Campaign 9 6 The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 3, 1996 - 9A Clinton, Dole trade tax issue rhetoric in Midwest U Candidates try to win voters with promises of lower taxes, 'bridge' to the 21st century L1s Angeles Tunes DE PERE, Wisc. - With dueling bridge metaphors and arguments over taxes, President Clinton, Bob Dole and their running mates traversed the Midwest yesterday as they opened the final phase of a presidential campaign that, so far, has seen the incumbent transformed from apolitical has-been an odds-on favorite for re-election. In St. Louis with Jack Kemp, Dole mocked Clinton's calls for a "bridge to the 21st century," saying that Clinton's would be "a toll bridge .. a bridge to a future of higher taxes ..." By con-, trast, he declared, he would be "a Th th bridge to lower taxes.' Citing Ronald Reagan as an will example of successful tax cutting, Dole said that "sometimes it gIV yo i seems that our opponents have a ttle - a million little plans for money Voto how government can dictate to the o o American people what it thinks is US. wn y best. Jack Kemp and I have oneo big plan ... Give American fami- care a o lies back more of their hard- defiit?" earned money." i$$ Clinton, diving into what he - Presi called "the great tax debate,' remembered Reagan, too, but to opposite effect, warning that Dole's proposal for $548 billion in tax cuts would inevitably well the deficit. "Our tax cut plan is paid for - line by line, dime by dime," the president said to a crowd of more than 20,000. "The other guys will say ... 'We'll give you more money, vote for us. Why do you care about the deficit?'" Clinton said. He warned that a larger deficit will force up interest rates meaning "a higher home mortgage payment; a higher car payment; a higher credit card payment" and fewer invest- ments to create new jobs. Dole, picking up a line used by nearly every trailing candi- date, compared himself to former president Harry Truman, .laying that "like Truman I am going to win a come-from- behind victory for president of the United States." Should Dole succeed, however, his effort would dwarf Truman's. Despite visible fatigue and a hoarse and raspy voice, Clinton enters the final stage of what he calls "the last campaign of my life" in an enviable spot: No candi- date with a double-digit lead on Labor Day has lost a pres- idential election since modern polling began in the 1930s. Dole's task would seem beyond achievement but for one fact - just last year, Clinton seemed as much a long-shot for victory as his Republican challenger appears now. Both sides agree the election is likely to be won or lost in he Midwest, where each chose to open their campaigns. From De Pere, Clinton flew to Milwaukee to attend a I r d( Labor Day festival. Clinton planned to return to Washington last night, having canceled a planned campaign stop in Pittsburgh because of fatigue. While Clinton stumped through Wisconsin, a closely fought swing state, Vice President Al Gore hit more partisan notes as he campaigned next door - in more solidly Democratic Minnesota. At a Labor Day picnic at a park in St. Paul, sponsored by local AFL-CIO affiliates, Gore declared that the race for the presidency is a war between the champions of working families and the proponents of trickle-down economics. He ran off a list of battles the administration has won against Republican opposition - enacting the Family and Medical Leave Act, increasing the mini- mum wage and killing proposed legisla- r guys tion that would have weakened unions. Joe Schaefer, 37, an auto mechanic who We Ftbrought his three children to the parade, said he may vote for Clinton and Gore in }re 1996, even though he voted for former presidents Reagan and Bush in the last for four elections. "I needa little more selling, but I'm prob- y4FU ably going to vote Democratic. It's because I'm voting less on a moral agenda and more on an economic one" said Schaefer, who is strongly anti-abortion. Dole has tried to generate campaign ent Clinton excitement - his St. Louis event was at least the eighth that he has labeled his "official campaign kickoff" since he announced for president 17 months ago and the sixth in the last four months. Yesterday, after St. Louis, Kemp headed to Flint, an indus- trial town that became synonymous with economic decline in the 1980s. "We want Flint to be at full employment with rising wages;" Kemp said. Kemp vowed to scrap the entire tax code and stop the "bully tactics of the IRS;" a remark that drew cheers and praise from some in his audience. Dole also is hoping to turn voters around by constant rep- etition of his arguments on two subjects - taxes and drugs. At his St. Louis event, he told a cheering, sprawling crowd of some 20,000 beneath the landmark St. Louis Gateway Arch - almost certainly the largest crowd of his campaign so far - that he believes "it's time to give a break to every American who works and pays taxes." Reiterating his pledge to cut tax rates by 15 percent, the beaming Republican candidate promised that "even former President Clinton will get the tax cut when he's gone." On the drug issue, Dole took aim at what he characterized as the administration's listless efforts to fight drug abuse and for the rise in illegal drug use on the president's watch. What Dole did not do was fill in the difficult gaps 'in his ambitious and controversial economic program - the ones that show how he plans to pay for the hefty tax cuts he is promising a skeptical nation. AP PHOTO0 Singing in St. Louis Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole sings "I'm a Dole Man" with the St. Louis based band the "Mo'town Review" before leaving a Dole/Kemp rally under the arch in St. Louis yesterday afternoon. Rvals viefor VoteS ofupbeat eetrt Elephants stampede RNC ze Galifornia, Elephants - large mammals with tusks. Wild elephants - members of the Republican Party. Have you ever been caught