Bush Endorses Sen. Wilson for Governor of California

Calling Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) “the most qualified and experienced candidate” for the job, President Bush on Friday endorsed him in his race for California governor during a brief meeting in the Oval Office.

“I am pleased to support Pete for governor,” Bush said in a statement. “We’ll miss him here in Washington, but I agree that his management skills are needed in Sacramento to follow in the great tradition of Ronald Reagan and George Deukmejian.”

Wilson said that he was “delighted” with the endorsement and said he hopes that “Democrats as well as Republicans will be impressed” with it.

“I think it will be a very useful thing,” Wilson told reporters after his meeting with the President. “I’m honored by it and I look forward to helping him get reelected.”

Wilson said the President assured him that he would “be out there” to campaign for him in California and that “I expect him” to come.

Wilson announced in February at the state Republican convention that he would seek the governor’s post. He has no Republican opposition for the nomination.

“So far, there is no primary,” he said. “It will not grieve me if there is none.”