For the Record

■ High-profile Republicans who had backed other candidates in primaries not exactly rallying around Bob Dole now. Bill Bennett calls Dole campaign “incoherent and dispassionate.” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol advises: “The challenge for Republicans and conservatives is to prevent a Dole defeat from derailing the ongoing Republican realignment.” . . . Columnist Robert Novak calls Dole’s mid-April performance on Face the Nation “the worst single television interview since Teddy Kennedy’s 1979 encounter with Roger Mudd.” . . . Bill Clinton’s lead is comparable to Ronald Reagan’s in 1984, according to Pew Research: “large, consistent, and trending upward.” . . . After Dole says people would rather leave their children with him than with Clinton, Washington Post survey finds 52 per cent of people would entrust their kids to Clinton, just 27 per cent to Dole. . . . Dole bites back at critics: “All these people who’ve had second doubts will probably try to get tickets to the inaugural, and we’ll try to accommodate them.” . . . Consensus grows that Dole should relinquish his position as Majority Leader. Baltimore Sun columnists Jack Germond and Jules Witcover doubt it will happen: “Would Mr. Dole sleep better on the campaign trail knowing Messrs. Lott and Gingrich were in charge of the congressional store?” . . . Would the right running-mate help? Some Republicans float Jeane Kirkpatrick’s name, especially if foreign policy flares up as issue. American Spectator editor Bob Tyrrell suggests Dick Lugar. Michigan poll shows Gov. John Engler would hardly help Dole in Michigan itself. Engler, meanwhile, has enlisted former aide to handle all the press inquiries about possible personal scandals. . . . Dan Quayle says Dole camp should offer Pat Buchanan slot of 4 P.M. Tuesday at GOP convention: “There’s a lot of viewers in England at that time.” . . . Former Ross Perot running-mate Adm. James Stockdale endorses Dole.

■ Clinton still feels fallout from partial-birth abortion veto, especially among Irish organizations he had been courting. Irish fraternal organization Ancient Order of Hibernians revokes invitation to President Clinton to speak at July convention. Clinton Vatican Ambassador Ray Flynn joins in Church’s criticism of partial-birth veto, in remarkable breach of protocol. . . . Irish National Caucus, meanwhile, scores Clinton for “flip-flopping” on his support for MacBride principles, mandating affirmative-action policies for Catholics in Northern Ireland. . . . George Voinovich’s chief of staff is working with Republican National Committee to formulate strategy for winning Catholic vote in Ohio and 11 other states. . . . Clinton is quoted in new book by David Broder & Haynes Johnson as admitting that his approach to health care was badly flawed: “This is entirely my mistake. No one else’s. I probably made a mistake in not then going for a multiyear strategy.” … Al Gore aides, with eyes on presidential bid by their boss, working to head off Dick Gephardt run for President in 2000.

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■ High-profile Republicans who had backed other candidates in primaries not exactly rallying around Bob Dole now. Bill Bennett calls Dole campaign “incoherent and dispassionate.” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol advises: “The challenge for Republicans and conservatives is to prevent a Dole defeat from derailing the ongoing Republican realignment.” . . . Columnist Robert Novak calls Dole’s mid-April performance on Face the Nation “the worst single television interview since Teddy Kennedy’s 1979 encounter with Roger Mudd.” . . . Bill Clinton’s lead is comparable to Ronald Reagan’s in 1984, according to Pew Research: “large, consistent, and trending upward.” . . . After Dole says people would rather leave their children with him than with Clinton, Washington Post survey finds 52 per cent of people would entrust their kids to Clinton, just 27 per cent to Dole. . . . Dole bites back at critics: “All these people who’ve had second doubts will probably try to get tickets to the inaugural, and we’ll try to accommodate them.” . . . Consensus grows that Dole should relinquish his position as Majority Leader. Baltimore Sun columnists Jack Germond and Jules Witcover doubt it will happen: “Would Mr. Dole sleep better on the campaign trail knowing Messrs. Lott and Gingrich were in charge of the congressional store?” . . . Would the right running-mate help? Some Republicans float Jeane Kirkpatrick’s name, especially if foreign policy flares up as issue. American Spectator editor Bob Tyrrell suggests Dick Lugar. Michigan poll shows Gov. John Engler would hardly help Dole in Michigan itself. Engler, meanwhile, has enlisted former aide to handle all the press inquiries about possible personal scandals. . . . Dan Quayle says Dole camp should offer Pat Buchanan slot of 4 P.M. Tuesday at GOP convention: “There’s a lot of viewers in England at that time.” . . . Former Ross Perot running-mate Adm. James Stockdale endorses Dole.

■ Clinton still feels fallout from partial-birth abortion veto, especially among Irish organizations he had been courting. Irish fraternal organization Ancient Order of Hibernians revokes invitation to President Clinton to speak at July convention. Clinton Vatican Ambassador Ray Flynn joins in Church’s criticism of partial-birth veto, in remarkable breach of protocol. . . . Irish National Caucus, meanwhile, scores Clinton for “flip-flopping” on his support for MacBride principles, mandating affirmative-action policies for Catholics in Northern Ireland. . . . George Voinovich’s chief of staff is working with Republican National Committee to formulate strategy for winning Catholic vote in Ohio and 11 other states. . . . Clinton is quoted in new book by David Broder & Haynes Johnson as admitting that his approach to health care was badly flawed: “This is entirely my mistake. No one else’s. I probably made a mistake in not then going for a multiyear strategy.” … Al Gore aides, with eyes on presidential bid by their boss, working to head off Dick Gephardt run for President in 2000.