Buchanan is gone, now seeking a home in the ragtag Reform Party. Religious moralists in the party may still hold on to their views, but they ve not been given an opportunity to speak from the podium. And attacks on Gore and the Democrats are forbidden, at the direction of Bush. At least up to this point, Gore and the Democrats have been doing more attacking that Bush and the Republicans. The ads attack the congressional voting record of GOP vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney and Bush s performance in health care and environmental protection in Texas.
Republicans read it as a sign of panic.
Polls show Bush with a solid lead. Andrew and a cadre of Democratic officials are in Philadelphia this week regaling reporters covering the Republicans with their view of what s being said. Naturally, that view is quite negative. Make no mistake. There are many here that would like to start loading the guns and fire away at the Democrats.