Dole woos Texans at rally

By MADELINE BARO Associated Press

DALLAS &emdash; GOP presidential hopeful Bob Dole continued his attack on President Clinton and the media during a campaign stop in Dallas Friday, repeating time and again his new catch phrase: "Where is the outrage?"

Dole, speaking to near-capacity crowd at the 9,700-seat Moody Coliseum on the campus of Southern Methodist University, answered his own question, saying outrage toward Clinton and the media "starts today, in Dallas, Texas."

"That's where it starts. It starts right here," Dole said.

The Republican blamed the media for his standing well behind the president in national polls and touted his plans for returning prayer to public schools and cutting taxes by 15 percent.

"We're fighting for the heart and soul of America in 1996," said Dole, who was flanked by top Texas Republicans. "Make no mistake about it."

Dallas was the last stop of Dole's two-city Texas swing. He was in Houston earlier Friday to shore up critical support in the state. According to the latest polls Clinton and Dole are running neck-and-neck in Texas.

Governor George W. Bush introduced Bob Dole as a man who "thinks like a Texan" and who would "act like a Texan" by keeping his word if elected.

Ryan Hurst, 19, a sophomore member of the College Republicans, said most SMU students are behind Dole.

"If you held the election on the SMU campus, Dole would win by a landslide," Hurst said.

Only a few demonstrators, mostly anti-Dole, held signs outside the coliseum on a drizzly, chilly afternoon.

"Senator Dole has some nerve coming to a college campus when he's voted to take away the ... AmeriCorps and potentially the Department of Education," said Tim Glassco, an SMU senior who said he was a Democrat.

Jimmy Harrell, 26, from Arlington attended a rally and held a sign reading "Dole Has Soul." Harrell, who owns a printing business, said Dole's economic proposals appeal to him.

"I don't think the government should take my money and tell me what to do with it," Harrell said.

Marvin Brown, 72, of Grapevine, said Dole's character appeals to him.

"I like his honesty," Brown said. "He's not a great speaker, but he has the correct philosophy."

"Texans appreciate the freedom to achieve, the opportunity to achieve. We've go to keep our word. We've got to be people of integrity."