Strolling into the Jacksonville Historical Society, where a prayer service had been organized especially for him, a serene Bush approached the press pool and the TV cameras to say, "Great way to start off the stretch run. No politics. Just prayer and reflection."

Half an hour of prayer and reflection later, the Bushes emerged.

"God bless you, governor," said the Rev. Jerry Vines, pastor of the First Baptist Church in downtown Jacksonville.

"Remember, the Lord himself chooses the right man," added the Rev. Gretchen Van Aken.

A year ago, the idea that Bush would spend 24 of his last 48 hours on the campaign trail in the state where his little brother Jeb is governor seemed implausible. That he would need to visit the Sunshine State 14 times since his campaign kicked off in June 1999 would seem like crazy talk. Two different polls here show different results: One has Bush slightly ahead; the other gives a small edge to Gore.

But Bush's presence here should not be mistaken for concern about his chances nationally Tuesday night. The governor's previously closely guarded itinerary for Monday indicates cockiness about his chances in the rest of the country. Monday's stops include one visit to Vice President Al Gore's home state, in Chattanooga, Tenn.; and another in President Clinton's, in Bentonville, Ark.

After stops in Iowa and Wisconsin -- two swing states that were won not only by Bill Clinton in '92 and '96 but by former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988 -- Bush will then head to the site of Tuesday night's celebration party: Austin, Texas.

Even though, here in the Bush bubble, Tuesday night's victory party seems a done deal, on Sunday Bush sought a little divine intervention.

At a Jacksonville Marriott, Bush walked into an upper-floor suite, followed by a frail Rev. Billy Graham, Laura Bush and Graham's son Franklin.

"Years ago -- I guess it wasn't all that long ago -- we had a long talk in Maine and began a faith's journey for me that, uh, reconfirmed my faith," Bush said of his 1985 conversation with Graham that eventually led to his becoming born-again. "He's obviously one of the great Americans."

Bush's eyes grew misty.

"It's comforting to be with a close friend," Bush said, "and to have coffee and prayer as we begin the final stretch of the campaign to be the president."

Noting that he'd led Bush's gubernatorial inaugural prayer in January 1995, Graham said, "I don't endorse candidates. But I've come as close to it, I guess, now as any time in my life, because I think it's extremely important. We have in our state absentee voting. I've already voted. I'll just let you guess who I voted for. And my family the same way ... If they, by God's will, win, I'm going to do everything in my power to help them make it a successful presidency."

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