POLITICS 88 : For a Buoyant Bush, a Harder Line Paid Off

A buoyant Vice President George Bush, his presidential campaign revived after its most turbulent test, told a crowd of jubilant supporters Tuesday night that “reports of my death were greatly exaggerated.”

“You haven’t chosen a man, you’ve chosen a course,” the vice president told the crowd of more than 1,000 backers, “to expand our prosperity and see that it touches every hamlet, every home, from New England to the Pacific to the Southwest and back on down to Dixie.”

Only seven days ago, Bush and his campaign were reeling from a third-place finish in the Iowa Republican caucuses. But Tuesday, there was only joy.

In a raucous campaign gathering in the state’s largest city, Bush thanked his family and political operatives, who hugged each other and shoved fists into the air in triumph.

The New Hampshire victory came on a single-digit margin in a state where, as recently as nine days ago, Bush had a 20-point advantage in the polls.

Bush, in his address, alluded to polls this week that had predicted his demise here.

“I want to thank the people of New Hampshire,” he said. “I think you just don’t like being told what to do.”

In New Hampshire, Bush forsook his Iowa strategy of ignoring Kansas Sen. Bob Dole and took him on by name, telling audiences here that Dole would raise taxes and had demonstrated only a scattered allegiance to President Reagan.

Bush wrapped himself in Reagan’s mantle, saying he had worked side by side with him in good times and bad. Drawing tight the cord that binds them, Bush went so far as to wind up his New Hampshire campaign Monday night in the New Boston Town Hall, where Reagan gave his last speech before his 1980 victory here.

Bush’s deep New Hampshire organization was credited with the margin of victory. All along, Bush aides had said that if the vice president went into Tuesday even or slightly behind in the polls--as he did--the organization would carry him to victory.

In addition to rallying his organization, last-minute Bush efforts that turned back Dole included flying in former Sen. Barry Goldwater for a televised endorsement and campaign commercial and swamping the air waves with ads accusing Dole of being wishy-washy on the issues.

Bush’s own issues--his objection to an oil import fee and his pledge not to raise taxes--were virtually tailored for New Hampshire, which is dependent on imported oil and is one of the least taxed states.

“We got the message out, the difference with opponents,” Bush said Tuesday night.

Bush campaign aides were saying publicly as early as Saturday that they expect the race for the nomination to be a long one, perhaps lasting into the final primaries in June.

But the effort ahead was lost in the relief of Tuesday.

“I leave you with four little words, the same words that are going to be on my mind when I take the oath of office 11 months from now,” Bush said. “Thank you, New Hampshire.”