[AllPolitics - News]

New York Republicans Meet To Discuss Election-Year Strategies

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By Cynthia Tornquist/CNN

NEW YORK (AllPolitics, May 5) -- Many of the Republicans who gathered in the Northeast for a two-day conference of local and state party leaders admitted they must get their act together if they want any Republicans to be victorious in the November elections.

"The first thing we have to do as Republicans is get our house in order and say we can work within this framework without attacking each other because if we start doing that the Democrats won't have to do much," said Henry Calderone of the Hispanic Republican Council. "We're going to kill ourselves."

Molinari

Despite President Clinton's lead in the polls, Republicans say selling American voters on a Bob Dole presidency will not be as difficult as some political pundits have suggested.

"We think this is going to be an easy sell, particularly now that party nomination for Republicans is closed and we have a sharp distinction between Bob Dole and Bill Clinton," said Representative Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.). (103K WAV sound)

But in the midst of intra-party squabbling, how do you get a Republican message across when Americans are not sure whose message represents the party's overall thinking?

Said Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.), "You think Pat Buchanan gave a good message for our party?" (132K WAV sound)

"We need to stop talking about some of the issues, like abortion and gun control, which get us off the message and start talking about the things the vast majority of Americans agree with us on, like balancing the budget, like tax relief," said Representative Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.).

Calderone says image is the answer. "Image drives reality," he said.

Dole

But some Republicans said they think Dole does not come across to the public as strongly as he might intend.

"I do know there are people who emote in front of a camera and there are some that do not," said Joe Mondello, Nassau County Republican Committee member. "I would say Bob Dole has to work hard for that." (113K WAV sound)

Representative Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) said the answer lies in presenting the "real" Dole. (113K WAV sound)

Despite the challenge before them, Republicans say they plan to put up quite a fight in the next few months.



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