABC set to air Lewinsky interview

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