NorthwestJanuary 29, 1996

Associated Press

WASHINGTON All of the Republican presidential hopefuls have better ideas than Bill Clinton but none can match his speaking skills, which makes him tough to beat in the fall election, Republican Sen. Slade Gorton says.

"This president is one of the finest if not finest orators I've ever experienced in that office," said the senator from Washington state.

Even better than President Reagan, the Great Communicator?

"I think he certainly rivals Ronald Reagan," Gorton said.

"Reagan had the advantage of speaking more briefly and conveying fewer points. So in many respects, Reagan's speeches read better.

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"But Clinton on television is able to pull every string there is to pull. He is the best television speaker as a president I've seen," Gorton said last week.

Gorton has not yet endorsed a GOP candidate for president. He said he intends to soon but isn't sure if it will happen before Iowa's presidential caucuses next month.

He said he watched Clinton's State of the Union address and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole's response on television because he likes to get the same view as most of America.

"I thought that was good Dole, but was the oratory the quality of the president? No, it was not," Gorton said.

Gorton said as the campaign progresses voters will focus more on content and less on speechmaking. That will give the GOP a shot at knocking Clinton off, he said.

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