Bush Support Shaky?

There are increasing signs that the Republican hierarchy is getting nervous about George W. Bush, reports CBS News Political Analyst Gloria Borger. One very important signal came Thursday when influential conservative Bill Bennett said that McCain would be the stronger candidate in the general election.

"If Republicans want to win in November," Bennett said, "they should bet on the best horse. And John McCain is more likely to beat Al Gore."

Bennett stopped just short of flat out endorsing McCain, but did go on to say that McCain has "captured the minds of a lot of American citizens. He's where the excitement is. This guy can win." That assessment isn't going to make the Bush campaign very happy.

Some longtime Bush supporters are getting nervous, too. At the top of that list are Republican governors who came out early and almost unanimously for their Texas colleague. In fact, Bush was supposed to fly into Washington, D.C. early next week to be the guest of honor at a big Republican governors' bash saluting the his candidacy and supposedly inevitable nomination. But now it seems that Bush is going to be a no show, heading off to Washington state to do some campaigning instead.

Bush has also earned the ire of some Republican fund-raisers, who were furious to learn that he spent about $2 million on the Arizona primary, which everyone assumed he had no chance of winning. Some of the fund-raisers are unhappy at the prospect of having to go back to donors for more money, which they're not sure is being well spent.

CBS News Correspondent Eric Engberg reports Bush's problems began when he went to Bob Jones University in South Carolina, which bars interracial dating and has attacked Catholicism on its Web site.

That, together with Bush's alliance with conservative Christian leader Pat Robertson, raised questions.

"When you get a combination of the Pat Robertson thing and the Bob Jones thing, and Governor Bush's unhappiness about Democrats coming into the Michigan primaries to cause mischief, you might inadvertently be sending an exclusionary message." said Rich Bond, former Republican Party chairman.

The support of far-right organizations ignited Democrats and Independents in Michigan, who fueled McCain's win. McCain will try to exploit that.

"If I had been invited to go to Bob Jones University, sure I'd have gone," said McCain, "and I'd have told them to get out of the 16th century."

The states coming up include several where Bush's ties to the Christian right may cost him. And, Bush, who complains about the Democrats and Independents voting in the GOP primaries, can take little comfort from the fact that between now and March 8, there are 12 states (accounting for 412 delegates) holding contests which are open to one degree or another. The outcome in these states, and maybe the GOP nomination, could hinge on which of the two candidates can appeal to the Republica Party's long forgotten moderates.

Only three remaining primary states - California, New York and Connecticut - have closed contests. They account for 295 delegates.

Both candidates will, therefore, look for ways to cut into the other's base.

Republicans are going to start deciding who the Republican nominee is," says Bush. "I'll work hard to track independents."

McCain counters: "Governor Bush used to be proud to take Democratic support. Now he treats them like aliens."