Buchanan Ponders His Next Step

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AllPolitics, March 27) -- Pat Buchanan, pondering the next phase of his insurgent campaign to shape the Republican agenda, plans to call together about 40 top advisers tomorrow for a major strategy session.

After Tuesday night's results in the West, Buchanan conceded Sen. Robert Dole had cemented his grasp on the nomination and congratulated the Kansas senator (165K AIFF or WAV sound).

"We have to respect the decision of the party which has chosen Senator Dole," Buchanan told a Southern California rally. One enthusiastic supporter yelled back: "No we don't," and that drew a laugh from Buchanan. "Who let that extremist in here?" the commentator joked.

Buchanan captured a mere 18 percent of the vote in California, far less than the 26 percent he got in 1992. But he still wants to be a force at the GOP's August convention in San Diego. "We are not defeated because our campaign is prevailing and triumphing in this party and in this country," he insisted.

Some of his supporters want Buchanan to run as an independent. However, two senior advisors, who did not want to be quoted by name, told the Associated Press that Buchanan is worried that the talk of bolting the GOP might hurt his prospects in any future run for the president.

With Dole the nominee, Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour officially dropped his neutrality today and suggested it was time for Buchanan to get on board.

"This contest is over," Barbour told the Associated Press.

Barbour also said that if Buchanan wants a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican convention, he will have to clear his speech with the Dole campaign and party officials. In 1992, Buchanan called for a cultural war against permissiveness in a convention speech that turned off many moderates and also stepped on George Bush's message.

"I don't know what kind of controls they had in 1992," Barbour told AP. "But at this convention, good management means you'll know what every speaker is going to say from the opening gavel to the closing farewell."

Dole has made some conciliatory statements recently about Buchanan's bid, but with ten times more delegates in hand, Dole's campaign believes it can deal with Buchanan from a position of strength.

Buchanan Ponders His Next Step

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