The Texas governor’s office is constitutionally weak, but Bush has, in his five years, had a strong but controversial run.

Taxes: His ‘97 plan to slash property taxes while hiking other rates was his biggest gambit–and it failed. His almost $2 billion tax cut this year will help. But conservatives will needle him for not going farther.

Gun control: He’s for allowing concealed weapons and backed a law limiting Texas cities’ ability to sue gunmakers. Gore can’t wait to try to link Bush to the NRA.

Education: He won big teacher pay raises and an end to “social promotion.” But conservatives say he didn’t push hard enough for private-school vouchers.

Race: His inclusive rhetoric and multiracial appointments have helped him dominate Tejas. One controversy: he didn’t back a hate-crimes bill that Clinton urged him to sign.

Environment: His allies point to increased money for pollution control. But Texas faces harsh criticism from enviro groups. The state’s petro-chemical biz could be his Boston Harbor.

Crime: Rates are down–as in most states. And Bush can boast to primary voters about the country’s biggest death row.

Abortion: Once solidly anti-abortion, W now says a ban can’t be enacted until hearts and minds change. Such fuzziness may be smart strategy–or anger both sides.

THE INNER CIRCLE

Laura Welch Bush: A devout Methodist and librarian from Midland who put him on the straight and narrow. A shy version of Barbara.

Karen Hughes: A former TV reporter turned pol, she ran the Texas GOP. Czarina of W’s message, she’s not afraid to call reporters to “correct the record.”

Karl Rove: Studious consultant who once worked for Bush the Elder. Instrumental in building modern Texas GOP from ground up.

Don Evans: A steady-handed longtime buddy and successful oilman with wide contacts in business. Now in charge of raising record amounts.

Joe Allbaugh: Enforcer of administrative detail; now doing the same for campaign budgets.

THE BUSINESS CAREER

1977 Oil-drilling firm is begun with trust-fund money, family supporters.

1982 Taking company public fails badly. Merges to survive.

1986 Oil prices plunge, and company merges again. Bush gets stock and consulting fees.

1989 Aided by baseball commissioner and tycoons, buys Texas Rangers for $75 million; made managing partner. He invests $606,302, mostly borrowed.

1994 Rangers’ stadium financed by $65 million from team and $135 million from half-cent sales-tax hike approved by Arlington voters.

1998 Sells team for $250 million, gets $14.9 million-plus.