For the Record

■ Bob Dole is undismayed by failure to gain any traction in polls: “I feel the tide turning every day. … I can feel the energy all around the country.” (He barely leads Bill Clinton even in Alabama.) . . . On Veepstakes: Bob Ellsworth, vetting possible Veep nominees for Dole, causes stir by floating retiring Sen. Sam Nunn (D., Ga.). But Nunn says he supports Clinton. Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken says: “I’m pushing [Calif. Attorney General] Dan Lungren. I think he’s a good solid guy.” And according to Technometrica Institute of Policy and Politics survey, newspaper editors think Colin Powell or Christine Todd Whitman would give ticket biggest boost. . . . Clinton’s former CIA director, James Woolsey, may endorse Dole. He thinks Clinton downplays risk of missile attack on U.S. or its allies, supports Dole’s missile-defense legislation. . . . Gerald and Betty Ford to join efforts to eliminate the Republican anti-abortion plank in San Diego.

■ Bill Clinton draws heat from Left for supporting Defense of Marriage Act. David Mixner, gay activist and ’92 Clinton advisor, calls decision “reprehensible and cowardly.” Washington state Democratic convention condemns it. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown rescinds invite to Prez: “There’ll be intense demonstrations. I think he should postpone his trip.” DNC co-chair Chris Dodd tells dissenting Democrats to “go somewhere else if they’re not on the team,” adds that party “is not the American Civil Liberties Union.” Human Rights Campaign Fund’s Elizabeth Birch, on whether gays have anywhere else to go: “They [the Clintonites] do have an enemy. It’s the couch.” . . . National Public Radio reports that White House, “sensitive to charges of me-tooism’ that Republicans have made,” won’t “roll out any new big tax cuts during the campaign.” Says National Economic Council head Laura D’Andrea Tyson, “There is absolutely no bidding war.” . . . White House chief of staff Leon Panetta previews attack that will ensue if Dole endorses tax cuts: “It will make him look like he’s taken a huge flip-flop.” . . . Garry Mauro, chairman of Clinton’s Texas campaign, says, “In this state, we’ve got lots of blacks, lots of browns, lots of women, and lots of poor people. Demographically, we’re a better state for Clinton than California.” . . . Nightline hosts show with unintentionally revealing title: “Whitewater: Why Won’t It Go Away?”

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■ Bob Dole is undismayed by failure to gain any traction in polls: “I feel the tide turning every day. … I can feel the energy all around the country.” (He barely leads Bill Clinton even in Alabama.) . . . On Veepstakes: Bob Ellsworth, vetting possible Veep nominees for Dole, causes stir by floating retiring Sen. Sam Nunn (D., Ga.). But Nunn says he supports Clinton. Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken says: “I’m pushing [Calif. Attorney General] Dan Lungren. I think he’s a good solid guy.” And according to Technometrica Institute of Policy and Politics survey, newspaper editors think Colin Powell or Christine Todd Whitman would give ticket biggest boost. . . . Clinton’s former CIA director, James Woolsey, may endorse Dole. He thinks Clinton downplays risk of missile attack on U.S. or its allies, supports Dole’s missile-defense legislation. . . . Gerald and Betty Ford to join efforts to eliminate the Republican anti-abortion plank in San Diego.

■ Bill Clinton draws heat from Left for supporting Defense of Marriage Act. David Mixner, gay activist and ’92 Clinton advisor, calls decision “reprehensible and cowardly.” Washington state Democratic convention condemns it. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown rescinds invite to Prez: “There’ll be intense demonstrations. I think he should postpone his trip.” DNC co-chair Chris Dodd tells dissenting Democrats to “go somewhere else if they’re not on the team,” adds that party “is not the American Civil Liberties Union.” Human Rights Campaign Fund’s Elizabeth Birch, on whether gays have anywhere else to go: “They [the Clintonites] do have an enemy. It’s the couch.” . . . National Public Radio reports that White House, “sensitive to charges of me-tooism’ that Republicans have made,” won’t “roll out any new big tax cuts during the campaign.” Says National Economic Council head Laura D’Andrea Tyson, “There is absolutely no bidding war.” . . . White House chief of staff Leon Panetta previews attack that will ensue if Dole endorses tax cuts: “It will make him look like he’s taken a huge flip-flop.” . . . Garry Mauro, chairman of Clinton’s Texas campaign, says, “In this state, we’ve got lots of blacks, lots of browns, lots of women, and lots of poor people. Demographically, we’re a better state for Clinton than California.” . . . Nightline hosts show with unintentionally revealing title: “Whitewater: Why Won’t It Go Away?”