DATE=7/17/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-200321
TITLE=DOLE/WEDNESDAY (L)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=MINNEAPOLIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB DOLE IS BACK ON THE
ROAD WITH HIS ADVISERS PROMISING A MORE DISCIPLINED CANDIDATE 
WITH A NEW MESSAGE.  V-O-A POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE IS 
WITH THE DOLE CAMPAIGN IN THE MIDWESTERN STATE OF MINNESOTA.

TEXT:  WHEN YOU ARE 24-POINTS DOWN IN THE POLLS, EVERY DAY HOLDS 
THE PROMISE OF A NEW BEGINNING.  THAT IS JUST WHAT BOB DOLE WAS 
HOPING FOR AS HE WINGED HIS WAY INTO THE NATION'S HEARTLAND 
WEDNESDAY, INTERESTED  NOT  SO MUCH IN WINNING VOTES AS EARNING A
FRESH LOOK FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN MINNEAPOLIS, MR. DOLE FOCUSED ON HIS PLANS TO
REFORM THE U-S EDUCATION SYSTEM.  HE SAYS AMERICA'S PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS ARE FAILING AND SAYS IF HE IS ELECTED HE WILL OFFER 
PARENTS WHAT HE CALLS AN EDUCATION CONSUMER WARRANTY THAT SEEKS 
TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE, TEACHERS MORE COMPETENT AND WHICH WILL 
EMPHASIZE BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS READING, WRITING AND 
MATHEMATICS.

                        /// DOLE ACT ///

         WE NEED A PRESIDENT LESS WILLING TO EXTEND BREAKS TO THE
         LOBBYISTS AND MORE WILLING TO SHOW THEM A LITTLE 
         BACKBONE.  WE NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT GIVES THE PARENTS 
         OF AMERICA FEWER ORDERS AND MORE OPTIONS, AND ENHANCES 
         THEIR ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHERE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO 
         SCHOOL -- PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR RELIGIOUS.

                         /// END ACT ///

TO REINFORCE THE EDUCATION THEME, MR. DOLE TRAVELLED WITH TWO 
FORMER REPUBLICAN EDUCATION SECRETARIES, WILLIAM BENNETT AND 
LAMAR ALEXANDER.  MR. ALEXANDER WAS ONE OF HIS RIVALS IN THE 
REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES THIS YEAR.

THE CAMPAIGN HAS UNVEILED A NEW THEME  "THE BETTER MAN -- FOR A 
BETTER AMERICA."  AND THE EMPHASIS NOW IS ON RESTORING THE 
AMERICAN DREAM.  THERE IS ALSO A NEW EMPHASIS ON KEEPING MR. DOLE
AWAY FROM JOURNALISTS EXCEPT FOR FORMAL SPEECHES.

HIS ADVISERS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE CAMPAIGN HAS BECOME SIDETRACKED
IN RECENT WEEKS OVER ISSUES LIKE TOBACCO AND ABORTION.  THEY ALSO
BELIEVE THE CANDIDATE NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED AND SHOULD 
STICK TO HIS MESSAGE OF LESS GOVERNMENT IS BETTER. 

SO FROM NOW ON, EXPECT MORE BOB DOLE FROM SPEECHES, AND LESS OF 
THE OFF-THE-CUFF REMARKS WHICH REPORTERS LOVE BUT WHICH HAVE 
BROUGHT HIM NOTHING BUT TROUBLE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/RAE/

17-Jul-96 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.