June 11, 1999
By Scott Lindlaw
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
SACRAMENTO - The racially diverse California leaders of George W. Bush's presidential bid offered a preview of how the Texas governor will pitch himself: as a unifier who would bridge race and gender gaps.
Four of the seven members of the Bush presidential exploratory committee's ``statewide leadership team'' made public comments in California alluding to Bush's emphasis on inclusiveness.
``We believe he will have broad-based appeal to the African-American community, the Latino community, women, Asians, and part of our task is to let broad sections of those communities see what this candidate is all about,'' said Gerald Parsky, chairman of Bush's effort in the state.
Bush pledged in a prepared statement to ``build a Republican Party which is diverse, principled and offers an optimistic vision for the future of America.''
The comments appeared tailored to distinguish Bush from former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, whom some Californians viewed as divisive for his combative opposition to affirmative action and illegal immigration.
``I agreed to help because he is most definitely a unifier, and not a divider, '' said Ruben Barrales, an unsuccessful GOP candidate for state controller last year. Barrales, who is Hispanic, heads a Silicon Valley community group.
``His inclusive polices will help broaden the base,'' said Sen. Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga. Brulte, who is white, predicted Bush will lead a ``Republican sweep'' in November 2000.
``If someone wants to run this campaign on the past, they can, but I suspect it won't be successful,'' he said.
Parsky said Wilson ``was from his own perspective inclusive.''
Bush ``is a different candidate and approaches politics from his own personal standpoint,'' Parsky said, noting that Bush drew 49 percent of the Hispanic vote in Texas in his re-election bid last year.
Parsky, who is white, said Hispanics and others will respond to Bush's emphasis on entrepreneurship, local government control, lower taxes and personal responsibility.
In addition to Parsky, Barrales and Brulte, the Bush California team includes: Eloise Anderson, the director of the state Department of Social Services under Wilson; Ann Veneman, who has served in both state and federal agricultural agencies; Rep. David Dreier of San Dimas, general chairman of a conservative political action committee; and Condoleezza Rice, outgoing Stanford University provost.
Anderson and Rice are black, while Veneman and Dreier are white.
The co-chairs will serve dual roles, Parsky said.
With expertise in several fields, they will advise Bush on California issues and speak for him in his absence.
Republicans' devastating losses here in November suggest Bush's challenge is formidable.
Women, Hispanics, blacks and Asians strongly favored Democrat Gray Davis over Republican Dan Lungren in the race for governor.
But Bush comes to California with credentials on bridging the racial divide, said David Lanoue, an expert on Texas and California politics.
``Unlike Wilson, he's worked very hard to keep his distance from hot-button race issues,'' said Lanoue, chairman of the political science departments at Texas Tech University political science department and formerly head of the University of California-Riverside political science department.
``He doesn't have much to say about affirmative action, he favors some form of bilingual education, and he's largely stayed away from the immigration issue,'' Lanoue said.
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