February 15, 2000. Copyright 2000. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

George W. Bush profile

LONDON, February 15, Graphic News: It took George W. Bush a while to graduate from party animal to political animal but his journey might yet be crowned with a celebration at the White House in November.

Even now, BushÕs hard-living past lingers like a bad hangover. In the vacuum where policy detail might otherwise be found, the media has rushed in with questions about his days of drinking and drug-taking.

The eldest son of former President George Bush and grandson of a senator admits that when he was young and irresponsible, ÒI was young and irresponsible,Ó but says he gave up alcohol when he was 40 and hasnÕt used cocaine for 25 years.

He has also taken flak for seeming to avoid duty in Vietnam by wangling a place in the national guard Ð an allegation he denies. For all the criticizm, the twice-elected Governor of Texas Ð known affectionately as ÒDubyaÓ, after his middle initial Ð is a popular, skilful politician and is regarded as more moderate than Republicans nationally.

His self-styled Òcompassionate conservatismÓ includes maximum tax cuts, increased military spending, a tough stance on welfare, and an emphasis on Òpersonal responsibilityÓ but he has also campaigned well on poverty and minority issues.

He is a fluent Spanish speaker and polls unusually well among Hispanics.

After taxation, the Yale and Harvard-educated BushÕs key cause is improving schools, an area in which heÕs been effective at state level. At the national level he is untested and is considered by many to be weak on economic and foreign policy. He attempts to skate the former by saying: ÒWeÕre putting too much hope in economics... the real answer is found in the hearts of decent, caring people.Ó But when a journalist asked him to name the leaders of four major countries, he failed on three.

Critics call him lightweight, populist and cocky, but nationwide opinion polls consistently show him way ahead of the GOP field. His good looks and his dad are no disadvantage in this race, neither is the record $56 million that he raised in the first four months of his campaign. The smirk and the strong economy just might be.

Source: Lis Ribbans