Sunday, February 27, 2000
Bush toast of GOP at gathering
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — During the 1988 presidential campaign Northern Kentucky congressman Jim Bunning — a member of baseball's Hall of Fame — headed a committee of celebrities and athletes working for the election of Republican George Bush.
On his staff was a young Republican named George W. Bush.
“I'm very pleased that ... he is now to the point where he will be the president of the United States,” said Mr. Bunning, a U.S. senator from Southgate.
Republicans from across the sprawling 22-county 4th Congressional District gathered Saturday night at the Drawbridge Inn and Convention Center for the party's annual Lincoln/Reagan Day dinner.
Though the party is in the throes of a tight, contentious primary between Mr. Bush, the governor of Texas, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, Mr. Bush appeared to be the choice of most attending the dinner.
When Mr. Bunning, who endorsed Mr. Bush last week, touted the candidate the packed banquet room erupted in applause.
“Republicans and voters in the 4th District like George Bush because he thinks like they do,” said Hayes Robertson, a GOP political strategist and a member of the Campbell County Republican Executive Committee.
“He wants to cut taxes for everybody, not just a select few,” said Mr. Robertson, a Bush supporter. “He wants to get money out of Washington and back to the people, because he knows that if the money stays in Washington it will be spent.”
Mr. Bunning said Mr. Bush should have the nomination wrapped up by March 14, the culmination of a two-week schedule of large state primaries which include Ohio, New York and California.
The highlight of the dinner was an appearance and speech by Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson.
Mr. Nicholson has said the nasty tone of the GOP primary has grown too personal with the candidates attacking one another.
But he also said he is very excited about the primary even though he has to remain neutral as the nation's top Republican Party official.
Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain are attracting interest from voters, including Democrats and independents.
“We have a battle going on
between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire,” said Mr. Nicholson, making an analogy to the pair of major-league baseball sluggers who battled the last two years for the National League home-run crown.
“And the fans love it. They are pouring in to see it, to participate in it. The turnstiles are spinning. It's very good and very positive for the Republican Party,” he said.
Though the nomination likely will be decided by Kentucky's May 23 primary, Mr. Nicholson said the state will still play a major role in the November presidential election.
“Kentucky is a bellwether state in presidential elections,” he said. “Since 1964 as the voters of Kentucky have gone, so has gone the presidential elections. So we are going to work extremely hard here in Kentucky to see that the voters of Kentucky have the good sense and wisdom to select our Republican nominee for president.”
Mr. Nicholson also mentioned the Republican-controlled state Senate, lauding the GOP members for thwarting Gov. Paul Patton's tax package, which included an increase in the state gas tax.
Mr. Patton pulled the package from legislative consideration last week after failing to gain support from lawmakers, including the Senate Republicans.
“The results of being the majority in the state Senate are already paying off ... for stopping the 7-cent-a-gallon tax hike that was proposed by the governor at a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing in this country on their own,” Mr. Nicholson said.
The RNC chairman also revealed that he helped convince two Democratic state senators to switch parties last year and become Republicans.
The move to the GOP by Sen. Dan Seum of Louisville and Bob Leeper of Paducah gave the Republicans their 20-18 state Senate majority.
“I talked to both of those gentlemen before they changed,” Mr. Nicholson said. “They called me and talked about the Republican platform, about Republican principles and values.
“Their leadership and their courage is what it takes to change parties like that,” said Mr. Nicholson.
About 300 people attended the dinner, which raised an estimated $10,000 for the party, said state GOP Vice Chairman Damon Thayer.
Two honors were handed out, the Jim and Mary Bunning Republican Man and Woman of the Year awards.
Rick Robinson of Fort Mitchell, a longtime GOP strategist and former aide to Mr. Bunning, and Betty Thompson of Shelby County were the winners.
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