Republicans were awarding the biggest prize so far of the primary season, 259 delegates in 10 contests Tuesday, and feelings were running high as voters decided between political mavericks and the GOP-anointed Bob Dole.
For his part, the Kansas senator and Senate majority leader expressed hope to break the political jinx that frustrated his two previous runs for the GOP presidential nomination. "I know it's a lot more fun winning," Dole told civic and business leaders in New York as polls showed him leading nearly all contest states."If I could be immodest just for a moment, I really believe the American people on the Republican side, and hopefully in November on all sides, are looking for someone with hands-on experience, someone who's made decisions on a daily basis," Dole told the bipartisan Association for a Better New York. "Experience, I think that's what this is all about."
McKinley W. Kriegh III, 39, an auto technician from College Park, Md., cast his ballot for Pat Buchanan, the fiery commentator whose insurgent campaign has kept Dole from an easy ride to the nomination.
"I'm voting for Buchanan because there's not anyone else really interesting, and he has strong views," Kriegh said.
At the same polling place, Sam Wao, a 33-year-old engineer, picked Dole, saying, "I think he will beat Buchanan and I hate Buchanan."
Bill Post, 51, an interior designer from Atlanta, said he voted for Steve Forbes, mainly because of his flat tax proposal.
"Buchanan scares me. He just seems to be too radical. And I think we need somebody in the White House that's got a little more pizazz than Dole has," Post said, explaining why he picked Forbes over his rivals.
Eight states were holding primaries Tuesday - Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia and Colorado. Two states were holding caucuses, Washington and Minnesota. Delegates to be chosen Tuesday represent roughly one quarter of the 996 needed to win the GOP nomination.
A rebounding Dole, told by supporters his nomination was looking more and more inevitable since his crucial victory in South Carolina over the weekend, said a sweep this week "could do it." His rivals conceded Dole was in the driver's seat.
Former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, after a series of disappointing fourth-place finishes, said he would press on through Tuesday's contests but would quit the race if he can't beat Dole in next week's Florida primary.
And Buchanan said while campaigning in Georgia on Monday that, if Dole keeps on winning, a "sense of inevitability will develop."
Forbes, who continues to say he'll fight on to the GOP's August convention in San Diego, sought last-minute support in New England on Monday but generally drew unenthusiastic crowds.
Georgia was the biggest single delegate prize of the day, with 42, and Dole, Buchanan and Alexander all campaigned there Monday, Dole winning a vote - if not a formal endorsement - from House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Gingrich voted by absentee ballot and said that, although he had sought to maintain neutrality since he'll chair the GOP convention, he had cast that vote for Dole.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Clinton raises $2 million
Pushing a theme of unity and economic prosperity, President Clinton helped raise nearly $2 million for himself and fellow Democrats in a state considered vital to his re-election.
Democrats said the generous reception given Clinton in Michigan during a rescheduled, one-day campaign swing Monday portends good things for them in November. Such donating, they say, proves that American voters are rejecting the messages of Republican candidates.
Aides said Monday's two campaign appearances, in downtown Detroit and at the Bingham Hills mansion of developer David Hermelin, brought in $1.7 million for the Clinton-Gore campaign, the Democratic National Committee and the Democrats' coordinated campaign.
The downtown event brought in $700,000, to be divided between Clinton's campaign and the DNC. The second event, a dinner at a private residence, generated $1 million for the coordinated campaign to spend on get-out-the-vote efforts and the general election.
The dollars add potency to Clinton's already formidable warchest. The president had raised a total of $26.5 million in 1995, and had nearly $18 million in cash on hand on Feb. 1.