Moral issues in campaign spotlight

May 25, 1996
Web posted at: 11:40 p.m. EDT

From Correspondent Jill Dougherty

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Until now, this year's presidential politics has been dominated by issues such as the balanced budget, welfare reform and the gas tax. But as the elections draw near, morality is moving into the spotlight as the personal integrity of those wanting to be president comes under debate.

At the request of GOP presumptive presidential nominee Bob Dole, Michigan's Republican Gov. John Engler used the party's Saturday radio address to accuse president Clinton of using "bait and switch" tactics on welfare reform.

"The bottom line is, when it comes to the president's promises, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Engler said.

And, even as members of the military were being praised by Clinton this weekend, Republicans unleashed a television advertisement aimed at raising two troubling issues for the president: His avoidance of military service and a sexual harassment suit.

The Clinton campaign joined the battle with its own TV spot, criticizing Dole for leaving the Senate.

Behind the scenes, members of both political camps have been predicting the campaign would turn nasty and highly personal, but nobody thought it would happen this early.

Same-sex marriages, another "morality" issue, also surfaced this week. But Clinton -- a supporter of gay rights -- tried to neutralize the issue's potential as a campaign liability by opposing such marriages.

Voters will have the final word on how big a role character should play in electing a president. But they've already weighed in on one issue: negative advertising is a turn-off.

Related stories:

• Whitewater trial nears end - May 13, 1996
• AllPolitics - Dole Slams Clinton Crime Record - May 11, 1996
• AllPolitics - Dole Hits Clinton On Foreign Policy - May 9, 1996

Related sites:

• Dole for President Site
• Presidential Campaign 1996
• The 1996 Presidential Campaign

Related newsgroups:

• alt.impeach.clinton
• alt.politics.clinton
• alt.president.clinton

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