Campaign Notebook

Other developments on the presidential campaign trail Thursday:

Lamar Alexander Said that he began airing a negative ad against publisher Steve Forbes only after “he started it.” He told reporters in Concord, N.H. that “All of my ads have been positive.”

Pat Buchanan Said Bob Dole was inflexible and not dynamic when he responded to the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. “I think Bob Dole is in danger of imploding,” he said in Somersworth, N.H.

Steve Forbes Said in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that his flat tax proposal would create a “shining city.” Forbes supports a 17 percent flat tax rate with no deductions.

Phil Gramm Said in Iowa City, Iowa, that Dole “is stuck in the locker room without a game plan” and has no chance to beat President Clinton if he wins the GOP nomination.

Saturday

Gramm and Buchanan will speak at the Louisiana State GOP Convention in New Orleans.