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Show To Sign or Not toSign Could Define Campaign By William Neikirk CHICAGO TRIBUNE next few months, when thepresi- Delegate coun > As of March 28: WASHINGTON — The presi- the veto. President Clinton is basing much of his campaign not so much The Clinton-Dole fight over the legislative agenda has beencalled Dole 1 Buchanan 113 the “Pennsylvania Avenue campaign.” with the White House at Needed tor on whathe would doif re-elected, but what he would block from a Republican-controlled Congress that he paints as extreme. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., is basing much of his campaign on howhe would not stand in the way of a conservative GOPagendathat includes bal- anced budget, smaller government and lighter regulation. “We have two moderates running for president, but you would have two entirely different administrations depending on the outcome,” said Stephen Skowronek, a politica) science professor at Yale University “Dole would be hard-pressed to veto the stuff coming out of the Republican Congress," he added. Clinton wouldyvete muchofit You would a Republican ‘Great Society’ of legislation.” The two candidates may seem to be close on many issues, from balancing the’ budget to reforming welfare. The difference, though, is that a Dole administration would wind up with a much more conservative agenda because Congresstilts more sharply to the right thanhe does. Dole signaled his intention to depict Clinton ag an obstructionist in a speech Thursday to Republican members of Congress. He called the GOP the “reform party.” “The trouble with Clinton (is) he got mixed up,” the senator said. “He signed the badbills and vetoed the good bills, But that won't happen in my administra- one endofthe street and the U.S: Capitol at the other. Republicans Others Is an Issue for Young and Old Repubiicans call President Clinton “Veto Bator their blocking dent is expected to exercise his veto frequently. dential race could boil down to oN Dole’s Age ELECTION WATCH @ 99 996 @ Continued from A-1 bills. Clinton's 12 vetoes aren't much by historical cfandards, but ry's worth of medical records un- derlining his recovery from World War Il war wounds that still afflict him. He jokes about his cholesterol and his weight being in better shape than that of Clinton Dole’s third andlast runfor the he’s vetoed key GOP measures. Ky nomination Democratic political consultant David Doak said the political re- surgenceofClinton since the GOP gained control of Congress in 1994 has been based onhis criti- cism of Republican proposals such as restraining growth in Medicare and Medicaid It not only has helped define him with voters, Doak said, but also has won him support among suburban middle-class voters who hold the key to the election this year. Although Clinton has his own legislative agenda that he will push in the campaign, the fact that the GOP hasa solid grip on both houses of Congress will make his proposals less important than his promises to veto Republican proposals. The danger for Clinton is that his campaign will have moreof a negative tone than his successful race in 1992. Doak said, however, that “in our society, stopping the excesses have become more important. Most people have turned against Washington.” By contrast, Dole said in his speech that “we need to focus on all the positive things that we do as a party. Who can argue about giving tax cuts for families with children? Who can argue, about welfare reform or balancihg the budget, which would lower interest rates about 2 percentage points?” The GOP during the next few monthsis expected to try to dem- tion. I'll sign the goodbills and veto the bad bills, and there won't be any(bad bills).” onstrate what continuing divided compared with House Speaker bills he will be inclined to veto. » Remainit 580 1 Needed for nomination > . 2,146 Retraining: 1,004 a4 SM x » Calendar April pritnaries 4 Kansas | nv Pennsylvania 73 Alas 19 > Total oa 123 White Houseis his “last mission as one of the survivors of the Clinton § 4 Bush Reagan Democrats Clinton 3,195 Uncommitted A21 NATION Sunday, March 31, 1996 LakeTribune pores Fewer vetoes Sons Average j Nixon eae fumber of president per yearn ottice: vetoes per World War II generation, whose political era was launched by President Eisenhower, Dole's candidacy will demonstrate whether that generation has one last political hurrah. Polls alreadyreflect the age is- Carter Ford johnson Kennedy Eisenhower Truman (gman 42 Roosevelt SAREE 49 ..