"Whom do you admire most, Hillary Clinton or Elizabeth Dole?"
(asked in downtown Kirkland on 08-29-96; published in the JA on 09-01-96)

Brenda DeVore, Sales director, Issaquah

"I'm probably not the best person to ask because I voted for Perot -- and I haven't decided this year. But I do have strong feelings about politics and I feel we need a female president. Countries that have females in that role tend to do better than our country historically... I've seen Hillary more in the press and media than Elizabeth Dole, so I'm not as familiar with Elizabeth Dole as I am with Hillary... If Hillary ran for president, I might vote for her. That would definitely change things!"

Robert J. Daly, Retired painter, Orange, NJ

"Dole -- I don't know her that well. Clinton -- she's been in the limelight for the past few years... I didn't hear either of their speeches, but probably a lot of young mothers, like my daughter, would like Hillary. I'm a Democrat. I was born a Democrat and I'll die a Democrat. So I'm voting for Clinton."

Tony Williams, Software developer, Mercer Island

"I have no idea. Not being a native American, I don't follow politics. I'm not paying any attention."

Terry Swaine, Independent computer consultant, Kirkland

"Hillary Clinton, partly because of the partisan aspect. But I think that Mrs. Clinton has had a great deal to deal with -- and she's graceful and dignified dealing with scurrilous attacks on her personal life and character. Mrs. Dole is an extremely experienced, effective executive. She's a real asset to her husband and her party and she's an admirable person in her own right. But I'd vote for the Clintons. The Republican Party has lost its direction... they've lost the center."

Nina Hassan, Bank teller, Bellevue

"Hillary Clinton, because being the wife of the president, she's tried to cope with all of the stress. I admire her because she's a strong woman. I don't know Elizabeth Dole very well."

Susan Quiton, Auditor, Renton

"I'm not into politics, so I don't know. I focus on the issues I'm interested in and I don't really pay attention to anything else political that goes around... I don't dislike Hillary Clinton, but I don't admire her, either. She's -- different."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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