Preparing his Iowa supporters for a straw poll in Ames later this summer, presidential contender Pat Buchanan said his campaign organization in the state is stronger than it was during his last run for the nomination.
But competition this time is tougher, he said in an interview with the Courier Thursday.
Buchanan enjoyed a pancake breakfast at Morg's diner in Waterloo as part of a six-day swing through the state.
Buchanan placed second behind Bob Dole in the Iowa caucuses in 1996 and feels more confident about his organization in Iowa this time around.
"We have a stronger grass-roots base now than we had at this time in 1996," he said.
Touring the state in an effort to energize supporters for the Republican straw poll slated for Aug. 14 in Ames, Buchanan said a strong showing there is essential to his caucus strategy.
Surprising critics with a high finish at the Iowa straw poll before the last caucuses, Buchanan said it was the early test of the voters' support that lent his campaign credibility in the last race.
The poll will also help him gauge the strength of his own campaign organizations and that of his competition, Buchanan said.
"It's hard to get a feel out here. We haven't got one yet," he said.
Buchanan lashed out at reports that Texas Gov. George W. Bush's campaign staff will use corporate lobbyists to recruit supporters to participate in Iowa's straw poll in an attempt to dominate the contest.
"That's not a grass-roots campaign," he said. "You get the board chairman to put the arm on the employees and tell them they've got to go to Ames. What kind of politics is that?"
"It is a corruption of the straw poll and a corruption of the process," Buchanan said.
Calling Bush the "establishment choice," Buchanan said he offers an alternative to a candidate who too often sides with moderate Democrats in issues such as trade and foreign policy.
"Whenever he's come out on an issue, invariably he's taken the same stand as Clinton/Gore," he said.
Buchanan said he doubts Bush will be able to sustain his momentum and support with Iowa Republicans through the straw poll and primary season.
"I think he's going to be hurt very badly with the perception that he's the boardroom candidate, which he is."
To criticisms by a leader of Iowa's Christian Coalition that there are too many social conservatives splitting the Republican vote, Buchanan agreed there were too many candidates in the ring with his views.
"I think that I'm the strongest candidate in the social conservative field, and I hope they reunite behind me," he said. "But I do believe that if we divide our votes, we'll hand it over to Mr. Bush the way we handed it over to Mr. Dole," he said.
Buchanan flatly denied whisperings of a possible affiliation or candidacy with the Reform Party and said he is running exclusively as a Republican candidate, although others have urged him to switch allegiance.
"That's one of those Beltway rumors. It's too good to let go of, even if there's no substance to it," he said.
Buchanan thinks there will be tremendous resentment in Iowa, and around the country, if voters perceive the Republican Party has anointed Bush its candidate before anyone has voted.
"I think we're going to have a Buchanan versus Bush race at the end of this," he said.
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