Bush uses part of the surplus to maintain current levels of spending and he wants to lock-box the Social Security surplus. Bush's policy advisers are counting on the tax cut to spur new growth in the US economy that will make up the lost revenues. Right now Nader looks more like a potential spoiler for Gore. That means he can force Gore to take some positions to the left that he would not want to take. The biggest problem for Gore is that Nader could cost him some states like California that might otherwise be won by Gore.
Times are good and neither candidate is particularly inspiring.
Neither candidate is playing to the public with themes that stir dramatic passions. Bush wants good schools. Gore wants good schools. How they get there is different. But both sides are running mom and apple pie.