The political commentariat has anointed the square-jawed Texas governor with the familiar political name as the "inevitability" candidate. Translation: George W. Bush has surged way past this rivals for the GOP presidential nomination because he is seen by a troubled party as the Republican who can win in November of 2000.

In 2000 there will be some new advantages to being the front-runner. Because of the heavily front-loaded primary calendar in 2000, the front-runner can wrap up the nomination early, pre-empting months of trench warfare.

Such a big-win front-running scenario might also give Bush the ability to choose his state delegate slates in a way that will allow him to shape the tenor of the always-troubling Republican convention and platform. The Bush delegates who'd be his delegates. All he has to do is insist that they act like compassionate conservatives.