Lugar Lays Groundwork for Foreign Policy Focus in ’96 Race
Sen. Richard G. Lugar, who is expected to join the field of aspirants for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination, is positioning himself as a leader on international affairs in a race focused so far on domestic issues.
Considered a foreign policy authority in Washington, he is expected to emphasize his belief that the nation is losing its competitive and leadership advantage in the world.
In a speech at an international affairs forum Thursday, Lugar warned against a tendency “to pull in our horns to deal with things other than foreign policy” at the expense of U.S. global leadership.
The Indiana senator is coming relatively late to a race that has gotten into high gear a year ahead of the primary season.
Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander have formally announced their candidacies, and Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) is to follow suit on April 10.
Lugar’s prospects might seem best if foreign policy again catches the nation’s attention because of an international crisis or other developments. “The world is a mess. Foreign policy could come roaring back. Lugar might prove to have taken a pretty good gamble,” said GOP analyst Bill Kristol.
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