Campaign Trail

Monday’s events on the presidential campaign trail:

Kemp says Newt’s part of problem

SUN CITY, Ariz. - Jack Kemp laid part of the blame for Republicans’ election year troubles on Newt Gingrich, saying Monday that the House speaker “sent a wrong signal” during budget battles last year.

Kemp said it was wrong to allow the government to shut down during the wrangling between Republicans and President Clinton which also gave Democrats an opening to attack the GOP on Medicare funding.

“Newt should have put this in the hands of a commission like we did with Social Security because it has put us playing defense and we didn’t need to be on defense,” the former NFL quarterback said.

The GOP vice presidential nominee said he blamed Clinton and the Democrats for accusing Republicans of wanting to cut Medicare when the GOP only wanted to save the program from going bankrupt by slowing its growth.

Perot focuses on criticizing Clinton

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ross Perot told an overflow crowd at Virginia Tech Monday that President Clinton has a habit of breaking his campaign promises.

“As you go to the polls, ask yourself whether or not you believe he will keep the promises he made during this campaign,” Perot told about 3,000 in a packed auditorium. Another 2,000 stood outside and listened to him over loudspeakers.

“How can you even consider voting for someone for president who has huge moral, ethical and criminal problems facing him?” Perot asked.

Perot devoted about half of his speech to criticizing Clinton’s policies and never mentioned Dole by name. Last week Dole’s campaign asked Perot to drop out of the race and endorse the GOP ticket. Perot declined.

The Texas billionaire said a vote for either the incumbent or the challenger would be wasted because the Democratic and Republican parties won’t make the changes necessary to bring the country out of a financial crisis.

Hey, Al’s light on his feet, Part I

Vice President Al Gore is proving he’s not a one dance man.

Gore’s version of the Macarena - where he stands motionless for several seconds - pokes fun at his reputation for being a stiff speaker.

But Gore’s has been adding new dance variations to his repertoire. Depending upon the audience on the campaign trail, the vice president offers to do his version of the hora, the merengue, the salsa, the polka and the Irish step dance.

Hey, Al’s light on his feet, Part II

WASHINGTON - According to Gore, this election is about children. Or maybe it’s about salaries. Or the future. Or veracity. Or whatever.

Here’s a sample of the veep’s declarations on the campaign, compiled by The Washington Post’s Charles Babington:

“That’s what the election is all about in 1996: whether wages continue to grow or stagnate.” (Feb. 19 speech, Bal Harbour, Fla.)

“That’s what this election is really all about: the 21st century.” (March 6, Kansas City, Mo.)

“Is this presidential election about truth and character? You bet it is.” (June 17, Philadelphia.)

“This election is about you, your future, your prospects.” (Oct. 21 speech to Los Angeles high school students.)

“What this election is all about is the children you spend so much time with.” (Oct. 24 speech to teachers in Madison, Wis.)

The rhetorical smorgasbord that took Gore eight months to cover was dispatched by Dole in about eight seconds during a recent Houston speech: “This is about saving our country. … It’s about your future, it’s about your children, it’s about your job, it’s about your business, it’s about your community, it’s about your state, and above all, it’s about the United States of America.”

Big tour for Big Labor Boss

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney began a five-state political tour in Manchester, N.H., as a final push to help labor-friendly Democrats wrest control of the House from the GOP. As part of the federation’s get-out-the-vote effort, Sweeney was addressing union rallies in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts this week. Top AFL-CIO officers also headed to New York, New Jersey and Montana.

Endorsements:

Clinton: Times Herald-Record (Middletown, N.Y.); The Leader (Corning, N.Y.); Daily Record (Parsipanny, N.J.); Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio); Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, N.J.); Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal; Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post; St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat.

Dole: Observer-Dispatch (Utica, N.Y.); The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.); Bangor (Maine) Daily News.

None of the Above (or Perot): The Lima (Ohio) News.

Upcoming on TV:

Today: Dole gives taped 2 minute address on PBS at 7:57 p.m. EST. Perot gives taped 2 minute address on CNN’s “Inside Politics.” 4 p.m. EST.

Wednesday: Clinton gives taped 2 minute address on PBS at 7:57 p.m. EST.

Thursday: Dole gives taped 2 minute address on PBS at 7:57 p.m. EST. From wire reports