Harvard Scholars Say Dole Unlikely to Drop Out of Sight

The Republican presidential field lost another candidate as Elizabeth H. Dole announced earlier this week that she was dropping out of the race.

Dole, who graduated Harvard Law School in 1958 as a member of the first class to include women, cited her lack of campaign funds as the major reason for abandoning her history-making bid for the White House.

Dole had raised $4.7 million in the last year since resigning her post as president of the American Red Cross to run for the Republican nomination.

In comparison, Republican front-runner and Texas governor George W. Bush, a Harvard Business School graduate, has amassed over $56 million, far more than the rest of Republican field.

"Inadequate funding limits the number of staff at headquarters and in key states," Dole said during her news conference.

"It restricts your ability to communicate with voters. Over time, it becomes nearly impossible to sustain an effective campaign," she added.

Alan K. Simpson, director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) and a former Republican senator from Wyoming, said Dole began the race with an advantage because of her connections in politics.

"It all comes down to money," Simpson said. "She and her husband were part of a big network. If she was still having trouble raising money, then it was probably time to get out."

Conservatives on campus yesterday reacted by saying they were sorry to see Dole go but understood the problems her lack of money presented.

"I think she should have stuck it out," said Moshe Y. Spinowitz '02, co-chair of the Harvard Jews for Conservative Politics. "But I guess that would have just been delaying the inevitable."

Dole declined to endorse any of the other Republican candidates at this time. But her network of campaign staff will likely not sit out the rest of the campaign, Simpson said.

"[Dole] is a great person," he said. "She'll tell her staff to get involved with other campaigns to help a Republican get elected."

As the first serious female Republican candidate for the presidency, many believed that Dole would help attract women voters to the Republican Party.

"I could see how a lot of women may be disappointed by her dropping out," said Kevin A. Shapiro '00, a former editor of the Salient, a conservative magazine on campus. "But I think the appeal of the party goes beyond just Elizabeth Dole."

"This will definitely not be the end of Republican efforts to become all inclusive," said Anne L. Berry '01, , president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club. "The Republican party is for everyone--men and women."

Many on campus said that Dole may still be a top contender for the vice presidential nomination.

"It's definitely possible," said Bronwen C. McShea '02, member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club. "It may have been part of the reason for her dropping out."

Many believe that Dole dropping out of the race will probably have little impact on the rest of the field.

"Most of the other candidates with little money are more issue-oriented," McShea said. "So they won't drop out just because of money."

Dole had been scheduled to be at Harvard later this year at an IOP forum featuring the Republican presidential candidates. She may still make an appearance on her own at Harvard, Simpson said.

"She wants to continue inspiring young people to get involved in politics, which is the goal of the IOP," said Simpson. "We will be working to get her here."

Dole declined to endorse any of the other Republican candidates at this time. But her network of campaign staff will likely not sit out the rest of the campaign, Simpson said.

"[Dole] is a great person," he said. "She'll tell her staff to get involved with other campaigns to help a Republican get elected."

As the first serious female Republican candidate for the presidency, many believed that Dole would help attract women voters to the Republican Party.

"I could see how a lot of women may be disappointed by her dropping out," said Kevin A. Shapiro '00, a former editor of the Salient, a conservative magazine on campus. "But I think the appeal of the party goes beyond just Elizabeth Dole."

"This will definitely not be the end of Republican efforts to become all inclusive," said Anne L. Berry '01, , president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club. "The Republican party is for everyone--men and women."

Many on campus said that Dole may still be a top contender for the vice presidential nomination.

"It's definitely possible," said Bronwen C. McShea '02, member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club. "It may have been part of the reason for her dropping out."

Many believe that Dole dropping out of the race will probably have little impact on the rest of the field.

"Most of the other candidates with little money are more issue-oriented," McShea said. "So they won't drop out just because of money."

Dole had been scheduled to be at Harvard later this year at an IOP forum featuring the Republican presidential candidates. She may still make an appearance on her own at Harvard, Simpson said.

"She wants to continue inspiring young people to get involved in politics, which is the goal of the IOP," said Simpson. "We will be working to get her here."