His financial and organizational support dwarfs McCain's. Though Bush has spent $50 million, he still has $20 million left -- more than twice what McCain has -- going into the March 7 primary battles in California, New York and Ohio. A BATTLE ON TWO FRONTS Pushing for independent votes has been a key to McCain's strategy from the beginning. In New Hampshire, McCain edged Bush among Republicans but crushed him among independents. Bush and his supporters have voiced concern over the influence of outsiders in determining the GOP nominee. ``I do hear some concern among Republicans that it's going to be the Democrats who determine the outcome of the election here,'' Bush said. McCain has made no apologies for appealing to non-Republicans, saying that is a crucial component of his ability to win not only the GOP nomination but also the general election in November. ``Call the Democrats, call the independents,'' he exulted before a crowd in Aiken this week. ``Call the libertarians, call the vegetarians.'' Election officials predict a turnout between 300,000 and 400,000, far larger than the 276,000 voters who cast ballots in the 1996 primary. Already, there are reports of record numbers of absentee ballots. By late tonight, both candidates will be off to Michigan. McCain's ``Straight Talk Express,'' the customized bus that carries the candidate and a mob of reporters, is already headed for Michigan, where it will spend two days before being dispatched to California. ...
