Lamar Alexander is riding in an old sport-utility vehicle with underpowered air conditioning. His entire traveling entourage consists of a kid at the wheel, wife Honey riding shotgun, an old pal in the middle seat and one reporter. He balls up the garbage from his Wendy's carry-out and stares through the window at the passing fields. In his view, he almost broke through the clutter in 1996 to take the Republican nomination from Bob Dole. He is not the only one who thinks so.
Many party leaders agree.
He is still staring out the window. It might have been enough to make him the favorite for 2000. Republicans love to elevate an heir apparent. A strong second becomes the next frontrunner. Instead, Alexander came out of '96 with all the heat of old bathwater.