-but they’ve been big GOP issues Someofthe bills Clinton has vetoed Billto balance pudget Yin 7yrs-] 7 fame, Here'¢what Clinton and Dole said they would do, immediately ees welfare] system \ @ ) Bill to set UP Bill to national misciie defense system \jft Bosnia Jarms embargo - Websites Review of politics onthe Internet > Politics USA after being inaugurated: Website for National Journal and American Political Network Clinton: “To continue our 1 Campaignpolling data and policies of economic growth news, access to National Journal publications investing in our future, ensuring that America will meet the challenges ofthe 21st century.” @ Interactive question/issue, consistentwith our values, and vote for favorite political slogan Dole:“| will call upon Congress Links to “The Advocates’ homepage for advocacy groups to pass a balanced budget http://www.politicsusa.com sue, eemamcecom “ People are futureoriented going into a new century.”” LARRY SABATO Professor of government ee ‘This is a race where a lot of people alreadyseem totakeit for granted thatif he wins, hewill be a one-term president,’ Sabato said. “That is what makes it mat ter so much that his running mate should be someonevoters can vi- sualize in the White House. The choice of a vice president should be the No. 1 concern of the Dole campaign.” Added Stephen Hess, political analyst at Washington's Brook ings Institution: “This year, perhaps as neverbefore, people are goingto pay attention to the vice- presidential choice, and that is oneoffshoot of the health issue.” Former South Carolina Gov Carroll Campbell, who helped engineer Dole’s primary victory in A recent Washington Post /ABC News survey showed 35 percent of voters thought Dole was too old to serve effectively. And while 72 percent of voters described Dole as a man ofhigh that state, argued that age never had been a consideration in the percent who said the same of Clin- mented, “Clinton doesn't have te ethical standards (compared to 44 ton), the doubt level rose when they were asked about Dole’s em- pathy for the problemsof today's Americans, By 55 percent to 39 percent, Clinton was seen as better understanding the problemsof the average Jane or Joe. He also was preferred to Dole for new ideas and vision for days ahead. A USA Today/CNN poll shows Dole weakest in the 18-29 age group, with 34 percent backing, compared with 62 percent for Clinton. Perhaps more signifi- cantly, Dole trails Clinton — 51 percent to 45 percent — among those age 65 andover. “People are future-oriented going into a new century. Having the experience of the past does not necessarily mean Dole can persuade today's voters that he is choice of European leaders, many of whom have done their best work in their late 60s and 70s. But Lyn Nofziger, a Dole adviser and former Reagan aide, comcampaign against the obvious, es- pecially with the possibility of a public backlash. The problem of the agefactor for Dole will be that he can’t look as though heis stumbling or forgetful in any way. He can catch a cold, but he'd better not catch anything that puts him in hospital.” Others say the age factor will play out in broader way8. “What we are talking about here is an intergenerational gap andalthough Dole understandsit intellectually, he doesn’t seem to grasp it emotionally,” said Doug Bailey, a former Republican po- litical consultant whois president of the American Political Net work, Bailey posed questionsthat he suggested might tilt the minds of voters. years, the president is poised to The White House is urging Dole to spurn conservatives in his party and push legislation that Clin- label hima tool of the far right ton can sign. Press Secretary work done.” torical battle with the American mon with him, and his own age “Is Dole in touch with this generation at all? Doeshe haveanyvision of the future for his grandchildren’? Does he relate to people who work with computers? Does he understand whatit’s like to be in the private sector and know your when the campaign gets under Mike McCurry noted that Ging- But making Clinton look good is not seen as in the Republicans’ people. The president seems to have group who worry heis vulnerable jobis at risk? fight over the budget, but the next to the same health problemsthey have. Enter the issue of Dole’s vice- “That is the biggest test for Dole,” Bailey said. ‘It is also a test that, for all of Clinton’sfail- roundwill not be as easy. presidential choice. ings, he passes and Dole flunks.” ‘Though Dole is a moderate Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and many GOP members elected in recent way. The public could get a preview of what might happen in a second Clinton presidency during the government would look like in a Clinton second term. It is expected to send the president many rich had declared Dole “‘undisputed legislative champ on Capitol Hill. That's good news for us, because it means we can get some amendmentto the Constitution.” SOURCES: Newsreports, Project Vole Smart professor of governmentat the University of Virginia. Knight-Ridder Tribune Sabato suggested that Dole may get the worst of two worlds, be- tween the young who do not believe they have anything in com- self-interest in an election year. Whowins the war of the vetoes will depend on who wins the rhe- won the first round during the eect Dillard's Denim for Her Department features 50 mg that seems @s endiess ag summer. Juniors and Missessizes. STEEL® able to lead,” said Larry Sabato, a LEVI'S® $30 CALVIN | KLEIN? | DILLARD'S DRY GOODS® *20-*26 IRBAUD® ego Shop Monday-S: welcomeyour Dillard's Credit Gard, The Ame: |