Mr. Bush beat him to that.

On Saturday, Mr. Bush was beating Mr. Reagan at last.

That accounted for 97,488 votes, and Mr. Bush beat Mr. Gore there by 537.

Mr. Bush beat Michael S. Dukakis by only 95,000 votes in 1988, and since then things have got worse for the President.

He dismisses last Tuesday's primaries in Arkansas and Idaho in which Mr. Bush beat him, again, better than five to one.

Mr. Bush beat Mr. Dukakis among white voters in every region of the country.

Seemingly out of the race, Mr. Bush beat Ronald Reagan here and then in Pennsylvania.

At the age of 40, Mr. Bush beat a drinking problem by surrendering to a powerful religious experience, reinforced by Bible study with friends.

Mr. Bush beat Mr. McCain handily among younger voters and women.

And what they ultimately decide will be key here, a state where Mr. Bush beat Al Gore by a slim 165,000 votes in 2000.