the other states."

Ironically, Bush has never been hesitant to visit Bucks County in the past. In 1980, when he was vying with Ronald Reagan for the presidential nomination, Bush visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in New Britain Township. Two years later, Bush visited the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster.

And in the fall of 1988, while running for president against Democrat Michael Dukakis, Bush spoke at a meeting of the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce in Bensalem Township.

As for this spring, though, McIlhinney says there is really very little reason for Bush to visit Pennsylvania and, in particular, Bucks County.

"He's in good shape -- it's not like before when he ran against Reagan," says McIlhinney.

Maverick Republican candidate Patrick Buchanan has no known organization in BucksCounty and, therefore, few if any local political leaders lobbying for a visit.

On the Democratic side, though, there is plenty of lobbying going on.

Michael Burke, an aide to Kostmayer, says the congressman has asked all three remaining presidential candidates to visit Bucks County.

"I suspect we'll see them all in Bucks County," says Burke.

One reason Bucks County should see visits from the candidates is that Pennsylvania will be competing with no other state for their attention. The last vote before Pennsylvania's April 28 primary is in Virginia, where Democrats caucus on April 11. It means the candidates will have no where else to go for 17 days.

"I'm sure there will be a special effort to mine votes here," says Burke.

Bucks County is also an important area for Democrats to