By far the most experienced politically of all the candidates, Dole, once a quintessential right winger is markedly more moderate than many of his Republican challengers. His biggest task could be consolidating the mainstream Republican party behind him. A legislative guru, he entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1961, moved to the Senate in 1969, became Senate Majority Leader in 1984, switched to Minority Leader in 1986 and returned to Majority Leader as the Republicans stormed Congress in 1994. Dole was Gerald Ford's vice-presidential running mate in 1976 and has run for president himself in 1980 and 1988. He is a very effective Senator and Senate leader, but these skills do not translate into well into the Presidential arena.
People expect presidential candidates to offer vision.
Dole is doing badly this year, but this is the fourth time he has run for a national office, and he has been terrible candidate every time. He does not offer a plan. . . An extreme conservative, Buchanan has established himself as the man to beat after his victory in New Hampshire. He may also be the chief culprit of the indecision within the Republican Party. Suddenly, Buchanan's viability as a candidate is not nearly so outrageous as in years past.