A KEY ROUND FOR DOLE\GOP hopefuls have chance to shine, fall.

Byline: Steven Thomma and Brigid Schulte Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

Bob Dole could almost see San Diego from here.

Sure, the map said he was in a suburb of Washington, D.C. And the calendar said he faced a new round of primary challenges in the next few days here and in nine other states, including Georgia and New York.

But fresh from a commanding victory in South Carolina, the Senate majority leader looked ahead to what could be the week he breaks from the field and starts wrapping up the 1996 Republican presidential nomination that will be awarded at the San Diego convention.

"If we do well on Tuesday, it's going to encourage at least some of the others to think it's time to go," Dole told about 500 cheering partisans here.

As the contest turns into a multifront war with nine states voting Tuesday and delegate-rich New York following quickly Thursday, Dole is poised to use the well-oiled political machine he has built over the last year with disciplined organizations and high-profile endorsements all over the country.

Television pundit Pat Buchanan already was reduced to targeting one state, Georgia, for an upset win on Tuesday, and millionaire publisher Steve Forbes hoped for strong showings in Colorado and Connecticut on Tuesday and in New York on Thursday.

"South Carolina certainly could be a springboard to a one-two punch that would stagger the rest of the field," said political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.

"The sheer size of the Dole campaign is what always impresses me. . . . Opponents will have to nip at his heals in one or two states. But Dole is every place. He begins as the front-runner in every state."

The muscle of the GOP establishment helped him in South Carolina, where former Gov. Carroll Campbell worked hard for Dole, and born-again Christian Gov. David Beasley's blessing helped Dole siphon off conservative Christian support from Buchanan.

On Sunday night, Dole skipped a candidates debate in Atlanta, leaving Alexander, Forbes and Buchanan to spar in a low-key affair. Dole said earlier: "I want them to find a new punching bag."

Just before the debate, Alan Keyes, a fiery orator who has shown poorly in the polls, tried to storm the front door of WSB-TV for excluding him from the debate. Keyes, a radio talk-show host, said he began a hunger strike last Thursday when he was also not invited to a debate in South Carolina.

Looking ahead to this week, Dole planned to campaign today in Georgia with a who's who of the establishment at his side, including Sens. Paul Coverdell of Georgia, Phil Gramm of Texas, John McCain of Arizona and former Sen. Mack Mattingly of Georgia.

In New York, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato used his political machine to keep most challengers off the ballot. Only Forbes, who waged a high-priced legal battle, will join Dole on the ballot statewide; Buchanan will be on in 23 of the state's 31 congressional districts.

"This week should be the lock. It's time to unite," said Rep. Connie Morella, R-Md.

Popular Gov. George W. Bush of Texas, who remembers Buchanan's 1992 challenge to his father's renomination, is expected to endorse Dole this week in advance of voting a week from now in Texas and across the South.

Facing the almost monolithic Dole machine, Buchanan focused on Georgia.

"Georgia is clearly a pivotal battleground state," he told reporters in Atlanta on Sunday morning. "There's no doubt we've got to have a victory, and we've got to have one soon."

Clearly disappointed that he failed to win overwhelming support from Christian conservatives in South Carolina - he barely edged Dole for their votes - Buchanan sought Sunday to paint Dole as soft on abortion. He criticized Dole for voting for tissue research on aborted fetuses and for two liberal Supreme Court nominees.

"I don't think Bob Dole is a liberal, but I don't think he's a conservative," Buchanan said.

Dole showed again Sunday his discomfort with the abortion issue.

When he was asked on the ABC program "This Week With David Brinkley" whether he believes abortion is murder, Dole said, "I don't know. It's obviously taking a life."

Pressed to explain why he supports the right to an abortion for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother even when he believes it is the taking of a life, Dole said "there's also political realities." He complained that liberal talk shows like to ask about abortion to divide the Republican party.

Political Update THE CANDIDATES

LAMAR ALEXANDER: Emerged from an Atlanta church service saying he was pressing on with his campaign, despite House Speaker Newt Gingrich's suggestion that he should consider bowing out. "This is just the first inning in the campaign. I'll swing a little harder and have a better second inning." He said he would stay in the race until the GOP holds its national convention in August.

PAT BUCHANAN: Launched a two-day campaign drive through Georgia, and looked to revive enthusiasm among Christian conservatives, who split almost equally between Bob Dole and himself in South Carolina's primary Saturday. Buchanan sought to undercut Dole among rank-and-file Christian activists by claiming him a "Beltway collaborator with Bill Clinton" for voting to confirm two "pro-abortion" Supreme Court justices and for supporting medical research on fetal tissue.

BOB DOLE: Pronounced momentum on his side following a decisive primary victory in South Carolina and said he hoped further victories this week would persuade some GOP rivals "it's time to go." He spent the day campaigning in Maryland and Dole told cheering supporters at a fairgrounds rally outside Washington: "We've got a veto coming. We're going to veto President Clinton in November."

STEVE FORBES: Said he planned extensive television advertising in New York with positive messages, particularly in Republican New York suburbs. But Forbes declined to say how much he will spend. A new minutelong ad featuring Forbes interacting with people and covering all his main issues, including the flat tax, will begins airing today in New York, Connecticut and Georgia. "It sort of is a three-person race" with Dole and Buchanan, Forbes told reporters. "I think we're going to have a very good contest with Mr. Dole."

NEWS OF NOTE

Dole's presidential bid received another boost Sunday with an expected landslide victory in Puerto Rico's primary. Early returns showed an overwhelming win for Dole.

SOURCE: Associated Press

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