DETROIT - Prospective first lady Elizabeth Dole again left the podium behind and walked among members of the Women's Economic Club gathered at Cobo Hall yesterday.
"This way I can also make new friends," she said. "I just hope the microphone holds out."
The American Red Cross president and wife of Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole repeated her practice of making a speech while walking among the audience instead of staying on stage, a style she began at the Republican National Convention in San Diego in August.
"Trust is a good way to sum this up," Dole said of the presidential race. "You can take it to the bank if (Bob Dole) says he is going to do it."
The visit to Detroit was Dole's second campaign stop of the day. She spoke at a breakfast in Grand Rapids early yesterday.
Dole was joined at the WEC luncheon by Gov. John Engler and other prominent Michigan Republicans.
Engler said Dole is the best person to spread her husband's message. "Mrs. Dole comes here, takes Bob Dole's message and agenda and breaks it down in a very human way so people can see in their family and their business what it would mean to have taxes cut, government smaller and the burden of regulation reduced."
Dole spoke about a number of issues, including trust, business opportunities, drugs and crime. But taxes and economic opportunity were
of Dole's speech. She said her husband's proposed 15-percent across-the-board tax cut and $500-per-child tax credit would ease the strain on American families.
"I think we would all agree that paying over 38 percent of our incomes to taxes is not right," Dole said.
Dole said her husband has a lot to offer small business owners. She said her husband would cut the capital gains tax rate in half, as well as roll back estate taxes and restore a tax deduction for home offices. She also said he would initiate making Individual Retirement Accounts of up to $2,000 available for spouses not in the workplace.
Various audience members stood up and shared stories of hardship with the group, at Dole's request. After each story, Dole told the audience how her husband would help them if elected.
"Women are particularly vulnerable today," Dole said after one woman spoke of her experience with violent crime. "But, Bob Dole will work with governors to make sure there's no more parole for violent criminals."
Dole said her husband would initiate a constitutional amendment guaranteeing victims' rights, such as the right to object to a plea bargain, in cases of violent crime. "We need an all-out war on crime and drugs," Dole said.
Voters should think about crime issues when considering whom to support because the president has the power to appoint the judges that deal with crime on a daily basis, Dole said. This year's election is especially crucial because the next president may need to appoint as many as three Supreme Court justices, she said.
"We're talking about fundamental changes in our country," she said.
WEC members said they found Dole's speech entertaining and informative.
"She's a wonderful speaker," said Betty Brodacki, a Macomb County resident. "(The issues Dole discussed) are very important. They're on the right track to solving the problems."
Engler said Dole's visit is another example of just how important the state will be in determining the results of the November election.
"Michigan is a bellwether state. Michigan in many ways will decide the election," he said. "We're a state where people are concerned about tax burdens and we can see first hand that, in Michigan, cutting taxes and reducing government has been responsible for an economic resurgence."
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