GOP Presidential Hopefuls
Stump In Iowa At Pork Expo

DES MOINES, Iowa —(AP)— Elizabeth Dole pledged more help for farmers Saturday, while Lamar Alexander said President Clinton ``has been diddling'' while an agricultural crisis intensifies.

Conservative activist Gary Bauer warned that Democrats will pay a political price because of military weaknesses exposed in the Balkan bombing campaign. And U.S. Rep. John Kasich, R-Ohio, touted his work as chairman of the House Budget Committee.

It was Iowa's busiest political weekend of the emerging campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, and it included Texas Gov. George W. Bush's first trip to the state.

Three contenders descended on the Iowa State Fairgrounds to talk farming with producers at the World Pork Expo, speaking to shirt-sleeved crowds scattered around a stage normally used for talent contests. Bauer was campaigning separately.

``The next president, whoever she may be, must stabilize the farm economy by exercising leadership to expand domestic markets and increasing exports,'' Mrs. Dole said.

She used her appearance to highlight a 10-point farm program that would cut taxes, boost exports and offer assistance to struggling livestock producers.

Aides said that sells well in a state that produces a quarter of the nation's hogs and has suffered with historic low commodity prices. They also hope it contrasts well with Bush, whom rivals attack for being vague on the issues.

``I think that people in Iowa want straight talk,'' Mrs. Dole said. ``I think they want people with the courage of their convictions. That's what I call courageous conservatism and that's what I'm bringing to the table.''

Bush describes himself as a ``compassionate conservative,'' but Dole rejected suggestions she was taking a shot at Bush.

``I'm speaking for Elizabeth Dole,'' she said. ``I just stay focused. I'm not comparing, I'm not looking at, I'm not being distracted by anything that other candidates are doing.''

Her weekend campaign swing was structured to offer a contrast to Bush, and she missed no opportunity to talk about her ties to farming and her long history in Iowa, site of the first precinct caucuses in the nominating process.

She strolled the fairgrounds, mingling with the thousands eating barbecue and stopping to pet a couple of pigs.

``For almost a quarter of a century I've been living with a guy who is an agricultural expert,'' she said of her husband, 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole. ``I bring to the table 30 years of experience in dealing with the tough issues.''

Dole, Kasich and Alexander also sought to play on the down-home color of the World Pork Expo.

``I haven't seen so much pork since the highway bill passed Congress last year,'' Kasich said.

Alexander also focused on farming, saying he would boost export subsidies, increase the use of ethanol-blended fuels and support more farm research.

``While Bill Clinton has been diddling and Al Gore has been cheerleading, more farmers have been going out of business than during the farm crisis of the 1980s,'' Alexander said. ``If Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore had been chasing foreign markets as hard as they have been chasing foreign campaign contributions, corn and hog prices would be a lot higher today.''

Kasich said he was a key in balancing the federal budget, which has lowered interest rates, a key for interest-sensitive farming.

``If it were not for the lower interest rates, the world would be in a much deeper recession than it already is,'' Kasich said.

With Bush making his initial campaign foray into the state, a huge media crush followed, and a string of candidates sought to catch some of that attention.