BUSH: IN FINAL VISIT, TEXAS GOVERNOR EMPHASIZES NEED FOR FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS Texas Gov. George W. Bush made his last personal pitch to California voters Tuesday not at a noisy campaign rally but at a Christian drug-rehabilitation center in San Jose, where he listened to an ex-convict tearfully describe how religion has turned his life around. Using sermonlike tones, Bush applauded ``the power that faith can play in people's lives, the notion that a soul searches for a better way and that there are programs in our society where a loving person puts their arm around a shoulder and says, `Somebody loves you, brother or sister.' '' Bush spent his final day in California touring CityTeam Ministries and laying out a vision of a government that doesn't ``shy away from faith-based programs, whether they're run by churches, synagogues or mosques'' and that encourages the private sector to pitch in. Among those in the audience were some of high-technology's most successful leaders, including Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy and Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers. ``The Dow Jones index is up; now it's time to work on the compassion index as well in the neighborhoods in which we live,'' Bush said. The low-decibel speech was in direct contrast to large rallies Monday in Burbank and Fresno where he promised to ``shock all the pundits and shock my opponent when we carry California in November.'' About 500 supporters sat in the cavernous CityTeam warehouse to hear Bush's last California address. He reminded the audience of his own struggles. ``I quit drinking in 1986, and I haven't had a drop since then. It wasn't because of a government program, in my particular case. I heard a higher call,'' Bush said to applause. Poll: Gore lead shrinking Polls continue to show Bush trailing Vice President Al Gore in California, but the gap has narrowed, giving Republicans hope they can gain votes or at least challenge Gore to spend valuable time and money in a state he was thought to have had locked up. The margin is closing because Green Party candidate Ralph Nader has eaten into Gore's liberal support. ``Vice President Gore has taken this state for granted,'' said Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes, adding that her candidate's attention to California ``is beginning to pay off.'' Bush and his wife, Laura, toured the men's residence at CityTeam, engaging recovering addicts and ex-convicts in conversation. ``Mind sharing your story?'' Bush asked, as television cameras rolled. Dominador Limosnero, a 31-year-old recovering drug addict from Salinas, said, ``This is a better life. I'm sick and tired of gangs.'' Then, breaking into tears, he told the GOP presidential candidate, ``I found out who I am in Christ, and it's given me a chance to start fresh again.'' Bush then put his right hand on Limosnero's shoulder. ``That's the most powerful statement you can get,'' Bush said. ``That's why we're here. God bless you.'' Afterward, Limosnero, who had spent 2 1/2 years in state prison for stealing to pay for his habit, said he found Bush ``genuine'' but will not be voting because he is not registered. Bush noted it was unusual to end a campaign in an important state not with a big rally but a speech about faith-based programs. Hughes said the campaign is focusing on a different message each day of the final week, and Tuesday's message was to highlight Bush's ``compassionate conservatism.'' Bush has campaigned for more involvement by religious-based institutions in providing a variety of social services in lieu of government programs. He also has called for allowing faith-based institutions to bid to provide services for federally funded after-school programs. Bush's $1.3 trillion tax-cut proposal contains a provision that would allow all taxpayers to take a deduction on their tax returns for their charitable contributions. Currently, only taxpayers who itemize can take such a deduction. Tuesday, Bush also thanked the Republican leaders in the high-tech community for their support, joking that Chambers is proof of the valley's entrepreneurial spirit: ``It speaks to the greatness of our country that someone like Chambers can come out of West Virginia and do as well as he could.'' Commenting on Bush's campaigning, Chambers said, ``He's getting better and better. He'll make a great president.'' But Bush has an uphill battle to win California's 54 electoral votes, and Republicans are spending a record amount on advertising in California in the final days of the race. Bush and the Republican National Committee have spent about $9 million in the state since Labor Day. ``We haven't spent a dime on television,'' said Bob Mulholland, spokesman for the state Democratic Party. ``And Gore is ahead.'' Helping hand for GOP Besides his own battle, Bush also used his 24 hours in the state to campaign in regions where Republicans are in close congressional contests. The swing was designed to maximize exposure for a number of GOP candidates, including Jim Cunneen, who is battling Democrat Mike Honda for the 15th District House seat. In Fresno, Bush appeared with GOP challenger Richard Rodriguez, who is trying to unseat Democrat Calvin Dooley. After leaving San Jose, Bush headed north to Oregon, which has seven electoral votes, and Washington, which has 11. Both states were easy wins for President Clinton in 1992 and 1996, but strong support for Nader has put both states in jeopardy for Gore. Bush is campaigning today in Iowa and Minnesota. In Portland, Bush dropped his message of compassion and turned to confrontation. Addressing about 7,000 shrieking supporters in Memorial Coliseum, he referred to his West Texas upbringing and took a swipe at Gore. ``It's a lot closer to your way of thinking than somebody who was raised in a hotel in our nation's capital,'' he said to cheers. Ad attacks Gore's veracity Also Tuesday, Bush's campaign went on the air with one of its most aggressive advertisements in weeks, raising anew suggestions that Gore cannot be believed. Bush's new ad takes aim at Gore's credibility as it attempts to discredit recent Democratic ads about Bush's Social Security plan. For days the Democrats have charged that Bush's plan to divert some Social Security payroll taxes to private investment accounts promises the same $1 trillion to two groups of people -- older retirees and younger workers. The Democrats have long considered Social Security one of their strongest issues. The ad labels that criticism as ``nonsense'' and reminds viewers of the lingering controversy over the veracity of some of Gore's statements. The commercial argues that Bush sets aside $2.4 trillion for Social Security and includes a clip of Gore saying: ``There has never been a time in this campaign when I have said something that I know to be untrue. There has never been a time when I have said something untrue.'' The ad ends with the announcer asking: ``Really?'' Mercury News wire services contributed to this report.
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