71.   If the support was there, they decided, the newly elected governor should announce an exploratory committee in March, as Bush eventually did.

72.   In a statement from Austin, Bush praised the exploratory committee and House members who have pledged their support to a presidential campaign.

73.   In a statement released by his presidential exploratory committee, Wilson returned the warm words.

74.   In case no one noticed, Quayle will again announce formation of his exploratory committee on Wednesday, in his native state of Indiana.

75.   In his campaigns for governor, Bush, who is expected to form an exploratory committee for president next month, has stressed that the GOP be inclusive.

76.   In his speech Friday announcing the exploratory committee, Bradley played down any comparisons with Gore.

77.   In early March, Bush announced he would form a federal exploratory committee so he could test the waters for a potential presidential campaign.

78.   Indeed, one of the reasons to form an exploratory committee is to avoid legal complications over traveling so frequently to New York at taxpayer expense.

79.   Input to Bush came from Condoleezza Rice and Josh Bolten, advisers to his presidential exploratory committee.

80.   It happened when, announcing a presidential exploratory committee, Bush gave an apparent blanket endorsement of Abraham Lincoln.