ELIZABETH DOLE STUMPS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU FOR BUSH

Former GOP rival Elizabeth Dole predicted Saturday that women voters will help propel George W. Bush into the presidency.

Dole, who endorsed the Texas governor in January, stumped for Bush in Cape Girardeau Saturday, meeting with about 20 Bush supporters manning phone banks in a get out the vote push for Tuesday's primary.

She made a few get-out-the-vote calls from U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's campaign office in the H and H Building on Broadway as reporters looked on.

The majority of women voters chose President Bill Clinton over Elizabeth Dole's husband, Bob, in the 1996 election.

But Elizabeth Dole believes Bush can win over female voters in the 2000 election.

Fifty-three percent of the voters are women. Dole believes the swing voters in the November election will be older women and middle-class mothers.

"Women will help sweep George Bush into the White House," Dole said.

She said Bush's philosophy of "compassionate conservatism" registers with women.

Dole said she is supporting Bush for three reasons. "He has vision. He has integrity. He has executive experience."

Dole said Bush has a proven record as governor of Texas when it comes to tax cuts and education reform. "It is not rhetoric," she said.

"Those who know him the best admire him the most," said Dole.

She predicted Bush's primary battles with GOP rival John McCain won't hurt the Republican Party come November. She said Republicans would unite to defeat Vice President Al Gore, who is well ahead of former senator Bill Bradley in his effort to win the Democratic nomination.

Hard-fought campaigns, she said, make for tougher competitors.

Dole's visit to Cape Girardeau followed campaign stops for Bush in New York, including an appearance with the Texas governor at a breast cancer research center.

This wasn't Dole's first visit to Cape Girardeau. She stumped for her husband during a campaign visit in June 1996.

Dole said Missouri is an important state both in terms of the Republican primary and the November election.

That view was echoed by Jack Oliver, a Cape Girardeau native and national finance director for the Bush campaign.

"Missouri is critical. It is a swing state," said Oliver.

Bush has visited Missouri seven times dating back to last year. He made a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau last August.