ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 2, 1996 TAG: 9607020077
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
NOTE: Below
Stirring the GOP's internal abortion debate, Bob Dole said in an interview broadcast Monday that his running mate would not necessarily be someone who flatly opposes abortion rights.
``That may distress some people,'' Dole said of his refusal to make abortion a vice presidential litmus test. ``But I am the nominee. I need to make the choice. And I need to find someone who can be president if necessary. And we also need to win the election.''
Dole has said repeatedly that abortion would not be a litmus test, so his remarks did not by themselves signal a major policy shift. But they came at a time when the presumptive GOP nominee is intensifying his search for a running mate and prompted speculation among abortion foes that he was seriously considering New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, who supports abortion rights.
Dole has said little about his search. But he has complained recently about President Clinton's giant lead among women voters, so his reference to winning the election contributed to such speculation.
Asked Monday about Whitman's prospects for the ticket, Dole said, ``I don't have any list yet, but I'm looking at a number of outstanding Republicans.'' Pressed again about Whitman, who has said she is not interested, Dole said only, ``More on that later.''
Two Republican sources who have spoken to Dole recently said he has been impressed with Whitman during his recent visits to New Jersey. But the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Dole also had spoken favorably recently about three other prospects who have solid anti-abortion records: former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell and House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich of Ohio.
With abortion foes already up in arms over Dole's proposal to soften the Republican Party's anti-abortion platform plank, many social conservatives argue Dole has no choice but to name an anti-abortion running mate or face a divisive fight at the Republican National Convention in August.
``We remain convinced that the best vice presidential selection that Bob Dole could make would be to choose an aggressive and confidently conservative pro-life, pro-family running mate,'' said Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed.
Gary Bauer of the conservative Family Research Council said Dole needed to rally the Republican base by picking ``someone Reaganesque who believes in lower taxes, smaller government, traditional family values and the sanctity of human life.''
In an interview with NBC's ``Today'' show, Dole said, ``I don't think so,'' when asked if his running mate had to share his firm anti-abortion views. Dole supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
Dole did said his choice would have to support some abortion restrictions, specifically mentioning a requirement for parental notification in cases involving minors. And he said it was his ``hope'' that his choice would support a ban on so-called ``partial-birth'' late-term abortions.
``But, you know, I'm consistently pro-life,'' Dole said. ``What I want to do is reach out to people.''
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB