Elizabeth Dole Leaving Job for Possible Run, Magazine Says

Elizabeth Hanford Dole is planning to step aside as president of the American Red Cross, in a move her political supporters hope will lead to her running for president, Newsweek magazine reported.

The magazine reports in its Jan. 11 edition, portions of which were released Sunday, that one of Dole’s close advisors described her decision as a “first step” toward a possible campaign for the Republican nomination but also called it a “nonpolitical event.”

Red Cross officials would not confirm the report but announced late Sunday that Dole will make an announcement at 11 a.m. today Pacific time in Washington.

Newsweek had reported that she was expected to meet over the weekend with the executive committee of the Red Cross before an announcement of her plans.

Dole’s husband, former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, was the GOP presidential nominee in 1996, and she has consistently scored high in public opinion polls as a potential candidate.

Earl Cox, national campaign manager of Draft Elizabeth 2000, declined to say whether he knew anything about Dole leaving the Red Cross. “If indeed that is the situation, it’s encouraging.”

Cox added that he plans to be in Washington today before spending the rest of the week in Vermont and New Hampshire to campaign for the movement to draft Dole.