Voter's Voice

A few days ago, we asked AllPolitics readers to play political consultant and offer advice to Republican Sen. Robert Dole, who's lagging in the polls. We got a great response, and the suggestions ranged from sharpening his message to smiling more.

"He'll never get elected by maintaining close ties with the GOP Congress," a man from Wheaton, Md. wrote. "Take a stand and if you go down at least you can say you fought the good fight," a Santa Cruz, Calif. reader advised the senator. Here's a sample of what you said:

Distance Yourself From Congress

Bob Dole should:

Resign from his Senate Leader position.
Distance himself from the GOP Congress.

He'll never get elected by maintaining close ties with the GOP Congress. This election, unlike most others, will largely be a referendum on the unpopular GOP congress, rather than Clinton, who is generally now seen as a protector of many popular policies. Dole cannot get elected if the electorate believes that as president, he will rubber-stamp the GOP congressional agenda. Therefore, he must make it known that he will NOT be a puppet for Gingrich and his comrades. Dole has a very tough job ahead to accomplish such a positioning.

-- Bruce Campbell, Wheaton, Md.

Roll Back Spending

I recommend that the Republican party in general take a serious stand on government reductions. The Libertarian Party will probably not get Harry Browne elected as president, but Bob Dole could fall behind the Libertarian candidate if Bob Dole and the the rest of the Republicans do not get their act straight. Harry Browne is right. The only solution to reducing government is a full reversal in spending. Do not slow the rate of growth, because it is still growing.

The American people want a smaller government and not a government that grows slowly. People would also prefer to pay 0% in taxes instead of 47% in combined federal, state and local taxes. Some polls on the Internet indicate that people would prefer to vote for a Libertarian candidate over a Republican, and it is about to pass Bill Clinton as well.

-- Glenn Whitt, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Smile More

Pick three things that are the most important issues and hammer them home every chance you get (e.g. tax reform, welfare/medicaid reform and education reform). Consider some slogans, or simplified ways of getting the message out (e.g. "more take-home pay".)
Spend more time memorizing your speeches. A speech that is being read, by definition, does not come from the heart. If you don't have time to do this and pull a full Senate load, then lighten the Senate load.
Smile more. You have a great smile, but your natural demeanor can look like a scowl.

-- Susan Hoffman, Lubbock, Texas

Drop Out

My advice to Bob Dole would be to do everyone a favor and drop out of the race. I find it extremely disturbing that a 72-year-old man has a chance to become our next president. I am 23 years old, and find it very difficult to relate to this man. He is obviously too old, and has innsufficient ideas to lead this country into the 21st century.

-- Richard Holbrook

Ignore The Conservatives

Bob Dole is simply going to have to choose whether he is going to be a conservative or moderate and take a chance. The conservatives are too full of themselves and will, as we have already seen, damage the prospects of any "not-conservative-enough" candidate. The only way he can keep from being ripped apart by them is to be one of them. Hard-nosed conservatives seem to be in a minority -- but they are loud and while they may be influential in the party, a conservative Mr. Dole will definitely lose the presidential election

If I were Mr. Dole, I would ignore those conservatives that are not willing to discuss even a minimal compromise with moderate Republicans and make sure the Republican platform was as moderate as possible. A strongly moderate Republican presidential nominee, party and platform would attract many that would otherwise prefer not to vote for Mr. Clinton.

The conservatives would grudgingly vote for the Republican nominee or preferrably start their own party where we can better keep an eye on them. To carry this reasoning a step further, if this strategy would work, Mr. Dole would be in a better position to make effective decisions as a moderate, which is what America wants, and not be in the position of having to owe the conservatives legislation for their vote.

As you can discern from this e-mail, I am not a conservative. I feel that this county's future will be on the right track with Mr. Clinton or a Mr. Dole that will make a determined effort to fight the conservative agenda/Contract with America/Contract with the American Family.

-- David Bible, Fort Worth, Texas

Resign As Senate Majority Leader

Dole should definitely resign from his Senate Majority Leader post because it leaves his agenda in the hands of President Clinton, who has proven very effective at deflecting criticisms over to the Republicans. He must pick a few key issues where the President is weak such as ballistic missile defense, tax cuts, welfare reform and affirmative action and hammer away in a clear and concise manner. Stop rambling! Take a stand and if you go down at least you can say you fought the good fight.

-- Dan Aldrich, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Get A Veep Candidate Now

I would get a VP candidate lined up right away. A voice with a vision that will unify the country and appeal to minorities as well as conservative Christians. One who will address the real issues, and make Clinton look bedeviled. None other than Alan Keyes.

-- Keith O'Dell, Bourbonnais, Ill.

Claim Health Troubles, Let GOP Nominate Someone Else

He can't win, he's stale, he's going to take the Party down with him; he should claim health troubles and let the Party nominate someone else.

-- Bob Hooker

Stand FOR Something

...If history repeats itself, and it usually does, then Dole is right where he should be. Polls by CNN/TIME/GALLUP show Clinton with a very sizeable lead over Dole, the same size lead that Bush had over Clinton at this time in 1992, and that Dukakis had over Bush in 1988. We all know what happened in those elections.

The Democrats say they are for jobs, for a liveable wage and for clean water. My question is who is against these things. No one is....The Democrats are succeeding by stating what they are for. The Republicans are confusing the voters and the general public with stuff they do not understand. They do not comprehend what positive results the Republicans revolution will have for America, because the Republicans are talking in complicated terms, not in terms that the voters can understand.

As someone who is very proud to be a registered Republican, and someone who keeps up with politics on a daily basis and will vote for Dole in November no matter what, I would tell Dole to start standing out FOR things. And say he is FOR these things in the simplest way possible. Tell the voters he is FOR tax cuts. Tell the voters he is FOR more take-home pay. Tell the voters he is FOR making America great again. Do not confuse the voters with stuff they do not understand, such as CBO numbers, OMB numbers, judges, and the like. These are topics that someone who is very familiar with politics knows a lot about, but confuse the heck out of the average people. He cannot say that he is against anything, as that portrays negativity, the doom and gloom that people are sick of hearing about already. He must portray the positive, and make all of it very simple to understand.

He is starting to right now by stating he is FOR eliminating the 4.3-cent tax on a gallon of gas, but unfortunately is not getting the coverage in the media that it deserves. Dole must state what he is for, bringing a positive message to the campaign. He must start to appeal to people's emotions, and have people help him become better at producing those 8-10 second sound bites that make the evening news. If he does not, then the voters will express the same message to Dole in November 1996 that he has expressed all primary season, the message that they are against something.

And plus, stop referring to himself as Bob Dole. While he is showing his modesty, which he has more of than Clinton, he makes it seem that he is detached from himself. And, if he is perceived as detached from himself, then he will be perceived as detached from the American people.

-- Eric S. Jerome, Dickson City, Pa.

Campaign Every Single Moment

Senator Dole should be campaigning every single moment from now on and be very present into people's mind....

Senator Dole should practice public debates and addressing people. He has immense to offer and he is the best qualified for the position.

I have not perceived crankiness in his approach, perhaps a little of a strong personality. What is important is what he says and do. He should be happy for being himself and true.

...I think that Gov. George W. Bush of Texas would be an excellent VP. He brings his father stature and he makes justice to it too. He is an able leader and he would have no difficulty becoming one of the next United States Presidents...

Sen. Dole should make promises and then keep them.

-- V. Samuel Scott Vizante

Thanks to everyone responded. And if you have a suggestion for a question we should pose, drop us e-mail at editors@AllPolitics.com.

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