Portsmouth Herald
RAN 2/13/96 Pg. A6
By Steve Haberman 
Herald Staff
   MANCHESTER - The youngest of New Hampshire's voters are choosing the
oldest of the candidates running in the Republican presidential primary as
their favorite. 
   Generation X is overwhelmingly in favor of jitterbugger Bob Dole,
according to a survey released by the National Scholastic Surveys group last
Wednesday.
   The survey, which last week polled 803 undergraduates representing eight
randomly selected colleges and universities from around the state, showed
that 23 percent supported Senate Majority Leader Dole of Kansas. Running
second in this poll, as he has in many others over the past several weeks,
was New Jersey magazine publisher Steve Forbes with 18 percent.
   Political commentator Pat Buchanan and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar
Alexander tied for third with 8 percent each, and 5 percent of those polled
said they would vote for Texas Sen. Phil Gramm.
   ``Even though Dole is old enough to be their grandfather, 18- and
19-year-old students seem to be able to connect with him,'' said Jeffrey
Brodsky, the group's survey director. ``Despite the distinct generation gap,
Dole is relating surprisingly well to first-time voters.''
   Forbes' second-place finish is because his primary issue, the flat tax,
isn't a major one among students, Brodsky said.
   The poll also showed that 33 percent of the students polled were
undecided.
   The majority of students felt Dole was the Republican candidate who cared
most about education, cared most about young people in general, and stood the
best chance of those running to beat President Bill Clinton.
   Only 12.9 percent of those surveyed said they had no interest in the
presidential primary race, while the largest segment, 43.7 percent, said they
showed ``occasional interest.'' More than 43 percent said they were following
the primary race either somewhat or very closely.
   The survey, however, revealed a high degree of cynicism toward the
process. About 73 percent doubted that any candidate would fulfill his
promises once elected president.
   Dole and Forbes had high name recognition among Generation X-ers, but 28
percent of those surveyed did not know Gramm was a candidate and 30 percent
did not know who Alexander was. Ten percent of the students thought Jack
Kemp, Pete Wilson and Newt Gingrich were current presidential candidates.
   In addition, 40 percent of those surveyed did not know that Gramm and
Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar were senators. Fifteen percent thought Forbes was
either a congressman or senator, but 78 percent were aware Dole serves in the
Senate.