ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603040039
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: COLUMBIA, S.C.
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune
The flow chart finally worked for Sen. Bob Dole.
A plan built of old-style political organization and high-profile endorsements paid huge dividends Saturday as Dole scored an emphatic win in the South Carolina primary, revitalizing his presidential campaign as the Republican race enters its most frenetic phase.
After a string of embarrassing showings, with some of his advisers even talking privately of a collapse, Dole delivered a critical Southern state to restore his status as front-runner. But the chaotic nature of the race so far - with three different candidates winning primaries in less than two weeks - suggests nothing is certain yet about the Senate majority leader's securing the nomination.
He ran well ahead of commentator Pat Buchanan, while publisher Steve Forbes, who campaigned just one day in the state, and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander were locked in a tight race for third. The poor finish was an important setback for Alexander, who was unable to parlay any regional appeal into support, calling into question his campaign's viability.
For Dole, South Carolina represented a vital turnaround.
With 99 percent of the vote reported, Dole had 45 percent - by far the highest total of any primary winner so far - Buchanan had 29 percent, Forbes had 13 percent and Alexander had 10 percent.
``When we started talking about the heart and soul of the Republican Party, then, I think, we touched a spot that I think people are concerned about,'' Dole said.
``South Carolina has become a Republican state ... and they want somebody
Alexander said the vote represented a ``rejection of Buchananism,'' referring to the commentator's hard-edged conservative views.
Perhaps the best news coming from South Carolina for Dole was that he drew heavily among both economic and social conservatives, a melding of interests necessary to any potential GOP candidate.
His success among religious conservatives represents an important shift away from Buchanan, but one that Dole must repeat in upcoming primaries. His success among those driven by economic concerns represents a clear rebuke of Buchanan's protectionist trade policies.
Dole fashioned his coalition in no small part because of the strong backing of Gov. David Beasley, who has strong support among religious conservatives, and former Gov. Carroll Campbell, who during his term brought in millions of dollars and thousands of jobs based on expanding employment by attracting foreign investment.
The governor's office here controls one of the stronger GOP organizations in the nation. And while the backing of popular governors in Iowa and New Hampshire apparently did little for Dole, South Carolina proved different.
Dole's campaign was so well organized that supporters could pick up bumper stickers at a drive-through window and campaign workers would telephone infirm voters to help them with absentee ballots. Beasley and Campbell were working phone banks as late as Saturday. In comparison, Alexander's campaign didn't even have a phone in the state until two weeks ago.
The campaign now shifts to New England, Georgia and Colorado for eight primaries Tuesday, while Washington and Minnesota hold caucuses. Dole is expected to run hard in all of these states, but his opponents are targeting contests in an attempt to stunt any momentum Dole gains from South Carolina. Alexander will focus on Georgia, where he must do well, as will Buchanan. Forbes has campaigned in Colorado. Even Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, who has yet to win a delegate, has a strategy, focusing on a long-shot bid in Vermont.
On Thursday, delegate-flush New York holds its primary. Only Dole, Forbes and Buchanan will compete there. Forbes, who has vowed to spend $1 million in advertising in the nation's most expensive media market, could cause difficulty for Dole. The Kansan was thought to have locked up the state by securing the backing of Republican leaders there, exploiting Byzantine ballot-access rules.
Alexander will focus his efforts on Florida, which along with Texas is the largest prize in the Super Tuesday primary March 12.
A week later, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin will conduct primaries that could prove decisive.
Unbowed by his defeat in a state where he had high hopes, Buchanan said: ``We've still got a fighting chance to win this nomination. We need one big breakthrough. One breakthrough, and the hollowness of the [Dole] campaign will be revealed.
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Sen. Bob Dole, waiting to be introduced, playsby CNBpeek-a-boo with a supporter from behind a curtain at a rally in
Bangor, Maine, on Saturday. color. Graphic: Chart by AP: South
Carolina results. color. KEYWORDS: PRESIDENT POLITICS