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Dole courts women's vote in CaliforniaBy Jennifer Auther/CNN
August 23, 1999 IRVINE, California (CNN) -- While George W. Bush gauges the fallout from his answers to questions about past cocaine use, former Red Cross Chair Elizabeth Dole told a bipartisan group of the nation's top women leaders Sunday she's all for zero tolerance of drugs. "As president, let me just say too that I'll use the bully pulpit to lead a crusade that's comprehensive and fully funded where drugs are concerned," Dole told the National Foundation for Women Legislators' annual convention in Pasadena, California. Hoping to make the most of her third place finish in the Iowa straw poll, Dole is running hard for the woman's vote in California.
"Shared leadership -- having all perspectives and life experiences at the public policy table -- is in the best interests of our nation and our democracy," Dole said. A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows Dole ahead of Vice President Al Gore, 51 percent to 45 percent in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. For now, the female vote appears to be Dole's strength. That same poll shows she picked up 52 percent of women surveyed overall. Seventy-three percent of women questioned said they've got a favorable impression of Dole. "We still have in California, the open primary, which means that Democratic women, independent women ... Reform Party women might just decide ... I'm going to vote for Mrs. Dole, she's a woman," Joe Cerrell a Democratic political consultant said. A woman's legal right to an abortion has long been a potent weapon against Republicans in California. Dole says she only supports abortion rights in cases of rape or incest -- something that some female voters thinks could hurt her in California and in Los Angeles specifically. Nonetheless, pundits agree that among GOP candidates, George W. Bush has a lock on California, a state where money and media are paramount. "When George W. Bush comes to California, you'd think he was the incumbent president. Every significant news print reporter in the nation -- all the TV cameras. They can even get the LA broadcast media to come out," Allan Hoffenblum, GOP political consultant said. That is not yet the case for Dole. One advantage for Dole is that she is well known. But because of California's size, she'll have to find a way to get on television. Even then, some consultants say, for Dole to do well in California, Bush will have to falter. |
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MORE STORIES:Monday, August 23, 1999
• GOP candidates urge Bush to put drug question to rest • Poor female-headed families lose ground during economic boom • Election 2000 briefs • Thurmond hospitalized again, will have prostate surgery • Daley moves out of father's shadow, leaves his own Chicago legacy • For first time since statehood, Kentucky GOP has Senate majority • Clinton back golfing: Bad shots, good relaxation • The first Clinton-Giuliani contest is for money • Speakership changes Hastert's life • U.S. Senate candidate Lincoln Chafee says he tried cocaine in college • Clinton on saxophone: 'My Funny Valentine' • Minnesota's governor returns to his wrestling roots | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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