Forbes inches close to Bush in county results

"What is Bill Clinton's worst nightmare?" asked a chuckling Thomas Rowe, who attended the 1st Ward Republican caucus Monday night at the Fairfield Middle School.

His wife, Jane, caught his arm and, smiling, half-scolded him, but he whispered the punch line anyway. The joke would have offended the sensibilities of many in the room, but at the same time, seemed to parallel the sentiments of most Republicans present: Over the last eight years, local Republican speakers said, the sensibilities of the nation have been offended by an "immoral" and "too liberal" White House climate.

Those who spoke said, above all, the next Republican candidate for president must be someone capable of "returning dignity to the White House." But which candidate is most capable of restoring honor to the presidency was a source of debate among the 81 1st Ward Republicans who met in the Fairfield Middle School lunchroom on caucus night.

Maxine French stood and declared George W. Bush the best candidate for the job. "We need a candidate with a vision for the future and a record," French said. "We need George W. Bush."

Don Johnson concurred, stating he had been encouraged by French to wear a red pin indicating his support of Bush. Johnson said he inadvertently forgot to wear the pin but added he had "something better."

"I've got George W. Bush in my heart," Johnson said.

Johnson continued, explaining that critical in the next four years of the presidency was the appointment of pro-life Supreme Court justices. Bush, Johnson said, possesses the ability to make such appointments. He also hailed Bush for his farm-aid package in Texas, for his pro-ethanol position and for his strong family values.

"His wife appears to be a person who can take care of the White House with honor and dignity," Johnson said. "I ask for your vote for George W. Bush."

Publisher Steve Forbes was given little mention at the 1st Ward caucus site, however, he placed a consistent second in the 1st Ward, Jefferson County and in the state. Forbes did better than Bush among voters who said that representing conservative values was the most important quality, and among those who said standing up for what he believes in was most important. These two groups represented half of Republican voters.

First Ward Republican Steve McCoy, however, cautioned local voters to not the be swayed by a candidate simply because "we think he can win."

"Vote your heart," McCoy urged. "A vote for a person just because we think he can win doesn't do us any good."

McCoy endorsed Gary Bauer, heralding the candidate as being "genuinely committed to the moral values of this country that, over the last eight years, have been left behind," for his promise to end abortion on demand and cease aid to countries that allow abortion on demand, and for his belief that posting the Ten Commandments and voluntary prayer in school both should be allowed.

The largest vocal showing of support in the 1st Ward was for Alan Keyes, who advocates dubbed "a man of morality."

"What we need is someone who understands the Constitution. We do not elect a candidate for his experience; we elect him for his judgment," first ward voter Art Atkinson said. "Alan Keyes has an absolutely unbroken record on what he stands for ? on every position that would be of interest to the Republican Party."

When the 1st Ward votes were totaled, Bush led with 29 votes and Forbes followed closely with 24. Keyes took 21 votes and John McCain, Bauer and Sen. Orrin Hatch trailed, with 4, 3 and 0 votes, respectively.

First Ward voting reflected voting throughout Jefferson County, where Bush again took the lead with 179 votes. Forbes, with 155 votes, led Keyes by just two votes. Bauer, McCain and Hatch trailed finished with 21, 18 and 2 votes, respectively.