Just like they did on Bob Dole in 1995, the always-treacherous and slimy Jonathan Alter telling Republicans in one of his magazine essays in August 1995 that in order to be "taken seriously," Republicans would have to nominate Dole because of his gravitas in 1996.
Of course, by that date Dick Morris had already put in Bill Clinton's hands polling data (bought with Chinese reptile money, let's not forget -- that's what Slick used their money for) that showed Dole was their best matchup on the GOP side -- Clinton's ideal opponent.
No, really.