Molinari Urges Bush To Run in 2000
By MARC HUMBERT
.c The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A prominent New York Republican said Monday he is working
with other GOP leaders to persuade Texas Gov. George W. Bush to jump into the
2000 presidential race.
``He has his own network and he inherits the network of his dad,'' said Guy
Molinari, the Staten Island borough president and a former congressman. ``He
represents our best opportunity for taking back the presidency.''
Molinari said he and about four dozen other Republicans would meet in
Washington on Tuesday to pursue the goal of making Bush a candidate. He
identified Rep. Vito Fossella of Staten Island and retired House Rules
Committee Chairman Gerald Solomon of Glens Falls as among those who would
attend and said many other House members and some senators would be involved.
Molinari, whose daughter Susan gave up a promising career in Congress for a
short-lived job in television, has been close to former President Bush for
years and served as the elder Bush's New York presidential campaign chairman
in 1988.
Molinari said he has not talked with the Texas governor about whether he will
run for the GOP nomination. The younger Bush has said he will make a decision
within a few months.
Molinari also said that New York Gov. George Pataki is hurting his chances of
being on the ticket as vice presidential candidate by warring with New York
City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The two have been at odds over everything from
how the city school system is run to how much state aid the city receives.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from Iowa, the state with the nation's first presidential
precinct caucuses, traveled to the governor's mansion in Austin, Texas, and
told Bush he should enter the race. The 15 lawmakers delivered two letters of
support.
``Gov. Bush, we urge you to run for president of the United States. Iowans
will welcome your candidacy with open arms,'' said two letters signed by more
than 60 members of the Iowa House and Senate.
