Campaign ‘96
Shake-up in Dole campaign
Republican Bob Dole’s advertising consultants resigned Thursday in a dispute that underscores persistent strategic discord in a campaign running short of time if it is to erase President Clinton’s big lead. Don Sipple and Mike Murphy quit rather than accept lesser roles which would have subjected them to greater supervision by campaign manager Scott Reed. The two have had pointed differences with Reed over strategy, including disputes over how to sell Dole’s tax-cutting economic plan. Sipple and Murphy were replaced by a team of GOP media consultants including Alex Castellanos, Greg Stevens and Chris Mottola. A favorite gimmick used by Castellanos and Stevens is crafting anti-Clinton spots that use clips of conflicting Clinton statements.
Perot picks running mate
A top aide to Ross Perot said Thursday the Reform Party presidential candidate has selected a running mate, although he wouldn’t say who it is.
Clay Mulford, Perot’s son-in-law and one of his attorneys, said an announcement is likely later this week in a news conference.
Huge gender gap hurts Dole
Nearly two-thirds of voters - even most Republicans - don’t believe GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole would cut taxes 15 percent if elected, according to a national poll released Thursday.
In another survey, a yawning gender gap helped keep Dole 17 percentage points behind President Clinton among likely voters. Clinton also had rebuilt a 22-point advantage in a state poll in California, the state with the most electoral votes.
Morris signs $2 million book deal
A week after a sex scandal forced him out as President Clinton’s chief political strategist, Dick Morris has cut a $2 million deal to write a book on how he engineered Clinton’s political comeback. But allegations of trysts with a $200-a-night prostitute will get only peripheral treatment in the “political memoir,” said Harold Evans, president and publisher of the Random House Trade Group. “This is not a book about a call girl but the governance of America and the White House and other important subjects,” Evans said Thursday. “Those people who want to get a juicy tale about sex and the high life should read one of our other publications.” The book will be published after the November presidential election. Morris signed the contract “months and months before his resignation,” said Evans, who put its value in the $2 million range.
Clinton talks health care in Florida
President Clinton announced in Tampa, Fla., he will appoint a federal commission to recommend ways to protect consumers against rapid changes in the health care industry. In campaigning in Florida, Clinton is trying to win a state Democrats haven’t won since 1976.