Elizabeth Dole, Alan Keyes To Seek White House

By Carol Long Tobias, NRL PAC Director

Elizabeth Dole, former president of the American Red Cross, has added her name to the list of candidates seeking the Republican nomination for President. Although he has yet to make an official announcement, former ambassador Alan Keyes has been campaigning and is also seeking the nomination.

ELIZABETH DOLE

Elizabeth Dole explained her position in some detail in an April 9, 1999, letter sent to a supporter in Arizona and released to the press.

In the letter, Dole wrote, "... I would support the idea of a constitutional amendment, if it were possible. But, of course, it's not. It's not going to happen because the American people do not support it. Constitutional amendments, as they should, require the support of a two-thirds majority in the Congress and ratification by three fourths of the state legislatures, which probably explains why there hasn't been a House or Senate vote on such an amendment in 15 years."

She continued, "And yet, many in the media continue to press every Republican running for office to take a stand on what is today an irrelevant and highly divisive argument about the merits of an amendment. There is such an inordinate focus on the amendment that urgent issues such as domestic violence, childcare, sexual harassment, women's health and the financial security of women are nearly ignored."

Dole's letter said, "We can refuse to be drawn into dead-end debates. We can concentrate instead on what we agree upon most: we can stop partial-birth abortions, enact parental notification requirements, continue the ban on government funding, and do everything possible to place unwanted babies with adoptive parents who will love and care for them."

Elizabeth Dole stated that she opposes abortion except in cases where the mother's life is in danger or when the pregnancy occurs as a result of rape or incest.

Elizabeth Dole served as president of the American Red Cross from 1991 until January of this year when she resigned to explore a presidential bid. Prior to that, she held several governmental positions, including Cabinet positions under two presidents. Dole served as Secretary of Labor for President George Bush from 1989-1991 and as Secretary of Transportation for President Ronald Reagan from 1983-1987. She was also a member of the Federal Trade Commission from 1973-1979 and was Deputy Assistant to President Richard Nixon for Consumer Affairs from 1971-1973.

A native of North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole is a graduate of Duke University. She received a law degree from Harvard University and also holds a master's degree in Education and Government from Harvard. Dole and her husband, former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Robert Dole, reside in Washington, DC.

ALAN KEYES

Commonly known as one of the best orator in the presidential campaign, Alan Keyes is making his second bid for presidential office, having run in 1996.

Keyes served in the U.S. Foreign Service and on the staff of the National Security Council and in 1983, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. From 1985-1987, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. He received his Ph.D. in Government Affairs from Harvard. He ran, unsuccessfully, for a Senate seat from the state of Maryland in 1988 and again in 1992.

Keyes has made abortion a centerpiece of all his campaigns, stating that "abortion is the unjust taking of a human life and a breach of the fundamental tenets of our public moral creed." Recognizing that Americans come from many different religious backgrounds, Keyes discusses issues using sources open to support from all people. One of these sources is the Declaration of Independence, about which he writes, "All human beings are created equal. They need no title or qualification beyond their simple humanity in order to command respect for their intrinsic human dignity, their 'unalienable rights.'"

Keyes has a nationally syndicated radio and television show, The Alan Keyes Show: America's Wake-up Call, through which he consistently promotes pro-life, pro-family issues. He and his wife Jocelyn have three children and live in Maryland.

Dole and Keyes join nine other candidates who are seeking the Republican nomination. These include former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander, columnist Pat Buchanan, Texas Governor George W. Bush, former Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, publisher/businessman Steve Forbes, Congressman John Kasich (Ohio), former Vice President Dan Quayle, Senator John McCain (Arizona), and Senator Bob Smith (New Hampshire).

GENERAL ELECTION MATCH UP
NBC NEWS/WALL STREET JOURNAL

Conducted 4/17-19/99 by Hart-Teeter; surveyed 1,006 adults; margin of error +/- 3.2% (release, 4/23).

If the next election for president were held today, and Al Gore were running as the Democratic candidate and Elizabeth Dole were the Republican candidate, for whom would you vote?

Now 3/99

Elizabeth Dole 45% 48%

Al Gore 40% 39%

(Neither/other) 7% 7%

Not sure 8% 6%

If the next election for president were held today, and Al Gore were running as the Democratic candidate and George W. Bush were the Republican candidate, for whom would you vote?

Now 3/99

George W. Bush 53% 52%

Al Gore 35% 34%

(Neither/other) 5% 4%

Not sure 7% 10%

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
NBC NEWS/WALL STREET JOURNAL

Conducted 4/17-19/99 by Hart-Teeter; surveyed 1,006 adults; margin of error +/- 3.2% (release, 4/23).

Let me read you a list of people who might seek the Republican nomination for president in the year 2000. If you were voting today in the next Republican primary for president, which one of the following candidates would you vote for?

(GOPers only/with leaders)

Now/3-99/1-99

George W. Bush 48% 53% 36%

Elizabeth Dole 19% 18% 26%

Steve Forbes 6% 6% 4%

John McCain 6% 2% 5%

Pat Buchanan 5% 4% 4%

Dan Quayle 4% 7% 8%

John Kasich 2% 2% NA

Gary Bauer 1% 2% NA

Lamar Alexander 1% 1% 1%

(None/other) 2% 1% 1%

Not sure 6% 4% 7%

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
NBC NEWS/WALL STREET JOURNAL

Conducted 4/17-19/99 by Hart-Teeter; surveyed 1,006 adults; margin of error +/- 3.2% (release, 4/23).

The candidates in the Democratic primary are Bill Bradley and Al Gore. For whom would you vote if the election were held today - - Bill Bradley or Al Gore?

(Dems only/with leaners)

Now 3/99 1/99

Al Gore 62% 65% 45%

Bill Bradley 23% 20% 13%

(Neither/other) 5% 5% 6%

Not sure 10% 10% 12%