He also charged that Bush operatives had bugged his phones in a plot to ruin him financially.

As Bush operatives plotted how to limit political damage, recriminations began over how the campaign in New Hampshire was waged.

Several Bush operatives here said they were overwhelmed by unexpected crowds at the governor's events, which made it more difficult for him to interact with voters.

But that enabled Bush operatives to accuse rivals of writing off the Texas primary.

Even Bush operatives said, in retrospect, that they had underestimated the potency of the Democrats' get-out-the-vote operation.

Mel Sembler, the Republicans national finance chairman who is a developer in Florida, said Bush operatives thought they were in a more comfortable position in his state.

Some Bush operatives have privately pointed fingers at Mr. McCain's advisers for past client work that involved push polls.

Instantly, key Bush operatives were converted into Reagan loyalists.

Frustrated by charges that he was a candidate controlled by Bush operatives, the Senator announced in mid-October that he was would campaign as his own man.

Mr. McCain's aides were jubilant, but they acknowledged that they were almost as shocked by the Michigan outcome as the Bush operatives.