Dole Calls Press Conference, Then Stays in Race : Kemp Endorses Bush, Urges GOP Unity

Rep. Jack Kemp endorsed his old rival, Vice President George Bush, for President on Monday, an important closing of Republican ranks at a time when Democrats remain stubbornly divided and contentious.

“George Bush is going to be the nominee of the Republican Party, and let me say, as one who was involved in the friendly competition, he earned it,” Kemp said at a joint appearence here with Bush.

“The time has come for all Republicans to unite behind this man, who has been a fine and loyal vice president, and to help him be the next President of the United States,” the New York congressman added.

Not the First Sign

This was the first of the fallen GOP rivals to declare his support for the vice president. But it is not the first sign of Republicans’ rallying around Bush. Just last weekend in Los Angeles, four key California supporters of Kansas Sen. Bob Dole defected to Bush.

Dole held a press conference in Washington on Monday and, for a while, it appeared that he might be giving up his fight. He brought in his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Robin, who sat in front of a podium emblazoned “Dole President.” He served up soda and thanks to a few hundred volunteers. He acknowledged the efforts of his staff.

And then he did not bow out. Instead, Dole issued an impassioned call for the Republican Party to “cast off the restraints of privilege and class.”

Sees ‘New Legions’

“We need to reach out, sincerely reach out, to new legions of Hispanic voters, blacks, Asian-Americans and other ethnic groups eager to show that they can play a dynamic role in the American political process,” he said.

“We must offer help to those who need it. We must support and defend civil rights. We must stand ready to meet challenges to freedom anywhere in the world. We need to open up the process, and our leaders should not be timid about discussing issues that affect the homeless and the hungry.”

It was the third time in the last week that Dole has issued a broad call to Republican arms. Last Wednesday, he critiqued the foreign policy plans of Democratic candidates, and two days later he attacked their economic stands.

Offers No Hint

On Monday, Dole offered no hint as to when he might formally call off his dormant candidacy.

“We will continue to speak out on the issues. In fact, we may even do that again tomorrow,” he said.

Later, however, campaign spokeswoman Mari Maseng said that Monday’s speech was the last of three “expansive” addresses Dole had planned. And ABC News reported that Dole would drop out today.

All but Expired

Although Dole did not concede Monday, his campaign is all but expired. His aides said no advertising is planned in Connecticut--site of today’s primary--or Wisconsin, where Dole once figured to fight Bush for delegates next Tuesday. He has not campaigned since spending a half-day in Connecticut last Wednesday.

In Milwaukee, Bush was asked why he believed Dole was staying more or less in the race.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m going to keep on campaigning,” Bush said. “And each person has to make that decision on his own, so I wouldn’t start going into what Bob Dole ought to be doing.”

John Balzar reported from Milwaukee, Cathleen Decker from Washington.