Conservative Iowa Activist Endorses Dole

DES MOINES —  Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole’s front-running presidential campaign received a boost Monday when a leading conservative activist here said she will support him against his Republican rivals.

Ione Dilley, who heads the Iowa Christian Coalition, said she had concluded that Dole offers the GOP the best chance to defeat President Clinton in November. “I think he’s the candidate who will win the final Super Bowl,” Dilley said. “He can best handle Clinton.”

Dilley’s decision to support Dole is almost certain to bolster his standing among conservative activists, who are considered among the most likely to turn out in large numbers at the Feb. 12 Iowa precinct caucuses, the first key test of strength in the presidential race.

Also Monday, a new poll contained good news for both Dole and one of his rivals, publishing magnate Steve Forbes. In New Hampshire, which holds the nation’s first presidential primary on Feb. 20, the poll showed Dole holding a steady lead with 37% of the GOP vote, the same as he had in an October poll.

The survey also found that in New Hampshire, as in other states with early contests in the presidential race, Forbes is making gains as he spends millions of dollars of his own money on ads touting his candidacy.

Forbes’ New Hampshire support grew from 10% in October to 18% earlier this month. Conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan remained in third place with 10%; the other candidates were in single digits.

In Delaware, which holds the second primary of the campaign on Feb. 24, a survey released Sunday found Dole statistically tied with Forbes, with Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas a distant third.