Dole Gets Ke’ Endorsement

Conservative commentator Alan Keyes endorsed Bob Dole on Saturday, leaving Pat Buchanan as the only Republican presidential candidate who has yet to back the nominee-in-waiting.

Keyes, who came to the convention with the third-largest group of delegates, said his decision was prompted by the party’s passage of a conservative platform and Dole’s selection of Jack Kemp as his running mate.

“It appears that Senator Dole has heard the voices of grassroots Republicans who are the heart of the party,” Keyes said in a statement.

His spokesman, Edmund Peterson, said Keyes had been thinking about the endorsement for some time.

Keyes came to San Diego with the backing of at least 15 delegates, who now can vote for Dole.