Portsmouth Herald
RAN 2/19/96 Pg. A3
By Susan Maddocks 
Herald Staff
   EXETER - The strains of Gary Glitter's ``Rock `N' Roll Part II'' slammed
the stadium as Bob Dole's presidential run, Part III, hit a rowdy note in
Exeter last night.
   Dole stood on the Exeter AREA High School stage flanked by wife Elizabeth
with Gov. Steve Merrill and U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg nearby. Supporters and
others who popped in for a look-see jumped, stomped and shouted to the beat
in the audience.
   Just two days before this tiny state's big sweepstakes, Dole stepped up
his campaign as he approached the podium. A vote for him, he promised, would
mean ``experience'' in the oval office and ``an end to the era of Bill
Clinton!''
   Most important, he said, would be a return to Republican values and
respect for the United States in other countries. And of course, there is the
balanced budget attempts. With him at the helm, he promised it would be done.
   ``We've lost a lot of respect in other countries in the last three
years,'' Dole said, adding that will change with a Republican president,
especially if it's him.
   ``There are a lot of good people running for the Republican nomination.
Some of them are my friends. Some of them will be my friends when this is
over,'' Dole said. ``But you have to ask yourself, `Why do you want to stand
in the White House?' ''
   To that the audience responded as though at a rock 'n' roll concert, with
a low, drawn-out ``Dole,'' resonating from hundreds of voices.
   As he smiled and quipped with the boisterous crowd, some of whom were
sweating in the humid room, Dole said, ``I smell victory in the air!''
   For Portsmouth resident Joan Barondes, last night's rally did not make up
her mind. Dole had her vote over a year ago, she said. ``He already had my
vote,'' she said.
   Why?
   ``He seems very levelheaded and experienced,'' she replied.
   However, Exeter resident Fran Berman was not as impressed. Clinton is her
pick, she said.
   ``I'm a Democrat. I just wanted to hear what he had to say,'' she said,
explaining why she fought for a parking spot to attend the rally. ``I just
wanted to hear the rhetoric.''
   Steve Sareault of Milford bounced his two red-haired daughters, Kelly and
Mary Beth, as he took it all in. With his wife Martha - a strong Dole
supporter - lost among the throngs of reporters and supporters, he waited
patiently after a two-hour exposure to the election glitter. He drove an hour
to attend the rally, but was glad he did.
   ``I am leaning toward Sen. Dole after this. I was considering another
candidate,'' whom he declined to name, ``but I think I like Dole.''
   There was one area where there was no argument for Sareault: the rudeness
of the press. ``That's the biggest problem,'' he said. ``You can't even get
close to the candidates ... I mean, look at that ...,'' pointing to the wagon
train barrier encircling Dole, ``I wouldn't even dare to try to get close.''
   Among his biggest concern on issues is the budget, he said. With that in
mind, he will cast his ballot, he said.
   Meanwhile, presidential hopeful Alan Keyes prayed and spoke briefly during
a Portsmouth stop at the New Baptist Church yesterday morning. Keyes spoke
for about five minutes after worshipping with the congregation.