Bush, McCain battle for Reagan mantle

By Bernard Shaw/CNN

February 23, 2000
Web posted at: 5:49 p.m. EST (2249 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Although its been twelve years since he left office, Ronald Reagan remains a towering, almost cult-like figure in Republican politics whose name is invoked as often -- and with as much reverence -- as Abraham Lincoln's.

It's not by mere coincidence or admiration that Republican rivals John McCain and Gov. George W. Bush have attempted to wrap their candidacies around the Reagan mystique. Both recognize that a re-creation of Reagan's coalition of blue-collar Democrats and independents could be the key to victory in November.

Sen. John McCain

"In the spirit of Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt, this is where you belong," said the Arizona senator, as he urged Republican leaders to join the "McCain movement" on Wednesday. "You belong (among) the Republicans who practice the politics of addition over the politics of division."

McCain, who garnered more Democratic and independent votes than Republican votes en route to his seven-point victory in the Michigan primary, often has boasted that he's the only Republican candidate capable of putting together a Reagan-type confederation this fall.

But he also understands the need to align himself with Reagan's steadfast Republican views.

"I'm a proud Reagan conservative," McCain said, rattling off a list of popular conservative issues for which he promised to fight, including strengthening the military, promoting the anti-abortion agenda and cutting taxes.

McCain's claim to the Reagan mantle has been fiercely contested by Bush. The Texas governor has proposed a large five-year, $483 billion tax cut in the tradition of Reagan while at the same time trying to appeal to elements not traditionally aligned with the GOP through his theme of "compassionate conservatism."

Gov. George W. Bush

Bush also evoked Reagan's name after he came under heavy fire for an appearance earlier this month at Bob Jones University, a conservative Christian college in South Carolina that has referred to Catholicism as a "cult," and bans inter-racial dating.

"I want to remind you, President Ronald Reagan went to that university and he came back here to Michigan and won this state, not only in the primary -- in the general election he won this state, and that's exactly what's going to happen this fall," Bush said in a recent Michigan interview.

Of course, Bush lost Michigan after failing to reach beyond the Republican base there. Reagan won Michigan in 1980 and 1984 by simultaneously appealing to hard-core Republicans with an anti-tax and anti-spending message, and to Independents and Democrats with charm and optimism.

The next big battle for the Reagan mantle comes March 7 in California, the Gipper's home turf. Bush may have the right and McCain the middle, but so far, neither has matched Reagan's ability to win both.