Dole and Clinton battle to clinch California’s vote in November elections

Sunday, July 7, 1996

By Patrick Marantal

Summer Bruin Staff

With the November elections ahead, California has become the
latest battlefield for the Democratic and Republican parties.

And with over 50 electoral votes at stake, GOP presidential
nominee Bob Dole is attempting to solicit the state vote.

"California has 54 electoral votes. Bill Clinton can’t win
re-election without California," Dole said at a recent GOP
fundraiser. "I’m going to win California, so I guess he can’t win
re-election."

During his latest visit to California last week, Dole attended
GOP events held in Los Angeles and San Francisco where he raised
nearly $3 million.

During those events, Dole spoke about his youth and achievements
while promising supporters in both cities that he would increase
campaigning in order to win California.

According to the latest Field Poll of state voters, Dole trailed
Clinton by 23 points. But Republican representatives maintain that
their findings indicate that the difference is not nearly as
drastic as the poll indicates.

Regardless of the polls, supporters felt that Dole has a strong
chance of capturing the vote.

"I think he feels he can win it. California is not just San
Francisco or Los Angeles. California is a very diverse state with
33 million people," said John Peschong, executive director of the
California Republican Party. "It is becoming more and more apparent
to us that we are going to win California and put it in Bob Dole’s
win column."

However, supporters of Clinton argue that Dole lacks sufficient
support to take California and their vote.

"Dole realizes that he is very far behind in the state and he is
trying very hard to make it up," said Mike Schneider, president of
the Bruin Democrats. "Dole needs to make up as much ground. He
can’t win the presidency without California.

"Dole has been trying to (win California) but I believe it will
be futile to him in the end," Schneider added.

But to achieve that goal, Dole is not targeting a particular
audience, Peschong said. Rather, he is addressing the issues that
impact California.

Peschong explained that Dole visited Southern California and
addressed issues like defense cuts, taxes and illegal
immigration.

While Dole has made frequent trips to California, Clinton
supporters maintain that the president has been doing his own share
of campaigning in the state.

According to the California Coordinated Campaign office, Clinton
has made 25 trips to California in the last year.

In the Los Angeles area, Clinton has visited cities like Long
Beach and Anaheim. He recently spoke to some of his supporters at
Glendale Community College about education.

Furthermore, Clinton supporters said that other administrative
officials, like Vice President Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, have
come to California in his stead to campaign.

Regardless of the differing views, both presidential candidates
are actively campaigning in California to capture the state’s
vote.

"California is a necessary part of the election," Schneider
said. "No president (recently) has won the election without
California."

With Associated Press reports

President Bill Clinton continues to campaign for the
California’s 54 electoral votes, without which he cannot win the
election.