BUSH TIGHTENS INNER CIRCLE FOR FINAL DEBATE PREP; SESSIONS NOT TAPED, SAY SOURCES
**Exclusive**
Republican presidential hopeful George W. Bush tightened his inner circle as he practiced for this week’s high-stakes debate, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. Senior Bush advisers decided not to videotape most of the governor's key Friday night and Saturday debate prep sessions at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas, according to sources.
"Mr. Gore shouldn’t wait for the mailman this time!" joked one senior Bush source late Sunday.
FBI investigators intensified their probe into how confidential Bush materials ended up in the hands of the Gore campaign last month.
Agents focused on an assistant in the Bush campaign’s TV-ad firm, Maverick Media. The assistant, 30-year-old Juanita Yvette Lozano, consulted a criminal-defense lawyer after the FBI lab developed forensic evidence which reportedly linked Lozano to a package containing sensitive Bush documents and a videotape of Bush practicing for debates.
CNN reported Sunday the FBI was looking into the possibility that a superior at Maverick Media may have asked Lozano to send the package to the Gore campaign. Maverick Media head Mark McKinnon adamantly denied any role and pledged to cooperate.
Meanwhile, Bush’s chief strategist Karl Rove delicately moved to close Bush’s inner circle. A Bush source said Sunday night that McKinnon did not play a "notable" role in this weekend’s debate preparations.
Seven people were in the room as Bush was drilled by adviser Stuart Stevens and New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, who played the role of Gore, according to sources. Bush has not ruled out making a humorous comment about the "mole" episode during Tuesday’s nationally televised debate.
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