HIS DOMAIN President Bush in the Oval Office in early December
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As it happens, that kind of campaign is just what Bush had in mind. Within two weeks, he would have leaders from both parties up to the White House to look for common ground. The re-election campaign machine is being retooled. Bush will hit the road for town-hall meetings designed to prove that inaction is dangerous, to demystify the policy and to fly over the "filter" of the national media. Rove is working the conservative interest groups, business lobbies and think tanks to use their leverage to sell the public and sway lawmakers. The 1.2 million Bush campaign volunteers will be called into service to create public pressure on lawmakers.
In his pursuit of a second term, Bush was just as radical as he was in his conduct of a pre-emptive war. As a politician, he showed the same discipline, secrecy and nerve he demonstrated in his conduct as President. So he emerges with his faith only deepened in the transformational power of clear leadership. Whether or not the election actually yielded a mandate for his policies, he is sure to claim one for his style, because he stuck to it against all odds, much advice and the lessons of history. And on that choice at least, the results are in. --With reporting by Mitch Frank/ New York and Douglas Waller/Washington