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.