• Tobacco Road
• Lone Star Fight
• Swinging Slovenians
• Lamm Ponders

Tobacco Road

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AllPolitics, June 20) -- Anti-smoking protestors dogged Bob Dole at every stop of his just-completed California campaign swing. One was dressed as a giant cigarette, handing out play money. What spurred the demonstrations was Dole's comments last week that cigarettes were not addictive for all people, along with documents issued by the Clinton Administration showing Dole's campaign contributions from tobacco industries. One banner read, "Tobacco Bob Go Home." At Dole's stop in Fresno, the candidate couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell a woman sitting next to a full ashtray, "Aren't good for you." The startled woman quietly replied, "I know."

Lone Star Fight

SAN ANTONIO (AllPolitics, June 20) -- Round one of the fight over the GOP's anti-abortion plank is scheduled to kick off today with the start of the Texas state party convention. Although likely GOP nominee Bob Dole has called for a declaration of tolerance in the platform, Texan abortion foes will fight to keep the anti-abortion plank as-is by choosing abortion opponents as the state's delegates to the GOP San Diego convention in August.

Some party conservatives have targeted Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), a pro-choice close friend of Dole's, as someone who should not be selected as a delegate. Outspoken abortion opponent Senator Phil Gramm (R-Texas) showed support for his fellow senator and said if Hutchinson was not chosen, he would not accept nomination as a delegate either. Hutchison is scheduled to speak to the convention Friday.

Swinging Slovenians

CLEVELAND (AllPolitics, June 20) -- Bob Dole will probably skip the U.S. Conference of Mayors next week to attend a Slovenian Independence Day rally with Ohio Republicans. Presidential candidates usually attend such mayoral meetings, and President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak at the conference Saturday. But Dole could have little to gain by appearing at this conference, as most of its organizers and the city constituents tend to vote Democratic. A lukewarm reception at this gathering could mean negative press for the GOP nominee.

The Slovenian rally, on the other hand, brings Dole to the heart of the Midwestern ethnic Catholics, a key swing vote. Dole's campaign told mayors' convention organizers that Dole, who had planned to speak Monday, cannot appear due to scheduling conflicts. The Dole campaign has not yet confirmed next week's Cleveland stop.

Lamm Ponders

DENVER (AllPolitics, June 20) -- Former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm said he will decide about July 20 whether he will run as the Reform Party's presidential candidate. Lamm has previously said he would only seek the nomination if Ross Perot didn't run, while Perot has said he would only run if the party drafted him. Lamm said he is waiting to see what Perot, whose millions would have to finance any viable Reform Party bid, decides to do.

In the meantime, Reform Party supporters are circulating petitions to get the party on Colorado's ballot in November. The petitions are in the name of Perot and party member James Wilson, a retired Colorado lawyer, but a successful petition drive would allow the party's chosen candidates to appear on the ballot. The party needs 5,000 signatures of registered voters by July 15.