Portsmouth Herald
RAN 2/9/96, Pg. A1
By Lars Trodson 
Herald Staff
   PORTSMOUTH - Bob Dole made a campaign pledge yesterday not to use any
negative advertising during the last week leading up to the New Hampshire
presidential primary.
   He made the promise during a brief conversation with Dominic Calandara, an
employee at Celltech Biologics. Dole visited the company, located at Pease
International Tradeport, yesterday morning.
   ``We're running positive ads in the last week,'' said Dole. The primary is
Feb. 20.
   ``I'd like to see that,'' said Calandara to Dole. Later Calandara said the
flurry of negative ads, particularly between Dole and magazine publisher
Steve Forbes, was ``getting kind of tiring. Put the energy to better use.''
   Calandara said at this point he was undecided who he would support.
   Dole, who has in recent weeks seen Forbes rise in the polls and rival Pat
Buchanan win straw poll votes in Alaska and a caucus in Louisiana, was
peppered with advice and questions during his campaign stop.
   Basil Mott, a Durham resident who was a Navy carrier pilot in World War
II, asked Dole if he would support a bill in the Senate that overhauls the
way campaigns are financed.
   ``Will you support that bill?'' Mott asked.
   ``We're prepared to move on that,'' said Dole. And then the candidate, who
is known for his caustic wit, took a shot at the advantage multimillionaire
Forbes has in being able to spend his own money on the campaign. ``We've seen
what great wealth can do,'' he said.
   Dole said he would turn the issue over to a commission for campaign
finance. The Senate would have an ``up or down vote'' on whatever that
commission recommended, said Dole.
   ``Nicely dodged,'' said Mott of Dole's reply.
   Dole presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Celltech's grand opening,
and later he stopped briefly at Barnstormers Restaurant to shake hands and
pose for pictures. At Barnstormers, the ghost of Forbes hung in the air.
   ``I just wanted to say hello,'' said Pease Development Authority Executive
Director L. Eugene Schneider, ``And to point out that the people of New
Hampshire can't be bought.''
   Forbes has been accused of trying to buy a victory in New Hampshire with
his million-dollar ad campaign.
   Dole was followed by a sometimes overzealous phalanx of national media
representatives, who stayed in a close-knit group around the candidate for
almost every step he took. Dole's one reprieve from the video lights and the
boom microphones was when he got into his car.
   But in his car he had to drive by a group of activists from ``People for
the American Way'' and other groups protesting Dole's appearance. On the way
into Pease, Dole gave them a thumbs up.
   He also couldn't escape the signs asking for a balanced budget that dotted
the snowy landscape at Pease.
   Dole was handed a red and white bumper sticker saying ``Balance the
Budget'' by Bob Hannon of the Concord Coalition, and Dole held it up for the
cameras. Hannon said he gave one to President Clinton last week when Clinton
was in New Hampshire.
   ``Stay with it, stay with it,'' said New Hampshire Gov. Steve Merrill, who
is also Dole's national campaign chairman. Also travelling with Dole was Rep.
Bill Zeliff and Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin, who represents Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Mayor Eileen Foley also made an appearance at Pease.
   Dole got a big laugh when he introduced Foley, a committed Democrat, by
saying ``Mayor, the undecided mayor.''
   At one point during the jokes and snapshots, however, Dole got down to
business.
   ``It's getting close,'' said Dole of the presidential primary. ``And a lot
of candidates are getting nervous. This is a very serious effort. It's about
you. Who do you want standing up for you in the White House? I would hope you
come down on the side of experience.''