in d stampede of wild elephants? I have. Fo four days in sunny San Diego, I rubbed elbows and schmoozed with members of the - Grand Old Party embellished in Dole-Kemp paraphernalia and other tacky political apparel. KATIE But unlike veteran reporter W ANG Ted Koppel, who left midway through the convene tion complaining of boredom, the con- vention was the pinnacle of my young career as a reporter. Where else could you find 50,000 bal- loons, 15,000 members of the press, and former presidents including Gerald Ford and George Bush, all in the same room, other than at a Republican convention? This was a dream come true for a rookie 21-year-old college news reporter and political science student: A chance to get into the thick of the action on the convention floor, shoul- der-to-shoulder with some of the most powerful political forces in America. Well, that's what I thought, until I found my assigned press seat in the San Diego Convention Center. Left field. Nosebleed. I would have had abetter view sitting in my living room thou- sands of miles away in Silver Spring, Md., watching the convention on my big-screen television. I quickly recovered from my disap- pointment by moving up several rows until I found a comfortable seat in the section allocated for "special guests." As I listened to speeches delivered by GOP members, I also watched the endless stream of activity that flowed on the convention floor. Elderly men and women walked around the conven- tion floor wearing all sorts of tacky apparel, ranging from vests bearing the Stars and Stripes to hats shaped as ele- phants. After a while, the sight of an elderly man wearing an elephant on his head no longer fazed me. It's all part of the Republican charm. Speaking of Republican charm, the Michigan delegates, I discovered, were very charming. And they were party animals. Who says Republicans don't know how to party? I had an opportunity to spend time with the Michigan delegation at a banquet sponsored by Gov. John Engler in Point Loma, Calif. As I interviewed delegates and inquired about how they had spent their time in San Diego, many expressed enthusiasm for the Dole-Kemp cam- paign. Then they would add privately that the best part of the convention was the wild parties at night. One of the most exciting parts of the convention was meeting people and seeing famous faces. The two most famous faces I saw were billion- aire Steve "flat tax" Forbes and news commentator Andy Rooney. I can't single out the most exciting moment of the convention for me. Everything about the convention, starting from the hustle and the bustle of politicians and the press corps, to the elephant hats, the speeches and even the complimentary hot dogs and pop- corn served to the press, all made the convention one of the most exciting things I have ever covered as a reporter. VOTE Continued from Page :A Clinton/Gore campaign. "The Republican attack on education has really backfired on the youth vote;" Sevin said. Republicans say a Republican-led Congress has made strides in education- al opportunities in the last two years. "We've increased student loans 50 percent," said Rep. Henry Bonilla (R- Texas). "We believe sincerely that edu- cation is a top priority for this country." Kirk said Republican ideas offer a brighter future. "The Democratic ideals of larger government and higher taxes will hurt their future," he said. "I can point to a record where we have dramatically increased higher education funding," Engler said. "We've also made it easier for students to gain university credits before actually getting to college." "Economic issues will be key for younger voters. We've got to grow the economy to make interest rates for stu- dent loans cheaper," said Joe Fitzsimmons, the Republican candidate ^)r U.S. representative in Ann Arbor. Both Republicans and Democrats agree fewer voters in the 18-24 age bracket went to the polls in 1994, in part because of the lack of national attention in election years without a presidential race. New outlets, such as MTV's Rock the Vote and various Internet web pages devoted to student activism and politi- cal issues, have recently brought the Ceneration X crowd into the center .ing, but some politicians say they have always courted the youth vote. "I've always needed the student vote;" said state Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Flint). Officials from both parties say they will actively pursue the youth vote and campaign assistance from young people. "To engage younger people in the political process, somebody's got to address issues that are really on their -ninds," Owen said. "I don't know that anybody has addressed those issues in a focused manner" Engler said he and other Michigan Republicans would target the youth vote by presenting a series of speakers at major college campuses. Fitzsimmons said he is scheduled to Regental candidates vie for party nominations By Jeff Eldrdge Daily Staff Reporter Election-year drama can be found in the University's own backyard this fall as the two parties prepare to face off for the top decision-making posts in the admin- istration. Members of the state's Republican and Democratic parties will assemble this weekend at their respective conven- tions, where each party will nominate two people to sit at the table of the University Board of Regents. In' November, Michigan voters will elect two of the four nominees to the board. Regents serve eight-year terms. The race for the two GOP slots will focus on Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor). Baker, a solid conservative who. has sat on the board for 24 years, has not yet been endorsed by Gov. John Engler - the state's most powerful Republican. "The governor has always supported getting new people in the process," said Engler spokesperson John Truscott. "Since Deane Baker has been a regent for so many years, the governor thinks it would be a good idea to get some fresh