Dole, In Ariz., Delighted With Debate Decision

By Candy Crowley/CNN

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Letter From The Advisory Comittee

CPD Statement

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Bill Schneider's Take

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Sept. 17) -- Republican candidate Robert Dole was delighted when word reached him of Ross Perot's exclusion from the presidential debates, while en route to Arizona. At the Estrella jail in Phoenix, Dole continued to push his anti-crime, anti-drug themes, bringing both of those issues to the forefront.

Needless to say, the Dole campaign was pleased with the presidential debates commission's ruling. The politics involved are pretty simple. Perot in the debate hurts Dole. They wanted to keep Perot out, but the commission's decision gives the Dole camp some cover. They can see that the Perot is excluded while going after his supporters at the same time.

"I want to reach out to the Perot supporters, obviously," Dole said. "I'm not trying to suggest anything, but it's just that I'm going to reach out. I think we are the reform party. We've tried to demonstrate that to Mr. Perot."

On the Texas billionaire's future in the race, Dole said, "I don't know what he'll do. Obviously he'll have $29 million to do something with, but I think the debates ought to begin. They ought to begin the 25th or the 26th of this month rather than try to crowd them all into October." (288K AIFF or WAV sound)

Dole visited the Estrella jail to emphasize his tough campaign on crime and on drug issues. It is a particularly famous jail. The sheriffs here put prisoners in tents. In Arizona, you can do that. There are no porno magazines, no cigarettes, no coffee. There are chain gangs. It is the kind of get-tough message that Dole likes to be associated with.

"I can promise you this," Dole said. "We're going to cut drug use in half. We're going to be tough on juveniles who commit violent crimes. We're going to end the revolving door of justice."(160K AIFF or WAV sound)

Dole continued, "We're going to make prisoners work. They work here ...In some states they work about seven to nine hours a day. And we think they ought to work. And if they get any money, it ought to go into a victims compensation fund and be sent to the victims of crime."

As he was leaving, Dole was asked if he thinks all jails should be like the tented facility. He said "no," because not everywhere has Arizona's weather. But he did say the purpose of a jail should be that no one really wants to come back, giving the system some type of endorsement.

From here the campaign moves on to California where Dole will continue with his crime theme. CNN was told that tomorrow Dole may turn once again to the entertainment industry to scold them for the glamorizing of drug issues. And he may try to give a 1990s twist to Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign with a slogan of his own.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

Dole, In Ariz., Delighted With Debate Decision

Debate On Debates

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