Kempthorne Endorses Dole For President

Sen. Dirk Kempthorne has endorsed Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole for president, citing the Kansas Republican’s support for his bill to stop unfunded federal mandates on state and local governments.

The former Boise mayor will serve as chairman of State and Local Leaders for Dole.

“Senator Dole believes in the 10th Amendment and returning government to the people,” Kempthorne, R-Idaho, said Monday in a statement issued by Dole’s campaign. “Senator Dole is an experienced leader who, working with a Republican Congress, can finish the job the American people sent us here to do.”

Dole said he welcomed the support of the 18th Republican senator to endorse him.

“It’s time we rein in government, reconnect Washington with the values of the American people, and reassert America’s leadership in the world,” he said. “I know Senator Kempthorne shares those goals and I hope voters across Idaho will support our campaign to restore America to her rightful place in the sun.”

Kempthorne’s predecessor, Steve Symms, already has agreed to serve as a national co-chairman for Dole’s campaign.

Bryan Wilkes, Sen. Larry Craig’s press secretary, said Monday that Idaho’s senior GOP senator had not decided to endorse any presidential candidate yet.

“There probably will be a time to endorse somebody for Idaho and the party’s interests, but not at this time,” Craig said during an interview in Washington D.C., two weeks ago. “For me to get sidetracked in presidential politics doesn’t serve Idaho well.”