Campaign Notebook

Presidential race

Lamar Alexander said Steve Forbes’ tax plan would raise middle-class taxes and suggested it would hurt local education financing, because property values would plummet and most school money comes from property taxes. “It makes about as much sense as something out of the Wizard of Oz,” Alexander said in Dubuque, Iowa.

Pat Buchanan promised an America-first policy in a fiery speech to the New Hampshire Legislature in Concord. He vowed to make sure the “new world order comes crashing down,” and railed against the United Nations, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization.

Bob Dole labeled Forbes’ flat-tax plan “snake oil” and enlisted New Hampshire Gov. Steve Merrill for a TV ad warning Forbes would raise middle-class taxes. He also shrugged off a new poll showing him trailing Forbes and calmly predicted victory. “If I worried about every poll, I’d probably have an Excedrin headache,” Dole said in Nashua, N.H.

Steve Forbes hinted he might continue to finance his own campaign with unlimited spending if he wins the GOP nomination. “I’m going to make a challenge to the Democrats, when I win, not to take taxpayers’ money,” Forbes told The Associated Press. Forbes indicated that if President Clinton would agree to give up federal financing, he would too.

Phil Gramm cut short campaigning in Iowa to rush back to Washington to cast votes during the Senate’s consideration of new farm policy. Gramm compiled the worst voting attendance record in the Senate in 1995 after he began running for president. In just the last two months, Gramm has missed votes relating to the balanced budget, averting a third partial government shutdown, national defense and appropriations.

News of note

A New Hampshire poll shows 71 percent of New Hampshire voters are dissatisfied with the course of the nation. Asked who was most responsible, 25 percent blamed themselves. Congressional Republican leaders were next with 18 percent. The news media followed with 12 percent and President Clinton with 11 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Forbes campaign advisers Carter Wrenn and Tom Ellis ran a non-profit group that was stripped of its tax-exempt status after authorities concluded it had not delivered the projects it promised donors and had engaged in politics. The two aides, who are helping Forbes raise money and organize his campaign, were co-directors of the non-profit Coalition for Freedom Inc.

Today’s stops

Alexander Manchester, N.H.

Buchanan: Baton Rouge, La; Lafayette, La.; New Iberia, La.; Franklin, La.; Morgan City, La.; Houma, La.; Thibodaux, La.

Dole: Spartanburg, S.C.; Aiken, S.C.; Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Forbes: Des Moines, Iowa; Newton, Iowa; Marshalltown, Iowa.

Gramm: Storm Lake, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; LeMars, Iowa; Sheldon, Iowa; Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Lugar: Washington.