Bush Basks In Texas Heat

Gov. George W. Bush filed for the presidential primary in his home state Friday, taking a slap at Vice President Al Gore and voicing hope he will have locked up the GOP presidential nomination by mid-March.

Bush told a crowd of about 300 supporters at his campaign headquarters that every candidate needs a solid foundation of supporters, which he has in the nation's second-largest state.

"It's important to have a base of support that's rock solid. Texas is rock solid for me and I can't tell you how grateful I am," Bush said.

Bush also reminded supporters that early in his campaign, critics "'said he's got an empty suit.'"

"I'm glad at least it's not an empty, earth-toned suit," he said, referring to Gore.

After Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley closed his lead in the polls in New Hampshire, Gore transformed his campaign in the fall with a more folksy style by moving its headquarters to Nashville, Tenn., and changing from formal, dark suits to earth-toned sweaters and jackets without ties.

As Bush signed his filing papers in the lobby of his campaign headquarters, he was joined by Susan Weddington, chairwoman of the state Republican Party, and many prominent state Republican officeholders. When Bush was re-elected in 1998, GOP candidates captured every statewide office on the ballot.

Bush's Texas campaign chairman, Lt. Gov. Rick Perry, said a recent poll has shown Bush with the support of 89 percent of Republicans in his home state.

"Helping carry Texas for George Bush has got to be the easiest job in America," Perry said.

GOP rival Steve Forbes, the millionaire publishing executive from Bedminster, N.J., was the first presidential hopeful to file in Texas.

Forbes submitted his papers Dec. 3, the first day he could do so, and as of Friday remained the only other presidential candidate of either party to file in Texas.

Bush has taken steps to file for the GOP presidential primary ballot or has been announced as a candidate on the ballot in Missouri, Maine, Virginia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Mississippi and Michigan.

Filing for spots on the Texas Republican and Democratic primary ballots will continue through Jan. 3.

Joking with the crowd, Bush suggested that "if some of you are interested in spending some time in the cold, there's room for you in Iowa and New Hampshire."

The Iowa precinct caucuses and the New Hampshire primary are the first two contests of the 2000 election season.

"I hope to come back to you in March and say, 'Mission accomplished,"' he added.

The Texas primary is March 14.