Bush campaign sees California, New York as ripe for taking

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The Bush-Cheney campaign plans to make a strong play to take California and New York in 2004, despite the states' recent history of supporting Democratic presidential candidates.

Both states are ripe for the taking, according to election strategists, even though California has preferred Democrats since President Bush's father won there in 1988 and New York has leaned liberal since Ronald Reagan took the state in 1984.

And with a war chest expected to top $200 million, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are expected to hammer the Democratic ticket on their home base, which could require Democrats to expend more time, effort and money just to hang on to states crucial to their effort to retake the White House.

"President Bush's compassionate agenda resonates with the people of both New York and California," said Tracey Schmitt, spokeswoman for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign. "We expect to be competitive in both those states."

The two states are the top prizes in any national election. California holds 55 electoral votes, New York, 31. While the Republicans can hold on to the White House without winning either state -- Mr. Bush captured neither when he won in 2000 -- Democrats must take California and New York to remain competitive.

While the mission appears difficult at best, a few factors will aid Mr. Bush's re-election efforts. In California, he holds an approval rating hovering in the mid to high 60s, and Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, is facing a recall effort from voters incensed over a $38 billion budget shortfall.

New York has a Republican governor, a Republican mayor of New York City and a very popular former city mayor -- Rudolph Giuliani -- and will be the site of the Republican National Convention in late August and early September, just two months before the general election.

However, New York has two very popular Democratic senators -- Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mr. Schumer has stuffed his coffers for his re-election campaign next year, but the state's Republican Party has yet to find a viable candidate to challenge him.

Despite Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Clinton's popularity, Democratic strategist Mary Ann Marsh said the state has become less liberal-leaning and warned that if the Democrats want to keep the state, they need to get moving.