Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100118
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Less than three weeks ago, Quayle declared in an Indianapolis speech he would enter the contest as a champion of conservative social values. But in a statement Thursday he said he did not want to put his family through ``the disruption [of] ... a third straight national campaign.''
With Quayle's departure, the Republican field continued to shrink, despite ever-expanding party optimism about its prospects against President Clinton next year. Earlier this year former Cabinet secretaries Dick Cheney and Jack Kemp took themselves out of consideration, citing the contest's huge fund-raising demands.
These high-profile departures underscore the extent to which the acceleration of the 1996 primary calendar is changing the fundamental dynamics of the presidential race. Republican candidates commonly assume that serious candidates need to raise as much as $20 million to $25 million this year, largely because so many states, including behemoths like New York and California, have moved up their contests to the front end of the primary schedule next spring.
Though Quayle in his statement said he was convinced he could raise ``the necessary funds'' to compete in the race, advisers said the financial pressure weighed heavily on his mind.
Surprised by the announcement, many Republicans speculated that Quayle's decision may have also been related to problems with his health. He had been hospitalized twice recently, for treatment of blood clots in his lung and then removal of his appendix, after doctors found a rare benign tumor. But Quayle adviser Mark Goodin said the decision was ``absolutely not'' affected by Quayle's health.
Whatever his reasons, Quayle's decision left the GOP with just three certain candidates: Texas Sen. Phil Gramm and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, who plan to announce their candidacies this month, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who has said he will formally enter the race in April.
Moderate Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and conservative columnist Pat Buchanan are actively exploring the race, and Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar said last week he will test the waters.
At the top of list of party leaders still believed to be considering the race are governors Pete Wilson of California, William Weld of Massachusetts and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB