PROVO — A businesslike George W. Bush spent 90 minutes on Utah soil Thursday, urging Republicans to vote in Friday's Western States Primary election even though the Texas governor has the GOP nomination virtually locked up.
Sporting a dark suit and black cowboy boots, Bush used his Provo stop as a chance to turn from a bitter primary fight with Arizona Sen. John McCain toward the general election in November.
Bush spoke for 30 minutes to a crowd of about 1,000 supporters gathered in a hangar at the Provo Municipal Airport.
"I'm glad I came," said Bush, whose campaign jet dwarfed the 130-horsepower planes parked next to it on Provo's small runway.
Bush's arrival from Colorado was delayed 30 minutes by bad weather, but the newly anointed GOP hopeful for the White House made Utahns feel as though its primary votes were important.
In a brief question-and-answer session with Utah reporters before traveling to Wyoming, Bush said his campaign targeted Provo rather than Salt Lake City primarily because Provo Mayor Lewis K. Billings had been an early campaign supporter. When most Utah Republicans last fall stood behind Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch's presidential bid, Billings stepped out in support of Bush.
As president, Bush said, his priorities would be "my faith, my family and the great land called America." Bush told Utahns their most important work "is not necessarily your day job, but to love your children with all your heart."
Bush, who said he had spoken with McCain just hours before, thanked the Arizona senator for his efforts to put government reform at the forefront of the 2000 presidential race. Bush said he hadn't considered whether McCain could be his running mate in November.
Many of Bush's comments were aimed directly at Vice President Al Gore, signalling a desire by the Bush campaign to begin moving into the general election phase of the race. In particular, Bush singled out for criticism Gore's plans for military benefits and education.
"I like the contrast, Mr. Vice President," Bush said. "You can talk about bricks and mortar. We'll talk about saving children's lives."
During his speech, Bush was accompanied on the dais by Billings and Gov. Mike Leavitt as well as Utah's first lady, Jacalyn Leavitt. He called Leavitt a friend who would "always have a place in my heart," but deflected a question about whether Utah's chief executive would be considered for a Cabinet post if Bush were elected.
Bush called for a smaller federal government that would return more of a projected tax surplus to its public. He said he planned to encourage entrepreneurship, put control of schools and other government functions in the hands of state or city officials, and restore faith in the integrity of the presidency.
"The difference between this campaign and the (Gore) campaign is that we understand the limitations of government," Bush said. "We understand government can put money in people's hands but it cannot put hope in their hearts."
The crowd gathered at the airport was a mixture of young families pushing strollers, students skipping school and longtime supporters who hailed Bush's visit as one of the signal events in Utah County history.
"It's not every day you have a future president of the United States come to your community," said an optimistic Richard Hill, Utah County chairman of the Bush campaign.
Hundreds of motorists parked their cars in vacant fields near the airport, while others walked more than a mile from the nearest roadside parking. Schoolchildren from Provo sang patriotic song, and were greeted by Bush as he left his plane.
A P-51 Mustang flown in air shows by Utah County resident Gene Malett sat inside the hangar where Bush spoke. The plane, sporting the nickname "Mormon Mustang," was the same type flown in combat by Bush's father, former President George Bush.