CAMPAIGN ’96 : Dole Said to Fire Pollster, Demote Top Strategist

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, burned by primary defeats in New Hampshire and Delaware and trying to refocus his Republican presidential campaign, has decided to demote his top strategist and fire his lead pollster, sources said late Sunday.

Dole is expected today to demote advisor William Lacy and announce that pollster William McInturff will no longer be used.

Dole told reporters at the airport here he didn’t know anything about it, saying: “I will tell you all about it tomorrow morning.”

But a senior campaign official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the shake-up and said: “It’s fair to say this is a part of the decision to refocus the message.” He said Dole had become concerned that his advertising was “flat and uninspirational.”

Polling problems prompted the decision on Lacy, the source said. “Their polling showed them that the lead going into Delaware was stronger than it was.” Dole ran second there Saturday, with 27% of the vote to 33% for Steve Forbes.