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Former presidential candidate Richard Lugar said he thinks Bob Dole needs to address President Clinton's character issues.
Dole, who remained cordial in his first debate with Clinton last week, is being pressured to get tough when the two meet Wednesday for the second and final debate.
Lugar, in Warsaw Sunday night for Kosciusko County's Republican Hall of Fame dinner, admitted few "breakthrough opportunities" remain for Dole to get his message out.
"This is an election in which we're going to have to be more vigorous - and in a hurry," Lugar told Republican supporters.
In an interview prior to the dinner, Lugar said Dole must use the debate to hammer home several issues, including the 15 percent tax cut proposal, foreign policy - and what he calls a handful of Clinton's "great moral failings."
Among the issues that need to be addressed are the misuse of 900 FBI files, sexual harassment charges against the president and whether he plans to offer pardons to associates convicted in the Whitewater scandal.
"These are questions that get - not just to character - but also suppression of evidence ... that are going to jeopardize President Clinton's second term if he is fortunate enough to have one."
Lugar said he believes those issues can be addressed and still avoid the appearance of being mean-spirited.
Lugar, who failed in his presidential bid in a crowded Republican primary, urged Republicans to get out and vote next month.
In addition to the keynote address, the dinner was highlighted by the inclusion of Sue Ann Mitchell and Harold "Potch" Wheeler into the GOP Hall of Fame.
Mitchell serves as the county auditor. Wheeler is a long-time state legislator from Larwill.