blood on the board?' While Engler's stance might be the kiss of death for many Michigan politi- cians, Baker has received endorsements from other state GOP heavyweights - including former Ambassador Peter Secchia and President Gerald Ford. Baker, who has never lost a state election, says his experience is an asset. "I bring to the board a historical per- spective on the institution," Baker said. "In the next eight years, we have some serious questions to answer on the eco- nomic side." Also seeking a GOP nomination is Judy Frey, a Grand Rapids entrepreneur who says the west side of the state needs more representation on the board. "We all need to be heard," Frey said. "There are different views in this part of the state." The western side of Michigan is a Republican stronghold. Truscott said no other Republican can- didates have materialized, but added that it is not unusual for a surprise candidate to appear in the days before a convention. Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven) said he has heard the names of other potential candidates "bounced around," but would not comment any fur- ther since the names were unconfirmed. State Democrats enter their conven- tion with less controversy. Although the meeting is less than a week away, only one candidate, Olivia Maynard of Flint, is publicly seeking the Democratic nomination. Maynard is the former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, and has made -two unsuccessful runs for lieu- tenant governor. "I want to continue to widen the accessibility to students from all parts of the state, continue to strengthen the University's economic development, and build ties between the University and the community that builds eco- nomic strength for the state," Maynard said. Leslie Fritz, communications director for the state Democrats, said the party will offer two strong nomi- nees. She said potential candidates may be working within the party base instead of publicly seeking the nomi- nation. "A lot of the process happens behind the scenes," Fritz said. "We're not going to have a problem fielding two very good, qualified candidates." - Daily Staff Reporter Jennifer Harvey contributed to this report. The Washington Post ST. LOUIS - President Clinton and Bob Dole kicked off the last two months of the presidential campaign yesterday with the country in a signifi- cantly different mood than those that dominated the elections of 1992 and 1994. But the past two elections are contin- uing to shape and distort the campaign debate now entering its final stage. To hear Clinton on his bus tour from Missouri to Memphis over the week- end, the election of Dole would bring the end of Medicare and Medicaid and a radical assault on the federal govern- ment. To hear Dole here yesterday morning under the Gateway Arch, the reelection of Clinton would bring a new effort to significantly enlarge the power and scope of the federal government. Both Clinton and Dole are attempt- ing to cast the choice this fall in dire and dramatic terms, summoning up the worst of each party's missteps since 1992. But this is not 1994, nor it is 1992, all over again, and both parties are more aware of the limits the voters have imposed on them than the rhetoric of the campaign so far suggests. Four years ago, economic insecurity and the aftermath of the 1991 recession dominated the presidential campaign and helped push President George Bush from office. Two years ago, anger at Washington and disappointment with Clinton's leadership dominated the midterm elections and drove Democrats from power in Congress for the first time in 40 years. Today, with the economy growing, even if slowly, and the Republican-con- trolled Congress passing several signif- icant pieces of legislation before leav- ing for its summer recess, the public mood is more upbeat and optimistic. "The mood of the country is dramati- cally different than two or four years ago," said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. "The voters are more opti- mistic. They're not sanguine or gleeful about their prospects, but it's a far cry from two or four years ago." Democratic pollster Geoff Garin said: "The biggest change is that voters were outrageously unhappy in each of the last two elections and their major goal was to send a message and shake things up. This is an election where, for the first time in a long time, voters feel there's virtue in stability." The change in mood is most evident from surveys showing that the percent- age of people who believe the country is badly off track has shrunk dramati- cally, as well as those showing the pres- ident's job approval ratings as strong as ever. In addition there are signs that anger with Congress has subsided in the past few months and that voters say they are less likely to turn to chal- lengers in House races this year. All of that is plainly good news for incumbents this fall, particularly the president, who emerged from his con- vention by winning back virtually all of the gains Dole made during the Republican convention in San Diego two weeks earlier. A new Gallup poll for CNN and USA Today showed Clinton leading Dole 55 percent to 34 percent, with Reform Party nominee Ross Perot at 6 percent: But whatever the outcome in November, the next president will face an electorate not only less angry, but one that already has helped to define the limits of what either party may attempt to do in power. William Galston, who served as a domestic policy adviser to Clinton, said recently that-the voters have delivered three rebukes to the parties in the past four years. Pursuin a arge w a tlei d miotain Gain valuable experience by joining Team Blue The Michigan Athletic Department's Student Volunteer Intern Program. donor Event Management Athletic Department Office Work Leadership 5port5 Marketing Teamwork J prmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmq IA m#H# afo a. . . A h a 1 U i .wuw~w f..I .