THEY'RE OFF AND RUNNING : DOLE-KEMP VOW POSITIVE CAMPAIGN.

Byline: John King Associated Press 

A jubilant Bob Dole set out from the GOP convention Friday promoting his tax-cut plan as a boon to working families and exulting that, after years in the shadow of other Republican leaders, ``I finally got to talk last.''

With running mate Jack Kemp in tow, the Republican nominee left San Diego determined to sustain convention momentum and counter Democratic attempts to paint GOP policies as mean-spirited or geared to benefit the wealthy.

``There are those who paint Republicans as hard-hearted, we don't care, we are not sensitive,'' Dole told a Republican National Committee breakfast the morning after his acceptance speech. ``But we all know that is not the case.''

Dole said he and Kemp would run a positive campaign anchored on his tax-cut plan and a program to allow parents to send children to the school of their choice. ``We're going to talk about low- and middle-income children for the next 81 days,'' he said.

Buoyed by the four-day convention, Dole left the convention city with this promise: ``Beating an incumbent president is not easy - but it is going to happen.''

During a sun-splashed San Diego send-off rally, and later in Denver, Dole rebutted White House assertions that it is impossible to cut taxes by $538 billion and balance the budget by 2002 without slashing Social Security, Medicare or programs for the poor.

``I would not propose a tax cut . . . had I not been certain you could do it without hurting Social Security, without hurting Medicare,'' Dole said.

Dole said his plan would cut by more than half the taxes of a family making $35,000 a year. ``We're not going to apologize for putting more money in your paycheck,'' Dole said to applause in Denver, where the crowd chanted ``Bye Bye Bill.''

Kemp told the San Diego crowd that the tax cut would be ``a down payment on a new code for America'' that is simpler and fairer. Citing Dole's modest Kansas roots, Kemp said, ``Don't let anyone tell you this is the party of the rich.''

As Dole headed from California to four other states Clinton carried in 1992, aides said Republican polling showed Dole had narrowed the Democratic incumbent's lead to nine or 10 points. They voiced confidence Dole's shaky standing in traditional GOP strongholds would solidify over the next few weeks because of the convention and Kemp selection.

Nominees traditionally get a polling ``bounce'' from their conventions, but these can prove difficult to sustain once the media spotlight shifts. In Dole's case, keeping momentum could prove tougher because Clinton gets a convention spotlight of his own in nine days. Clinton is considering proposing several modest, new tax breaks in his speech at the Democratic convention in Chicago.

After spending Friday night in Colorado, Dole and Kemp - introduced as the GOP's ``Dream Team'' - were heading to Illinois and New York on Saturday and then Pennsylvania today.

``I can hardly wait for the Gore-Kemp debate,'' Dole said in Denver.

The nomination brought Dole $62 million in federal campaign funds, and he was planning to spend some quickly. A major advertising effort was beginning early this week, probably Tuesday, to promote the Dole tax-cut plan and take issue with Clinton administration assertions that the economy is in its best shape in 30 years.

``Most Americans don't believe that,'' said Dole campaign manager Scott Reed. ``We think there is an opening to make the case that taxes can and should be cut.''

Campaign aides said the advertising blitz was part of a $16 million media budget from now through the end of September, when the campaign will reassess its electoral targeting before dipping into an additional $25 million or so set aside for ads.

Dole showed up 20 minutes early for the Republican Party breakfast, joking that he had nothing to do now that his acceptance speech was done. After serving for years in the GOP trenches, often in the shadow of Ronald Reagan and George Bush on the national stage, Dole was cherishing his coronation as the GOP's leading man.

``I finally got to talk last, last night,'' Dole said. ``Last night it finally happened: I got to say the last word.''

During his speech, Dole said he noticed his optometrist from back home in Russell, Kan., seated in the front row. ``They say I don't have any vision - there he was, right there,'' Dole joked. ``A man of vision: 20/20.''

As Dole set out from San Diego, Clinton aides objected to what White House press secretary Mike McCurry called ``very nasty remarks'' about Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Republican convention.

At one point in his speech, Dole took issue with Hillary Clinton's book on child rearing, ``It Takes a Village.''

``It doesn't take a village to raise a child,'' Dole declared. ``It takes a family to raise a child.''

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Photo: Presidential candidate Bob Dole and running mate Jac k Kemp make their first campaign stop in Denver after a jubilant GOP convention.

Associated Press