Dole: "No Doubt About It -- It Helps"

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 14) -- Sen. Robert Dole welcomed the anticipated endorsement of one-time rival Malcolm S. "Steve" Forbes Jr., who is expected to throw his support to the Senate Majority Leader this afternoon.

"No doubt about it -- it helps," Dole (R-Kan.) told the Associated Press when asked about the effect of Forbes' withdrawal from the race for the Republican nomination. Dole declined further comment until Forbes makes his remarks in Washington, set for 1 p.m. EST.

An aide to Forbes, 48, said the publisher would endorse Dole, who has an overwhelming lead in the hunt for GOP delegates.

Meanwhile, Dole aides reportedly want him to embrace Forbes' message of economic growth and tax reform and reach out to those who supported the businessman.

After his Super Tuesday sweep, however, Dole was stern in victory, saying he wasn't prepared to negotiate anything with Forbes or commentator Pat Buchanan.

Forbes had said he would stay in the race at least another week, hoping for a breakthrough in one of next week's Midwestern primaries in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

But after more meetings with his staff, the campaign decided that was unlikely and announced yesterday Forbes would quit the race and make the formal announcement today.

Former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp, who got in trouble with Forbes when he prematurely signaled Forbes might abandon the race, sat in on some of the discussions.

"My hope would be that Bob Dole would reach out to Steve immediately," Kemp told AP on Wednesday. "So far he has shown no magnanimity in victory. ... They made a rather halfhearted plea for unity last night but didn't mention Steve's contribution to the debate and to the cause."

Forbes captured two primaries, Arizona and Delaware, but his bid crumbled under big Dole wins on Junior and Super Tuesday. In all, he spent about $25 million, most of it from his own fortune, to win 900,000 votes, or about $27 per vote.

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