Bush was reacting to the leaked report that he had been arrested for drunk driving in 1976. Bush said he regrets driving under the influence of alcohol 24 years ago, but also says the revelation of his arrest just before Tuesday's presidential election will do little to change voters' minds about him. Bush earlier said he had been open about his alcohol use. I have been very candid about my past. I've said I've made mistakes in the past.
People know that.
They've thought about that. They're making their minds up now,'' he said. The Al Gore campaign denied any involvement in the arrest disclosure. The Dallas Morning News reported today that George W. Bush was called for jury service in a 1996 drunken driving case in Austin, but was dismissed from the panel before potential jurors were questioned about their histories of drinking and driving. P. David Wahlberg, the defense attorney who struck Bush from the jury panel, said his action followed requests by the Bush and the governor's lawyer to excuse him.