BOB DOLE has tearfully relaunched his flagging presidential campaign by quitting his Senate post and getting rid of his necktie, but the polls show he still must climb a mountain.
The announcement last week of his decision to resign from the Senate after 35 years in Congress and to abandon the powerful post of Majority Leader stunned Washington insiders and his own staff. It was a reversal of the strategy of putting President Clinton under increasing pressure from the Republican controlled Congress and making him unpopular when he vetoed Bills, such as that cutting gasoline tax.
Dole was supposed to be seen as the inspired leader of this strategy from his Senate post, and thus show how he could outwit the younger man in the White House. But the plan flopped and Dole got bogged down in legislative minutiae which bored the voters.
His well kept secret to reverse tactics and cut loose from the Senate is seen to have an air of desperation about it. But with the gap between President Clinton and him standing at around 20 points, Dole had to do something dramatic. His fellow Republican Senator, Alan Simpson, enthused. "He's unshackled. The leg irons are off. The hood is off the falcon."
But the Republicans on Capitol Hill were shaken by the sudden upturn and emotional. The thought of Dole leaving the Senate, where he had led the Republicans since 1981, unloosed tears among hard boiled politicians and Dole himself almost broke down during his announcement to the media.
It was short but full of memorable phrases such as, I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people, and nowhere to go but the White House or home." From June 11th, "I will then stand before you without office or authority, a private citizen, a Kansan, an American, just a man."
Less than 24 hours later, the unshackled, unhooded, Citizen Dole was on his way to Chicago to test his new image in Illinois, one of the crucial states for victory in the November 5th election.
As he boarded his plane in Washington, Dole was in his senatorial dark suit and tie, but at the airport in Chicago he emerged tie less in khaki pants and a blue sports coat.
The Republican suits assembled to meet him had not yet got the message about the new Dole but as the motorcade set off, the governor and his entourage were busy shedding their own ties. The media, agog to observe the effect of the transformation, had multiplied. Dole had more reporters trailing him than at any time since he announced his candidature over a year ago.
By the end of the day, it was back to Washington for a Senate vote, and this time wearing a tie. The falcon is not fully liberated for another four weeks.
While the new Dole got the kind of favourable media attention his campaign has badly needed, the public response was hesitant and some polls even showed an increase in President Clinton's lead. The Clinton camp responded cautiously, as if unsure of what the Republican shift will mean.
But the announcement that the Republican National Committee (RNC) plans to spend $20 million (£13.3 million) on advertising before the conventions in August, and that Dole will campaign in 17 cities between now and July 4th, has led 19 the Democrats warning that this could mean illegal spending by Dole. It is estimated he has less than $1 million left to spend out of the $37 million allocated by the Federal Election Commission in the primary season for candidates who accept federal matching funds.
Bill Clinton, by contrast, has at least $15 million still to spend.
The RNC advertising campaign is getting around this restriction by running TV spots which do not call for support for Dole but highlight President Clinton's policy shifts, such as on the budget deficit. Dole can speak at party functions to support Republican candidates as long as he does not campaign for himself but few believe that the rules will be strictly observed.
Meanwhile, Clinton continues to act presidential. However, his campaign is nervously aware that the investigation into the Whitewater financial scandal and an attempt by a woman to bring a civil case against him for alleged sexual approaches rumble on.
The Dole transformation was somewhat overshadowed by the suicide of the Navy's highest ranking officer, Admiral Jeremy Boorda, because of a media investigation into his wearing of combat decorations he may not have earned. President Clinton was shown again on TV in his compassionate role going to comfort the admiral's family.
Bob Dole, the wounded war hero, visited a hospital for victims of gunshot wounds and advised one patient how he has to sleep clutching the top of a crutch. This prevents his crippled hand from cramping.
The Republicans will be hammering home the contrast between their 73 year old war hero and the Vietnam draft dodger in the White House. But Clinton was able to handle this issue four years ago against George Bush as well as charges of an improper sex life.
He will now have to work out the best way to ensure that Citizen Dole goes home in November instead of to the White House.