May 10, 1999
Web posted at: 6:15 p.m. EDT (2215 GMT)

Bush planning a presidential run on his own terms

AUSTIN, Texas (AllPolitics, May 10) -- Gov. George W. Bush, the leader in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, is amazed at his ranking as he prepares to make his debut as a presidential campaigner one month from now.

He will hit the trail after staying in Texas to deal with the state Legislature, which adjourns at the end of the month. In an interview with The Associated Press, he talks in minute detail of state legislation, but he is purposefully vague on national issues. "I know what I believe, and I know what I will fight for," he said. "I will have a tax plan. I'll have plans on various issues which we will lay out on my timetable."

Bush begins his active campaign next month, starting with two private fund-raising events on the way to a day of campaigning in Iowa on June 12. After that, he heads to New Hampshire on June 14 and 15. He then heads to the biggest electoral prize of all, California, in late June. The current plan calls for him to be on the campaign trail for two weeks in June, two weeks in July and 17 days in August with a media crowd certain to be close behind. Bush, who is officially undecided but unofficially running, has raised $7.6 million and that is expected to double by midsummer. More than half the 32 Republican governors are backing him, as are about 100 GOP members of Congress.

All of this has happened with Bush remaining in Texas. His father became president in 1989 after a long political career that started years before his eight years as vice president. The son's campaign standing comes after one term as governor and landslide re-election in 1998. "Yes, I'm amazed," Bush says. "... I know I've got a lot of work to do after the session's over to go to these states where I haven't been ..."

Bradley gives talk, despite protest

CLINTON, Iowa (AllPolitics, May 10) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley gave the commencement address Saturday at Mount St. Clare College despite a national Roman Catholic group that wanted his invitation withdrawn. The Falls Church, Virginia-based Cardinal Newman Society had asked college president James Ross to cancel Bradley's invitation because he supports abortion rights. Ross said the Franciscan college did not even think of rescinding the invitation, saying it respected all points of view.

Bradley, a former senator from New Jersey who has taught at Notre Dame, the nation's most prominent Catholic university, said he understood why the society protested his speech. "This is a country that has free speech, and people can express their views, and that's fine," said Bradley.

Bradley did not address the controversy during a 15-minute speech to about 1,000 people, including 102 graduates. His speech instead focused on the "horrific tragedy" of the Littleton, Colorado, high school shooting. Too many parents, he said, were becoming too busy in their own lives to pay attention to their children. He said the "scourge of school shootings" around the country in recent years have killed a total of 28 people while injuring 71. "Children's values are shaped as much by television, the shopping malls, the video games as they are shaped by the parents," Bradley said. "Something is wrong when parents are so out of touch they don't know that bombs are being built under their own roof.

McCain campaigns in New Hampshire

BEDFORD, New Hampshire (AllPolitics, May 10) -- Arizona Sen. John McCain took his outspoken campaign for the Republican 2000 presidential nomination to the site of the nation's first president primary Monday and reaffirmed his support for comprehensive campaign reform.

McCain, 62, said that unlimited "soft money" contributions by businesses to political parties give corporations an undue influence over legislation. What is needed is comprehensive finance reform, including a ban on both labor union and corporate donations to candidates, he told about 140 people at a "Politics and Eggs" breakfast sponsored by the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association, the New England Council and several major corporations.

"I would support no campaign finance reform that did not require that every union member give their permission before the union spends money on politics. That's the good news. The bad news is I would also require that every stockholder give their permission" before businesses could make political contributions, said McCain, co-sponsor of a campaign finance bill that died in the Senate last year.

McCain also expressed amazement with NATO's explanation of its accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade over the weekend. But he said the Chinese government should stop the protests over the issue in China. "There's too many major issues that affect both our nations for you to be allowing this foolishness to go on and they can stop it at any moment," he said.

Dole criticizes Clinton on Kosovo

DES MOINES, Iowa (AllPolitics, May 10) -- Republican presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole criticized President Bill Clinton's handling of the Kosovo crisis ion a speech over the weekend, saying too many politicians were involved in what should be a military campaign. She said NATO hasn't been flying as many sorties as the U.S. did in the Persian Gulf war and that the alliance was late in targeting communications systems in the region, allowing the Yugoslav government to continue its propaganda campaign. Dole spoke to about 1,000 important activists at the Iowa Republican Party's big annual spring fund-raiser on Saturday evening during a campaign swing.

Bauer jumps into school violence debate

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 10) -- Conservative activist Gary Bauer, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, said Monday that the issue of school violence concerns the ability to teach values in school than on the images presented to young people. Speaking at the National Press Club, he said the two student gunmen in Littleton, Colorado, who shot 12 classmates and a teacher to death before killing themselves "came to school giving the Nazi salute, produced a video showing them killing other students" and posted an Internet "Web site dripping with hate," but somehow managed to evade the scrutiny of school officials and other adults. "That's at the heart of this issue, and basically not Hollywood and not guns," Bauer said. "Eighteen gun laws were violated that day in Littleton, Colorado. I don't think anyone believes a 19th or 20th is going to stop the tragedies that we are seeing." However, Bauer also called for both Republican and Democratic parties to stop taking campaign contributions from the entertainment industry. He said those "Hollywood moguls and corporations" are "laughing all the way the bank with the millions that are being made from the sludge they are pouring into the cultural stream that our kids are being exposed to."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Monday, May 10, 1999

• White House summit looks for answers to youth violence
• Chung testimony: I'm not a Chinese agent
• Bradley, Gore split in some key Senate votes
• First lady urges parents to keep kids away from guns
• Campaign 2000 briefs: Bush; Bradley; Bauer; Dole; McCain
• Energy Department plans major overhaul of nuclear lab security
• Industry -- but not NRA -- backs some restrictions on guns
• High-tech, banking propel lobbying
• RNC turns sights on Bradley
• Capital's river flows through history
• Reno, rockers fight teen violence
• Michigan Democrats adopt caucus plan
• Oklahoma senator makes emergency landing
• Live from New York, it's Monica Lewinsky
• Report: Court papers show scientist gave U.S. radar secrets to China

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