Forbes Backs Bush

One of the men who tried to beat George W. Bush to the Republican nomination decided to back him for the presidency Tuesday night, as Steve Forbes formally endorsed the Texas governor.

The multimillionaire magazine publisher, who dropped out of the race in February after disappointing results in the New Hampshire and Delaware primaries, announced his endorsement at a campaign event in Manville, New Jersey.

"Tonight, I wholeheartedly endorse George W. Bush," said Forbes. "As the American people are learning and will learn, he's a good man....He's been tested; I tried to test him and he emerged the stronger for it."

Forbes' high-water mark in the 2000 primaries was in the leadoff Iowa caucuses, where his appeal to conservative voters on social issues brought him a second-place finish.

He dropped out Feb. 10 after finishing third in Delaware after spending $30 million of his personal fortune on his campaign. He had spent $37 million in 1996.

Entering the primary season, the Bush team was concerned about a challenge from Forbes, who was widely criticized in Republican circles for weakening the party's 1996 nominee, Bob Dole, with withering TV ads.

Forbes was sharply critical of Bush over his $483 billion tax plan as well as his position on abortion, but he never mounted the full-scale assault the Bush team had feared.

Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes said the campaign continues to hope for a formal endorsement by Arizona Sen. John McCain, who dropped out of the race after Bush's strong showing in the March 7 Super Tuesday contests.

"People in our campaign are continuing to talk to people in his campaign," said Hughes. "We very much appreciated his comments that he would be supporting the Republican nominee this fall."

Greg Mueller, senior adviser to Forbes, said, "Mr. Forbes has always been a loyal Republican. It's been encouraging that Bush has taken conservative positions on issues like proposing a tax cut program, education choice and a medical savings account to help the uninsured."

Mueller said with Bush heading to New Jersey, Forbes wanted to make the endorsement in a region where those conservative positions would "resonate loudly, not only in New Jersey but in parts of New England and New York."