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Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott all but endorses Bush

By CNN Producer Dana Bash

February 8, 2000
Web posted at: 6:21 p.m. EST (2321 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) all but endorsed Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush on Tuesday, saying his credentials make him the most qualified for the job.

"Here is a man who has the character, the integrity, the leadership and the experience as an executive to be the president of the United States and that man is George W. Bush," said Lott.

Some 40 Republican senators have formally thrown their support behind Bush over their colleague, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

"I don't think that it's a negative, it's a positive," Lott said of the senators' support for Bush. "Senate Republicans are very impressed with George W. Bush, his qualifications and the job he's done. We think his experiences at the executive level are very important."

Republican aides say Bush's defeat in New Hampshire was a "call to arms" for his supporters in the Senate.

"It was taken as a sign to roll up our sleeves and get to work," an aide told CNN. "More than half of those who endorsed Bush called to say, 'How can I help?'"

Lott mimicked Bush's new post-New Hampshire stump strategy by ticking off the Texas governor's record of accomplishments and reform.

"As Governor of Texas, he's done some outstanding things in terms of education reform ... he worked with the legislature -- Republicans and Democrats got it done. He worked on juvenile justice and interestingly enough he even worked on the patients' bill of rights," said Lott.

Four Republican senators -- Sen. Phil Gramm (Texas), Sen. Tim Hutchinson (Arkansas), Sen. Paul Coverdell (Georgia), and Sen. James Inhofe (Oklahoma) -- traveled to South Carolina on Monday to act as surrogates for Bush, who campaigned in Delaware.

Most Senate Republicans say they favor Bush's $483 billion tax agenda over McCain's modest plan, which would leave more surplus funds to pay down the debt.

"Senator McCain's tax cuts are totally inadequate and need a lot more thought," said Lott. "I agree with George W. Bush. We should find ways to return more of the tax overpayments to the American people that earn that money."

Asked why he thought McCain did so well in New Hampshire, Lott chuckled that he received "very, very favorable media coverage, plus he focused his interests, his efforts and his money in New Hampshire."

"You have to say he ran a good campaign. He has an appeal that helped him, and I think that Governor Bush has got to focus his message more," the Senate Majority leader added.

Although he characterized himself as a Bush supporter, Lott said he has no plans to formally endorse the Texas governor.

As to whether he would back McCain if the GOP upstart won the nomination, Lott replied: "That is a speculation way too far for me to envision at this point."

 
ELECTION 2000


CALENDAR
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WHAT'S AT STAKE


HISTORY
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CANDIDATE BIOS
Quick takes on the White House hopefuls.


RACES
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THE STATES
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WHO'S IN-WHO'S OUT
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Tuesday, February 8, 2000


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