By Eun-Kyung Kim
Associated Press Writer
Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999; 1:26 a.m. EDT

WASHINGTON –– George W. Bush spoke with typical confidence about his future – "I think I'm going to be president" – but offered few details of what his presidency would provide.

The two-term Texas governor said he is "filling in the blanks on policy" on his own timetable.

Though he addressed a wide range of topics, Bush seemed unusually guarded and brusque about policy questions during an interview Friday with The Associated Press. In a roundtable with AP editors and reporters, he repeatedly brushed off follow-up questions that sought to pin him down.

He did urge commentator Pat Buchanan not to bolt the Republican Party. A three-time Republican presidential candidate, Buchanan has hinted he will drop out of the GOP race to seek the Reform Party nomination. Republicans fear that could siphon votes from their nominee.

"I don't want Pat Buchanan to leave the party," Bush said, recalling his father's defeat by President Clinton in a three-way race in 1992.

"I think it's important, should I be the nominee, to unite the Republican Party. I'm going to need every vote I can get among Republicans to win the election."

Bush acknowledged that Reform Party founder Ross Perot's general election campaign affected the 1992 race, which ended his father's presidency. Perot drew 19 percent, George Bush 37 percent and Clinton 43 percent.

The younger Bush, however, refused to speculate about Buchanan's impact in 2000, saying, "It's too early to judge."

Republican and conservative leaders, including at least three fellow presidential candidates, have issued harsh judgments of Buchanan's campaign book, "A Republic, Not an Empire." In it, Buchanan questions the timing of the United States' entry into World War II and its participation in the battle against Adolf Hitler.

While not joining in the condemnation of Buchanan, Bush said he disagreed with Buchanan's opinion that Germany was not a threat to the United States after 1940. "Germany (was) a threat," he said.

During the interview, Bush also said:

–He supports raising the federal minimum wage by $1 an hour, but only if states can opt out, a condition that could gut any proposed increase.

–China is among the potential threats that require a strong U.S. military. Calling U.S.-China ties "a competitive relationship," Bush said, "I see nothing on the horizon, no talks about war right now, but it is a major issue" for the next president.

–Congress should stick to spending limits set in the 1997 balanced-budget deal. GOP leaders say they will exceed the limits, and the Congressional Budget Office says lawmakers are already on course to spend part of the Social Security surplus. One day after Clinton vetoed the GOP tax-cutting bill, Bush said he won't offer his own tax-reduction package until "after the dust has cleared here in Washington."

–The census should be "an actual count," not conducted with statistical sampling methods. Minority groups being courted by Bush argue that traditional head counts underestimate their numbers, which dilutes their political clout.

Bush's minimum wage proposal, though not fully formed, would give states unconditional ability to bypass a federally set wage increase. States would not be able to opt out of minimum wage levels already in place.

"My worry about the minimum wage is that if it's applied universally it's going to price certain people out of the job market," Bush said.

Bush said he had not spoken to GOP leaders in the Senate or House about taxes or any other issues pending in Washington.

Discussing a range of foreign policy issues, Bush said he had the will to force United Nations weapons inspectors back into Iraq. He sided with supporters of the troubled F-22 stealth fighter, although some GOP lawmakers are trying to cut the $65 billion program.

Bush's confident air resurfaced Friday night during an appearance at the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards banquet. To a crowd that included several Republican lawmakers, he said: "Take a deep breath. Help is on the way."