Dole Campaign Press Release - Senator Hatfield Backs Dole

The Dole for President campaign today announced that Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield had endorsed Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole's bid for the Presidency. Hatfield announced his endorsement at a news event in Portland with Elizabeth Dole and Dole Oregon State Chairman Greg Walden. Dole took part in the event via conference call from Iowa.

"I have served with Bob Dole in the Senate for a long time, and I've had ample opportunity to take the measure of the man," said Hatfield in announcing his endorsement. "And while Bob Dole and I have not agreed on every issue, I have never doubted his courage, his intelligence, and his strong moral character."

"As a colleague and a friend, I'm glad to have Mark Hatfield on our team," responded Dole. "I know he shares my belief that we must rein in the federal government in order to set free the spirit of the American people. I also know his support -- along with the rest of our outstanding Oregon campaign team -- will prove instrumental in winning the Oregon primary next March."

With Hatfield's endorsement, Dole has secured the support of most of Oregon's Republican political leaders. Other Oregon backers include former Governor Vic Atiyeh, U.S. Congressmen Wes Cooley and Jim Bunn, former U.S. Congressmen Denny Smith and Bob Smith, Oregon State Senate President Gordon Smith, Speaker of the Oregon House Bev Clarno, Oregon State Senate Majority Leader Brady Adams, State Senator Greg Walden, Speaker Pro Tem Bill Markham, House Majority Leader Lynn Lundquist, Former Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak, former GOP State Chairman Craig Berkman, Oregon Bankers Association Executive Director Frank Brawner, former member of the Bush administration Jim Fitzhenry, Superintendent of Public Instruction Norma Paulus, Marion County Commissioner Randy Franke, and more than a dozen other state legislators.

Mark Hatfield began his political career in the Oregon Legislature in 1950. After two years in the Oregon House of Representatives and two years in the Oregon Senate, he became the youngest Secretary of State in Oregon history at age 34. He was elected Governor of Oregon in 1958 and elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966. Hatfield has never lost an election.

The Oregon primary will be held on Super Tuesday, March 12th. Oregon will send 23 delegates to the Republican convention in San Diego in August. In the most recent CBS/New York Times survey, Dole held a 6 to 1 lead over his nearest Republican challenger -- a 38 percentage point advantage.

The full list of Oregon Republican Congressional and State Legislators backing Dole so far follows:

Congressman Wes Cooley

Senate President Gordon Smith

Senate Majority Leader Brady Adams

Senator Neil Bryant

Senator Gene Derfler

Senator Jeannette Hamby

Senator Tom Hartung

Senator Bill Kennemer

Senator Shirley Stull

Senator Eugene Timms

Senator Greg Walden

Congressman Jim Bunn

House Speaker Beverly Clarno

House Speaker Pro Tem Bill Markham

House Majority Leader Lynn Lundquist

House Member Eldon Johnson

House Member Denny Jones

House Member Charles Starr

House Member John Watt

House Member John Minnis

House Member Larry Wells

House Member Veral Tarno

House Member Bob Montgomery

House Member Ray Baum

House Member John Schoon