51.   Bush campaign officials and outside advisers said the campaign had every intention to run commercials that could be defined as negative.

52.   Bush campaign officials argue that the projection depressed their turnout in those counties in the closing minutes, and that those votes may have been decisive.

53.   Bush campaign officials hope the party platform, approved here Monday in a voice vote, also documents the difference.

54.   Bush campaign officials ignored the tightening Texas numbers, voicing confidence despite the national polls.

55.   Bush campaign officials packaged the Virginia win with his weekend victories in American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and declared themselves on a roll.

56.   Bush campaign officials view Powell as a powerful ally because he is a popular national figure who exudes tolerance and inclusion.

57.   Bush campaign officials were criticized last year when Bush, who apparently had not been properly briefed, told reporters Cheney had not had a heart attack.

58.   Bush campaign officials were elated over polls showing the race tightening in California, a state that most analysts have said was an easy Gore win.

59.   Bush campaign officials, who have been honing the speakers list for months, also plan to put an unprecedented number of minority speakers on the podium.

60.   But another adviser said Bush campaign officials feared the program would invite attack from Vice President Al Gore.