Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 30, 1995 TAG: 9510300046
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In a sign the battle already has begun, conservative William Bennett and several moderate Republicans said they hope Powell runs, and believe he can both gain support from conservatives and widen the party's appeal.
``Individual conservative Republicans like this man, and they like him for good reason,'' said Bennett, a former education secretary who has fought recently with fellow conservatives over Powell. Bennett spoke on CBS's ``Face the Nation.''
But Buchanan, appearing on ABC's ``This Week With David Brinkley,'' warned of a full-scale revolt by Christian conservatives if Powell wins the nomination and tilts the party toward a pro-choice position on abortion.
``You'd have Christian Coalition folks breaking loose, you'd have people walking out of the convention, if Colin Powell tries to impose his agenda,'' said Buchanan, who is seeking the GOP nomination for the second time.
If the party ends its pro-life, anti-gun control and anti-affirmative action positions, ``I will not support that platform,'' Buchanan insisted, but he stopped short of saying he would bolt the GOP.
Powell, the retired Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, is expected to announce by Thanksgiving whether he plans to join the Republican race.
The GOP front-runner, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, said conservatives would unite behind him as a single alternative if Powell seeks the GOP nomination.
``My view is that would be helpful to me,'' Dole said at a campaign stop in Iowa Sunday.
Both moderates and Bennett said they were eager for Powell to further explain his positions on abortion, the GOP's ``Contract With America,'' gun control and affirmative action.
``Because this is worth having a debate,'' New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said on the Brinkley program, adding ``Colin Powell has a historic opportunity to broaden the base of the Republican Party in many, many ways, and I'd like to see that opportunity taken.''
Former President Bush reportedly was touting Powell at a party in Houston last week, although insisting he would not publicly endorse anyone, Newsweek magazine reported in editions appearing on newsstands today.
But David Keene, head of the American Conservative Union, said Powell already has made clear his wide divide from conservatives.
Keene pledged to fight Powell in the primaries if he runs, but said he won't support a third party conservative bid if Powell were to win the GOP nomination.
A national poll released Saturday was clearly on many Republicans' and Democrats' minds.
The CBS News-New York Times poll found that if Powell enters, he would cut deeply into Dole's support and could become the immediate front-runner.
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by CNB