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Bush Campaign Gets Personal

Campaigning for a second day in New Hampshire — the opening primary state - GOP presidential front-runner George W. Bush mingled with customers at the Madden Family Restaurant, then got behind the counter and pitched in serving coffee.

Customer Bill Otto said he supports Bush even though he didn't learn anything new about the Texas governor except that "he pours a good cup of coffee."

"He's just like his father. The country needs another one like that," Otto said.

Wearing a blue windbreaker with the Texas seal, Bush talked to supporters at the restaurant and posed for photos with them.

"I want this country to be prosperous," Bush said. "Prosperity is not a given. Some in this administration think they invented prosperity, kind of like they think they invented the Internet." It was a reference to Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential front-runner.

From New Hampshire, Bush moved into Massachusetts, visiting the Community Day Charter School in Lawrence, where he said he supported giving states greater control over their educational polices.

"It's a fantastic school because there are educational entrepreneurs who are willing to make changes," he said.

Polls show that the son of former President George Bush is far ahead in the race for the party's 2000 presidential nomination and holds a double-digit lead over the Democratic front-runner, Vice President Al Gore.

Bush announced his candidacy Saturday when he took his campaign on the road for the first time with a trip to Iowa where he drew enthusiastic crowds.

CBS News correspondent Bob McNamara reports that Bush made few attention-grabbing comments and stuck to generalities.

He seemed to side-step litmus-test issues, like whether he would appoint anti-abortion judges to the federal bench. "I'm not a lawyer. My job is to pick judges who are qualified to serve on the bench - that will be my criterion," the candidate said.

Bush has said he is opposed to abortion and would support a constitutional amendment making the procedure illegal, except in cases of rape, incest and when a woman's life is jeopardy. But he also says Americans don't support the measure, thus there is no need to pursue it.

He also said he was opposed to racial quotas and preferences and was concerned about the Kosovo peace implementation plan. He said he was determined not to raise corporate and income taxes and eager to work with the Republican-led Congress.

Not only is Bush grabbing all the attention in this race, his campaign is grabbing most of the money — an estimated $15 million.

The Bush campaign is in no hurry to be anything more than symbols over substance. So far, it appears to be working and protecting a big early lead.

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