Republican George W. Bush was to start his grueling sprint to election day Monday with a trip to the vote-rich state of California, considered a stronghold of his Democratic rival, Vice President Al Gore.
Reflecting the tightness of this presidential race, the Texas governor has chosen to challenge Gore's lead in California as well as try to pull in front in other key states around the country.
"The Governor's message is connecting and Al Gore's lead is vanishing," said Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer justifying the trip to California with Arizona Senator John McCain.
Bush's campaign said it will spend some three million dollars in television advertising in the state and another two million in mailings. It will be the tenth time Bush travels to California since the primaries.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, we are going to win California," Bush insisted in a speech aimed at Hispanic voters in the western state.
"The vice president has been taking California for granted," he warned.
Gore has changed his vote-gathering itinerary to meet the challenge and has thrown in a California visit into an already packed schedule, the Bush camp pointed out.
Gore is to travel to California Tuesday, where not only does he have to woo undecided voters, but also those leaning toward Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, who has managed to lure away many dissatisfied Democrats.
President Bill Clinton will not be far behind. He is expected in California Thursday for the final countdown to the November 7 ballot, throwing his weight behind Gore and trying to tip the scales in the vice president's favor.
In terms of the electoral college -- which is how US presidential elections are decided -- California is a heavy hitter, carrying 54 electoral votes, the most of any state in the country.
The latest polls give Gore a five-point lead in California, which carries almost 20 percent of the minimum 270 electoral colleges any candidate would need to win the elections.
Bush is also to travel to Albuquerque in the southwestern state of New Mexico Monday, before stumping in Burbank, California, then onto Fresno. His California stop will include another appearance on the popular comic Jay Leno's "Tonight Show."
The Texas governor will then turn his attention on Wednesday and Thursday to the northwestern states of Oregon and Washington which have voted Democratic in the last three presidential elections.
Despite some recent fluctuations in surveys, most now show Bush with a tiny lead over his rival Gore -- numbers that will force both candidates and their supporters to fight to the finish -- AUSTIN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
