DOLE SOFTENS GOP STANCE ON ABORTION DOLE SEEKS TO UNIFY GOP BY EASING ANTI-ABORTION PLANK.

Byline: Jodi Enda and Brigid Schulte Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

In a critical attempt to pull the Republican Party together and appeal to women voters, Sen. Bob Dole announced Thursday that he would add a ``declaration of tolerance'' to the GOP's anti-abortion platform to welcome abortion-rights supporters to the fold.

``Our convention must reflect not only our strong pro-life convictions, but a decent regard for the opinions of those who disagree,'' the presumptive presidential nominee said in a statement issued Thursday evening. ``This is not compromise, it is civility.''

Dole's announcement, first telegraphed during an interview with ABC affiliates Thursday, was an effort to blunt speculation that he was wavering on abortion and to clarify his intent to make the GOP the party of the ``big tent,'' said a senior adviser.

Still, Dole acknowledged that his position, a middle ground between abortion-rights supporters who don't want the issue reflected in the platform and opponents who don't want existing language subdued, would not please some already solidly in that tent.

``To win this election, we can't divide people up,'' Dole told reporters. ``I like people to come together, and this issue separates us, you know, it divides us. So it seems to me that there may be the purists who only accept what they believe on either side. But I'm the nominee of the party, and the nominee of the party in my view has to reach out to people.''

New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, an abortion-rights supporter who had promised to lead a fight to change the platform, said she was pleased with Dole's announcement.

``I respect him for his position on the issue,'' she said. ``We differ. But it's his platform and his position. The important thing is the additional language or statement that's going to go along with it to say that the party is an inclusive party.''

While appeasing some moderate Republicans who have called on him either to abandon or soften the anti-abortion language in the platform, Dole is certain to raise the ire of his major remaining GOP opponent, Pat Buchanan.

Buchanan, who rocked the Republican National Convention four years ago with cries of cultural and religious wars, has promised to fight this year to prevent moderates from tinkering with the stiff anti-abortion language in the party's platform, which includes a statement of ``pro-life principles'' and a call for a constitutional amendment banning abortion.

Neither Buchanan nor any other prominent abortion opponent, including representatives of the Christian Coalition, the National Right to Life Committee or the Family Research Council, chose to comment Thursday.

When moderate GOP governors began floating the idea that the platform language should be eliminated or recognize opposing views, Buchanan attempted to head them off at the pass, challenging Dole to ``stand aside'' if he wouldn't stand up to them.

Bay Buchanan, Buchanan's sister, campaign manager and point woman on keeping the abortion plank unchanged, has insisted that even one line, acknowledging that Republicans hold differing views on abortion, is unacceptable in their camp.

``No retreat,'' she said.

Dole said Thursday that he would not retreat from the anti-abortion ideas that have been in the platform for 16 years.

But, he said, he will return to the position taken by Ronald Reagan in 1980, when the platform included a statement recognizing that opinions on abortion differed within the nation and the party.

``Let me be very clear: No one will be turned away from our convention or my campaign because they do not agree with me,'' he said in his statement.

Dole has long opposed abortion rights, but also has frequently advocated opening the Republican Party to people of divergent beliefs.

But because he has failed until now to directly address the battle that was expected to come to a head in a messy skirmish at the party's national convention in August, he had been subjected to questions about the intensity of his anti-abortion position.

His announcement Thursday was an attempt to cut off further speculation and ``let people know where he stands once and for all,'' said the top aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The aide said Dole had been prepared to make his announcement last week, but held off to prevent undercutting news of the convictions of three of President Clinton's former business associates in Arkansas.

The news of Dole's willingness to moderate the platform language came as a surprise to some GOP abortion-rights activists.

``First of all, I think it's terrific that there's a recognition that this party is made up of a variety of people. It's a positive step,'' said Susan Cullman, chairman of the Republican Coalition for Choice. ``But our concern is that, if the goal is to attract more support for the ticket, this won't do it. The platform still wants to change the law.''

The group's main objection, she said, is to the proposed constitutional amendment.

``The amendment would not only land women in jail, but it would ban most kinds of contraception,'' said Ann Stone, president of Republicans for Choice. ``It's really obnoxious stuff.''