From: clarinews@clarinet.com (HELEN THOMAS, UPI White House Reporter)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.usa,clari.news.politics,biz.clarinet.sample
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Message-id: <bush-politicsU2A6230pe@clarinet.com>
Subject: Bush aides expect tough presidential race
Keywords: usa federal, government, politics
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 11:48:23 PDT
ACategory: washington
Slugword: bush-politics
Priority: regular
Format: regular
ANPA: Wc: 440; Id: z4498; Sel: xxngw; Adate: 4-6-230pes
Codes: yngwrxx., ynp.rxx.

	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Even with conservative challenger Patrick Buchanan
almost out of the picture, President Bush does not intend to take
anything for granted in his bid for re-election and looks ahead to a 
``tough race,'' a senior administration official said Monday.
	The official, who asked not to be identified, also said the
president's campaign theme of ``change'' is legitimate because he
understands the workings of government and can lead efforts to reform
it.
	``Everybody says, 'If he's been here so long, why can he be a force
for change?'''
	``My opinion is that person who can change an organization is a
person who is dedicated to change and knows the organization and can
change it,'' he said.
	Although Buchanan is expected to campaign in the California primary
June 2, he is ``basically out of the race now,'' the official said.
	``He won't get the nomination,'' the official said, adding, ``We took
his candidacy seriously enough to go out and campaign.
	``People said we should have stayed in the Rose Garden,'' the
official said. ``If we did, we would have lost the primaries as
(President Gerald) Ford did.
	``The impact of that was far worse than going out on the road and
taking the criticism we got for that,'' he said.
	The official, predicting a Bush victory, said: ``I think we have a
good agenda out. We're not taking anything for granted. It will be a
tough race.''
	Meanwhile, the official denied reports the White House is in
disarray, and there is dissension among the top aides.
	The official rejected a published report that Marlin Fitzwater, White
House press secetary, had threatened to quit in frustration and
unhappiness about long-range scheduling for the president and other
matters.
	``Absolutely nothing to it,'' the official said.
	Fitzwater, nearing a record-breaking tenure as press secretary, has 5
1/2 years in the White House, surpassed only by predecessor Larry Speakes,
who served six years.
	The official said Fitzwater never indicated to him or the president
that he ``had any thoughts about quitting.''
	The official acknowledged about a month ago there had been ``some
concerns about getting things laid down in the schedule.''
	Fitzwater issued a statement through an aide Saturday denying he was
stepping down in frustration with chief of staff Samuel Skinner and his
deputy W. Henson Moore.
	Fitzwater has been on vacation, spending time in Bermuda and in
Kansas with his family. The press secretary is expected to return to the
White House at the end of the week.
--
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