DOLE AIDES SPLIT ON CALIFORNIA FUNDING : CAMPAIGN POLLSTER FAVORS USING ADVERTISING MONEY IN OTHER STATES.

Byline: Richard L. Berke The New York Times

A struggle has broken out among senior advisers to Bob Dole over whether his campaign should pump millions of dollars into competing in California or divert the money to other pivotal states, particularly in the Midwest, where Dole may have a better chance of winning.

The debate over California is leading up to what may be the most consequential tactical decision for Dole in the closing weeks of the campaign. It has created rifts among Dole's most senior aides, some of whom have accused each other of being motivated by factors other than the candidate's best interests.

On one side, according to several campaign officials, are Dole aides including Tony Fabrizio, the campaign's pollster, who argue that given Dole's poor standing in California, millions of dollars in advertising money could be better spent elsewhere.

Political director Jill Hanson and other strategists beyond the West Coast are in this camp, the aides said.

On the other side is vice-presidential nominee Jack Kemp, who continues to campaign heavily in California. This contingent includes House Speaker Newt Gingrich and officials of the Republican Party, who privately contend that pulling out of California could be detrimental to the party's drive to keep control of the House and could lead to a perception that Dole is giving up.

An influential figure is Ken Khachigian, Dole's chief strategist in California.

In the middle is campaign manager Scott Reed. He ``is truly torn,'' in the words of one close aide, although he insisted in an interview that the campaign will push hard in California. It is not clear where Dole himself stands.

The quandary facing the Dole campaign reflects the geographic and political pressures of a campaign that is trailing in the polls by as much as 20 points in California. With only five weeks before the election, Dole and his aides must make important decisions about spreading resources.

``I don't dispute that there's a debate. It has been disappointing and discouraging to me that folks - whether they feel insecure about their position or what - have to argue this out on the front page of the newspaper.'' Khachigian said. ``But he added: ``Let's put it this way: There's no decision to pull out.''

Both Khachigian and White House political director Douglas Sosnik said the Dole campaign has spent about $3 million in advertising in California since the party's national convention in August.

Khachigian acknowledged that there has been a ``ramping down'' of advertising in recent days, but said that was part of an effort nationwide by the campaign to go off the air before the first presidential debate Sunday.

To be competitive, Khachigian said, the campaign needs to spend ``in the range of $4 million'' on commercials in California in the closing weeks.

Reed dismissed the wrangling over California, saying, ``There are battles that rage in the campaign every day.'' But asked several times whether the campaign was willing to devote $4 million more to the state, Reed did not reply directly. ``We're on track to spend what it takes to win in California,'' he said.

Noting that the second presidential debate will be in San Diego, Reed said: ``We're thrilled we've been able to sucker the Clinton team to debating us in California. That helps us keep California.''

Fabrizio disputed the accounts of several other campaign aides who said he opposed spending heavily in California.

``Did I express concern about California?'' he said. ``Not in terms of where the race is.'' But Fabrizio admitted that the campaign faced important decisions. ``It is true that I am one of the people that believes we need to focus our resources in the wisest way possible.''