THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100308
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 56 lines
With her father trailing in the polls and local party faithful looking for an emotional boost, Robin Dole, the daughter of the presidential candidate, held a pep rally Wednesday at the Norfolk City Republican Headquarters.
Facing about 75 volunteers, Dole brought home the familiar message that her father has been extolling throughout this political season: that Bob Dole's word is good, that he is honest and that a 15 percent tax cut will help all families.
Dole, who volunteers as a mental health therapist at a treatment home for adolescent girls in the Washington, D.C., area, said her father fought to the top the hard way - by telling the truth to voters.
``He's been telling the truth ever since,'' she said.
She said the November election - just 27 days away - presents voters with a stark choice between two men, a liberal president who signed ``the biggest tax increase in the country's history'' or her father, a man who thinks ordinary citizens know how best to spend their money.
``I think you could use that money,'' Dole said.
The audience loved it and clapped with every zinger fired by Dole, 42, who for 14 years ran the Washington lobbying office for Century 21, the real estate chain. When the chain wassold, she lost her job in a downsizing, a move that accelerated her foray into counseling.
Dole's appearance came just one day after Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson told his viewers on ``The 700 Club'' that ``without question we're going to have a blowout this November.''
``I hope he'll be out there trying to get support for us,'' she said of Robertson.
Dole's comments generally touched on several Republican themes, including a proposal for a $500 per child tax credit that is also part of her father's economic plan. The force of the proposal, she said, hit home when she was recently in Tucson, Ariz., and met a family with 11 children.
She told the audience that her father would cut the capital gains tax by 50 percent, provide regulatory relief for small businesses, keep defense strong, strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, preserve Social Security, cut taxes and balance the budget.
``Bob Dole keeps his word,'' she said. ``His word is his bond.''
Listening to it all was Karl T. Rodgers, a 36-year-old Republican who runs a warehouse. There was nothing that Dole said that surprised Rodgers, a comforting fact since he will be voting Dole/Kemp in November.
When asked about the bleak poll numbers, Rodgers struck a positive note.
``Maybe it'll be just like it was in the last election for governor in Virginia where the Democrats were expected to win, but George Allen did instead,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by TAMARA VONINSKI\The Virginian-Pilot
``Bob Dole keeps his word. His word is his bond,'' said his
daughter, Robin, center, on Wednesday at the Norfolk City Republican
Headquarters. About 75 GOP volunteers attended the pep rally. by CNB