Kemp Leaves Race; Dole Assesses Options

Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.), clobbered by Vice President George Bush in the Super Tuesday contest, was said to be reassessing his campaign prospects yesterday.

Meanwhile, as the fallout from the largest single election day in history continued, Republican presidential hopeful Jack Kemp formally pulled out of the race. Two-time Democratic contender Gary Hart is considering a similar move.

Illinois

Dole pulled television commercials off the air in Illinois and laid off more than half his staff yesterday. And a source said his campaign advisers were discussing whether he should suspend campaigning before the Illinois primary on Tuesday.

However, national campaign spokeswoman Dale Tate said Dole intended to remain a candidate. "We're not pulling the plug on the campaign," she said.

Dole himself campaigned in Illinois without overtly discussing whether he'd continue to actively campaign. At one point, though, he said, "I'm a fighter. I'm also a realist."

The Dole developments came the same day that Bush's Super Tuesday victories claimed another Republican casualty--Jack Kemp.

Bush's chief of staff, Craig Fuller, told reporters traveling with the vice president that on hearing reports about Dole, Bush's reaction was, "We'll go about our business, do our job."

Democrat Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), who ran a poor fourth among Democrats on Tuesday, said Michigan could decide his fate.

Republican Pat Robertson, who finished a distant third to Bush and Dole inthe Super Tuesday contests, said, "Strange thingshappen in politics, so I have no reason to getout," However, Robertson, campaigning in Chicago,said he planned to buy no television ads inIllinois, which has its primary next Tuesday.

He said he expected to pick up a bit of supportfrom conservatives who had backed Kemp.

Bush flew to Illinois to press his campaign forthe 82 GOP delegates at stake in the state'sprimary. And he quickly took up a new issue,saying he was "tired of being embarrassed" byscandals surrounding public officials, though henamed no names.

The vice president's chief rival, Dole, stuckto party politics, questioning Bush's"electability" and telling Chicago voters he wouldbe a stronger candidate for the GOP in November