POLITICS 88 : CAMPAIGN ’88 : Bush Wins Backing of 39 State Lawmakers

Donning straw hats and posing for photographers on the steps of the state Capitol, 39 of California’s 50 Republican state lawmakers announced their support Thursday for Vice President George Bush.

The legislators’ backing for the Republican presidential front-runner came in the wake of Bush’s overwhelming endorsement last weekend by the California Republican Assembly, the largest and544042867roots GOP organizations.

Noticeably absent from the crowd of Bush well-wishers in Sacramento were the Republican leaders of the Senate and Assembly--Sen. Ken Maddy of Fresno and Assemblyman Pat Nolan of Glendale.

Also conspicuous by his absence was Republican Gov. George Deukmejian, who was considered politically close to Bush and delivered the nominating speech for the vice president at the 1984 Republican National Convention.

Deukmejian has been pressured by the Bush camp to come forward with an early endorsement. But the governor has flatly refused to stray from his often repeated pledge of neutrality--at least until after California’s June 7 primary.

Sen. William Campbell of Hacienda Heights, co-chairman of Bush’s California campaign, said Maddy and Nolan were determined to remain neutral “to keep harmony within the (GOP) caucus.”