February 18, 1999
Web posted at: 5:24 p.m. EST (2224 GMT)

WOLFEBORO, New Hampshire (AllPolitics, February 18) -- Saying America needs "a leader who will make a difference," Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire announced Thursday his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.

"It is without hesitation and with a deep respect for the promise of America that I declare my candidacy today for the presidency of the United States of America," Smith told the a auditorium full of students at Wolfeboro high school where he used to teach history and civics.

Sen. Bob Smith announced his candidacy for the president of the United States Thursday

A staunch conservative, Smith promised to support during his campaign anti-abortion efforts, military funding, tax cuts and gun owners' rights.

Smith, 57, also spoke out for the first time about President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. Decrying the "prevailing values in America," he pledged not be a political "deal maker" but to restore "character, integrity, commitment, (and) principle" to the office of the presidency.

Saying his life's goal is to "protect all children, born and unborn," Smith said, if elected, he would nominate only anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court and send a bill to Congress "defining life as beginning at fertilization."

"Abortion is the moral outrage of the 20th century and I'm going to end it too because it is wrong," Smith, a catholic and the father of three children, said.

The two-term senator also pledged to increase support for the U.S. military, promising to "develop and deploy" a missile defense system to protect U.S. interests; to never send troops into military action under a leader from another country; and to ensure "there will be no military personnel on food stamps ever again."

"We need a strong, forceful commander in chief with the background, the credibility, and the knowledge and the passion to lead and inspire our troops and someone who cares about them and appreciates their sacrifices. And I'm prepared to meet that challenge if I'm president of the United States," Smith, a Vietnam veteran, said.

Turning to one of the GOP's top policy issues this year, Smith supported a Republican plan for an across-the-board tax cut.

"I'd throw out the existing tax code and I'd start over," Smith said. "I would offer an across-the-board 10-percent tax cut for Americans, cut the capital gains tax, double the personal exemption and fire any IRS agent in America who harasses an American citizen."

Although the so-called "character issue" was not a winning campaign issue for either George Bush or Bob Dole, the president's impeachment seems to have inspired the New Hampshire Republican to try it again.

"I voted to remove the president of the United States from office," the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics said. "I believe that perjury and obstruction of justice is wrong. And I think the president's acquittal is a sad commentary on the prevailing values in America today and I'm going to try to do something about it."

"We're not going to save our country with deal makers, we're going to save our country with people with commitment, and passion and patriotism," Smith told the enthusiastic students. "Political leadership ... is not about who gives the best speech, it's not about who has the most money, it's not about who the media thinks is the front-runner, and it's not about political resumes. It's about character, integrity, commitment, (and) principle."

Smith was re-elected to the Senate in 1996 with 49 percent of the vote. His Democratic competitor Dick Swett ran a close race, capturing 46 percent of the vote. Smith also served six years in the House of Representatives

He joins a growing list of GOP contenders for the 2000 nomination. Rep. John Kasich of Ohio, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Vice President Dan Quayle, former Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander and conservative activist Gary Bauer, are already setting up exploratory committees.

Elizabeth Dole and Gov. George W. Bush of Texas, who are considered in the top tier of Republican potentials, have not made up their minds yet.

Thursday, February 18, 1999

• Judge in Jones case won't be removed from contempt decision
• Los Angeles a step closer to hosting Democratic 2000 convention
• Smith joins race for 2000 GOP nomination
• Clinton returns to New Hampshire
• Clinton to pardon first African-American West Point graduate
• Starr's office clears Lewinsky for first interview
• How are CNN polls taken?
• Stream of politicians visit Gov. George Bush
• Nevada's Sen. Bryan won't run again
• Reno's deputy sees need for changes in independent counsel law
• Proposed Medicare changes could save billions over time
• What will scandal veterans do now that impeachment is over?
• Analysis: New battle over who can wage war -- Congress or Clinton?

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