No Miracles Yet

The organization is tighter, the decisions come quicker, but Baker is still struggling to inject a much needed jolt into Bush's re-election campaign

Most Republicans breathed a sigh of relief when former Secretary of State James Baker took over the White House in August. Baker and his team, it was said, could make quick decisions. They could stop the leaks. Baker could talk straight to the stubborn President. As the engineer of Bush's 1988 win, Baker seemed just the political wizard that the President's often incoherent re- election campaign needed.

With seven weeks left before the election, it is clear that neither Baker nor his boss is working miracles -- yet. Baker does deserve credit for making Bush focus on his biggest weakness and...

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