A Man of the People?

By DAVID ELLIS

The Bush Administration has assigned DAN QUAYLE the task of leading the counterattack on the pit-bull candidacy of PAT BUCHANAN. The Vice President will visit New Hampshire three times before the Feb. 18 primary in an effort to convince voters that his boss hasn't abandoned the conservative creed. Secret Service agents will scout out bowling alleys and shopping malls where Quayle plans to make "spontaneous" stops to assert that the President understands the fears of middle-class Americans. Besides Buchanan, Quayle faces another nemesis: himself. A new poll indicates that 77% of New Hampshire Republicans would rather vote for someone else as Bush's running mate next year.

With reporting by Wendy Cole