There was almost universal dismay — and some glee in other campaigns — in Republican circles last week about Bob Dole’s response to Bill Clinton’s State of the Union. The dismay had little to do with the substance, but much to do with the performance: Dole looked by turns nervous, old, halting, and confused. Along with reports of polls showing Dole weakening in Iowa and New Hampshire, the question is whether the State of the Union response will be for Dole what the infamous Roger Mudd interview was for Teddy Kennedy in 1979: the unexpected coup de grace for a campaign that seemed to be riding high.
Meanwhile, Dole is making a not-so-subtle shift in his message, from stressing a balanced budget to focusing on economic growth. Obviously Dole feels pressure from Steve Forbes, but that’s not the only reason for the shift. Dole’s advisers, especially former Senate aide Robert Lighthizer, are convinced Clinton is vulnerable on the economic issue. Thus, Dole will stress the slowing economy under Clinton and also take a page from Pat Buchanan’s playbook by blaming Clinton for the middle-class squeeze, wage stagnation, and the loss o manufacturing jobs. The shorthand for this is the “Clinton crunch,” a phrase you’ll be hearing a lot more of.
