THE US Republican Party convention opens today with a double boost for Mr Bob Dole, following the party's rapturous reaction to his choice of Mr Jack Kemp as running mate and a new poll showing him only 10 points behind President Clinton.
The Washington Post poll shows President Clinton at 50 per cent, Mr Dole at 40 per cent and 10 per cent undecided. Most polls until now have shown Mr Dole 20 points and more behind. The latest poll was taken before Mr Kemp was named as Mr Dole's running mate.
Messrs Dole and Kemp arrived in San Diego yesterday by a ferry boat at the marina behind the waterfront convention centre. They had earlier flown together from Mr Dole's home state of Kansas to a naval air station across San Diego Bay.
Thousands of Republican supporters rode to the centre on motorcycles while Speaker Newt Gingrich and the upper echelons of the party arrived more sedately by special train from San Francisco.
Today's proceedings will be formally opened by the party chairman, Mr Haley Barbour, on the theme of "Salute to the American Dream".
The 1,990 delegates will also hear addresses from former presidents George Bush, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. But the latter's contribution will be made by Mrs Nancy Reagan and will feature a video of highlights of the former President's career. Mr Reagan is now suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Also eagerly awaited will be the contribution from former chief of staff, Mr Colin Powell, who many had hoped would be Mr Dole's running mate. It has not been clear so far how actively Mr Powell will campaign for Mr Dole, with whom he has disagreed openly on several occasions over race matters and abortion.
The 41 page party platform or manifesto includes a paragraph on Ireland in the section headed "Restoring American world leadership". It reads: "We support efforts to establish peace with justice in Northern Ireland through a peace process inclusive of all parties who reject violence.
"During this difficult period in Irish history, we encourage private US investment in the North, fully consistent with the MacBride principles for fair employment, in order to address the systemic discriminatory practices which still exist, especially against Catholics, in the workplace and elsewhere. We call on all parties to renounce terrorism in the Northern Ireland conflict."
The strong anti abortion passage in the platform has been welcomed by the large Christian conservative contingent at the convention. But one of their major figures, Mr Pat Buchanan, has refused to make a short video contribution along with other candidates whom Mr Dole defeated in the primaries.
Mr Buchanan's campaign manager, his sister Bay, has not shown much enthusiasm for the choice of Mr Kemp, whose anti abortion stance is not seen as sufficiently strong.