Bush has status, advantage, burden of living up to the advance billing.

WASHINGTON _ For Gov. George W. Bush of Texas, political life may never be better than it is today.

He leads all rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, with more money, more backing from the party establishment, more support from the people. Polls suggest the nomination, if not the presidency itself, is well within his grasp.

But first, Bush will have to go out and campaign. Starting Saturday, he will.

With his formidable early lead, Bush will find that his most daunting challenge is living up to the hopes victory-hungry Republicans have attached to his famous name. The last time a Republican won the White House, it was the elder George Bush in 1988.

The younger Bush's pedigree and his status as governor of the nation's second largest state give him advantages in the campaign, including a network of contributors and supporters. But they also give him the burden of living up to the advance billing.

``You don't have to introduce yourself to …