BUSH TO MAKE FIRST VISIT AS PRESIDENT.

Byline: - Bill Hillburg

George W. Bush, accused by Democrats of ignoring the needs of a power-hungry state he lost to Al Gore in November, plans to make his first presidential visit to Southern California sometime during the Memorial Day weekend.

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius confirmed the trip Thursday but said that the exact dates and details are pending. He said the Bush visit will likely include a Los Angeles town meeting on trade and education issues, followed by an appearance in San Diego that will center on the president's plans to reshape the military.

``We are still working out the itinerary and won't have the final schedule until sometime next week,'' Lisaius said. He declined comment on reports that Bush had been urged to make the trip by California Republicans, who are concerned by the president's perceived lack of interest in the state's energy crisis.

The national energy plan unveiled by Bush on Thursday did not include any immediate federal response to the state's energy crunch. House Democrats and several Republicans, including Rep. Elton Gallegly, R- Oxnard, had urged Bush to enact temporary price caps on electricity.