Dole Wins Support In Iowa

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole won endorsements of his presidential campaign from two key Iowa Republicans on Wednesday, not only boosting his prospects in the first-caucus state but also increasing expectations of how well he must do there.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Sen. Charles Grassley threw the weight of their personal prestige and political machines behind Dole in a joint appearance at his national campaign headquarters near the Capitol.

The announcements were timed to enhance the impression that Dole, as he prepares to formally announce his candidacy on April 10, may be a prohibitive front-runner in the Republican contest.

A poll, for the Times Mirror Center for the People & the Press, showed Dole the first choice of 45 percent of likely Republican voters in Kansas - more than three times the 13 percent who selected his closest competitor, Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas.