March 16, 1999
Web posted at: 7:59 a.m. EST (1259 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 15) -- Multimillionaire publisher Steve Forbes plans to launch his bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination Tuesday morning, using the Internet to try to reach out directly to a new audience of voters.

"Internet today will be for Steve Forbes what television was for John Kennedy in 1960," Bill DalCol, who will manage Forbes' campaign, said Monday.

DalCol said Forbes had chosen his Web site as the medium through which to announce his candidacy to "demonstrate the importance the Internet will play returning Democracy to the individual, allowing the individual to ... take direct action in support of a candidate who represents their views."

The campaign hopes their Web site, Forbes2000.com, will offer voters unfiltered, in-depth information about Forbes' positions and allow them to build their own committee structure.

Forbes' strategy marks a sharp departure from his unsuccessful 1996 campaign, which relied heavily on a series of television ads, financed with his own money. The ads promoted a flat tax and harshly criticized the GOP front-runner, Bob Dole, for being too soft on taxes.

However, Forbes encountered hostility among social conservatives who were concerned about his stance on abortion and other issues important to the religious right.

This time Forbes, 51, has been carefully courting conservatives by running to the right of the early GOP pack leaders, Texas Gov. George W. Bush and former Cabinet member Elizabeth Dole. Along with his emphasis on tax reform, he has staked out a strict anti-abortion stance and conservative positions on other social issues, such as school choice and making English the official language.

He also has concentrated his spending on recruiting talented organizers and has built a strong grassroots organization.

Other Republicans in the field include Arizona Sen. John McCain, New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, activist Gary Bauer, former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich and former Vice President Dan Quayle.

CNN's Carin Dessauer contributed to this report.

Monday, March 15, 1999

• Medicare showing its age at 40
• Public opinion does not side with most proposed Medicare reforms
• Former potential foe Gephardt will endorse Gore
• Poll: Gore gets high marks on issues, character but lags behind other candidates
• Forbes expected to launch candidacy this week
• 2000 Senate races heating up
• Sen. Chafee announces retirement
• Los Angeles' pitch for DNC 2000 convention may have paid off
• Testimony resumes in McDougal trial
• Clinton tops poll on foreign policy
• McCain slams Clinton policies in speech on geopolitics
• Sununu co-chairing Quayle campaign
• Report: New Jersey gov. to run for Senate
• Sen. Mack makes retirement official
• Parties fight for control of House

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