Down to the wire Bush carries confidence to talk show

BURBANK, Calif. - Exuding confidence on the eve of Tuesday's jackpot of presidential primaries, George W. Bush ventured into a new role Monday: comedian in chief. <br><br>The governor's appearance

Tuesday, March 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BURBANK, Calif. - Exuding confidence on the eve of Tuesday's jackpot of presidential primaries, George W. Bush ventured into a new role Monday: comedian in chief.

The governor's appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno was his second in a week on the late-night TV talk show circuit. Last week, the GOP presidential contender was a guest via satellite on the Late Show With David Letterman.

The show opened with a taped sequence in which Mr. Bush - who last year flunked a reporter's pop quiz on world leaders - was in a dressing room being tutored by Alex Trebek, host of the TV game show Jeopardy.

After missing a couple of easy questions, Mr. Bush was asked the name of the prime minister of Israel between 1996 and 1999 - and got it right (Benjamin Netanyahu).

"Yes!" shouted an exultant Mr. Leno. Unlike last week's satellite appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman, in which Mr. Bush appeared stiff and out of sync, the Leno show went smoothly. Much of the segment was a low-key chat about family and politics.

Earlier Monday, Mr. Bush said the fractious, roller-coaster Republican primary has made him a better candidate and convinced doubters who questioned his toughness that he can indeed take on Vice President Al Gore in November.

"There's nothing more humbling than losing a few elections," Mr. Bush said of his stinging primary losses to Sen. John McCain in Michigan and New Hampshire.

Saying he was confident of victory as he began the "sprint to the wire" for Tuesday's primaries, Mr. Bush said he can repair the rift with Mr. McCain so that a unified Republican Party can reclaim the White House.

"I don't think this fracture is much of a fracture," he told reporters during a campaign stop in San Diego.

Mr. Bush said both he and the Arizona senator have attracted new voters to reinvigorate the Republican Party.

With polls showing him leading Mr. McCain in most of the 13 states holding GOP delegate-selection contests Tuesday, Mr. Bush is looking ahead to fund-raisers slated through April in Chicago, California, Arkansas, New Jersey, Maryland and New York City.

Throughout the day, Mr. Bush sought to underscore the theme of unity and inclusion. At the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, he said his religious faith "leads us to condemn all forms of religious bigotry."

At a San Diego rally, he quoted from the Bible and reiterated that it was a mistake not to speak out against intolerance during a visit to Bob Jones University, whose leaders have espoused anti-Catholic views.

A sign in the crowd at San Diego said: "Voted the Father. Now the Son. Always the Holy Spirit."