Opinion: Bob Dole on John McCain--and the Newt

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Former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, who knows a little something about losing presidential campaigns, having been thumped by Bill Clinton 11 years ago (has it been that long already?), is feeling sorry and puzzled for Sen. John McCain, whose one-time front-running candidacy for the ’08 GOP nomination has spiraled downward in recent weeks.

And Dole has some sharp words for former House speaker Newt Gingrich.

Dole was on Bloomberg TV’s ‘Political Capital with Al Hunt’ over the weekend, ostensibly to talk about co-authoring the report on improving healthcare for wounded veterans. But Hunt also asked the senator who would be the strongest Republican candidate next year?

‘You know,’ Dole replied, ‘my heart has always been with my good friend John McCain. But it’s just not happening. The buzz is gone. I mean, he’s a great guy and thought he--he sticks to his guns. Whether it’s campaign finance reform, which has cost him some people, and whether it’s immigration, where I think he was on the right track....Or whether it’s his support for the war. They are all very principled, but I don’t know how he puts it all back together.’

Hunt then asked Dole who would benefit from the McCain fade?

‘I think,’ said Dole, ‘it would be picked up by Thompson, former senator Fred Thompson.’ He described the Tennessean as having ‘kind of a nice, laidback easy-going approach--some say too easy-going; doesn’t have the fire in the belly. I’m not so certain people want to hear somebody scream and shout.’

Anyway, Dole added about the Republican field, ‘I don’t think they are pygmies. I mean, I totally disagree with Newt Gingrich. I don’t know how he has set himself up as the spokesman for the world.’

--Andrew Malcolm