CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to move on to the transition of the 43rd president. President-elect Bush takes time from White House packing and planning today to mark the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. CNN national correspondent Tony Clark is in Austin, Texas with more on the president-elect's day -- Tony.</s>TONY CLARK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. The president-elect goes to Houston, Texas today to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. He will appear at Kelso Elementary School in South Houston. That is a school that has about 33 percent Hispanic, 66 percent African-American students. Mr. Bush will appear with Rod Paige, his nominee for secretary of education. The theme today: Mr. Bush to talk about the powerful role that Martin Luther King played in changing America, and also the importance of education. It is, perhaps, interesting to note that Kelso Elementary on Election Day was the voting site for Precinct 238, which went overwhelming for Mr. Bush's opponent, Vice President Gore. Mr. Bush only got 19 votes in that area, and Vice President Gore getting 1,057. And so it is not an area that supported Mr. Bush, but he goes there today to try to win over support from African Americans. Race also expected to be an issue when confirmation hearings begin tomorrow for John Ashcroft, Mr. Bush's nominee for attorney general. He has been criticized because in 1999 he blocked the nomination of Ronnie White, an African-American Supreme Court judge from Missouri, from becoming a federal judge. Race to be an issue in that question; also religion, because Mr. Ashcroft spoke at Bob Jones University, known for its anti-Catholic views. He has been outspoken in his religious views. Critics have said that the may not be able to separate church and state in his actions as attorney general. So a very contentions confirmation set to begin in Washington on John Ashcroft tomorrow -- Carol.</s>LIN: All right, thank you very much, Tony Clark, reporting from Austin, Texas. A busy day for George W. Bush.
Transition of Power: Bush to Mark King Birthday at Texas School