Former operative: Bush 'bubbled in'

AUSTIN, Texas, March 31 (UPI) -- Matthew Dowd, a former Democrat from Texas who was one of President George W. Bush's top campaign aides in 2004, says he is "disappointed" in Bush.

"I really like him, which is probably why I'm so disappointed in things," Dowd told The New York Times. "I think he's become more, in my view, secluded and bubbled in."

In an interview with the newspaper, Dowd said Bush still displays a "my way or the highway" attitude. Dowd, whose oldest son is in the Army, said he has become so upset about the war he has considered joining anti-war demonstrations.

Dowd said he wrote an op-ed piece titled "Kerry Was Right" -- a reference to the 2004 Democratic candidate's call last year for withdrawal from Iraq -- but did not submit it for publication. In 2004, Dowd helped craft the strategy that depicted Kerry as a flip-flopper on the war.

A Democratic political operative, Dowd changed his party and joined Bush's presidential effort in 1999. He said he was impressed by Bush's ability, as governor of Texas, to work with Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock and other Texas Democrats.