Dole Heads For The Heartland

By Marc Watts/CNN

TOLEDO, Ohio (June 12) -- The first order of business for Bob Dole, one day after leaving the Senate, was changing the official name of his campaign plane to the "Citizen's Ship". Until Tuesday, it was called the "Leader's Ship."

With that, the former Senate majority leader embarked on his first campaign trip as a private citizen. First stop was Toledo, where George Strait's song "Heartland" welcomed him to a luncheon with the Chamber of Commerce.

America's heartland is the theme of Dole's campaign trip (128K WAV sound). "I'm going around the country to check out unemployment rates," Dole quipped. "See how they are in Toledo and Kansas."

His speech was an extension of his farewell remarks Tuesday before Congress. But today, the tone was more partisan (128K WAV sound). "I'm not going run on a stolen agenda, a House agenda, a Senate agenda, but on my agenda, my agenda for the future," Dole declared. "I have no animus toward President Clinton." Dole noted that Clinton called him the day he left the Senate; Dole said he'd call Clinton Nov. 5, election day.

Dole reflected on his years in Congress, promising supporters he'll run for president with the same commitment he brought to the Senate (192K WAV sound).

"Running for president is a full time job," he said. "Now I have the time to focus and get the job done. The stakes couldn't be greater."

Aides say this trip is a chance for Dole to showcase himself yet again as a regular person. Later he'll travel to Kansas to return to his roots there. Aides promise he'll be more open and engaging as the campaign continues.

The former Senate majority leader will visit eight states in three days. And aides say he'll return to Ohio several times before the November election, because it's an important swing state.

Not only is Ohio an important battleground, but it knows something about picking winners. Only twice in the past 100 years has Ohio not selected the winner in a presidential race. And no Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

Dole Heads For The Heartland

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