STROM THURMOND WILL SUPPORT DOLE

Sen. Strom Thurmond endorsed Senate Majority LeaderBob Dole's bid for the presidencyThursday, citing Dole's "strength of character." The senator from South Carolina will serve as Dole's regional campaign co-chairman for the southern states. The two have long been allies. Earlier this year, Dole stopped an effort to force the 92-year-old Thurmond to give up his chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services.