TAMPA, Fla. (AllPolitics, Oct. 31) -- Republican Bob Dole, returning to a familiar theme, accused the White House of deliberately scaring seniors about Medicare cuts for political advantage. And he vowed to push right through to Election Day, campaigning non-stop the final weekend.
Stumping in Tampa, Dole asked, "How low will this White House go?"
"I call it irresponsible," Dole said. "The White House shouldn't be in the business of distorting the truth and scaring seniors."
"This is the Clinton record on seniors: he ignores their real problems. He raises their taxes. And then he plays on their fears with millions and millions in negative advertising," Dole declared.
Dole and Republicans offered a plan to slow the growth of Medicare spending, but Clinton and Democrats objected that it would have meant greater out-of-pocket costs to seniors. Dole said his tax cut and budget plan would still allow a nearly 40 percent jump in Medicare spending over the next six years.
With only five days left, Dole got a boost at the rally from former President George Bush, who carried Florida in 1992.
Said Bush: "I believe in keeping the White House above partisan politics, and away from these puny, terrible disputes we're seeing." Dole and his wife Elizabeth can restore "this decency and this respect" to the White House, Bush said.
From Tampa, Dole campaigned in Miami and Atlanta and then headed to Ohio, another battleground state. From then on, it will be non-stop -- 96 hours of campaigning to wrap up the '96 campaign.
Dole explained his thinking: "Well, I've been searching around for the past couple weeks for a way to sort of put a focus on this race, shake it up a little bit. The polls are moving. Are they moving rapidly enough?"
As he arrived in Miami, it was clear Dole kind of liked the ring of it. "Ninety-six hours, from the factories of Ohio and Michigan through the bluegrass of Kentucky, in the towns and neighborhoods of the midwest across the Rocky Mountains, and through the cities and streets of California. And I will not rest until we have made my case to every worker. every family and every voter."
In a PBS interview to be broadcast Friday, Dole said he still has a chance to win on Tuesday despite discouraging polls. "I'd say the underdog is not a bad place to be right now," he said. "I mean, we feel good about our race. I'm optimistic."
CNN's Candy Crowley contributed to this report.