• Former CIA Director Backs Dole
• Minor Parties Tuned Out
• 20 Down, 30 To Go
• RNC Contributions On The Rise
• Hit The Road, Wes

Former CIA Director Backs Dole

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 26) -- Former CIA director R. James Woolsey endorsed likely GOP nominee Robert Dole for president, saying the former senator is best suited to handle "a range of foreign policy and military dilemmas never envisioned a generation ago." Like Dole, Woolsey supports the missile defense system that President Bill Clinton opposes. Woolsey was nominated for the CIA post by Clinton in 1993 and served until 1995. Woolsey's endorsement came after a private meeting with Dole at his campaign headquarters.

Minor Parties Tuned Out

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 26) -- Minor party presidential candidates are fighting for access to the same free air time enjoyed by major party nominees, but the Big Three networks, Fox and Public Broadcasting Service aren't tuning in. ABC, Fox and PBS have asked the Federal Communications Commission to exempt them from regulations that require giving equal air time to all legally qualified candidates. NBC and CBS said they will give major candidates time on existing news programs, which are already exempt from the requirement.

20 Down, 30 To Go

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 26) -- New York's Independence Party will announce Thursday plans to give ballot access to Ross Perot's Reform Party for the November election. The Reform Party is already on the ballot in 19 states and is aiming for access in every state. Perot, who has neither declared nor denied his candidacy, spent $1.25 million last month, and $1.6 million in March and April on efforts to get his fledgling party on state ballots

RNC Contributions On The Rise

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 26) -- The Republican National Committee broke its monthly fund-raising record in May, bringing in $12.8 million. The largest contribution came from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway which donated $250,000, followed by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's $150,000 contribution. A Federal Election Commission report shows that the Republicans surpass the Democrats in fund-raising efforts. Over a 15-month period ending March 31, the RNC raised $95.3 million to the DNC's $82.7 million. The Democratic National Committee, whose quarterly fund-raising report is due July 15, would not release its latest donation figures.

Hit The Road, Wes

PENDLETON, Ore. (AllPolitics, June 26) -- Republican Party leaders in eight Oregon counties have asked U.S. Rep. Wes Cooley (R-Oregon) to abandon his re-election plans, saying they'd rather replace him with another GOP candidate than lose the 2nd District seat to the Democrats. The freshman congressman is under state investigation for claiming in his election pamphlets that he served in the Korean War. Additionally, Cooley's wife Rosemary is under federal investigation for collecting Veterans' survivor benefits while living with Cooley before their marriage. Cooley faces Democratic nominee Mike Dugan, the Deschutes County district attorney, in this fall's election.