The oldest son of George H. W. Bush , the 41st president of the United States , George W. Bush emerged as a presidential contender in his own right with his victory in the 1994 Texas gubernatorial election . After winning re-election by a decisive margin in the 1998 Texas gubernatorial election , Bush became the widely acknowledged front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential election . In the years preceding the 2000 election , Bush established a stable of advisers , including supply-side economics advocate Lawrence B. Lindsey and foreign policy expert Condoleezza Rice . With a financial team led by Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman , Bush built up a commanding financial advantage over other prospective Republican candidates . Though several prominent Republicans declined to challenge Bush , Arizona senator John McCain launched a spirited challenge that was supported by many moderates and foreign policy hawks . McCain 's loss in the South Carolina primary effectively ended the 2000 Republican primaries , and Bush was officially nominated for president at the 2000 Republican National Convention . Bush selected former secretary of defense Dick Cheney as his running mate ; though Cheney offered little electoral appeal and had health problems , Bush believed that Cheney 's extensive experience would make him a valuable governing partner
2000 Republican National Convention
2000 Republican National Convention
Presidency of George W. Bush