MAJOR ROLE EXPECTED FOR SPOUSES : RAVE REVIEWS ROLL IN FOR ELIZABETH DOLE'S STROLLING CONVENTION SPEECH.

Byline: Thomas Hardy Chicago Tribune

Elizabeth Dole's powerful speaking performance on behalf of her husband continued to reverberate through the GOP convention Thursday and stirred speculation about the role she and Hillary Rodham Clinton will play in their husbands' campaigns.

Both women are the closest and most persuasive political advisers to their respective husbands, and they serve as the strongest span in the bridge between their candidates and women voters.

The consensus among analysts, however, was that regardless of how telegenic and appealing the spouses might be, decisions about how to vote are made based on attitudes toward Bob Dole and Bill Clinton and the parties they represent.

``She was awfully good. But at the end of the day, it's the candidate that counts,'' GOP strategist William Kristol, publisher of the Standard, said of Elizabeth Dole's memorable speech-stroll through the convention delegations Wednesday night.

Kristol's publication gushed over her ``bravura'' performance. ``No convention will ever be the same, and we would go so far as to say that our political discourse will never be the same either,'' the Standard editorialized.

``Move over, Hillary'' blared the headline of the convention's official daily GOP newsletter. Democratic Party spokesman David Eichenbaum conceded that Elizabeth Dole ``really did a good job,'' but he was quick to add that Hillary Clinton would be equal to the task at the party's convention in Chicago.

Eichenbaum said Hillary Clinton's role at the president's Aug. 26-29 renominating convention has not been finalized, but added that the first lady would play an important role. ``She's a Chicago native and will have a big presence there. She's going to be very visible,'' Eichenbaum said.

Hillary Clinton's visibility has waned over the past year as polls have indicated increasing unfavorable opinion of her among voters.

The lackluster standing can be traced to her unsuccessful initiative to overhaul health care policy and to her having figured prominently in a string of White House controversies. The tactical political decision by the White House has been to lower her profile.

Voters are just getting to know Elizabeth Dole, an equally ambitious political spouse who has served in two Cabinet posts and was mentioned as a possible Republican vice presidential candidate in 1988.

On leave from her job as president of the American Red Cross until after the Nov. 5 election, she has been a tireless surrogate campaigner for her husband and has narrated TV commercials introducing him to voters.

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Photo

Photo: Elizabeth Dole greets an enthusiastic audience Thurs day at the National Youth Convention in San Diego.

Associated Press