DOLE WRAPS UP VISIT IN REGION.

Byline: Timothy J. McNulty and Sue Ellen Christian Chicago Tribune 

Promising to return often, Bob Dole on Friday concluded his week of campaigning in California, a strategy to force President Clinton to devote more time and resources to win the state's critical 54 electoral votes.

When asked how often he will be back, Dole opened and closed his hand several times, signaling a number of visits to the state Democrats need to win.

Dole and running mate Jack Kemp spent the week in California, where the latest statewide Field Poll showed Clinton with a 10-point lead.

While refraining from overt comments on the Democrats' embarrassment after the sex-scandal-induced resignation of Dick Morris, the president's chief strategist, Dole still could not resist a zinger.

``I understand there are a lot of Excedrin headaches there this morning,'' a pleased Dole told a rally in the half-filled horse ring of the Orange County fairgrounds.

But instead of sticking to the Morris scandal, Dole returned to his standard stump themes of cutting taxes, balancing the budget and fighting crime and illegal immigration during an appearance in the same county where Ronald Reagan kicked off his re-election bid 12 years ago.

Immediately after their appearance, the GOP candidates and their wives split up for rallies in other states. Dole headed for Albuquerque, N.M., while Kemp went on to Phoenix.

In a bid to win New Mexico voters, Dole vowed not to close three research laboratories in the state operated by the Department of Energy.

Los Alamos, Sandia and Phillips labs provide tens of thousands of jobs. Local Dole campaign officials said the Clinton administration tried to convey the idea the labs were on the chopping block when Dole talked about cutting or scaling back certain departments, such as Energy.

At the same time, Dole's campaign manager invited the Clinton camp to begin immediate talks on the shape of this fall's face-to-face presidential debates.

A good deal of taunting accompanied the invitation. ``We think it's entirely possible that President Clinton won't want to debate his record,'' Nelson Warfield, Dole's press secretary, said Friday.

In California, Dole declared, ``There could not be a clearer choice,'' adding that Clinton's train trip to Chicago represented the ``status quo express. . . . I believe they're on the wrong track and they've been on the wrong track. So we're going to put them on the track back to Little Rock.''

Referring to one of Clinton's proposals, the capital gains tax cut for home sellers, Dole addressed Clinton directly:

``You're a little late, Mr. President. We've been talking about this for weeks and weeks.''

In the last several days, Dole has developed as a campaign theme the purported appropriation of Republican ideas by Clinton.

``I've got this great big `Me, too' sign I carry around with me,'' said a shirt-sleeved Dole.

``Every Republican idea he's adopted as his own. And I say if you don't have any ideas, get out of the way.''

Foretelling the expected personal assaults of the fall campaign, as Gov. Pete Wilson introduced Dole and talked about the Republican ticket, the crowd in the sunny horse arenas of the Orange County fairgrounds began chanting:

``No more Hillary; no more Hillary.''

``Wait a second,'' Wilson replied with a laugh. ``I understand your confusion, but she really isn't the president. . . . Not only do we get both Doles and both Kemps, but we get rid of both Clintons.''

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Photo

Photo: Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole greets su pporters at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Associated Press