Political Duel Moves West

Fresh from a gala Philadelphia send-off, the team of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney is heading the GOP campaign toward California. The nominees will be making a direct thrust at Al Gore in a Democratic stronghold on the virtual eve of the Los Angeles convention that will nominate Gore for president. After stops in the up-for-grabs Midwest, Bush and Cheney are to arrive in Los Angeles Wednesday for three days in the Golden State, which has 54 electoral votes, the election’s biggest prize. They will be joined during the trip by Arizona Sen. John McCain, making a potent combination.

Does this signal an all-out challenge to Gore for California in the Nov. 7 election? Both Bush’s father in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996 spent little time or money on California and conceded the state early to the Democrats. Bush has argued all along that he will contest California this year, but not everyone believes him. This early swing could be a feint to distract Gore just as he is selecting his vice presidential running mate and preparing his acceptance address to the convention, opening next Monday.

Not that Bush hasn’t already launched his campaign against the vice president, having accused him and President Clinton of failing to provide leadership and squandering opportunity during the past seven-plus years. And Bush ridiculed Gore as a politician who is afraid of risks and would govern according to poll results. “He now leads the party of Franklin Delano Roosevelt,” Bush said in his convention speech. “But the only thing he has to offer is fear itself.”

The debate already is underway within Republican ranks over Bush’s California strategy. “I think it’s insane to challenge Gore in California,” one North Carolina delegate said as he boarded a shuttle bus outside Philadelphia’s convention center. The dilemma is the cost of campaigning in this massive state; it takes at least $1 million a week on television commercials to be effective.

Bush does not have to carry California to win the presidency. But Gore does. While polls show he is strong here, the vice president can take nothing for granted. It’s important for Gore to get his California drive off to a strong start with an effective acceptance speech at the closing session of the convention Aug. 17. Gore must also hope his convention is not marred by any uncontrolled protests.

Bush was fortunate in Philadelphia. His strategists pulled off a flawless four-day convention, and city police and others effectively and patiently controlled sporadic protests aimed mainly at disrupting downtown traffic. There was no sign of protests within miles of the convention hall, which is well away from downtown. In Los Angeles, the convention hall’s proximity to downtown and the judicial rulings that have loosened rules on protest increase the likelihood of boisterousness.

This coming week will pose an interesting test for both Bush and Gore. Bush has the luxury of taunting Gore in California on the eve of the vice president’s greatest moment in politics. Gore’s challenge in response is to remain cool and focused on his own plan and his own strategy.