Five questions with Elizabeth Dole
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina addressed the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, stressing the importance of social issues such as gay marriage and abortion to the Republican Party. After her speech, Dole spoke with CNN about her long-running GOP convention track record.
CNN: You have been to a number of conventions. How is the one different?
DOLE: I've been going to every convention since 1976, when my husband was nominated for the vice presidency and I was a bride of six months. At each one I've had different roles to play.
CNN: How does this compare to 1996?
DOLE: Of course, in 1996 my husband was the nominee. That was the year I went down and walked the audience, and I frankly preferred getting out from behind the podium. And we had about 15 events that year, and I think we've had just about as many this convention. I think I need roller skates to get around Madison Square Garden.
CNN: Are you having fun in New York?
DOLE: Yes, I am.
CNN: What do you think about having the convention here?
DOLE: I think it's great. I really do. We want to get our message out. We want to get people who may not have been voting Republican to be with us. So here was a good place for us.
CNN: What do you think is the key to this election?
DOLE: The president, I think, is respected by so many people as a man of character. In other words, he's a man of integrity. He's a person whose word is his bond. He means what he says, he says what he means. And you can apply that to the war against terror or to the economy, and people know that if he says it, he means it. And I think that means a lot to people across America. Character is important.