1. FRONT- RUNNER FALLS FLAT

Baltimore Sun's Michael Olesker: "For Bush, the political children's hour is
over":

"Maybe George W. Bush will begin talking to the grown-ups now. When the
numbers arrived from New Hampshire on Tuesday night, showing John McCain
with his blowout 49-to-30-percent victory in the Republican presidential
primary there, some of us remembered the 200 block of N. Chester St. in
Southeast Baltimore and the afternoon last summer when Bush brought his
roadshow here but left all traces of seriousness somewhere else." [Olesker,
Baltimore Sun, 2/3/00]

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2. BUSH LACKS MESSAGE, STRATEGY

Washington Post: "Analysis: Awash in Money, Bush Needs Message":

"Texas Gov. George W. Bush's embarrassing defeat in New Hampshire did more
than puncture the aura of invincibility surrounding his candidacy. It
underscored the weaknesses of a campaign that was built more on money,
endorsements and inevitability than a compelling message that connects with
the voters." [Balz, Washington Post, 2/2/00]

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3. BUSH WATCHES VOTERS SLIP THROUGH HIS FINGERS

Boston Globe: Bush Isn't the Soccer Mom's Presidential Candidate:

"Anybody around here seen a compassionate conservative? He was here just a
few days ago, up on the platform in the high school gym, giving a stump
speech right out of the handbook on 'How to Woo Women Voters - 'George W.
was talking about 'good moms and dads' and the 'gap of hope' and 'armies of
compassion.' I heard him use the word 'heart' 14 times in 20 minutes. I
counted the word 'hope' until I ran out of fingers and 'kids' till I ran out
of toes." [Goodman, Boston Globe, 2/3/00]

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4. BUSH CAMPAIGN HEADS SOUTH -- AND FAR RIGHT

Washington Post: Bush Bows to the Conservative Right:

"A feisty Bush, outwardly unbowed despite his stinging defeat in New
Hampshire, also arrived in South Carolina today and immediately signaled
plans to portray McCain as out of touch with mainstream Republican
conservatism.

5. NY BALLOT ISSUE BACKFIRES ON BUSH

New York Times: Bush Looks Like the "Bad Guy" in McCain Ballot Fight:

"Worrying that the state Republican Party's attempts to knock Senator
John McCain off the presidential primary ballot have backfired, Republican
and Bush campaign officials said today that they might
abandon their court fight with Mr. McCain." [New York Times, 2/3/00]

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