Dole Looks For Unity Out West

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AllPolitics, March 26) -- More than delegates are at stake in today's western primaries in California, Washington, and Nevada. Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.) is looking for commanding victories to further marginalize conservative commentator Pat Buchanan and to ward off a possible run by Texas billionaire Ross Perot.

Having already locked up the GOP nomination last week, Dole doesn't actually need to win the Golden State's winner-take-all, 165-delegate prize. A recent Field Poll, however, predicted Dole would crush Buchanan, 63 percent to 8 percent. President Clinton faces token opposition on the Democratic side and should easily pick up the 423 delegates.

With so little at stake in the presidential contests, primary turnout will likely be scant. Only about 42 percent of eligible California voters are expected to vote, the lowest showing in 80 years. But several ballot initiatives -- the "Terrible Twos" -- that aim to reign in lawsuits will add substance to today's California vote.

Dole is expected to win handily in Washington, where no more than 33 percent of the state's 2.9 million voters are expected to vote to allocate 18 of the state's 36 GOP delegates. The other 18 will be chosen at a state convention in June. Clinton already claimed the 90 Democratic delegates in Washington's March 5 caucuses. Nevada's primary is purely Republican, and, Dole is expected to win most of the state's 291,000 eligible GOP voters. Twenty-seven delegates are at stake.

Anything less than a resounding win in California would weaken Dole in his toughest battle: rallying a unified Republican Party and attracting the independent vote that Perot could capture. "Let's not get into the race to make it more difficult for Republicans," Dole said from the Richard M. Nixon Library Monday. "Let's make it easier for the Republicans to send Bill Clinton back to Little Rock."

Falling On Deaf Ears? Perot brushed aside Dole's appeal, calling his Reform Party "an idea whose time has come." Buchanan, campaigning in Washington, continued his rhetorical crusade, claiming, "This campaign set the agenda for America. That's why we've got to keep this campaign going." While clearly squeamish about abandoning his GOP roots for a possible third-party bid, the fiery pundit maintained: "My party is going to be a pro-life party, or it's not going to be my party."