Republicans: How Bush Will Battle Buchanan

Despite the New Hampshire results, the President faces less of a threat from the conservative columnist than from the problems he inflicts on himself

On the morning after the New Hampshire primary, George Bush's campaign advisers were trying hard not to act badly shaken. Running against a field of fringe candidates led by conservative columnist Pat Buchanan, the President had managed to win only 53% of the vote. The confusion about what to do next was obvious. Bush began by implying that he would not stoop to personal attacks on Buchanan, then immediately dredged up a nine-year-old article in which Buchanan called for making Social Security "voluntary." A day later, Bush changed tactics again. Campaign officials explained that Bush would not squander one of his...

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